Best Unique Free & Cheap Things to do in Asheville 2022 (Asheville Travel on a Budget)
Hey y’all! I am an Asheville local, own a local business and I have planned multiple group trips here and elsewhere so I know how hard it can be to find things to do and stick to a budget.
I also quit my job and solo traveled around the world on a shoestring budget from 2015 - 2017.
Asheville, NC is one of the most popular travel destinations in the country thanks to our abundance of breweries, fantastic food, local & live music, hiking, waterfalls and tons of other unique & fun things to do.
Having an affordable Asheville
• solo trip,
• couples trip,
• bachelor/bachelorette or birthday party,
• or a weekend retreat getaway
is totally doable, especially with a little help in the planning department.
My best advice is to choose one or two uniquely Asheville things to splurge on - like a Mountaintop Vortex Yoga Hiking Tour, a Downtown Food Tour or a local Rooftop Bar Tour - and then save as much as you can on everything else; especially if this is likely to be your only trip to the area.
After all, the goal of traveling is to explore and experience new places yourself. If the only goal was to save money then you wouldn’t travel at all and just learn about new places via books, pictures and videos. 😉
On this list you’ll find:
• Best FREE Things to do in Asheville 2022
• Best Cheap Things to do in Asheville ($25 or less)
• Cheap Things to do in Asheville ($50 or less)
• Cheap Spa & Wellness things to do in Asheville
• Cheap Tours & Things to do in Asheville
• Free & Cheap Live Music in Asheville
• Cheap Hotels, Motels & Rentals Asheville
• Cheap Hostels & Camping Asheville
• Cheap Transportation Asheville
Click for blog post with more information & recommendations
Best FREE Things to do in Asheville 2022
• Drum Circle Friday Evenings in Pritchard Park
• Explore artist studios and demonstrations in the River Arts District
• Go on a mural/street art scavenger hunt (especially River Arts District, Downtown, West Asheville and South Slope)
• Picnic in or walk around one of our many parks
• Visit the dog park at French Broad River Park
• Tubing the French Broad River (Launch at Carrier Park, Bring your own tube)
• Explore the grounds of some of Asheville’s bigger breweries like Highlands, Sierra Nevada and New Belgium
• Walk around downtown and enjoy local live music, street performers and buskers
• Silent Disco at Rabbit Rabbit starts at FREE
• Self-guided Asheville Urban Trail tour downtown
• Self-guided Asheville Architecture tour downtown
• AVL Free Walking Tour (Tip Based)
• Drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway
• Best, Easy Waterfall Hikes near Asheville
• Top 10 Asheville Spring Hikes
• Top 25 Hiking Recommendations
Click for blog post with directions & more info
$25 or Less: Cheap things to do in Asheville
• Yoga in the Park starts at $10
• Asheville Art Museum starts at $10 (some FREE)
• Group Sound Healing Sessions start at $20
• Beginner Djembe Drumming Class $20
• Private Yoga Class (with mats) at your hotel/rental starts at $25
• Downtown Pubcycle Tour starts at $25
• Student Acupuncture Sessions start at $25
• Zen Tubing floating on the French Broad starts at $25
• Live Music at Salvage Station tickets generally $25 or less
• Live Music at Grey Eagle tickets generally $25 or less
• Live Music at Isis Music Hall tickets generally $25 or less
$50 or Less: Cheap Things to do in Asheville
• 50 Minute Student Massage $29
• 2 day unlimited yoga pass $29
• 15 Minute Social Spa Experiences $30
• Yoga with a view $35
• Foot soaks $35
• Steam & Sauna for 2 hours $37
• Downtown Asheville Electric Bike Rental starts at $39
• LaZoom City Comedy Bus Tour $39
• 80 Minute Student Massage $45
• Mountaintop Vortex Yoga Hiking Tour starts at $48
Click for more info about the Asheville vortex
Cheap Hotels, Motels & Rentals Asheville
You may be able to find cheap hotels or cheap motels in Asheville, NC. The farther from town you book, the less hotels/motels will cost and the closer to downtown you are, the more expensive they will be, ranging from under $100/night to over $300/night or more.
Most groups use AirBNB, VRBO or other home rental service and split the total cost between everyone. You may find some within walking distance of downtown, but they will most likely be outside the city so make sure you have or rent a car to get around.
The price of hotels, motels and rentals in Asheville can vary greatly depending on the time of year you choose to visit. Learn more: Cheapest Time to Visit Asheville
Cheap Hostels & Camping Asheville
The absolute cheapest places to stay in Asheville, NC - especially for solo travelers - include camping and hostels.
You will find several camping options in the Asheville area including KOA East Asheville, KOA West Asheville and several spots throughout the Pisgah National Forest. More camping suggestions and information on Visit Asheville and Romantic Asheville.
Bunk beds at hostels in the Asheville area start in the $30’s and include:
• Sweet Pea’s
• Asheville Hostel & Guest House and
• Bon Paul & Sharky’s Hostel.
Cheap Transportation Asheville
You can find some taxis, Uber and Lyft drivers in Asheville, but they are not nearly as plentiful as they used to be pre-pandemic.
It’s also best to rent or have your own vehicle if you want to go for a hike or participate in outdoor activities. I recommend splitting the cost of renting a vehicle if you have a group. If you can’t find a rental car at the airport or a traditional rental car company, try turo.com.
ART (Asheville Rides Transit) provides bus service throughout the City of Asheville and to the Town of Black Mountain. See their website for schedule and fare information.
You can also find some cheap flights to the Asheville airport (AVL) on Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta, jetBlue and more.
AVL Asheville Airport Nonstop Flights
The downtown Asheville area is pretty walkable but generally costs more to stay there. So it’s kind of a trade-off of whether you spend more on lodging or transportation. Having your own transportation also gives you the added benefit of more freedom/mobility. I recommend planning at least a half or full day out in the majestic mountains surrounding the city during your trip to fully experience everything this area has to offer!
Best Cheap Eats & Affordable Restaurants Asheville
You don’t have to spend a ton of money to enjoy Asheville’s local food scene! I’ve personally eaten at and enjoyed all of these locations. You can find something for everyone including meat, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Expect to spend $5 - $15 pp per meal at these locations.
• White Duck Taco Fast service, Multiple locations
• Itto Ramen & Japanese Tapas Fast service, Multiple locations
• Dobra Tea House Hundreds of teas! Multiple locations
• Green Sage Cafe Healthy, multiple locations
• BimBeriBon Gluten-Free, West Asheville
• Chai Pani Indian Food Downtown
• Blue Dream Curry House All kinds of curry, downtown
• MOD Pizza Fast service, unique pizzas
• Double D’s Coffee & Desserts Downtown, Red Double Decker Bus
Cheapest Time to Visit Asheville
Winter (December - February) is the cheapest time of year to visit Asheville, NC with the exception of Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Shoulder seasons are March and November. The best time to visit Asheville is between April and October, with October being the most popular (and expensive) month to visit mainly due to the fall leaves changing color. Asheville is a great place to visit year round due to its relatively mild climate and weather.
Click for blog post and weather month by month
Hope this helps you save some dollars while also experiencing everything Asheville has to offer!
💖 Miranda
Find more info, advice and giveaways on instagram @mirandaofthemountains and @namaste_in_nature
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