Points of Interest between Asheville, North Carolina to Houston, Texas

picture of Asheville, North Carolina

Best Things to Do on a Road Trip from Asheville, NC to Houston, TX

Asheville, North Carolina and Houston, Texas are two great cities that are over 1,100 miles away from each other. The road trip from Asheville to Houston is an adventure that takes you through five states. There are many attractions and activities that people can enjoy along the way. The halfway point of the journey is Creola, Alabama, which is a small town with a lot of southern charm.

Top 5 Things to Do

  1. Visit the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. The Biltmore Estate is a historic mansion, which opens to the public and features gorgeous gardens, different events throughout the year, and much more. Built in 1895, the Biltmore house was the private residence of George Vanderbilt, and it's the biggest privately-owned house in America. Visitors can enjoy wine tastings, guided tours, and live entertainment. In the summer, the estate hosts many outdoor activities like river floats and fly fishing lessons.
  • Since November 2020, the estate has a new exhibit called Downton Abbey: The Exhibition featuring over 50 costumes worn in the series.
  1. Explore the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular national park in the United States. With over 800 square miles of wilderness, visitors can enjoy hiking, scenic drives, camping, fishing, horseback riding, and more. The different hiking trails range from easy to strenuous, so there is something for everyone.
  • The park covers parts of North Carolina and Tennessee and is home to one of the last old-growth forests on the East Coast.
  1. Visit the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum in Tupelo, MS. Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, and his childhood home is now a museum that visitors can explore. The museum features the famous “Elvis at 13” statue, a memorial chapel, and a museum that houses many Elvis-related artifacts. Visitors can also tour Elvis' childhood home and see where the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll grew up.
  • The Elvis Presley Birthplace Park covers an area of 15 acres and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
  1. Experience the Bourbon Trail in Louisville, KY. The Bourbon Trail is a famous journey through some of the top bourbon distilleries in the state of Kentucky. Louisville is the biggest city on the trail and is home to many well-known distilleries. Tourists can enjoy tastings, history lessons, and tours of these distilleries.
  • Kentucky produces over 90% of the world's bourbon whiskey.
  1. See the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. The Johnson Space Center is the national center for human spaceflight, and it's NASA's biggest scientific research center. Visitors can tour the different facilities where astronauts receive training, see real spacecraft, and learn about the history of space exploration.
  • The Johnson Space Center has been used as a location for quite a few Hollywood movies including Apollo 13 and Armageddon.

Interesting Facts about Each Location

  • The Biltmore Estate has 250 rooms and 43 bathrooms.
  • The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Elvis Presley was born in a two-room house that had no electricity or running water.
  • The Bourbon Trail was created in 1999, and there are now nine distilleries on the trail.
  • The Johnson Space Center has been home to every American astronaut since 1961.

Conclusion

The road trip from Asheville, North Carolina to Houston, Texas took about 20 hours in total driving time. It's a long journey, but there are many interesting stops along the way. The Biltmore Estate, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum, the Bourbon Trail, and the Johnson Space Center are all worth a visit. Overall, the road trip offers a mix of history, culture, and entertainment for anyone who takes it on.