Banner Elk

Travel Guide

Colorful North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains sunset in Autumn from Sugar Mountain
Colorful North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains sunset in Autumn from Sugar Mountain
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Where to stay in Banner Elk

From the top of Sugar Mountain looking at Tyne Castle in Banner Elk North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains

Tynecastle

While visiting Tynecastle, you might make a stop by sights like Grandfather Mountain State Park and Watauga River.

Tynecastle
Appalachia, where patriotism lives on. A lot of times we stereotype Appalachia to be very proud of their country and the south. This photo captures small town mainstreet flag pole. In Banner Elk there is one stoplight and on that main street is our American flag flying high with the rolling mountains in the background. The highlight of this small town is the 4th of July. This image just reminds me of how the town comes to life to be all American on that day. #appalachianechoes

Downtown

While visiting Downtown, you might make a stop by sights like Elk Statue and Tate-Evans Park.

Downtown
Blue Ridge Parkway, scenic autumn view, Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina

Charter Hills

While Charter Hills may not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Beech Mountain Resort and Land of Oz.

Charter Hills
blue ridge mountains near mount mitchell and cragy gardens

Mill Ridge

Though Mill Ridge may not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Grandfather Vineyard & Winery and Julian Price Park.

Mill Ridge
4 Seasons at Beech Mountain

4 Seasons at Beech Mountain

2.5 out of 5
608 Beech Mountain Pkwy Banner Elk NC
Stay at this family-friendly aparthotel in Banner Elk. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
8/10 Very Good! (488 reviews)
Clean room. Well located. Nice staff.

Reviewed on 25 Feb 2026

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4 Seasons at Beech Mountain
The Highlands at Sugar

The Highlands at Sugar

3 out of 5
2173 Sugar Mountain Drive Banner Elk NC
Stay at this family-friendly apartment in Banner Elk. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (801 reviews)
Pros: The suite was clean. The space is large and roomy with plenty of blankets, and kitchen pans, appliances, and dishware. Check-in and out was easy and staff friendly. Location is very nice with a great view from all suites. Enjoyed the real wood fireplace. Bought some logs at local store and ...

Reviewed on 25 Feb 2026

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The Highlands at Sugar
The Lodge at Banner Elk

The Lodge at Banner Elk

2.5 out of 5
1615 Tynecastle Highway Banner Elk NC
The price is €163 per night from 2 Mar to 3 Mar
€163
2 Mar - 3 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Banner Elk. Enjoy free breakfast, free parking and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,002 reviews)
The room was clean and staff was nice offered a sheet of local places nearby. Beds are semi comfy great value for the price. I liked how clean it was.

Reviewed on 22 Feb 2026

The Lodge at Banner Elk
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Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
The Highlands at Sugar

The Highlands at Sugar

3 out of 5
2173 Sugar Mountain Drive Banner Elk NC
Stay at this family-friendly apartment in Banner Elk. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (801 reviews)
Pros: The suite was clean. The space is large and roomy with plenty of blankets, and kitchen pans, appliances, and dishware. Check-in and out was easy and staff friendly. Location is very nice with a great view from all suites. Enjoyed the real wood fireplace. Bought some logs at local store and ...

Reviewed on 25 Feb 2026

The Highlands at Sugar
Smoketree Lodge

Smoketree Lodge

3 out of 5
11914 Highway 105 Banner Elk NC
Stay at this aparthotel in Banner Elk. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a fitness centre. Popular attractions Sugar Mountain Resort and Grandfather Mountain ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (274 reviews)
Very courteous staff. The place is very dated but it's a good value for being so close to Beech Mtn (10 mins) and Sugar Mtn (25 mins) ski resorts. Room was well equipped with a mini kitchen and everything necessary to cook (Stove, pots and pans, boiler, toaster, cutlery, plates, bowls...) Quiet despite ...

Reviewed on 20 Feb 2026

Smoketree Lodge
Heritage Hill Cabins

Heritage Hill Cabins

3 out of 5
161 Alnic Ln Banner Elk NC
Stay at this cabin in Banner Elk. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Beech Mountain Resort and Alta Vista Gallery ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (42 reviews)
Veey clean and cozy! Love the cabin, I rated 4 stars as the check in instructions and website should be updated for off season. Our intro text talked about farm animals and then ended with "no animals at this time", same with the dinner Resturant, told to make reservations but then concludes with ...

