Waynesville’s location in the center of Haywood County makes it a great jumping off point for outdoor exploration and activities. With spectacular natural attractions like the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, pristine lakes and rivers, and majestic national and state forests, it makes sense for guests to ask us about the weather here in Waynesville prior to booking their trip. So, what is the weather like here in our Western North Carolina paradise? In a few words, the weather here is moderate and consistent and is an attraction in and of itself for those seeking a respite from extremes and a dose of nice, fresh air.
Waynesville and the Western North Carolina region has been known historically as a climate haven for folks looking to beat the heat of South Carolina, George, Florida and other warm southern climes. Around the time that the Andon-Reid house was first built in 1902, people traveled from all over the south to enjoy the weather and many even believed that time spent in this region could help people dealing with all sorts of maladies, like tuberculosis. One of the foundational stories of Waynesville is summarized in this article from the Smoky Mountain News, which describes a hotel built not far from the Andon-Reid, where people came from all around to enjoy the weather and “heal” themselves in the natural sulphur springs (the origin of the name of the road near the Inn by Maggie’s Galley). For a long time, Waynesville has been considered a place to get away and experience great weather.
In the modern era, our region has also gotten some notoriety for being a definite “climate haven” as evidence by this article from EcoWatch identifying Asheville and surrounding areas like Waynesville as one of the top places in the country for a moderate weather experience and a place people see as an escape from extreme weather. Having now lived here for a while, we certainly agree, and we really enjoy that the temperatures stay in a relatively tight band year-round.
Here is our breakdown of the general weather trends by season. We’ll start with winter as we probably get asked the most about how much snow we get in the colder months and how cold it is around here.
WINTER – Throughout the winter months (December through February), the temperatures range from the mid-30s to the mid-50s. Of course, there are cold snaps where the temps get down into the 20s, but that’s not often and they are countered by some days that get into the high 50s. For those cold days and nights, each room at the Andon-Reid has multiple sources of heat, with baseboard heating, a mini-split, and a fireplace that generates warmth. We also have cozy fireplaces in our guest lounge, in our dining room, and a firepit outside overlooking the mountains.
In terms of snowfall, we generally only get 1-2 storms per year and average snowfall is 2-5 inches per month. However, most of the snow happens at 3,000 feet and above and the Andon-Reid is just below that level. We often see snow accumulate on the tops of the mountains around us (which is simply gorgeous and is shown in the picture above), while downtown Waynesville just gets rain. Waynesville has gotten a few big storms in the past, but on average, it doesn’t snow all that much here.
SPRING – From March through May, the flowers begin to bloom around the grounds and the temperatures range from the mid-40s to the Mid-70s. Spring is a wonderful time to head to the Highlands/Cashiers/Brevard area as the melting snow at higher elevations yields some truly spectacular sights when it comes to our waterfalls. Overall, spring is the second rainiest season in our area, behind the middle summer period. We’d have to describe spring in Waynesville as extremely comfortable with mild temperatures.
SUMMER – The start of the busy season at the Andon-Reid really begins in late June, as summer is when the mild temperatures in our region really become appealing. With temperatures ranging from the mid-60s to the mid-80s, this region really is an escape from the heat of summer in other areas. It’s not often that temperatures reach the 90s; maybe one or two days here and there. We get a lot of travelers from Florida in the summer, and they always indicate that being here is quite a relief. For those hotter days, all of our rooms have mini-splits with efficient air-conditioning and most of our rooms have ceiling fans. Our lower level at the Inn is a relatively open space with great cross-breezes.
Summer is considered the rainy season here in WNC and from early July to early-August, an afternoon rainstorm is quite common. The rainiest months of the year are June, July and August.
FALL – And last but certainly not least is our guests’ favorite season to be at the Inn. While fall has the most variation in temperature of any other season (temps range from the Mid-40s to the Mid-70s), it also has the least precipitation of any other season, which is great for planning outdoor adventures and leaf-peeping. It does get colder in the late fall, with some early cold snaps in later October and early November dropping temps into the upper 30s, but that’s just an excuse to get out that cozy sweater or comfy sweatshirt!
For any of the seasons, the Andon-Reid is a great place to get cozy and wait out any inclement weather. Our game room in the basement is purpose built for such an occasion, with 2 TVs, exercise equipment, a pool table, tabletop shuffleboard, darts, a full wall shelf of board games, a massage chair, and plenty of seating. There’s also plentiful coffee, tea and snack options and excellent wifi throughout the Inn and grounds so you can enjoy your own personal devices. And of course, sitting on the porch during a rainstorm or watching a storm roll across the mountains from the comfort of the guest lounge are both incredibly relaxing experiences.
A key note for travelers during the winter and spring months is to carefully pay attention to the park and road closures in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Many areas and roads of these parks are not well-maintained or not maintained at all during storms, which requires them to close certain areas to travelers from time to time. These two links below are helpful in identifying which roads are closed.
We hope to see you soon at the Inn so you can enjoy our comfortable climate!
-Your Innkeepers, Brenda and Peter
Road and Facility Closures – Blue Ridge Parkway (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
