Hours, Directions & Prices

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
• PLEASE NOTE: For the duration of Winter Lights (Nov. 17 – Dec. 31, 2023), daytime access to the property will close at 5 p.m. each 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.
• Bent Creek Bistro Hours: 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. November 17 – December 31
• Rocky Cove Railroad Hours: Trains run Saturdays and Sundays, 12 – 4 p.m. April through October

Parking Fees

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

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 Buncombe County Library ZOOM Pass,  Henderson County Library ZOOM Pass or Polk County Library ZOOM Pass 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 a 50% discount on personal vehicle parking.
  • Non-profit Annual Organizational Parking Pass – Nonprofit and governmental organizations that plan to visit the Arboretum multiple times throughout the year may apply for a Nonprofit Organization Annual Parking Pass. Click to learn more and apply.

Directions

Best Address for GPS:
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.

Garden Etiquette

The North Carolina Arboretum is a stunning, tranquil garden located in beautiful Western North Carolina. We ask that you please be considerate of the following rules so that visitors, plants and animals alike can continue to enjoy this wonderful area:

• Leashed dogs and pets are welcome on property (except during Winter Lights and other specified events). Only service animals are permitted inside buildings and the Bonsai Exhibition Garden. Please be mindful of the gardens and other guests by picking up after your pet.
• Bicycles, roller blades and skateboards are not permitted in the main gardens and Bonsai Exhibition Garden.
• Picnics and outside food and drinks are allowed, however; please be sure to dispose of waste and recyclables in the appropriate receptacles.
• No firearms or outside alcohol are allowed on property.
• Personal photography is allowed. Please visit the photography policy page for more details regarding commercial photography and permits.

For any other questions regarding your visit to The North Carolina Arboretum, please contact us.

Agritourism Statement:

Under North Carolina law, there is no liability for an injury to or death of a participant in an agritourism activity conducted at this agritourism location if such injury or death results from the inherent risks of the agritourism activity. Inherent risks of agritourism activities include, among others, risks of injury inherent to land, equipment, and animals, as well as the potential for you to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to your injury or death. You are assuming the risk of participating in this agritourism activity.