Hendersonville NC Travel Guide

Written by Larry Deane, local expert for 20+ years

Hendersonville NC is a wonderful and historic town, full of history and plenty of things to do and see, all on its own. Hendersonville is a popular place for people to visit, full of activities to keep everyone busy, whether you’re more of an outdoor person or you prefer to stay indoors or in the city. 

Hendersonville offers apple picking, museums, historical structures, many dining options, hiking trails, scenic views, shopping, and much more!

Grab your travel bags and let us help you make the most out of your trip to this wonderful mountain town.

Updated: 12/12/2025 - Added Tuxedo Falls in our Where to Stay section, based on a recent stay there.

Our Hendersonville NC Videos

Where is Hendersonville NC?

Photo of downtown Hendersonville NC with famous bear statue in the foreground and the town in th background.

Hendersonville NC is close to the Blue Ridge Parkway and right off I-26 about 20 miles south of Asheville NC.  

Hendersonville is known as “The City of Four Seasons” and is at an elevation of 2200 feet. The border between North Carolina and South Carolina is 15 miles south of Hendersonville, and the city itself is the a county seat for Henderson County.

Our Hendersonville Travel Guides

We love Hendersonville and have been visiting Hendersonville and its surrounding areas for over 30 years. Hendersonville is one of the main reasons we fell in love with these mountains, and raised our family here in Western North Carolina.

Below you'll find all of our Hendersonville NC travel guides, featuring the best places to eat, things to do, information on apple orchards, and more!

Where to Eat?

Interior photo of Shine in Hendersonville NC show the bar and people enjoying drinks and food.

Shine in downtown Hendersonville NC

Hendersonville is full of fantastic restaurants serving up all kinds of different food. There is also a great mix of casual eateries to gourmet dining as well. We cover all our favorites in our Best Restaurants in Hendersonville Guide, but here are a few of our top picks:

  • Shine - Shine delivers fantastic food and service in downtown Hendersonville. They also have a large bar area, and a rooftop bar as well that delivers great drinks and views of downtown Hendersonville.
  • Book and the Bee - Located just outside of Hendersonville, this unique British themed restaurant serves up fantastic hot tea, amazing baked goods, and wonderful lunch fare.   
  • Flat Rock Wood Room - This is a real hidden gem and a local favorite. They have wonderful wood fired items including pizza, bbq, and burgers. They also have the best shrimp and grits we've ever had.
  • Arabella Breakfast & Brunch - Looking for breakfast? Arabella's is the place. Located in downtown Hendersonville, you'll struggle to find a better breakfast spot.

Again, be sure to check out our Best Restaurants in Hendersonville Guide for our full list and more details on each restaurant!

Where to Stay?

Hendersonville has options of all kinds for you to stay overnight. You can go camping, rent a cabin, or go to a hotel. Whichever one you prefer, the wide range of options ensures that something out there will fit your needs.

Our Top Picks

Treehouse at Tuxedo Falls

Tuxedo Falls

Stay in luxury treehouses or safari tents surrounded by forest and waterfalls. Enjoy upscale touches like heated floors, outdoor pizza ovens, and peaceful hiking trails — a blend of comfort and nature.

Echo Mountain Inn Hendersonville NC

Echo Mountain Inn

A charming ridge-top inn with sweeping mountain views, cozy rooms, and one of the best breakfasts in town. Close to both downtown Hendersonville and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Photo of the morning sun against the Inn at Kanuga showing the building and surrounding trees.

Kanuga

A peaceful lakeside retreat offering cabins, lodge rooms, hiking trails, and paddling. Ideal for a relaxing mountain getaway surrounded by nature and tranquility.

Tuxedo Falls – Luxury Treehouses and Safari Tents in the Woods - Our Top Pick

Tuxedo Falls

During our most recent visit to Hendersonville, we had the absolute pleasure of staying at Tuxedo Falls, and it was easily one of the most fun and memorable lodging experiences we’ve ever had in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Tuxedo Falls is a truly unique place to stay, offering a combination of luxury treehouses and safari tents surrounded by peaceful forest and scenic trails. Each accommodation is beautifully designed and packed with thoughtful touches — including heated bathroom floors, heated toilet seats, walk-in showers, full kitchens, pour-over coffee setups, outdoor grills, and even pizza ovens!

