Asheville scores excessive on TripAdvisor 2026 journey spot record

TripAdvisor recently named Asheville among the top travel destinations in the country, landing at No. 22 on its 2026 Travelers’ Choice Awards “Best of the Best” list.

The annual rankings highlight destinations based on the quality and quantity of traveler reviews and ratings collected over a year.

In its write-up, TripAdvisor pointed to the city’s strong local food culture.

“If you’re into eating locally and supporting sustainable agriculture, go to Asheville – and eat, eat, eat,” the site said.

The site also notes the mountain city’s extensive network of farmers markets and a restaurant scene built around seasonal ingredients.

“This town of less than 100,000 people has 17 farmers’ markets, and the local restaurant scene is all about taking advantage of the seasonal produce sold there,” Tripadvisor wrote, also highlighting the area’s microbreweries as a must-visit draw.

More Asheville accolades

This recognition is the latest in a series of accolades for Asheville.

Trip Advisor also named Asheville as one of the best foodie destinations in the nation earlier this year, The Charlotte Observer reported.

Last year, Asheville landed at No. 6 on a list of most underrated travel destinations in the U.S. from Wander, a luxury vacation home rental company.

Additionally, the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile scenic route that weaves through the mountains of much of western North Carolina, including Asheville, was rated among the best road trips in the country by Travel + Leisure.

Other top NC travel destinations

Southern Living recently recognized Sunset Beach for its white sand and crystal clear waters, along with Boone as the one place in North Carolina everyone should visit, highlighting it for its outdoor adventures, rich history, walkable downtown, nearby High Country attractions, upgraded lodging and diverse dining scene.’

The magazine also highlighted Calabash last month, a town in the Outer Banks known as the “seafood capital of the world.”

Last year, Oak Island, Hatteras Island, Topsail Beach, Ocracoke, Duck, Beaufort, Emerald Isle, Nags Head and Wrightsville Beach were on Southern Living’s list of 50 best beach towns in the South, The Charlotte Observer reported.

North Carolina swept up several Southern Living’s 2025 South’s Best Awards, including:

Portions of this story were previously published in The Charlotte Observer.