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 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: 12/4/2024 - Added information on Hendersonville's Home for the Holidays Christmas events. Where to eat section was added and where to stay section was revised.

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 foods. There is also a great mix of casual eateries to gourmet dining as well. We cover all of 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? Arabellas is the place. Located in downtown Hendersonville, you'll struggle to find a better breakfast spot.

Again, be sure to check out 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 ensure that something out there will fit your needs.

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 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 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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