Mountain overlooks, music & small-town stops
This is leg 2 of 2, the final leg.
Travel leg · Blue Ridge Parkway Slow Drive
Asheville to Cherokee
Asheville and Cherokee sit about 71 km (44 mi) apart in a straight line, with Cherokee to the west. It is leg 2 of 2 on our Blue Ridge Parkway Slow Drive itinerary, a 6-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 71 km · 44 mi
- Est. road distance
- 86–100 km
- Est. drive time
- 1 h – 2 h
- Direction
- Heading west
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Blue Ridge Parkway Slow Drive itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 86–100 km (53–62 mi) of road and 1 h – 2 h behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
Driving the Parkway itself is the point, so a car is essential. The speed limit is low and the road winds along ridgelines, which makes every leg slower than a map suggests. Towns along the way are good bases for exploring on foot.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Cherokee
Give it 1–2 days: Cherokee history, the Smokies' Oconaluftee side, and the Parkway's last high summits.
Museum of the Cherokee People
Museum telling the Cherokee story from earliest times to today.
Mingo Falls
One of the tallest falls in the southern Appalachians, 120 ft, on Cherokee land.
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Scenic train excursion from Bryson City along the Tuckasegee and Nantahala.
Peter's Pancakes & Waffles
Cherokee breakfast spot by the river, a local standby.
Mountain Layers Brewing Company
Downtown Bryson City brewery with 16 taps, an upstairs deck over Main Street and a food truck out back.
Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual
Cherokee artists' cooperative selling baskets, pottery and carvings.
Before you leave Asheville
Spend 2 days: Biltmore, the River Arts District and downtown food, plus Parkway drives to Craggy Gardens and Mount Pisgah.
On this curated route
Where Asheville → Cherokee sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Cherokee to Asheville is the same 71 km in a straight line, heading east. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
Average daytime highs at both ends stay within 1°C of each other all year, so you can pack the same way for both.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville high | 7° | 9° | 14° | 19° | 23° | 27° | 29° | 29° | 26° | 20° | 14° | 9° |
| Cherokee high | 7° | 9° | 14° | 19° | 23° | 27° | 29° | 29° | 26° | 20° | 14° | 9° |
| Asheville rain | 99 | 98 | 105 | 113 | 120 | 117 | 135 | 119 | 117 | 98 | 102 | 124 |
| Cherokee rain | 111 | 115 | 113 | 118 | 118 | 115 | 140 | 111 | 113 | 96 | 108 | 135 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Cherokee month guides.
Asheville to Cherokee: questions travelers ask
How far is Asheville from Cherokee?
Asheville is about 71 km (44 mi) from Cherokee in a straight line, with Cherokee to the west. By road, we estimate 86–100 km (53–62 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Asheville to Cherokee?
An estimated 1 h – 2 h, assuming 86–100 km of road at average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Asheville to Cherokee?
Our Blue Ridge Parkway Slow Drive itinerary includes this leg. Blue Ridge Parkway Slow Drive runs about 6 days across 3 stops, best in May – Oct.
Onward from Cherokee
- Townsend to Cherokee 45 km
Getting to Asheville
- Asheville to Blowing Rock 99 km
- Shenandoah to Asheville 456 km
Guides for both ends
- Asheville travel guide
- Asheville weather best time to visit
- Cherokee travel guide
- Cherokee weather best time to visit
Cherokee by month
Plan Asheville → Cherokee with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.