Asheville's ART buses run 18 routes from 49 Coxe Ave.; the S3 goes to the airport. Downtown meters: two-hour limit, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Asheville’s Transit and Parking Services departments and Asheville Regional Airport. ART bus information: 828-253-5691. Parking Services: 828-259-5792.

Asheville sits where I-26, I-40 and I-240 meet, and those roads, with U.S. 19/23, are run by the state. Downtown, the city runs the buses, the parking garages and the meters. This page covers how to get around; for this week’s closures, see road construction and closures.

Who to call

  • ART bus arrivals and trip help: 828-253-5691 (press 1 for real-time arrivals)
  • ART administration: 828-259-5943, iride@ashevillenc.gov, 49 Coxe Ave.
  • Parking Services: 828-259-5792, parking@ashevillenc.gov, 45 Wall St., 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays
  • Road conditions: DriveNC.gov or dial 511

Main roads

  • The interstates, I-40, I-26 and I-240, and the U.S. highways, including U.S. 19/23, belong to the N.C. Department of Transportation, whose Division 13 office is at 55 Orange St. in Asheville. City streets belong to the city.
  • The I-26 Connector, the biggest road project in the area, will keep work zones on I-240, I-40 and U.S. 19/23 for years. Updates are on our road construction page.

Buses: Asheville Rides Transit (ART)

Asheville Rides Transit is the city-owned bus system, according to the Transit Department:
Routes 18, all starting at the ART Transit Station, 49 Coxe Ave., next to the post office
Hours in Asheville 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday
Hours to Black Mountain 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday
Sundays and holidays 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Real-time arrivals live tracking, Google Maps or 828-253-5691
Text alerts Text “NextART” and the stop number to 41411

Plan a trip with ART’s real-time tracker or in Google Maps by tapping the stop nearest you. Service changes are on the service alerts page, and the 2026 holiday schedule is posted on the Transit page. Paratransit for riders with disabilities is explained on the city’s ADA page.

Intercity buses. NCDOT’s intercity bus program stops at 64 Asheland Ave., reachable from every ART route. Asheville is on the Piedmont Pass and Cardinal Flyer routes; tickets and schedules are on NCDOT’s intercity bus page.

Getting to the airport

Asheville Regional Airport is served by:

  • ART’s S3 route between downtown and the airport, the city says. Since July 1 the preferred transfer point to Henderson County’s Apple Country Transit is stop 725 on New Airport Road at Rutledge Road.
  • Taxis, ride apps, car services and hotel shuttles, listed on the airport’s ground transportation page. The airport has moved its taxi and ride app pickup area; follow the signs.
  • Airport parking is on the airport’s parking page.

Biking and walking

The city maintains about 9 miles of greenway, including the French Broad and Wilma Dykeman greenways along the river and a two-way cycle track in the River Arts District. Some riverfront sections are still closed after Helene. Routes and status: parks and trails. The city also rents secure bike lockers downtown.

Downtown parking

From the city’s street parking and garage pages:

  • Meters cover the Central Business District with a two-hour limit. Pay 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday; meters are free on Sundays and city holidays.
  • Pay at the meter, in the Flowbird app, or by texting Z and the two-digit zone number on the back of the meter to 727563 (for zone 42, text Z42). The city does not use QR codes on meters; do not scan any code stuck to one.
  • Garages: the city runs four, open 24 hours a day, with hourly, daily and monthly parking. Parking is free if you leave within the first hour. They are the Biltmore Avenue Garage, the Harrah’s Cherokee Center garage and the Rankin Avenue Garage on Rankin Avenue, and the Wall Street Garage, which reopened in October 2025 after structural repairs. See real-time space counts.
  • ADA spaces: designated on-street ADA spaces are free with a valid placard or plate; regular metered spaces must still be paid.
  • Monthly permits for some on-street zones are first come, first served through the city’s permit portal, reserved 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday.
  • Towed or ticketed? See recover a towed vehicle and pay or appeal a citation.

What this means for you

  • Going downtown for more than two hours? Use a garage; the first hour is free.
  • The S3 bus links downtown and the airport.
  • Check DriveNC or 511 before any trip on I-26, I-40 or I-240.

More: moving to Asheville and who to call at City Hall.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from downtown Asheville to the airport by bus?

Take Asheville Rides Transit’s S3 route, which runs between downtown and Asheville Regional Airport. Taxis, ride apps and hotel shuttles also serve the airport.

What are ART bus hours in Asheville?

ART runs 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday in Asheville, and 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. Service to Black Mountain ends at 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Is parking free in downtown Asheville on Sundays?

Yes. On-street meters must be paid 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday; payment is not required on Sundays or city holidays. City garages charge every day but are free if you leave within an hour.

How long can I park at a downtown Asheville meter?

Downtown meters have a two-hour limit. For longer stays the city points drivers to its four garages, which are open 24 hours a day.