Tunnel Road, also referred to as U.S. Highway 70, is an eastern Asheville, North Carolina, thoroughfare, and helps locals and visitors access hiking and mountain climbing activities in the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. The hotels on Tunnel Road are only 20 minutes away from the mountains, and a 15-minute drive to historic Biltmore Estate. The art galleries in the River Arts District in downtown Asheville is only a 10-minute drive from Tunnel Road.
The Blue Ridge Motor Lodge is on the eastern end of Tunnel Road, and offers reasonable rates, starting at $49 per night for a room with a king-sized bed, as of fall 2010. This roadside motel-style accommodation also provides parking spaces for RVs and an outdoor swimming pool. All the guest rooms open to outdoor corridors facing the pool.
The hotel is only a five-minute drive, or 10-minute walk, from the shops, night clubs and restaurants in downtown Asheville, including the Orange Peel. This night club offers live music from regional and nationally renowned bands, and is a popular place for locals and students at the University of North Carolina-Asheville. Other downtown attractions include Art Deco buildings and the Thomas Wolfe Memorial, which is in lodged in the childhood home of the late author. Tourists should also check out the Asheville Ghost Trolley, which embarks from the downtown area and passes through the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains. The tour last from 60 to 90 minutes.
Blue Ridge Motor Lodge
60 Tunnel Rd.
Asheville, NC 28805
828-254-0805
blueridgemotorlodge.com
This Best Western is in eastern Asheville, in the central region of Tunnel Road, and it resembles a motel lodging with only two levels and outdoor corridors. All the guest rooms offer scenic views of the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains, and the hotel provides an outdoor swimming, continental breakfast and pets may stay for an extra fee.
Avid golfers who stay at the hotel are only a five-minute drive from the 18-hole golf course at the Asheville Recreation Area. The hotel is also within 10 minutes of the Blue Ridge Parkway, an intercontinental freeway that passes through the Blue Ridge Mountains. This parkway offers roadside lookout points, which offer views of the surrounding mountains in Pisgah National Forest and Craggy Gardens. During the summer, many of the flower species, including the rhododendron, are in full bloom in Craggy Garden, making for good photo opportunities. Best Western is also 15 minutes from the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. The journey into this estate begins with a winding, three-mile driveway, which leads to a 175,000 square-foot, Gothic-style Biltmore House. Guided tours are offered in the house and surrounding gardens area.
Best Western of Asheville Biltmore East
501 Tunnel Rd.
Asheville, NC 28805
828-298-5562
bestwesternnorthcarolina.com
Situated on the eastern edge of Asheville, the Holiday Inn is right off Interstate 40, which makes a day trip to Lake James State Park less than 45 minutes away. This recreation area is in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, and features a 6,510-acre body of water with boating docks, picnicking areas and sandy beach for swimming activities. The lake is surrounded by walking trails, which is a popular activity for Nebo, North Carolina, locals during the spring, summer, and early fall. Holiday Inn is also within 15 minutes of downtown Asheville, and the annual events that occur in the city, including the Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival in the fall.
The hotel provides on-site dining at Sonny's Bistro, which serves southern-style food for breakfast, and Italian cuisine for lunch and dinner. During the late spring and summer, the restaurant's patrons can dine on an outdoor patio. Other hotel features include an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center and picnicking area with barbecue grills.
Holiday Inn Asheville-Biltmore East
1450 Tunnel Rd.
Asheville, NC 28805
828-298-5611
holidayinn.com
