Gray Line Trolley Tours of Asheville

Asheville, North Carolina:  There is no better way to see and learn about a city than by taking a ride with a local.  That's exactly what Asheville Trolley Tours does, gives riders a glimpse into the local culture of Asheville.  Cradled in the mountains, Asheville is a quirky town with something to offer for everyone.

Your trip on the bright red trolley begins at the Asheville Visitor's Center, stop one of the tour.  Park your car here in one of the many free parking spots and hop aboard the trolley for a day filled with interesting stories and amazing sights.

There are ten stops along the route, each with something new and exciting to explore.  During the summer, there is a trolley every thirty minutes giving you time to explore the area around the stop.  If you choose to stay on the trolley, it takes about an hour and a half to complete the entire circuit.  We chose to stay onboard for one entire circuit to hear the history of the area and get an overview of the city before we hopped off at any stops.

Here are the ten stops along the route as well as the major sites nearby:

  • Stop 1:  Asheville Visitors Center - visitor center, tour tickets, gift shop, Montford District within walking distance.
  • Stop 2: Omni Grove Park Inn - Grove Park Inn, Grovewood Gallery, Este-Winn Antique Car Museum
  • Stop 3: Renaissance & Four Points Hotel - Thomas Wolfe Memorial Site, Asheville Community Theater, First Baptist Church
  • Stop 4: Pack Square - Asheville Art Museum, YMI Cultural Center, Pack Square, City Hall
  • Stop 5: Haywood Park Hotel - Wall Street, Flat Iron Building, St Lawrence Basilica, Colburn Earth Science Museum
  • Stop 6: Grove Arcade - shopping, dining
  • Stop 7: River Arts District - art, galleries
  • Stop 8: Double Tree
  • Stop 9: Biltmore Village - All Souls Cathedral, shopping, dining
  • Stop 10: Grand Bohemian Hotel - Biltmore Gate House Shop

The trolley tour was our first stop after checking into the hotel.  We used it to provide an overview of what to expect during our week in town.  The fun and informative tour set a great tone for our trip and allowed us to make the most of our limited time in town.

The hop on/hop off tour is just one of the tours available by Gray Line Trolley Tours of Asheville.  They also offer a Haunted History & Murder Mystery Ghost Tour and a seasonal Holly Jolly Christmas Trolley Tour.  

The Helmken family does a wonderful job in managing a very enjoyable tour here in Asheville.  It was a great addition to our trip and really helped give us an understanding of the city and its history and culture.  

Click on any of the photos above for a gallery of photos during our time in Asheville and aboard the Asheville Trolley Tour.

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