Asheville, North Carolina is full of walkable neighborhoods where it’s easy to walk to work, exercise, run errands, or just enjoy Asheville’s four distinct seasons. If you’re aiming to be less dependent on a car or spend more time outside, a walkable neighborhood is for you. Neighborhoods like these are some of Asheville’s best features, and they make it easy to see why the city is so popular. Whether you have a family with young kids or you’re planning to retire in Asheville, there’s a safe, walkable neighborhood for you. Read on to find our locals’ guide to the best neighborhoods for walking and places to walk in Asheville, NC.
1. Downtown – Asheville Walkable Neighborhood
What Downtown Asheville is Walkable To:
Coffee shops, bars and breweries, restaurants, shopping, the Asheville Art Museum, Pack Square Park (and the festivals and concerts held there), and event venues like Wortham Center for the Performing Arts and the Harrah’s Cherokee Center.
Downtown Asheville Walkability Score: 87
Downtown Asheville is actually the city’s most walkable neighborhood because most errands can be done on foot. Trendy apartments and condos sit above storefronts, restaurants, and bars, and you can easily walk to get meals, books, and other essentials at local shops nearby. If you’re looking for a walkable area with lots of activity, music, and things to do, downtown is for you.
Community Highlights:
- Vibrant, energetic area with lots to do.
- Gourmet restaurants outside your door.
- Low-maintenance condo living.
Downtown Asheville homes for sale
2. West Asheville – Asheville Walkable Neighborhood
What West Asheville is Walkable To:
Coffee shops, bars and breweries, a grocery store, restaurants, shopping, Carrier Park, The Grey Eagle Music Hall.
West Asheville Walkability Score: 73
For an artsy, walkable neighborhood on a smaller scale than downtown, try West Asheville. As the name implies, this hip neighborhood is located west of downtown Asheville, and while it’s too far to walk easily, it is possible to bike between West Asheville and downtown. The neighborhood consists of Haywood Street (the main thoroughfare) and a residential area to the west which contains smaller neighborhoods. (Two of these small neighborhoods, Falconhurst and West Asheville Estates, have some of the highest Walk Scores in Asheville, at 78 and 73 respectively).
Haywood Street contains shops, cafes, a major grocery store, bars and breweries, restaurants, churches, apartments, and much more, and all of this is walkable from the smaller neighborhoods. We recommend taking a walk just to see all of the colorful murals on walls along Haywood.
Community Highlights:
- Quirky, artistic, and community-focused.
- Less busy than downtown.
- Walkable from historic West Asheville homes.
West Asheville homes for sale
3. Montford – Walkable to North Asheville
What Montford is Walkable To:
Coffee shops, bars and breweries, restaurants, Trader Joe’s, Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, Asheville Botanical Garden.
Montford Walkability Score: 53
The Montford neighborhood is slightly northwest of downtown Asheville. This historic district contains many houses built between 1890 and 1920, and the streets are wide and shaded by large trees. Take a walk through Montford and you’ll feel like you’re traveling back in time! You can also easily walk or bike to businesses located on Merrimon Avenue (a road adjacent to Montford) from many homes in the neighborhood.
Community Highlights:
- Close to downtown.
- Historic homes, modern businesses.
- Adjacent to UNC Asheville.
Montford homes for sale
4. Charlotte Street – Walkable to North Asheville
What Charlotte Street is Walkable To:
Coffee shops, bars and breweries, restaurants, Trader Joe’s, Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, downtown Asheville.
Charlotte Street Walkability Score: 63
The Charlotte Street neighborhood is within walking distance from downtown Asheville and features historic homes on tree-covered streets. Charlotte Street is home to a wide variety of restaurants and cafes, serving everything from sandwiches and coffee (City Bakery) to tacos (Taco Temple) to oysters (Jettie Rae’s Oyster House) and more. The neighborhood’s streets are laid out in a grid, for the most part, which makes the area easy to navigate by foot. While there is some traffic on Charlotte Street itself, the neighborhood’s internal streets are much quieter.
Community Highlights:
- Convenient to downtown and interstate.
- Cozy cafes and restaurants nearby.
- Walkable to grocery shopping.
Charlotte Street homes for sale
5. Grove Park – Walkable to North Asheville
What Grove Park is Walkable To:
Restaurants and businesses on Merrimon Avenue, Weaver Park.
