Beyond Downtown: Gay-Friendly Day Trips from Asheville
Your guide to escaping the bubble (while staying in a bubble)
Currently in Brevard, my go-to second-visit day trip, writing this at a surprisingly gay coffee shop
Here's the thing about Asheville: it's a beautiful blue dot in a very red region. When you leave our liberal bubble, you're entering the Bible Belt proper. But after three years of exploring, I've found the spots worth visiting where you can still hold hands without side-eyes.
These are the day trips I actually take visitors on their second (or third, or tenth) visit, when they've done downtown to death and want to see what else these mountains have to offer.
The Reality Check
Before we start: Yes, Asheville is the gay-friendly exception in Western North Carolina. When you leave, you're leaving that safety net. But these places? They're either naturally beautiful enough that nobody cares who you're kissing at the waterfall, or they're surprisingly progressive pockets that just don't advertise it.
Brevard: The Surprise Gay-Friendly Mountain Town
45 minutes south, worth the drive
Nobody expects Brevard to be chill, but it is. College town energy (Brevard College), outdoor adventure capital, and enough transplants that nobody blinks at the obvious gays hiking through.
The Agenda:
- Morning: Coffee at Cup & Saucer - queer owned, everyone knows it
- Hikes: DuPont State Forest - Triple Falls, High Falls, Hooker Falls (yes, really)
- Lunch: Rocky Burrito - best Mexican in WNC
- Afternoon: Downtown browsing - DD Bullwinkel's outdoor gear
- Before leaving: Brevard Brewing - surprisingly gay crowd
Gay Reality: Low-key comfortable. Not Pride flags everywhere, but also not hostile. The outdoor community here is live-and-let-live. I've taken multiple gay couples here, never an issue.
Don't Miss: The waterfalls at DuPont. Instagram gold, easy trails, and everyone's too focused on not slipping on rocks to care about your sexuality.
Black Mountain: Asheville's Cooler Little Sibling
15 minutes east, no excuse not to go
This is where Asheville gays move when they're over Asheville but not ready to leave the mountains. Smaller, quieter, but somehow gayer per capita?
The Perfect Day:
- Coffee: Dripolator - better than anything in Asheville, fight me
- Morning: Walk the entire downtown (takes 20 minutes)
- Shopping: Seven Sisters Gallery - local art, very gay energy
- Lunch: Veranda Cafe - farm-to-table perfection
- Afternoon: Lake Tomahawk - easy loop, Wesley approved
- If you drink: Pisgah Brewing - outdoor stage, good vibes
Gay Reality: The lesbians figured this out first (they always do). Strong queer community that's more potluck than party. The bookstore has a pride flag. That tells you everything.
Pro Tip: Third Thursday art walks are basically gay social hour. If you're trying to meet local queers outside Asheville, this is it.
Weaverville: The Artsy Escape
20 minutes north, perfect half-day
Weaverville is what people think Asheville is - small, artsy, walkable, actually affordable (sort of).
Quick Hit Itinerary:
- Breakfast: Well-Bred Bakery - gay owned, everyone knows everyone
- Activity: Reems Creek Golf Course - even if you don't golf, the restaurant has views
- Pizza: Pizza Pura - legitimately some of the best pizza in NC
- Vibe: Walk Main Street, pop into galleries, pet all the dogs
Gay Reality: Nobody cares. It's too small to have a scene, but also too small for anyone to be anonymous about their bigotry. Safe by mutual agreement.
The Waterfall Circuit: Nature Doesn't Judge
Various locations, 30-60 minutes
When in doubt, chase waterfalls. Nobody at a waterfall cares that you're gay. They care that you're not falling off the rocks.
Easy Access (Minimal Hiking):
- Looking Glass Falls: Roadside viewing, 35 minutes from Asheville
- Sliding Rock: Natural waterslide, very gay energy somehow (summer only)
- Cedar Rock Falls: Lesser known, never crowded, easy trail
Moderate Effort:
- Catawba Falls: Popular but worth it, 1.5 hours round trip
- Cove Creek Falls: Hidden gem near Brevard, maybe 5 people there
- Avery Creek Falls: Family-friendly means gay-friendly
The DuPont Triple Threat:
- Triple Falls: Three waterfalls, one trail
- High Falls: 150-foot drop, worth the stairs
- Hooker Falls: Swimming hole, very gay summer energy
Gay Pro Tips:
- Go early (before 9am) or late (after 4pm) to avoid families
- Weekdays are always gayer (we work remote, remember?)
