Best time to visit Asheville
The best time to visit Asheville is April and October, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Asheville, North Carolina, United States
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7.7 °C / 46 °F | -2.1 °C / 28 °F | 93 mm / 3.6 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 10.5 °C / 51 °F | 0 °C / 32 °F | 87 mm / 3.4 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 14.7 °C / 58 °F | 3.5 °C / 38 °F | 93 mm / 3.7 in | good month |
| April | 19.2 °C / 67 °F | 7.5 °C / 46 °F | 92 mm / 3.6 in | best month |
| May | 22.3 °C / 72 °F | 12.2 °C / 54 °F | 100 mm / 3.9 in | good month |
| June | 26.2 °C / 79 °F | 16.3 °C / 61 °F | 75 mm / 3 in | neither best nor good |
| July | 27.6 °C / 82 °F | 18 °C / 64 °F | 96 mm / 3.8 in | neither best nor good |
| August | 26.9 °C / 80 °F | 17.6 °C / 64 °F | 104 mm / 4.1 in | neither best nor good |
| September | 24.1 °C / 75 °F | 14.5 °C / 58 °F | 108 mm / 4.2 in | good month |
| October | 19.2 °C / 67 °F | 8 °C / 46 °F | 80 mm / 3.1 in | best month |
| November | 13.6 °C / 56 °F | 2.3 °C / 36 °F | 74 mm / 2.9 in | good month |
| December | 9.8 °C / 50 °F | 0.4 °C / 33 °F | 97 mm / 3.8 in | neither best nor good |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: good
- AApril: best
- MMay: good
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: good
- OOctober: best
- NNovember: good
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- April, October
- Good
- March, May, September, November
April and October are best for exploring on foot -- mild, sunny and comparatively dry. March, May, September and November are still good but cooler, more humid or rainier. Winter (Dec-Feb) is too cold and dim, and June-August turn hot, muggy and prone to afternoon downpours.
Why these months
March · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 71%, precipitation 93 mm / 3.7 in, average daily high 14.7 °C / 58 °F, relative humidity 63%.
Against: wet days 10.7 days, days with heavy rain 3.5 days, feels like (high) 11.8 °C / 53 °F, average daily low 3.5 °C / 38 °F.
April · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.5 °C / 64 °F, average daily high 19.2 °C / 67 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, precipitation 92 mm / 3.6 in, wet days 9.6 days, relative humidity 64%, average daily low 7.5 °C / 46 °F.
Against: days with heavy rain 3 days.
May · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 22.6 °C / 73 °F, average daily high 22.3 °C / 72 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 76%, precipitation 100 mm / 3.9 in, average daily low 12.2 °C / 54 °F.
Against: wet days 12.1 days, days with heavy rain 3 days, relative humidity 73%, share of rain falling in the daytime 50%, time rain usually falls 4 pm.
Also on: Asheville Herb Festival, Asheville Tourists baseball season, Downtown After Five.
September · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 25.2 °C / 77 °F, average daily high 24.1 °C / 75 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, average daily low 14.5 °C / 58 °F.
Against: precipitation 108 mm / 4.2 in, relative humidity 78%, wet days 9.9 days, days with heavy rain 3 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 47%, time rain usually falls 5 pm.
Also on: Asheville Tourists baseball season, Autumn foliage ("leaf lookers"), Downtown After Five, Great Smokies Craft Brewers Brewgrass Festival, Shindig on the Green.
October · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 18 °C / 64 °F, average daily high 19.2 °C / 67 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 77%, precipitation 80 mm / 3.1 in, wet days 7.6 days, days with heavy rain 2.5 days, average daily low 8 °C / 46 °F, relative humidity 75%.
Also on: Autumn foliage ("leaf lookers"), Moogfest.
November · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 75%, precipitation 74 mm / 2.9 in, wet days 7.2 days, days with heavy rain 2.4 days, average daily high 13.6 °C / 56 °F, relative humidity 69%.
Against: sunshine per day 7.7 h, feels like (high) 10.8 °C / 51 °F, average daily low 2.3 °C / 36 °F.
Also on: Autumn foliage ("leaf lookers"), Moogfest.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: good
- AApril: best
- MMay: good
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: good
- OOctober: best
- NNovember: good
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- April, October
- Good
- March, May, September, November
October is the standout hiking month -- cool, dry and clear -- with April close behind; March, May, September and November are good but cooler, muggier or wetter. Summer heat, humidity and afternoon thunderstorms make June-August poor for exertion, and frosty, short, wet winters (Dec-Feb) rule out the rest.
Why these months
March · good
In its favour: average daily high 14.7 °C / 58 °F, precipitation 93 mm / 3.7 in, feels like (high) 11.8 °C / 53 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 71%, daylight per day 12 h, average daily low 3.5 °C / 38 °F, wind (daily max) 16 km/h / 10 mph.
