Map & Directions
Balsam Mountain Preserve is located at mile marker 90 on the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway (Hwy 23/74) between the "main street" mountain towns of Waynesville and Sylva, just forty highway minutes from downtown Asheville. It is without question one of the easiest high elevation mountain communities to access in the entire Southeast. From the Asheville Airport: Take I-26 West towards downtown Asheville. The third interchange will be the I-40/I-26 connector. From here, take I-40 West towards Knoxville. Stay on I-40 for about 15 minutes until you come to Exit 27. Take Exit 27 (Great Smoky Mountain Expressway) towards Waynesville, which will take you all the way to Balsam Mountain Preserve. Follow the highway through Waynesville. About 5 minutes outside Waynesville, you'll pass under the Blue Ridge Parkway. At this point, start looking at the mile markers on the right side of the highway. When you get to mile marker 90, move to the left lane. You'll see a turn lane just ahead, take that turn onto Preserve Drive. Our Welcome Center will be on your left. From Charlotte, Raleigh, and Columbia: From the I-40/I-26 interchange in Asheville, take I-40 West towards Knoxville. Stay on I-40 for about 15 minutes until you come to Exit 27. Take Exit 27 (Great Smoky Mountain Expressway) towards Waynesville, which will take you all the way to Balsam Mountain Preserve. Follow the highway through Waynesville. About 5 minutes outside Waynesville, you'll pass under the Blue Ridge Parkway. At this point, start looking at the mile markers on the right side of the highway. When you get to mile marker 90, move to the left lane. You'll see a turn lane just ahead, take that turn onto Preserve Drive. Our Welcome Center will be on your left. From Atlanta: Take I-985 through Gainesville until it turns into Highway 441. Stay on Highway 441 all the way through Franklin and on into Sylva. In Sylva, take Highway 23/74 (Great Smoky Mountain Expressway) towards Waynesville. Drive for about five minutes and start looking at the mile markers on the right side of the road. When you pass mile marker 89, look for Preserve Road on your right in about 3/4 of a mile. Our Wlecome Center will be on your left. Miles from Balsam Mountain Preserve:
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