15 days in North Carolina Mountains Itinerary

Asheville nestles between two major mountain ranges in the scenic western section of North Carolina.

Explore Asheville's surroundings by going to Hendersonville (Justus Orchard & Elijah Mountain Gem Mine and Goat Farm), Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park (in Chimney Rock) and Crystal Mountain Gem Mine (in Brevard). Next up on the itinerary: savor the flavors at Food & Drink, relax and rejuvenate at some of the best spas, take in nature's colorful creations at The North Carolina Arboretum, and get outside with Outdoor Activities.

For ratings, reviews, photos, and tourist information, use the Asheville holiday planner.

Manchester, UK to Asheville is an approximately 14.5-hour flight. You'll gain 5 hours traveling from Manchester to Asheville due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Manchester in September, expect Asheville to be somewhat warmer, temps between 30°C and 17°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 23rd (Fri) early enough to go by car to Cherokee.

The center of Cherokee culture in the eastern part of the country, the town named after this Native American tribe serves as a base camp for hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains.

Get out of town with these interesting Cherokee side-trips: River Rafting & Tubing (in Bryson City), Otter Creek Trout Farm (in Topton) and Wheels Through Time Transportation Museum (in Maggie Valley). There's still lots to do: try to win big at Casino at Harrah’s Cherokee, admire the sheer force of Mingo Falls, take in the awesome beauty at Waterrock Knob, and hike along Max Patch.

To find more things to do and more tourist information, go to the Cherokee driving holiday app.

You can drive from Asheville to Cherokee in 1.5 hours. In September, plan for daily highs up to 30°C, and evening lows to 16°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 27th (Tue) to allow enough time to drive to Highlands.

Highlands is an incorporated town in Macon County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Kick off your visit on the 28th (Wed): take in the local highlights with Highland Excursion, then take in the dramatic scenery at Dry Falls, and then admire the sheer force of Bridal Veil Falls. Here are some ideas for day two: take in the awesome beauty at Sunset Rock and Ravenel Park, then surround yourself with nature on Lake Glenville Scenic Waterfall Cruises, then take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Whiteside Mountain, and finally take in the dramatic scenery at Silver Run Falls.

To plan Highlands vacation without wasting time, ask Inspirock to design an itinerary.

Traveling by car from Cherokee to Highlands takes 1.5 hours. September in Highlands sees daily highs of 30°C and lows of 16°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 29th (Thu) early enough to drive to Boone.

Boone is a town located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, United States. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Boone: Landmark Farm Alpacas (in Grassy Creek), Cascades Falls (in Wilkesboro) and Grandfather Mountain (in Linville). Next up on the itinerary: stroll through The Cascades Trail, kick your exploration up a notch at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks, look for gifts at Mast General Store, and get a dose of the wild on High Mountain Expeditions.

For ratings, photos, and other tourist information, refer to the Boone trip planner.

You can drive from Highlands to Boone in 3.5 hours. Other options are to do a combination of flight and bus; or do a combination of car and bus. Traveling from Highlands in September, expect nights in Boone to be about the same, around 13°C, while days are slightly colder, around 26°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 3rd (Mon) early enough to travel back home.