Getting around Asheville from Whispering Pines Motel involves a roughly 10-minute drive to the city centre, or about 102 minutes on foot. Asheville Rides Transit (ART) serves the city, while driving is especially useful for visiting Biltmore Estate.
- City centre: about 10 minutes by car or 102 minutes on foot from this motel in Asheville.
- ART: 18 routes originate at the ART Transit Station downtown.
- Asheville Regional Airport: about 22 minutes by car; ART’s S3 route can connect to the airport.
- Biltmore Estate: about 28 minutes by car; plan at least a full day for the estate.
How far is Asheville city centre from the motel?
Asheville city centre is about 4.8 miles away, a trip of roughly 10 minutes by car or 102 minutes on foot. The drive makes downtown a practical first stop if you want to explore the centre before planning trips farther afield.
Downtown on-street meters cost $2.50 per hour, with a two-hour maximum. Payment is required from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, but not Sundays or designated City holidays. Meters accept coins, credit cards, and mobile payment through the Flowbird app or Text-to-Pay.
How do you get around Asheville by bus or car?
ART is Asheville’s city bus service, and its 18 routes start at the ART Transit Station at 49 Coxe Avenue. The City of Asheville operates the service. A standard one-way fare is $1.
ART service runs from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sundays and holidays. Individual route schedules give exact times. If you pay cash on the bus, bring exact change; if you need to transfer, request a transfer slip when boarding your first bus.
Route maps and schedules are available online, and the City lists Google Maps, Transit App, and Moovit as trip-planning options. For next-bus information, call (828) 253-5691 and press 1, or text “NextART” followed by a space and the bus-stop ID to 41411.
Driving lets you set your own schedule for destinations such as the city centre and Biltmore. For downtown trips, factor in the two-hour meter limit when choosing where to park.
How can you reach the airport and intercity buses?
Asheville Regional Airport is about 22 minutes by car. ART’s S3 route can connect passengers to the airport. For a more detailed airport journey, read how to get from Asheville Regional Airport to the motel.
ART serves the Asheville Intercity Bus stop at 64 Asheland Avenue via all its routes. Greyhound Lines and Sunway Charters serve that stop, which is a useful downtown connection if you are arriving by intercity bus.
Greenville Spartanburg International Airport is about 70 minutes by car. Tri-Cities Regional TN/VA Airport is about 64.1 miles away, while Greenville Downtown Airport is about 52.0 miles away.
What should you know about getting around Biltmore Estate?
Biltmore Estate is about 28 minutes by car, and the estate recommends allowing at least a full day to visit. Its GPS address is 1 Lodge Street, Asheville, NC 28803.
Biltmore advises arriving in a personal vehicle to explore the estate: its roads have no sidewalks, and the distances between areas make walking impractical.
Allow at least 45 minutes to travel between estate locations and park. The Reception & Ticketing Sales Center is 3 miles from Biltmore House, and Biltmore House is 5 miles from Antler Hill Village & Winery.
Biltmore Connect costs $15 per person per day and is free for children 16 and younger. It runs between the Reception & Ticketing Sales Center, Biltmore House, and Antler Hill Village & Winery. A complimentary Garden Shuttle runs from Biltmore House to the Conservatory in the Walled Garden from April through December.
For taxi, Uber, and Lyft drop-off or pick-up, use the designated lane by the Park & Ride Building at 79 Old Shiloh Road. That lane is for arrival and departure, not travel between estate locations.
Biltmore also provides a complimentary round-trip ADA shuttle from the Park & Ride Building to Biltmore House, with accessible parking in Lot E. Its shuttles are accessible to wheelchair and stroller users.
If you are organizing a full day, what to plan before visiting Biltmore Estate can help you think through the visit.
Before you go
Bus timetables, fares, parking rules, and estate transport details can change, so check the official site before you go. For a day combining downtown stops, a practical one-day Asheville route from the motel can help you sequence the trip.
FAQs
Is Asheville city centre walkable from the motel?
The walk to Asheville city centre takes about 102 minutes. Driving takes about 10 minutes.
Can you take a bus to Asheville Regional Airport?
ART’s S3 route can connect passengers to Asheville Regional Airport. Check the current route schedule before setting out.
How much does an ART bus ride cost?
ART’s standard one-way fare is $1. Cash-paying riders need exact change, and riders transferring buses should request a transfer slip when boarding the first bus.
Is it practical to walk between areas at Biltmore?
Biltmore advises against walking between estate areas because its roads have no sidewalks and the distances are substantial. The estate recommends arriving in a personal vehicle to explore.