Treehouse at Tuxedo Falls

We stayed in the Tajar Treehouse, which was incredible — a real tree grows right through the middle of the living area! The space was warm and inviting, with beautiful décor and an upstairs sleeping loft accessed by a ladder. The setup made it feel like a grown-up version of a childhood dream — cozy, private, and surrounded by nature.

Both the treehouses and safari tents have heating and air conditioning, making them comfortable year-round. The tents are a little larger and offer more expansive views, while the treehouses provide a snug, elevated experience that feels especially connected to the forest.

The property also includes a welcoming lodge, where you’ll find a small store stocked with breakfast items, snacks, and even pizza kits for the outdoor ovens. There’s also a bar with wine and beer, an arts and crafts area, comfortable seating spaces, and an outdoor fire pit — perfect for relaxing in the evening with a drink and good conversation.

Waterfall at Tuxedo Falls

But what really makes Tuxedo Falls shine are the hiking trails that wind through the property, leading to several waterfalls — including the beautiful Tuxedo Falls itself. The trails are peaceful and well maintained, offering the perfect way to start or end your day in nature.

Tuxedo Falls is easily one of the most enjoyable and special places we’ve ever stayed in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s the perfect destination to unwind, reconnect with nature, and enjoy a few days of quiet luxury in the woods. We can’t wait to go back.

Echo Mountain Inn - Our Pick

Echo Mountain Inn Hendersonville NC

Located just a few minutes from downtown Hendersonville NC, Echo Mountain Inn offers a historic, serene and charming retreat for visitors looking to unwind and enjoy nature when visiting the Hendersonville area. The Inn is family owned and run by a friendly and helpful family.

This historic inn, established in 1896, combines the warmth of Southern hospitality with modern amenities to provide a memorable stay for all guests.

At the inn, you'll find multiple comfortable rooms, each uniquely designed with antique furnishings and special touches that exude a feeling of timeless grace. Many of the rooms offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains, creating a peaceful and picturesque backdrop for your stay.

Guests can also enjoy a delicious and freshly prepared breakfast each morning, along with hot tea and coffee. Breakfast is served buffet style in the large and comfy dining area.  

The Inn is really more of Bed and Breakfast, but larger. You get the quality and comfort and experience of a bed-and-breakfast, but have hotel level accommodations.

Our stay at Echo Mountain Inn was in the spring of 2024 and thoroughly enjoyed it. We stayed in the "Royal" King room.  We had a large King sized bed, magnificent views with windows, and enormous bathroom and shower. The bed was comfortable, and the Inn was quiet and peaceful.

We enjoyed breakfast and coffee downstairs each morning while relaxing and enjoying the views. We highly recommend staying at Echo Mountain Inn when visiting Hendersonville, NC.

Kanuga - Our Pick

Photo of the morning sun against the Inn at Kanuga showing the building and surrounding trees.

Kanuga is a 1400 acre resort that offers a beautiful Inn to stay in, tons of outdoor activities, a dining hall, gift shop, lakeside lounge and much more. Kanuga is just a few minutes from downtown Hendersonville, yet when you stay there, you'll feel you're in the remote mountains.

Kanuga offers hiking trails, mountain biking, fishing, canoeing and kayaking, tennis courts, walking trails, gardens to explore and more. If you enjoy the outdoors, or just a peaceful mountain retreat away from it all, Kanuga is perfect.  We really enjoy staying at Kanuga!

Other Hotels in Hendersonville, NC

There are a number of hotels in Hendersonville, NC at reasonable prices and with many amenities. Below are some of the top picks for Hendersonville, NC Hotels - All offer great prices, with roomy and clean accommodations.

About the author

Larry Deane is the co-owner and voice behind Blue Ridge Mountain Life, a travel resource built from more than two decades of exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains firsthand. A Western North Carolina local, Larry has spent 20+ years hiking the trails, visiting small towns, chasing waterfalls, and documenting life in the mountains he calls home.

Alongside his wife Jenn, he created Blue Ridge Mountain Life to share their real-world experiences with others who love — or are just discovering — the Blue Ridge. Larry is a seasoned travel writer, photographer, and videographer with a background in journalism, and his work reaches more than 500,000 mountain lovers each month. Whether he's deep in Pisgah National Forest or strolling Main Street in a mountain town, you can count on Larry to give you the inside scoop from someone who’s truly been there.

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