Chimney Rock State Park
Chimney Rock State Park is a North Carolina state park in Chimney Rock, Rutherford County, North Carolina in the United States. The town it belongs to is Lake Lure. Records date it to 2005.
A state park inside Lake Lure
You can stay in Lake Lure
Chimney Rock State Park is inside Lake Lure, which has 30 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
A day trip from Charlotte
Charlotte is about 82 miles east (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
Best months: Apr, May, Sep and Oct
April, May, September and October are the mild months, with highs of 72–82°. When to go ↓
Established in 2005
Chimney Rock State Park dates from 2005. About ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
The climate here
The weather near Chimney Rock shifts through the year, as below.
Chimney Rock State Park
Chimney Rock State Park is a North Carolina state park in Chimney Rock, Rutherford County, North Carolina in the United States. The 8,014-acre (32.43 km2) park is located 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Asheville, North Carolina, and is owned and managed by the state of North Carolina.
The park features hiking trails for all skill levels, views of the Devil's Head balancing rock, and a 404-foot (123 m) waterfall, Hickory Nut Falls. Its most notable feature is a 315-foot (96 m) gneiss monolith named Chimney Rock, which is accessible by elevator and provides views of the park and surrounding countryside.
- Type
- State park
- Established
- 2005
- Wikipedia readers
- 9.9K a year
Lodging near Chimney Rock State Park
For a bed close by, look to Lake Lure (30) and Asheville (139).
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Chimney Rock | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Lure 38% vacation homes | in town | — | 30 8 hotels · 2 inns & B&Bs · 19 lodges & cabins · 1 campground | 1,391 | $627K | — |
| Asheville | 20 mi northwest | 30 min | 139 89 hotels · 7 motels · 28 inns & B&Bs · 7 lodges & cabins · 3 hostels · 2 campgrounds · 3 RV parks | 93,523 | $440K | D− |
| Chimney Rock Village 40% vacation homes | 1 mi north | — | 15 4 hotels · 4 inns & B&Bs · 5 lodges & cabins · 1 campground · 1 RV park | 126 | $477K | — |
| Black Mountain | 13 mi north | 20 min | 20 5 hotels · 2 motels · 5 inns & B&Bs · 4 lodges & cabins · 4 campgrounds | 8,491 | $359K | B |
| Hendersonville | 14 mi southwest | 20 min | 20 10 hotels · 1 motel · 6 inns & B&Bs · 3 lodges & cabins | 15,867 | $317K | C− |
| Fletcher | 15 mi west | 20 min | 18 10 hotels · 1 motel · 3 inns & B&Bs · 3 campgrounds · 1 RV park | 8,373 | $331K | B |
| Gerton 57% vacation homes | 6 mi northwest | 10 min | 6 2 hotels · 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins | 110 | $415K | — |
| Fairview | 11 mi northwest | 15 min | 8 2 hotels · 5 lodges & cabins · 1 campground | 2,298 | $440K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Places to add to Chimney Rock
Each of these is within 69 miles.
Big draw123 mi MountainMount Mitchell
Big draw67 mi National ParkGreat Smoky Mountains National Park11.5M visitors a year
31 mi National forestPisgah National Forest
62 mi Stadium & arenaMemorial Stadium, Clemson48 mi Theme parkGhost Town in the Sky
53 mi MountainGrandfather Mountain
68 mi MountainMount Le Conte
50 mi LakeLake JocasseePhoto credits
Mount Mitchell: Unknown, Public domain · Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Scott Basford, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Pisgah National Forest: Ken Thomas, Public domain · Memorial Stadium, Clemson: Caseyh at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Grandfather Mountain: Original uploader was KyleAndMelissa22 at en.wikipedia, Public domain · Mount Le Conte: No machine-readable author provided. Blinutne assumed (based on copyright claims, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lake Jocassee: Clemson3564, Public domain
Planning a visit to Chimney Rock
Is Chimney Rock State Park in Lake Lure?
Yes. It’s inside Lake Lure, NC.
When is the best time to visit Chimney Rock State Park?
April, May, September and October, with highs of 72–82°.
How far is Chimney Rock State Park from Charlotte?
About 82 miles east of Charlotte, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Chimney Rock State Park?
Asheville Regional (AVL), about 16 miles away. The nearest big hub is Charlotte Douglas (CLT), about 75 miles.
Where should I stay near Chimney Rock State Park?
Lake Lure (in town, 30 places to stay), Asheville (20 mi, 139 places to stay) and Chimney Rock Village (1 mi, 15 places to stay).
Tips from people in Lake Lure
Share what you know in Lake Lure’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.