Plane Landing at AVL from Taproot Farms

✈️ Asheville Airport for Relocators: Flights, Drive Times, and the “South of Asheville” Advantage

When you’re relocating to Western North Carolina — whether you’re an early retiree flying home for the holidays or moving your life across state lines — convenient, reliable air travel matters. For people choosing Hendersonville, Mills River, Flat Rock, or other towns south of Asheville, Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is a major quality-of-life advantage.

From its growing nonstop flight network to easy ground access, AVL has become a legitimate regional gateway — not just a small mountain airport. Here’s a deep look at what AVL offers and how it compares to Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) and Charlotte Douglas (CLT).

Related: If you’re still weighing geography, see Asheville vs. Hendersonville – A Reality Check for how travel logistics differ north vs. south of the city.

🛫 Asheville Regional Airport (AVL): The Basics

Location & Accessibility

AVL sits roughly 14–15 miles south of downtown Asheville, typically a 30–40 minute drive depending on traffic and your town. That puts it especially close for residents of Hendersonville, Mills River, and Flat Rock.

Rideshare services, taxis, and hotel shuttles operate from the terminal, making arrival and departure logistics straightforward, according to the official Asheville Regional Airport site.

📊 Passenger Growth & Terminal Expansion

AVL has experienced rapid growth, now serving over 2.1 million passengers annually, up from roughly 1.6 million just a few years ago. To support this demand, the airport is in the middle of a $400 million terminal expansion scheduled for completion around 2026, adding gates, amenities, and improved passenger flow, as detailed by Asheville Regional Airport and confirmed by WUNC.

For relocators, this matters: more gates and modernized facilities generally mean more flight options, smoother operations, and better long-term reliability.

🛩️ Airlines & Nonstop Destinations from AVL

AVL is currently served by six major airlines — Allegiant, American, Delta, JetBlue, Sun Country, and United — with 27+ nonstop destinations, the most in the airport’s history, according to Explore Asheville.

Representative nonstop routes include:

• American Airlines: Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, New York (LGA), Philadelphia, Washington Reagan, and seasonal Miami
• Delta: Atlanta, New York (LGA), seasonal Minneapolis
• United: Chicago (ORD), Denver, Newark
• Allegiant & JetBlue: Florida and leisure destinations including Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Boston, and Las Vegas

This network gives relocators direct access to major hubs for one-stop connections almost anywhere in the U.S. — and internationally via those hubs.

🚗 Ground Transportation & On-Site Amenities

Car Rentals

All major rental agencies — including Enterprise, Hertz, Avis, Budget, and National — operate on site, typically with counters near baggage claim, making it easy to transition from air travel to house-hunting or relocation trips. Details are outlined in Asheville.com’s transportation guide.

Parking

AVL offers:

• Short-term and long-term surface lots
• A parking garage connected to the terminal
• Cell-phone waiting areas for free pick-ups

Parking capacity has expanded alongside passenger growth and continues to be a focus as traffic increases, according to AirportsData.

Terminal Experience

Despite its growth, AVL remains compact and easy to navigate — a meaningful advantage over large hubs. Amenities include Wi-Fi, dining, retail, accessible facilities, and traveler services, per AVL Airport.

🌎 Regional Alternatives: GSP & CLT

Relocators often compare AVL with two larger airports depending on destination and travel frequency.

📍 Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP)

Drive time: ~1 hour 15 minutes (~65 miles)
Source: Emergent One

GSP is a mid-sized airport serving 30+ domestic destinations with carriers including Southwest, Delta, United, American, Breeze, Allegiant, and Avelo, as outlined by Grokipedia.

Pros

• Broader domestic network than AVL on some routes
• Occasionally competitive fares

Cons

• Longer drive for most Asheville-area relocators
• No regular international passenger service

GSP can be useful — but many relocators still prefer AVL’s closer proximity and growing nonstop list.

🌍 Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)

Drive time: ~2 hours 15 minutes (~125 miles)

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving nearly 59 million passengers annually with 180+ nonstop destinations, including 40+ international cities, according to CLT Airport and Wikipedia.

Pros

• Extensive domestic and international nonstop options
• Major hub connectivity

Cons

• Long drive from WNC
• Larger crowds and longer terminal navigation

CLT is ideal for international travel or very specific nonstop needs, but many retirees only use it occasionally due to the drive.

🧭 Which Airport Works Best?

Choose AVL if:

• You live south or near Asheville
• Most trips are domestic
• You value short drives, easy parking, and low stress

Consider GSP if:

• A specific route is better served
• You don’t mind a longer drive

Use CLT when:

• You need international service
• A nonstop route justifies the drive

✨ The “South of Asheville” Advantage

For many relocators choosing Hendersonville or nearby towns, proximity to AVL is a daily-life benefit:

• Shorter travel days
• Easier parking
• Faster security
• Less airport fatigue

This convenience often becomes a surprising quality-of-life win once people settle in.

Pair this with: Healthcare Near Asheville: What Retirees Should Know to see how airport access and medical access overlap for retirees.

✈️ Nonstop Flight Map — AVL vs GSP

Below is a detailed list of nonstop destinations currently available (Q4 2025) from each airport. Color coding shows which airport serves which city nonstop:

Legend:
🔵 Blue = Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)
🟢 Green = Greenville‑Spartanburg Intl (GSP)
🟠 Orange = Both Airports