- Pack a proper picnic, make it an event
Blue Ridge Parkway: The Greatest Hits
America's Favorite Drive, but make it gay
The Parkway doesn't care about your sexuality. The mountains are having their own moment.
Can't Miss Stops:
- Craggy Gardens: June for rhododendrons, otherwise for views
- Graveyard Fields: Moderate hike, waterfalls, mountain balds
- Mt. Mitchell: Highest peak east of Mississippi (drive to top)
- Folk Art Center: Surprisingly queer artist community
The Gay Agenda:
- Pack wine and cheese (illegal but everyone does it)
- Sunset at any overlook > any bar in town
- October is insane with leaf tourists, avoid or embrace
- Download offline maps, no cell service
Reality Check: You might see Trump stickers in the parking lots. The mountains don't vote. Focus on the views.
Hot Springs: The Complicated Favorite
45 minutes north, worth the asterisks
The town of Hot Springs is... complicated. Tiny mountain town, some locals are amazing, some are exactly what you'd expect. BUT the actual hot springs are worth navigating the complexity.
The Plan:
- Book ahead: Private hot tub rentals by the hour
- Best time: Sunset slot, bring champagne
- After soak: Iron Horse Station for pizza
- Skip: Trying to make this more than a hot springs trip
Gay Reality: In your private hot tub? Perfect. Walking through town? Keep it lowkey. The springs themselves are very LGBTQ+ friendly (they want your money), the town is hit or miss.
The Day Trips I Don't Recommend
Cherokee: Complicated history, tourist trap energy, not particularly welcoming Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge: Tennessee's tourist hell, aggressively straight Boone: Too far for a day trip, make it an overnight Hendersonville: Just... why? Nothing wrong, nothing special
The Seasonal Considerations
Spring (March-May):
- Wildflowers everywhere
- Waterfalls are fullest
- Perfect temperatures
- This is when you should visit everything
Summer (June-August):
- Swimming holes are the move
- Start everything before 9am
- Brevard and waterfalls, skip towns
Fall (September-November):
- Everywhere is packed October
- November is actually better
- Black Mountain is perfect
- Book everything ahead
Winter (December-February):
- Many Parkway sections closed
- Focus on towns not trails
- Hot Springs is actually perfect
- Black Mountain is cozy as hell
The Budget Breakdown
Gas: $20-40 round trip anywhere Food: $15-30 per person Activities: Most hikes free, Hot Springs $25-50/hour Reality: Budget $100/person for a full day trip
The Gay Safety Scale
Safest: DuPont, Brevard, Black Mountain Fine: Weaverville, most waterfall spots, Parkway Be Aware: Hot Springs town, rural gas stations Skip: Anywhere with Confederate flags
My Actual Advice
- First visit to Asheville? Stay in town, maybe do Parkway
- Second visit? Brevard and waterfalls
- Third visit? Black Mountain and Weaverville
- Living here? All of it, repeatedly, seasonally
The truth is, most of these places are fine. Nature doesn't care that you're gay, small towns mostly mind their business, and the beautiful spots are worth the occasional side-eye from someone in a MAGA hat.
Just remember: You're visiting their towns. Be respectful, tip well, and show them that gay money spends just as good as straight money. We're slowly changing hearts and minds, one day trip at a time.
The Ultimate Day Trip
If I had one perfect day to show you beyond Asheville:
Morning: Dripolator coffee in Black Mountain Late Morning: DuPont waterfalls Lunch: Brevard downtown Afternoon: Blue Ridge Parkway drive back Sunset: Craggy Pinnacle Dinner: Back in Asheville because we're tired
That's the real gay day trip energy - trying to do everything, succeeding at 75%, and having stories forever.
Dylan has driven every backroad in Western North Carolina looking for swimming holes and gay-friendly coffee shops. His car permanently smells like wet dog and hiking boots. Find him at GayAsheville.com or planning next weekend's escape from downtown.