My wife and I want to go check out the western NC (specifically Waynesville) and probably eastern TN sometime in January or early February. What airports best serve this area?

We’ll be flying out of CA Bay Area, probably SFO or Sacramento.

First class flights only and far prefer non-stop but will consider 1 stop as well. And must be American Airlines as we have a voucher to use.

Charlotte seems to be the closest non-stop destination, correct? Thanks!!

CLT is a hub airport, but...

TYS in Knoxville TN is a sleepy little airport south of the city. From it you can drive 441 or 129 through the Great Smoky Mountains and then into NC. The 129 road over the mountain called "Tail of the Dragon" is favored for making your wife carsick, while you marvel at your driving ability.

Asheville NC airport is close to Waynesville. But, you could go either side of the mountains, to explore the region. There is a big difference in southern culture between Knoxville and Asheville.

NC has high state income tax. TN has none.

Atlanta to Asheville is the straightest route…IIRC American goes to Asheville.

Or you could rent a car in ATL and drive…it’s a 2 hour drive from ATL to Franklin NC and then 45 min more.

My parents live in Franklin, my grand aunt used to live in Waynesville-she chose there due to proximity to healthcare. Healthcare in Franklin means you will die before you get to a level one trauma unit.

If you’re thinking of retirement, TN has no state tax.but you must remember the state has to get money somehow so it’s usually hidden in higher property taxes-like here in TX.

For example, we used to live in Wilson NC (eastern part of the state) the cost of living was exactly equal to living in Temple Texas- no state income tax but high property taxes. NC gets taxes each year on car, ATV, boats, trailers where there’s no reoccurring tax on vehicles here in TX.

So do your research. My SIL lives in Knoxville and they love it there. She said is equivalent to living in Hendersonville NC where they moved from money wise.

Pretty sure you are going to have to fly into Asheville, unless you want a long drive. Once you fly into Asheville and rent a car I would suggest just taking the back roads over to Waynesville... really nice and easy drive... much better than I-26 to I-40.

Oh and if renting a car and traveling around Western N.C. and eastern Tenn that time of the year I would for sure want all wheel drive.

My wife and I own property in North Eastern Tennessee. My father in law lives in the area also. A few years ago my wife had to fly up from Florida and flew into Tri Cities regional Airport. That might be an option.

I was using Google Maps to find a driving time and it seemed excessive until I noticed it was Walking time.

If flying American you can go SFO to Dallas DFW and then to Ashville NC. You might be able to do SFO to Charlotte and then CLT to Asheville but that connection might be on a lawn dart with no first class.

I am familiar with the area. I have a home in western NC, Banner Elk, where we plan to live when we retire (although going to keep a place in North Florida somewhere for some relief in the winter and to keep my Florida no state income tax residency.) Its 2 hours 15 minutes drive from my home to the Charlotte airport.

Anyway its pretty simple. Your choices are fly to Charlotte or Atlanta direct and drive or connect from there to Ashville or Try City and then drive. Depends where in Western NC/Eastern Tennessee you want to explore.

2-3 hours drive time to get from airport to actual destination is acceptable… I did look at flights that terminate in both Asheville and Knoxville, and they are options for sure, but include layovers and changing planes. I think all else being equal I’d rather do a direct flight to a bigger airport and then drive a few hours.

Also looked at Atlanta and even Nashville as options, but Charlotte seems to be the best based on times and price.

Going have to look at rental car prices as well, I suppose.

We moved from Napa CA to Western NC back in July of 2020. We also liked eastern TN but there are fewer opportunities for work. Feel free to reach out through the email in my profile, I’d be more than happy to help any way I can.

WNC: Asheville Regional
ETN: Tri-Cities Regional (between Kingsport and Bristol) or McGhee-Tyson (Knoxville)

Whereever you end up, reserve your rental car super early. They are a premium item currently.

quote:

Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
CLT is a hub airport, but...

TYS in Knoxville TN is a sleepy little airport south of the city. From it you can drive 441 or 129 through the Great Smoky Mountains and then into NC. The 129 road over the mountain called "Tail of the Dragon" is favored for making your wife carsick, while you marvel at your driving ability.

I drove the tail of the dragon. I don't recommend it. I drove my diesel pick up on that route. By the time I was on the other side my arms were ready to fall off. Plus a lot of bastards on rice rockets blasting up and down often in your lane. It's a nightmare.

quote:

Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
But, you could go either side of the mountains, to explore the region. There is a big difference in southern culture between Knoxville and Asheville.

NC has high state income tax. TN has none.

Can you expand on the cultural differences between the two areas? We are fairly sure we want to be in the mountains themselves, not just near them. I've never been to the area, and this is just the first of several scouting trips to various parts of the country over the next several years.

