Visiting This Christmas Season: Know Before You Go

Biltmore is Open

With great joy and deep gratitude, we welcome you for our most beloved traditions, Christmas at Biltmore and Candlelight Christmas Evenings. Biltmore House, the Conservatory, and Antler Hill Village & Winery, resplendent in holiday décor, await your arrival, as do Chihuly at Biltmore, our estate restaurants, shops, and overnight properties.

As you plan to join us for the season of joy and wonder, we hope you find the following information helpful.

Hours of Operation

Biltmore currently opens daily at 12 p.m. During this period of recovery, hours of operation will vary across the estate.

Traveling to Asheville

Most major roads and the Asheville Airport are open. Please check driving routes before your visit and see our FAQ below.

Asheville Welcomes You

Clean drinking water is restored and our community is welcoming guests to support recovery. Learn about the reopening of scenic locations, shops, restaurants, and music venues.

Visitor Information

Be sure to review our Visitor Information page for important guidance, helpful FAQs, and more to make your visit a smooth and enjoyable one.

Outdoor Experiences

Select estate trails and our Outdoor Adventure Center are temporarily closed. Despite these temporary closures and limitations, there is still plenty to explore.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does Biltmore Estate have power and clean, drinkable water available?

    Yes! Thanks to the commitment, hard work, and generosity of so many who came to our region’s aid post-Helene, recovery continues to happen all around us, and significant progress has been made.

    The estate’s essential utilities have been restored and Biltmore has received all required permits to re-open safely. Since reopening on November 2, Biltmore has been utilizing our estate wells for operating and will soon transition city water into our system.

  • Does the Asheville area have power and clean, drinkable water available?

    Yes! Essential utilities have been restored for the majority of the Asheville area.

    As of November 18, the City of Asheville has restored the distribution of safe drinking water to city residents and businesses, and the citywide Boil Water Notice was lifted.

    This represents an incredible step forward in our community’s ability to recover and thrive after Helene as area businesses are able to reopen and operate normally.

  • How do I get to Biltmore with road closures in the region?

    Most roads have reopened. The route from Eastern Tennessee may look different.

    • I-40 is closed near the NC/TN border.
    • I-26 has reopened one lane in both directions near the NC/TN border in Erwin, TN.
    • Best alternate routes add 15–30 minutes of drive time.

    For real-time traffic updates, road closure information, and alternate routes (which may add drive time to travels), please visit Drive NC.gov.

  • Are reservation times for Biltmore House limited?

    Yes. During this phase of our reopening, Biltmore House and other estate offerings will have limited hours. The ticketing and reservation times on our website accurately represent what is currently available. We appreciate your understanding and recommend checking our Hours of Operation as you plan your visit.

  • Will Biltmore’s main entrance be open?

    After extensive cleanup, Biltmore’s main entrance and iconic Lodge Gate are once again open and ready to welcome guests to the estate. To ensure arrival at our main entrance, please enter the following address into your GPS:

    1 Lodge Street, Asheville, NC 28803

    Due to impacts from Helene, pardon our progress as we redesign this entry.

    As cleanup and restoration efforts are ongoing for our neighbors in Biltmore Village, we recommend guests visit Explore Asheville for helpful information while in the Asheville area.

  • Is Chihuly at Biltmore open and will it be extended?

    Yes! Amherst at Deerpark®, where our Chihuly at Biltmore exhibition is located, sustained minimal to no damage from Helene.

    Chihuly at Biltmore has also been extended through February 2, 2025.

  • Are estate trails open?

    We appreciate our estate teams’ expertise and hard work as they assess, clear, and safely reopen our network of trails. They’ve made steady progress, but this work is ongoing.

    The following trails have reopened and are ready for guest use:

    • Paths and trails from Biltmore House down to the Conservatory
    • Path from Azalea Garden to and around the Bass Pond
    • Paved path (along the road) and the gravel path (along the French Broad River) from Antler Hill Village to the Lagoon
    • Paved path from Antler Hill Village to Big Rock (2-mile out-and-back path)
    • Deerpark Trail behind Biltmore House
    • Path from The Inn to Antler Hill Village (Westover Trails, Farm Trail, and Arbor Trace Trail remains temporarily closed)

    Trail closures are temporary and subject to change. For your safety and convenience, please pay careful attention to all posted estate signage.

Recent Images From the Estate

With luminaries in place along the Front Lawn pathways and around the Fountain, and holiday tree installation complete, Biltmore House welcomes guests to Christmas at Biltmore.

After dusk, Biltmore House takes on an entirely new “light” as she awaits her first Candlelight Christmas Evenings guests.

Bearing a message of hope and resilience, Biltmore’s new sign greets you at the estate’s main entrance.

Lodge Gate and newly installed potted trees, all of which are illuminated at dusk, mark progress as well as pay tribute to the commitment and determination of Biltmore’s hardworking teams.

A shining symbol of hope, Lodge Gate is once again illuminated and ready to receive guests for Candlelight Christmas Evenings.

Explore the Walled Garden, home to Biltmore’s grand glass-ceilinged Conservatory.

Biltmore’s award-winning Winery, located in Antler Hill Village, stands ready to welcome guests for the holidays.

As night falls in Antler Hill Village, illuminated displays—including a dazzling Chihuly sculpture—transform this guest-favorite location into a peaceful yuletide wonderland.

What Our Guests Are Saying

Everyone is so welcoming and so glad to have visitors back. We have a few more days and are enjoying everything.

Marilyn K., Facebook, November 7

Today was wonderful!!! I got to check a visit to Biltmore off my bucket list and it did not disappoint!

Melanie B., Facebook, November 8

It was beautiful ... to see how hard the staff, the family, and community have worked to bring joy and hope to Asheville!

Katherine P., Facebook, November 11

So necessary for our mental and physical health to have a haven to come to during these trying times!

@angry_baldy, Instagram, November 11

Biltmore is supporting the community recovery too, so your visit is a help to the area as well as a pleasure for you!

Linda D., Facebook, November 12