Happs

Is 4 days enough time to see the highlights of Raleigh and take a side trip to the Biltmore Estate? I arrive at RDU on a Thursday morning at 9am and was thinking about immediately driving west to Asheville and seeing the Biltmore Estate the next day (Friday) and being back in Raleigh Friday night. Is this cutting it too close?

Gretchen

Should be fine for a quick trip.

bonniebroad

Sorry, I am sitting here laughing about your seeing the highlights of Raleigh (Durham, Chapel Hill).......... I am a North Carolinian by birth, and have lived here again for 13 years. It's a wonderful place to go to school, get a job, go to college basketball games, raise the kids, live your normal daily lfe. But I don't think we have a lot of must-sees (those highlights!;-) )........ we do have terrific science and history and art museums in the area, and one of the top arboretums ANYWHERE....and the best college basketball teams, of course!;-) And we do have a fabulous state fair in October...... And it is a lovely city, lots of trees, and beautifully landscaped.......

I'd say four days is plenty to see our highlights, and your plan is good, to go to Asheville to see the Biltmore Estate, coming back on Friday. It is a magnificent place, which I have visited three times myself. Enjoy our state while you're here...... it is a lovely place with friendly and interesting people!

bonniebroad

Happs, meant to say, you will be in Asheville in four hours..... if you order your ticket for Biltmore ahead of time, you would have plenty of time to see it that afternoon, and then either see more of Asheville (recommended) for a few hours Friday, or get back to Raleigh earlier than Friday night.

ncgrrl

It's about 250 miles from RDU to Asheville. I've driven it and it take me about 5 hours. After getting the rendtal and with a stop for lunch/gas/bathroom/etc. I guess you would arrive in Asheville around 3-4. Long, but doable.

Like bonniebroad, I never thought of our area as a tourist destination. Go to college -- yes. Watch great basketball -- yes. Excellent health care -- you betcha. Tourist attractions? not really. Well, Raleigh does have the Andy Griffith show statue now.

Enjoy your visit.

bonniebroad

Happs......... ncgrrl has made me think about your exact timing, in going to Asheville. My husband, the lead foot, does make it to Asheville more quickly than most. That aside, if you do get into RDU on time, grab your bags, then you have to pick up a rental car........ let's say you will be on the road by 10 a.m. if all goes smoothly, then to be on the safe side with ncgrrl, it takes you five hours to get to Asheville, it will be 3:00 already. You could do the Biltmore Estate during the late afternoon, then have more time there on the same ticket the next morning if you felt you didn't have time to do the place justice on Thursday. OR you could plan a nice evening in Asheville, doing other things, and then see everything at the Biltmore Estate Friday, getting back to Raleigh in the evening. Saturday and Sunday are PLENTY of time to see our "highlights" here in the Triangle! Have a wonderful time on your visit here......