Grove Park Walkability Score: 36
The Grove Park neighborhood is named for The Omni Grove Park Inn, a glamorous resort hotel built in 1913. The Inn sits on the western slope of Sunset Mountain and overlooks the neighborhood below, and parts of the neighborhood border the Inn’s golf course. The area is full of large, historic homes, wide streets, and carefully maintained gardens. Its collection of luxurious properties and proximity to great golfing make it an ideal place to retire in Asheville.
Community Highlights:
- Historic architecture.
- Close to Merrimon Avenue businesses.
- Shaded sidewalks are ideal for walking.
Grove Park homes for sale
6. Kenilworth – Walkable to North Asheville
What Kenilworth is Walkable To:
Caledonia Park, Leah Chiles Park.
Kenilworth Walkability Score: 32
Kenilworth is located to the southeast of downtown Asheville. While Kenilworth is accessible via the busy, central Tunnel Road, the cul-de-sac neighborhood itself is secluded, quiet, and peaceful. Kenilworth’s terrain is hilly, with roads winding around the area’s natural topography, so walking is a workout on some streets and a breeze on others. This neighborhood is also known for its architecture, and you’ll see Spanish colonial, Craftsman, and Tudor Revival homes, meticulous gardens, and well-kept yards while strolling the neighborhood.
Community Highlights:
- Historical architecture and manicured gardens.
- Close to Biltmore Village.
- Short commute to Mission Hospital and the Biltmore Estate.
Kenilworth homes for sale
7. Biltmore Park – Walkable to South Asheville
What Biltmore Park is Walkable To:
Restaurants and bars, a Barnes and Noble bookstore, chain and local retail stores, a drug store, a movie theater, and a YMCA with a community pool.
Biltmore Park Walkability Score: 29
Biltmore Park is a mixed-use commercial and residential development located about 25 minutes south of Downtown Asheville. As a resident, you’ll have a variety of places to eat, drink, shop, and have fun right outside your door. You can walk to see a new movie, pick up a new book, or get in a workout. Sidewalks, benches, and trees make the area feel welcoming, and there’s an outdoor area for community events as well.
Community Highlights:
- Low-maintenance living.
- Amenities steps away from home.
- Convenient to Airport and Hendersonville Roads.
Biltmore Park homes for sale
FAQs on Asheville’s Walkable Neighborhoods
Is Asheville walkable?
Yes. There are neighborhoods in Asheville where residents can easily walk to work, shops and restaurants. It’s possible to run errands in these areas without a car. Additionally, there are many other neighborhoods that are just great places to take a walk for fun or exercise, even if they are not within safe walking distance from businesses. If walking is a big part of your lifestyle (either for exercise or to be less car-dependent), choose one of these neighborhoods and you’ll love living in Asheville.
What is Asheville’s walkability score?
Overall, Asheville’s average Walk Score is 37. However, this includes a wide variety of neighborhoods, including those in areas far from the city. Many neighborhoods across the Asheville area have much higher Walk Scores than the city as a whole. As mentioned, downtown Asheville’s Walk Score is 87.
What neighborhoods are walking distance from downtown Asheville?
The Montford and Charlotte Street neighborhoods are within walking distance from downtown Asheville, with sidewalks and crosswalks provided all along the way. The Grove Park neighborhood is slightly farther away from downtown but also within walking (or biking) distance.
Are there communities with lots for sale that are walkable neighborhoods in Asheville?
Yes! You can build your dream home in one of these above walkable neighborhoods if you’re looking for lots for sale in Asheville. Although vacant land for sale is harder to find in more historic neighborhoods, you can find lots to build on if you keep an eye out. We can help you find the perfect lot. Just contact us and tell us which neighborhood you are interested in. You can also view all of our listed lots for sale.
How to Choose the Right Asheville Walkable Neighborhood for You
These walkable neighborhoods are some of the best places to live in the Asheville area – but which one is right for you? The ideal fit depends on your needs.
- If you want to walk to buy groceries, West Asheville, Montford or Charlotte Street might be a good fit for you.
- If you want to walk to get a meal, drinks, or coffee, any of the neighborhoods above will suit you.
- If you want to walk to concerts, performances, and festivals, Downtown and West Asheville are ideal.
- If you want a quiet, peaceful place to walk, Kenilworth and Grove Park are away from the city noise.
- If you want to walk for fun and exercise, any of the neighborhoods offer sidewalks and safe walking!
Want to learn more about these neighborhoods or any others in Western North Carolina? Contact our team of local agents at Freestone Properties. We can tell you more about properties for sale in walkable neighborhoods across Western NC, from those in Asheville to those in nearby small towns like Hendersonville, Waynesville, and Black Mountain.