Reviewed on 22 Feb 2026

Heritage Hill Cabins
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Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Banner Elk, North Carolina highway road street in city town by Sugar and Beech Mountain ski resorts with view of Grandfather Mountain State Park in sunny morning ridge peak

Beech Mountain Resort

Hit the slopes in Banner Elk with a visit to Beech Mountain Resort. Discover the mountain views in this family-friendly area or enjoy its hiking trails.

Beech Mountain Resort
Yellow brick road Beech Mountain, North Carolina

Land of Oz

Enjoy a fun-filled day at Land of Oz during your visit to Beech Mountain. Discover the area's mountain views or seek out its ski slopes.

Land of Oz
Time to make some wine!

Grandfather Vineyard & Winery

You can enjoy a tasting or tour at Grandfather Vineyard & Winery during your travels to Banner Elk. Discover the mountain views in this family-friendly area or enjoy its hiking trails.

Grandfather Vineyard & Winery
This is the headstone of Banner Elk, North Carolina. This elk has been in the town forever, but this past year the elk has been refurbished and installed as the centerpiece of the town. This elk frames Appalachia in the sense of this small town pride in the mountains. In the background you can see the historic elementary school and rolling mountains and once again the North Carolina pride of the state flag surrounding this elk even though about 100ft to the right there is another flagpole with the same flags raised high and proud. This is where every child in this town went to school in this picturesque location but as time rolls on is Appalachia move on too? #appalachianechoes

The Greene

The Greene is just one of the places to see in Banner Elk, so why not enjoy the other things to explore during your travels?

The Greene
Throughout my childhood I spent so much time at this park. I always remember of thinking of it as the park in the middle of the mountains. What I never noticed as a child was how every single aspect of this park was planned out and put there for a reason. Likewise before studying the photographic image I had never thought about how we construct a image and its affordances and constraints. One thing I really want to point out in this image is that while we have this beautiful park there is a huge ugly pipe in the middle of the photograph. It is part of the necessity of the planning of the park, just like the frame is a necessity of an image. We sometimes want to forget it is there but it is a necessary part of an image and still has meaning. #appalachianechoes

Tate-Evans Park

You can learn about the history of Banner Elk with a stop at Tate-Evans Park. Discover the area's mountain views or seek out its ski slopes.

Tate-Evans Park

Sugar Mountain Resort

Hit the slopes in Sugar Mountain with a visit to Sugar Mountain Resort. Discover the area's mountain views or seek out its hiking trails.

Sugar Mountain Resort
Another #hiddentreasure of Appalachia is this view from Vilas Overlook. I managed to snap a picture at the perfect time—the leaves are changing colors, the goldenrod is in full-bloom, and the cloudy sky is covering the hills like a blanket. That’s right—not even the cloudy skies can diminish the incredible view that this is. I found it on my way to Trashcan Falls, and it is up a dirt road. The view was different than other overlooks like Thunderhill and Howard’s Knob in my opinion because this one was nestled right in a residential area. You can even see the house I had to park above to get this shot! Luckily it was a lazy Sunday and nobody seemed to notice I was there—they were all probably napping after church! #appalachianechoes #vilas #overlook #appalachia #mountains

Vilas

Winter waterfall near Blue Ridge and Boone

Seven Devils

This photo was taken on September 20th, around 4:30 pm. This overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway really shows how a moment of peace and quiet is only but a short drive from Boone, NC. I like to visit this area while the weather is still warm and the Parkway is open for whomever wishes to visit. The Blue Ridge Parkway, though likely not the quickest route to any destination, sure is worth the extra gas money. While cruising through some of the most beautiful parts of North Carolina and Virginia, the plethora of breathtaking overlooks entice you to stop what you are doing and quite literally enjoy the view. There is a calm that overtakes you when on the Blue Ridge. What you are seeing in front of you makes you feel so small and distant from the rest of the world. However, when you look to your side you see the handful of other spectators who are likely looking for tranquility. #AppalachianEchoes

Collettsville

Big water.

Elk Park