Overview
Brevard is a city in the Western North Carolina Mountains near Asheville and Hendersonville, North Carolina. Known for its concentration of waterfalls, Tranyslvania County is also known for its music, arts and outdoor recreation. Brevard, the county seat, is the center of commerce and tourism for the region.
5 sights · 1 things to do · 3 bars & cafés · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Brevard
Looking Glass Falls
With easy access about 8 mi from town, in Pisgah National Forest on US 276.
Sliding Rock
About 5 mi further up US 276 from Looking Glass Falls, is the most visited natural attraction in WNC with thousands of "daredevils" sliding approximately 100 ft into an icy mountain pool.
DuPont State Forest
Features many waterfalls including ones made famous from The Last of the Mohicans and 2012's The Hunger Games.
Lake Toxaway
The largest private lake in NC, and the Sapphire area are in the western portion of the county.
Gorges State Park
It has plunging waterfalls, rugged river gorges, and sheer rock precipices. Great opportunities for backpacking and horseback riding. This section of the Blue Ridge Escarpment spans over 8,000 acres of temperate rainfore…
Brevard Music Center
Considered one of the premier summer music institutes in the United States, Brevard Music Center hosts 450 high school and college students each summer. Students learn from faculty representing many of the nation's fines…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 85°F; winter lows dip to about 29°F. Wettest: Aug and Jun. (climate data from nearby Asheville)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- AVL Asheville Regional Airport, Asheville — 17 mi away. Directions
- GSP Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, Greenville/Greer/Spartanburg — 37 mi away. Directions
- TYS McGhee Tyson Airport, Knoxville/Maryville — 81 mi away (major hub). Directions
Brevard is 20 mi southwest of Exit 40 on I-26 between Hendersonville and Asheville. Exit 40 is also the location of the Ashveille airport. Hwy 280 (4-lanes) goes through Henderson County, across the French Broad River and into Brevard at the entrance to Pisgah National Forest.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Looking Glass Falls, Sliding Rock, Lake Toxaway
- Afternoon Gorges State Park, Brevard Music Center
- Evening Brevard Brewery
Day 2
- Morning DuPont State Forest
- Evening 185 King Street
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Excellent restaurants abound in a town of this size (7,600 in the 2010 census). Main Street restaurants include: Falls Landing, Jordan Street Cafe, Big Mike's, Square Root, and Quotations. Others within walking distance of Main street include: Pescados, Jets Pizza, Rocky's Soda Shop, One More Thai, New China Restaurant, Henry's, Blue Ridge Bakery, Bracken Mountain Bakery, Cardinal Drive-in and El Ranchero. Other favorites in the area are Twin Dragons Buffet, Sora Japanese Restaurant, Hawg Wild Bar-B-Que, and Fuji Yama.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Brevard is in Transylvania County, and was founded in 1862. Transylvania is a combination of trans = across and vania = forest. The county is 50% public lands with Dupont State Forest, Gorges State Park and Pisgah National Forest. Brevard College, a 4-year liberal arts institution, is an integral part of the community.
Get in
Brevard is 20 mi southwest of Exit 40 on I-26 between Hendersonville and Asheville. Exit 40 is also the location of the Ashveille airport. Hwy 280 (4-lanes) goes through Henderson County, across the French Broad River and into Brevard at the entrance to Pisgah National Forest.
Other routes include US 276 from Greenville, SC by Caesar's Head and US 64 from Hendersonville on the east and Franklin and Highlands on the west. Brevard is 15 mi north of Caesar's Head State Park, SC; 25 mi east of Cashiers, NC; 20 mi west of Hendersonville, NC; 12 mi south of the Cradle of Forestry, 15 mi south of the Blue Ridge Parkway; and 25 mi southwest of Asheville, NC.
See
Waterfalls are everywhere, with over 200 identified or named.
- The most viewed waterfall in NC is
See Looking Glass Falls
With easy access about 8 mi from town, in Pisgah National Forest on US 276.
See Sliding Rock
About 5 mi further up US 276 from Looking Glass Falls, is the most visited natural attraction in WNC with thousands of "daredevils" sliding approximately 100 ft into an icy mountain pool.
See Lake Toxaway
The largest private lake in NC, and the Sapphire area are in the western portion of the county.
See Gorges State Park
It has plunging waterfalls, rugged river gorges, and sheer rock precipices. Great opportunities for backpacking and horseback riding. This section of the Blue Ridge Escarpment spans over 8,000 acres of temperate rainforest and hosts extraordinary biodiversity. The park has 26 waterfalls, the northern shore of Lake Jocassee, and a portion of the 70-mile Foothills Trail.
Do
Do Brevard Music Center
Considered one of the premier summer music institutes in the United States, Brevard Music Center hosts 450 high school and college students each summer. Students learn from faculty representing many of the nation's finest college music programs and professional orchestras. Performances nearly every night, June through August, and feature students and faculty with many of the world's leading performers in orchestra and opera.
Eat
Excellent restaurants abound in a town of this size (7,600 in the 2010 census). Main Street restaurants include: Falls Landing, Jordan Street Cafe, Big Mike's, Square Root, and Quotations. Others within walking distance of Main street include: Pescados, Jets Pizza, Rocky's Soda Shop, One More Thai, New China Restaurant, Henry's, Blue Ridge Bakery, Bracken Mountain Bakery, Cardinal Drive-in and El Ranchero. Other favorites in the area are Twin Dragons Buffet, Sora Japanese Restaurant, Hawg Wild Bar-B-Que, and Fuji Yama.
Drink
Brevard is blessed with abundant great restaurants and bars.
Drink Brevard Brewery
Kyle Williams has put together an amazing group of craft beer and his tap room is the best place to taste. The brewery is in the back and a spacious tap room fronts on Main. Frequent live entertainment and a lively crowd make this a must stop when in Brevard. Many local restaurants now serve Brevard Brewery beer on tap.
Drink 185 King Street
Jackson Wine has combined a top-notch bar with an excellent music venue. Seating fewer than a 100 people, musicians rave over the sound quality of the room. is open in the evening.
Drink Oskar Blues
Originating in Colorado, owner Dale Katechis fell in love with Brevard's mountain biking and music. The brewery features a tap room on the second floor overlooking all of the brewing and canning operations. All Oscar Blues brews are available on tap along with a gift and apparel store. They are generally open afternoons and evening, 7 days a week.
Sleep
Nearby
Hendersonville
City / town · 20 listings · 16 mi away
Waynesville
City / town · 14 listings · 22 mi away
Cashiers
City / town · 1 listings · 23 mi away
Devils Fork State Park
Park · 2 listings · 23 mi away
Asheville
City / town · 195 listings · 25 mi away
Maggie Valley
City / town · 6 listings · 27 mi away
Sylva
City / town · 3 listings · 29 mi away
Highlands
City / town · 1 listings · 30 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.