Asheville West KOA Holiday Blog
It's Fall Color Season! Book Your RV Camping and Cabin Rentals off I-40. RV Sites Start at $45.
Whether you’re exploring the local area or hanging out at the campground, KOA Holidays are an ideal place to relax and play. There’s plenty to do, with amenities and services to make your stay memorable. Plus, you’ll enjoy the outdoor experience with upgraded RV Sites with KOA Patio® and Deluxe Cabins with full baths for camping in comfort. Bring your family, bring your friends, or bring the whole group – there’s plenty of ways to stay and explore.
Whether you’re exploring the local area or hanging out at the campground, KOA Holidays are an ideal place to relax and play. There’s plenty to do, with amenities and services to make your stay memorable. Plus, you’ll enjoy the outdoor experience with upgraded RV Sites with KOA Patio® and Deluxe Cabins with full baths for camping in comfort. Bring your family, bring your friends, or bring the whole group – there’s plenty of ways to stay and explore.
Take I-40 12 miles west of Asheville to Exit 37.
Eastbound take three rights.
Westbound take a left and two rights, 1/2 mile from exit.
Follow directions, not GPS.
While October is famous for leaf peeping, November is just as exciting. Biltmore Estate begins its Christmas display. Highland Brewing throws its annual multi-day Cold Mountain Release Party. Winter Lights begins at the Arboretum. Gingerbread is on display at the Grove Park Inn! Plus, you can still catch late-season fall color in the lower elevations.
Asheville West KOA makes a great home base for attending all the seasonal festivities.
Local Tip: The Arboretum Winter Lights weekend slots fill up quickly! Plan ahead to secure your desired entry time, especially if you plan on attending on a weekend.
Biltmore Estate
November 3, 2026–January 10, 2027
Event details: https://www.biltmore.com/things-to-do/events/christmas/
Experience one of Asheville’s most iconic holiday traditions as Biltmore House, Antler Hill Village, the gardens, and the estate are decorated for the season.
Biltmore Estate
November 3, 2026–January 9, 2027
Event details: https://www.biltmore.com/things-to-do/events/christmas/candlelight-christmas-evenings/
See Biltmore House after dark with candlelight, glowing fireplaces, live music, and an elegant holiday atmosphere.
North Carolina Arboretum
November 13, 2026–January 3, 2027
Event details: https://www.ncarboretum.org/winter-lights/
One of Asheville’s brightest holiday traditions, Winter Lights transforms the Arboretum’s gardens into an open-air walk-through light show with more than one million lights.
Highland Brewing, Asheville
November 13–15, 2026
Event details: https://highlandbrewing.com/coldmountain/
Celebrate the return of Highland Brewing’s Cold Mountain Winter Ale during one of Asheville’s favorite seasonal beer traditions, with special releases, live music, food, and festival energy.
The Omni Grove Park Inn, Asheville
November 17, 2026–January 3, 2027
Event details: https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/asheville-grove-park/things-to-do/national-gingerbread-competition
See creative gingerbread houses from one of the country’s most beloved holiday competitions. Public viewing is available on select dates and times, so be sure to check access details before visiting.
Grove Arcade, Downtown Asheville
November 19, 2026–January 2, 2027
Event details: https://grovearcade.com/winter-wonderland-2/
Shop, dine, and explore one of downtown Asheville’s most iconic buildings as it transforms for the holidays with festive decorations, seasonal happenings, and local shopping.
Asheville Yards
November 20, 2026–January 18, 2027
Event details: https://www.exploreasheville.com/asheville/events/holiday-ice-rink-and-winter-wonderland
Enjoy outdoor ice skating, lights, photo ops, a winter market, hot chocolate, and holiday atmosphere in downtown Asheville.
Downtown Asheville
November 21, 2026
Event details: https://www.ashevilledowntown.org/events
Downtown Asheville’s annual Holiday Parade returns with floats, school groups, local organizations, and festive fun to kick off the holiday season.
Biltmore Park Town Square, South Asheville
November 26, 2026
Event details: https://www.exploreasheville.com/asheville/events/south-asheville-turkey-trot-5k
Start Thanksgiving morning with a festive 5K through Biltmore Park. Runners, walkers, families, and costumes are welcome.
Lake Junaluska
November 26, 2026
Event details: https://lakejunaluska.com/events-calendar/waynesville-sunrise-rotary-turkey-trot-5k/
Start Thanksgiving morning with a scenic Turkey Trot at Lake Junaluska, just outside Waynesville. It is a fun way to enjoy the mountain scenery before Thanksgiving dinner.
Planning to spend Thanksgiving in the mountains? Asheville and the surrounding area have several restaurants and venues offering Thanksgiving Day dining or prepared meals to go. Reservations and pre-orders can fill quickly, so check details early and confirm directly with each restaurant. Also note, many restaurants have yet to publish their Thanksgiving plans. Rest assured, if you’re planning on dining out, there will be plenty of options, but be mindful of those that require reservations.
Posana Biltmore Park
November 26, 2026
Event details: https://posanarestaurant.com/thanksgiving-dinner-south-asheville/
Posana Biltmore Park is offering a four-course Thanksgiving prix fixe dinner served family-style, with a vegan menu available by request.
Moose Cafe Asheville
November 26, 2026
Event details: https://www.eatatthemoosecafe.com/thanksgiving-dining
Moose Cafe offers traditional Thanksgiving dining and takeout options, including turkey, ham, sides, and desserts for a classic holiday meal.
Red Stag Grill
November 26, 2026
Event details: https://www.opentable.com/restaurant/profile/30919
Red Stag Grill is offering Thanksgiving dining options at the Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville, including holiday menus for smaller parties and family-style dining for larger groups.
Thanksgiving at Lake Junaluska
November 26, 2026
Event details: https://lakejunaluska.com/events-calendar/thanksgiving/
Enjoy a lakeside Thanksgiving buffet with traditional holiday favorites in a scenic mountain setting just outside Waynesville.
Find even more November events happening across Western North Carolina:
Buncombe County Events Calendar: https://www.exploreasheville.com/events/
Haywood County Events Calendar: https://visithaywood.com/events/
Madison County Events Calendar: https://visitmadisoncounty.com/events/
Jackson County Events Calendar: https://discoverjacksonnc.com/events/
From Christmas at Biltmore and Winter Lights to holiday markets, seasonal beer releases, gingerbread displays, Thanksgiving dining, and festive downtown events, November is a wonderful time to explore Western North Carolina. Asheville West KOA gives you a convenient home base for enjoying Asheville and the mountain communities that make this region so special.
That doesn't mean this area has to always be empty. When you start reviewing camping options, your history will display here to help compare sites and find the best stay. You will be able to share your stay information with friends or family and save it for a later time if you have a KOA Account.
Make checkout easy by booking all your reservations at once. Add your sites from different campgrounds into your shopping cart* and then choose checkout.
