Hendersonville NC Travel Guide

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

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

Cover Photo by: Tracy Miller

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.

History of Hendersonville NC

Hendersonville once belonged to the Cherokee and used as hunting grounds before William Mills discovered the area.

William was a Revolutionary War soldier and in the late 1870’s, the Cherokee were driven out so the land could be taken. Mills claimed the land with a grant, and with his guidance, he led the community to become what it is today.

The General Assembly gave the community a charter, and it became the city of Hendersonville. They recognized it as the county seat on January 7, 1847. Both the city and the council’s namesake belong to Leanord Henderson, once the Chief Justice of North Carolina Supreme Court.

Hendersonville NC has always been a favorite place for tourists and has been known for its apples since the 18th century.

Hendersonville Travel Guides and Blogs

Up close shot of a hand picking a ripe red apple from an Apple tree

We love Hendersonville NC and have been visiting this wonderful mountain city 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 Hendersonville NC Travel Guides, featuring best places to eat, things to do, information on apple orchards, and more!

Hendersonville NC Guided Tours - A Great Way to Explore

When you're visiting Hendersonville, it's hard to know where to start and what to see. There are so many things to see and do, and it's tough to decide which ones are really worth your time. That's where local guided tours come in.

Local Hendersonville tours are a great way to see new places and also a great way to meet other travelers and make new friends. When visiting Hendersonville NC, we highly recommend taking one or more of these highlighted tours. 

Where to stay in Hendersonville NC

Photo of the boat dock at Kanuga, with early morning fog on the lake

Hendersonville NC 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 ensure that something out there will fit your needs.

We really enjoy staying at Kanuga!

Kanuga - Our Top 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.

Other Hotels in Hendersonville NC

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

Camping in Hendersonville NC

Even if you’re looking for remote campground, away from everyone else, or a comfortable RV park in the center of everything, Hendersonville NC has great options for you. 

Regardless of your needs, you’ll be plenty satisfied with your visit and you’ll be able to sleep well through the night.

About the author

Larry Deane is co-owner of Blue Ridge Mountain Life. He has spent more than 20 years exploring the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and has a deep passion for nature, history, storytelling, and adventure. Along with his wife Jenn, they combined these passions to create Blue Ridge Mountain Life, a travel guide to these stunning mountains they are fortunate to call home.

Larry has more than 20 years of experience as a writer and journalist, and has established himself as a leading voice and expert for Blue Ridge Mountains. He is also an avid hiker, photographer, and videographer. He loves sharing his mountain adventures and knowledge with more than 500,000 people per month on Blue Ridge Mountain Life.

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