Against: days with heavy rain 3.5 days, wet days 10.7 days.
April · best
In its favour: average daily high 19.2 °C / 67 °F, precipitation 92 mm / 3.6 in, wet days 9.6 days, feels like (high) 17.5 °C / 64 °F, average daily low 7.5 °C / 46 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, daylight per day 13.1 h, wind (daily max) 16 km/h / 10 mph.
Against: days with heavy rain 3 days.
May · good
In its favour: average daily high 22.3 °C / 72 °F, precipitation 100 mm / 3.9 in, average daily low 12.2 °C / 54 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 76%, daylight per day 14.1 h, feels like (high) 22.6 °C / 73 °F, wind (daily max) 13 km/h / 8 mph.
Against: wet days 12.1 days, days with heavy rain 3 days, relative humidity 73%, share of rain falling in the daytime 50%, time rain usually falls 4 pm.
Also on: Asheville Herb Festival, Asheville Tourists baseball season, Downtown After Five.
September · good
In its favour: average daily high 24.1 °C / 75 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, daylight per day 12.4 h, average daily low 14.5 °C / 58 °F, wind (daily max) 10 km/h / 6 mph, feels like (high) 25.2 °C / 77 °F.
Against: precipitation 108 mm / 4.2 in, days with heavy rain 3 days, wet days 9.9 days, relative humidity 78%, share of rain falling in the daytime 47%, time rain usually falls 5 pm.
Also on: Asheville Tourists baseball season, Autumn foliage ("leaf lookers"), Downtown After Five, Great Smokies Craft Brewers Brewgrass Festival, Shindig on the Green.
October · best
In its favour: average daily high 19.2 °C / 67 °F, precipitation 80 mm / 3.1 in, wet days 7.6 days, feels like (high) 18 °C / 64 °F, average daily low 8 °C / 46 °F, days with heavy rain 2.5 days, share of daylight that is sunny 77%, daylight per day 11.3 h, wind (daily max) 12 km/h / 8 mph.
Also on: Autumn foliage ("leaf lookers"), Moogfest.
November · good
In its favour: average daily high 13.6 °C / 56 °F, precipitation 74 mm / 2.9 in, wet days 7.2 days, days with heavy rain 2.4 days, share of daylight that is sunny 75%, feels like (high) 10.8 °C / 51 °F, average daily low 2.3 °C / 36 °F, wind (daily max) 13 km/h / 8 mph, daylight per day 10.3 h.
Against: sunshine per day 7.7 h.
Also on: Autumn foliage ("leaf lookers"), Moogfest.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Sugar Mountain Resort, 84 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 4 °C | 7 °C | 11.8 °C | 17.5 °C | 22.6 °C | 28.2 °C | 30.5 °C | 29.5 °C | 25.2 °C | 18 °C | 10.8 °C | 6.8 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 3.3 days | 2.8 days | 3.5 days | 3 days | 3 days | 2.3 days | 2.3 days | 3 days | 3 days | 2.5 days | 2.4 days | 3.2 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 4 pm | 9 am | 4 pm | 5 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 5 pm | 6 am | 11 am | 3 am |
| Sunshine per day | 7 h | 7.7 h | 8.5 h | 10.4 h | 10.7 h | 12.1 h | 11.7 h | 11.1 h | 9.8 h | 8.7 h | 7.7 h | 6.3 h |
| Relative humidity | 66% | 65% | 63% | 64% | 73% | 74% | 77% | 78% | 78% | 75% | 69% | 72% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 6.6 µg/m³ | 7.6 µg/m³ | 7.3 µg/m³ | 7.1 µg/m³ | 9.5 µg/m³ | 13.2 µg/m³ | 11.5 µg/m³ | 10.3 µg/m³ | 8.8 µg/m³ | 5.8 µg/m³ | 6.3 µg/m³ | 6.9 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 12.6 µg/m³ | 13 µg/m³ | 13.1 µg/m³ | 12.5 µg/m³ | 15.9 µg/m³ | 19.9 µg/m³ | 16.8 µg/m³ | 15.8 µg/m³ | 13.3 µg/m³ | 9.4 µg/m³ | 11.3 µg/m³ | 13.2 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
Events and seasons
What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.
Reasons to go
- Asheville FringeArts Festival
24–31 January
- National Gingerbread House Competition & Display
January, February and December
- Asheville Herb Festival
May
- Downtown After Five
May, June, July, August and September, dates vary from year to year
- Asheville Tourists baseball season
May, June, July, August and September
- Shindig on the Green
24 June–7 September
- Mountain Dance and Folk Festival
1–7 August, dates vary from year to year
- Goombay! Festival
August
- Great Smokies Craft Brewers Brewgrass Festival
September
- Autumn foliage ("leaf lookers")
September, October and November
- Moogfest
24 October–1 November, dates vary from year to year
- Montford Holiday Tour of Homes
8–14 December, dates vary from year to year