Beyond walking around Waynesville and checking it out, I honestly don't have any idea what to do.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
Atlanta to Asheville is the straightest route…IIRC American goes to Asheville.

Or you could rent a car in ATL and drive…it’s a 2 hour drive from ATL to Franklin NC and then 45 min more.

My parents live in Franklin, my grand aunt used to live in Waynesville-she chose there due to proximity to healthcare. Healthcare in Franklin means you will die before you get to a level one trauma unit.

If you’re thinking of retirement, TN has no state tax.but you must remember the state has to get money somehow so it’s usually hidden in higher property taxes-like here in TX.

Technically, I'll be retiring from my current job, but its not really a retirement. I'll only be 44, but pulling a pension that'll provide income more than comparable to the average income in Haywood County, NC (just as an example). That being said, I'll find something new to do. Or I'll be stay at home dad (kids will be 9, 11, and 14) and my wife can teach full time, if she wants.

We'll be considering the complete tax picture as well, but as I said, it's not a traditional retirement, more like the start of the second half of life. We just want to start finding where to spend that half, because it certainly isn't here in California.

quote:

Originally posted by Blume9mm:
Pretty sure you are going to have to fly into Asheville, unless you want a long drive. Once you fly into Asheville and rent a car I would suggest just taking the back roads over to Waynesville... really nice and easy drive... much better than I-26 to I-40.

Oh and if renting a car and traveling around Western N.C. and eastern Tenn that time of the year I would for sure want all wheel drive.

Thanks for the tip, I was wondering what the chances would be of running into some snow. I'm not super experience in snow, so I'll be sure that our rental vehicle has AWD for sure. It is looking like Feb 4-8 is our projected trip. What can we expect from the weather in that time frame?

quote:

Originally posted by kho:
I am familiar with the area. I have a home in western NC, Banner Elk, where we plan to live when we retire...

... Depends where in Western NC/Eastern Tennessee you want to explore.

How does the Banner Elk area compare to the Waynesville area, or even over the border into Tennessee? Are there nice little cities in the mountains on the Tennessee side?

From the research I've done it seems like there is likely more economic options on the NC side in the way of jobs and such, but I don't know what I'll be doing, so I'm flexible. We just want a great place to live.

I am under the impression that TN would be more solidly red/conservative, which is a definite plus.

I'd really like to try and have somewhat of an itinerary in mind for this trip, but will probably start another thread, actually.

quote:

Originally posted by Nick:
We moved from Napa CA to Western NC back in July of 2020. We also liked eastern TN but there are fewer opportunities for work. Feel free to reach out through the email in my profile, I’d be more than happy to help any way I can.

I will absolutely be emailing you, probably today or tomorrow. Thank you!

quote:

Originally posted by coloradohunter44:
Whereever you end up, reserve your rental car super early. They are a premium item currently.

I've been looking... As of now there are several good options using Turo at prices comparable to or better than the rental companies. Plus that way I can be sure to get the AWD in case there is some snow.

Oh God.....

quote:

Originally posted by jtedescucci:
Oh God.....

??

Problems?

quote:

Originally posted by thumperfbc:
Can you expand on the cultural differences between the two areas?

Overall, Asheville is a bit on the liberal side.

This might be helpful https://www.uncorkedasheville....living-in-asheville/

Even Nashville TN is an easy 4 hour drive to Waynesville. Nashville is a much easier airport to navigate than Charlotte. You make a right turn out of BNA on I-40 and four hours later you are in Waynesville. Waynesville is about 20 miles out of Asheville proper.

Don’t let people hype the liberal nature of Asheville. Yes, it is called the east coast San Francisco and it has its share of weirdos. However, it is nothing like San Francisco or Oakland from the crime and general filthiness you see on the streets there. Asheville PD and Buncombe SO do a pretty good job of keeping things in check.

I have a lot of great memories there and miss visiting a lot.

Asheville is very liberal, city council voted for reparations. All the counties bordering Buncombe County which includes Asheville are 2nd Amendment sanctuary counties. Email in profile.

Re:Asheville
Let me clear it up for you. Asheville is a shithole. Period. Last time I was there, bums walking around hassling you, trying to get money to watch your car while you ate at a Fridays restaurant. And downtown is worse. My rents live west of there…my dad only goes to the VA now because all the hippies, free-loving, gypsy fucks are crawling downtown and ruin everything…everything.

I took a pic of the fuck hassling me and told him that if anything, a n y t h i n g happened to my truck, I’d find him and eat him (Mrs mike heard part of this conversation and freaked) but he didn’t fuck with my rental.

Go to the Biltmore, then leave town. Don’t waste your time. The PD is down a ton of guys, their new hires are all social justice warriors & they can’t really police anymore and shitbags roam the area.

Just don’t.