Asheville traffic causes drivers to lose roughly 19 hours per year to road congestion. It’s not quite as bad as other US cities, but a unique combination of factors can make traveling difficult in or around Asheville.

Asheville, North Carolina

is an especially handsome city located in the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. Visitors to Asheville enjoy the city’s reputation as a cultural hotspot of

art

architecture

fun museums

, and

natural beauty

. Much like the state it inhabits, though, Asheville also has a bit of a reputation when it comes to traffic.

Don’t worry too much, though, because

Jerry

is here to break down the ins and outs of Asheville traffic for you. We’ll take a look at some of the statistics, go over driving trends, and give you some helpful tips for navigating the “Land of the Sky.”

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How bad is Asheville traffic?

Although it may not have appeared on last year’s

Global Traffic Scorecard

, the city of Asheville nevertheless exhibits an interesting and sometimes dangerous pattern of traffic. An analysis by the

Texas A&M Transportation Institute

concluded that drivers in Asheville lost an average of 19 hours in traffic in 2020 at a cost of $413 per commuter.

Of course, these numbers are significantly lower than previous years due to the travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As people return to work and drivers reappear on the highways in serious numbers, the numbers will likely return to roughly pre-pandemic levels:

Year	Hours lost to congestion
2020	19 hours
2019	28 hours
2018	28 hours

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Why is Asheville traffic so bad?

Traffic can be caused by a multitude of factors, and not all cities experience traffic for the same reasons. Location, construction, commuters, local attractions, and driving habits are just a few of the things that can contribute to road congestion. Here are a few things you should know about Asheville traffic.

Location

Asheville might not be an especially large or populous city, but it lies right in the middle of a very heavily traveled part of the state. Looking at a map, you can see that three major highways intersect in Asheville: I-26, I-40, and I-240. Traffic can get very bad on these highways, especially I-26, and many residents advise having a backup route.

Attractions

For a smaller city, Asheville has a great deal of attractions to lure in tourists and visitors. Concerts, festivals, and nationally-recognized attractions like the Biltmore Estate draw an average of 10 million visitors each year. They might not represent as big of a problem as some local residents would claim, but tourists are still more than capable of clogging the roadways of tiny Asheville, especially during certain parts of the year.

Driving habits

Even the most cursory amount of online research suggests that drivers in Asheville have a unique approach to driving, suffice to say. Asheville was ranked first in the state for

pedestrian crashes

, and both locals and visitors complain about a certain aggressiveness shown by drivers on the numerous highways surrounding Asheville. Speeding, slamming on brakes, and failure to allow merges are all common, so keep an eye out.

MORE: The best type of car insurance to get if you commute long distances

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How to navigate Asheville traffic like a pro

Nobody likes traffic. Not only is it

incredibly frustrating

, but it’s also very dangerous and can easily cause accidents.

The

North Carolina Department of Transportation

publishes annual crash report statistics for all of the state’s towns and cities, with Asheville consistently ranking in the top five. Traffic accidents are not only harmful to your physical wellbeing, but they can also affect your

financial security

Don’t despair, though, because it’s more than possible to mitigate the worst of Asheville’s traffic patterns and stay safe while doing it. Follow these tips to navigate the Land of the Sky with comfort and confidence.

Try to find backroads or alternate routes. I-26 and I-240 might seem like the quickest and most efficient way to navigate Asheville, but the opposite is often true. Try to find secondary or tertiary routes on your GPS. They might not take you on the highways, but that could very well be for the best.

If at all possible, try to avoid rush hour. Traffic typically isn’t too bad in the morning, but the afternoon and later evening can see a massive volume of drivers on the roads, with traffic being the end result. Be especially wary around 5-6 pm, when people are commuting home from work.

Avoid unpleasant surprises by using a traffic app.

WLOS

, the local news station, has partnered with Waze to provide a traffic app fuelled by real-time metrics from drivers in the area. Check the app before you hit the road, and you’ll be much less likely to run into a nasty accident or unexpected construction project.

Don’t get distracted.

Distracted driving

is a very real thing in the modern era. Phones, music, radio, and fast food all make driving more enjoyable, but they can also dangerously divert our focus from the road. Make sure you always watch the road and leave a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you.

MORE:

The 3 best apps for avoiding traffic jams

Prepare for Asheville traffic by updating your car insurance

Whether you’re planning to move to Asheville or just going for a weekend getaway, remember that it’s a good idea to

update your car insurance

policy every six months to ensure proper coverage and protection.

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FAQs

Is Asheville hard to drive in?

If you’re not familiar with local driving habits and highway trends, Asheville can seem a bit challenging for the uninitiated motorist. Trust your GPS and keep your eyes on the road, and you’ll be just fine.

What is the best time to drive through Asheville?

The earlier, the better. Asheville doesn’t experience too much of an early morning rush, but the afternoon and evening can get really bad, particularly between 5-6pm.

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