Hours, Directions & Prices

Construction and Trail Access Updates:

Trail Resurfacing Update Monday, August 10:

Please be aware that beginning Monday, August 10, trail resurfacing will begin on several trails off Bent Creek Road and continue through the week. During this time, some trail access will be unavailable. Work will begin along the Ethnobotany Trail on Monday, and over the next week continue to portions of Old Mill Trail, Old Arboretum Trail, and Wesley Branch Trail.

As we complete this important work, staging for these projects may require closing some nearby areas, including parts of the Gatehouse Parking for the staging of work vehicles and equipment.

Please check in with the Gatehouse or the Baker Visitor Center for the latest updates.

Thank you for your understanding as we complete this important update!

Hours

April – October Property Hours: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. Daily

November – March Property Hours: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Daily

Closed Christmas Day
Open regular hours Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day

Incoming gate closes one hour prior to closing time.

Baker Exhibit Center and Bonsai Exhibition Garden Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Connections Gallery Gift Shop Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Arbor Eatery Summer Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Rocky Cove Railroad Hours: Trains run Saturdays and Sundays, 12 – 4 p.m. April through October
Playing Woods Hours: Available to the public when not in use by our Educational Programs. Please see current hours here.

Parking Fees

Personal/Standard Vehicle (up to 20′ long): $25
Large vehicles (21′-29′ long): $60
Busses and Oversize Vehicles (30′ long+): $125
Members: Free

Please note: Effective March 1, 2026, the standard parking fee for personal vehicles changed to $25. Fees for larger vehicles remain the same and membership rates remain unchanged. Visitation is still be possible using a Zoom pass through local library branches and on the first Tuesday of every month, the Arboretum offers $10 off personal vehicle parking. See more about this change here.

Apart from the parking fee, there is no other admission charge to enter the Arboretum or our facilities, except in the case of advertised ticketed events.

Guests can apply their personal vehicle parking ticket towards an Arboretum Society Membership by signing up on-site or contacting Membership Services after their visit (must keep parking ticket with you to redeem).

Discounts

AAA Members receive $1 off personal vehicle parking fees (valid cards must be presented at the gate).
AHS Reciprocal Garden Members receive free parking for personal vehicles (valid cards must be presented at the gate).
Check out a ZOOM Pass from your local library to receive free parking to the Arboretum (reservations required).
Active/retired veterans receive free parking on Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day.
First Tuesday of every month, the Arboretum offers $10 off personal vehicle parking.

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Directions

20 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806

Please note: Many GPS units do not correctly identify the Arboretum’s location within the Bent Creek Experimental Forest, therefore we DO NOT recommend the use of a GPS device for navigation to the Arboretum. If your navigation system directs you to the Arboretum service entrance off Wesley Branch Road, please turn back and follow the road to the traffic light. Turn right (south) onto Brevard Road/Hwy. 191 and continue in the right lane, which will become a turn only lane. Turn right at light and the entrance to The North Carolina Arboretum is ahead on the right.

The educational programs at the Arboretum completely transformed our students’ understanding of local ecology. The hands-on approach made complex scientific concepts accessible and exciting.

— SARAH JENKINS, MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER

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