Banner Elk, North Carolina
Banner Elk is a town of 1,473 people in Avery County, North Carolina, founded in 1848.
Why visit Banner Elk
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 5 parks and trails, 7 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Land of Oz, Hemlock Hill, Banner Elk Hotel and Robert Chester and Elsie H. Lowe House.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 77°F; January lows average 22°F, and about 31 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Banner Elk
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Banner Elk
Banner Elk is a town in Avery County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, Banner Elk had a population of 1,049. Banner Elk is home to Lees–McRae College.
From the Wikipedia article Banner Elk, North Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Land of Oz
Monument and historic site · 2.0 mi
Theme park in Beech Mountain, North Carolina
Museums and landmarks3
Banner Elk Hotel
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Hotel in Banner Elk, United States of America
Robert Chester and Elsie H. Lowe House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds5
Restaurants and cafes7
LP on Main
Restaurant · American, Southern, Cajun, Sandwich, Seafood · 0.4 mi
171 Main Street East, Banner Elk
Tu-Sa 11:00-21:00
Banner Elk Cafe and Espresso Lodge
Restaurant
324 Shawneehaw Avenue, Banner Elk
Mo-Th 07:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 07:00-23:00; Su 07:00-21:00
History
The area surrounding the Elk River was inhabited by the Cherokee before western settlement, although no evidence of a permanent Cherokee settlement has ever been found. It is likely the area was used for hunting and fishing. The first permanent settlement was established by Martin L. Banner in 1848. Although the Banner family originally came from Wales, Martin Banner moved from Forsyth County in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. Eventually, the Banner family grew to 55 members, and the area where they lived became known as Banner's Elk. This name was later shortened to Banner Elk when the town was incorporated in 1911.
The Banner Elk Hotel and Robert Chester and Elsie H. Lowe House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
From the History section of Banner Elk, North Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Churches and places of worship6
Banner Elk Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Church · Seventh Day Adventist · 0.7 mi
1484 Tynecastle Highway, Banner Elk
Shopping3
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries4
Healthcare1
Map of Banner Elk
35 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 22°F | 4.6 in | 6.9 in |
| Feb | 44°F | 24°F | 3.7 in | 11.4 in |
| Mar | 50°F | 30°F | 4.9 in | 4.8 in |
| Apr | 60°F | 39°F | 4.8 in | 0.8 in |
| May | 68°F | 47°F | 5.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 74°F | 56°F | 5.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 77°F | 59°F | 5.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 76°F | 57°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 71°F | 52°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 62°F | 40°F | 3.4 in | 0.1 in |
| Nov | 52°F | 31°F | 3.3 in | 1.6 in |
| Dec | 44°F | 26°F | 4.2 in | 5.8 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Banner Elk (0 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Avery County has had 16 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-28: Tropical Storm Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2022-10-01: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)
- 2021-09-08: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred (Hurricane)
- 2020-08-02: Hurricane Isaias (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Foothills Regional Airport (MRN) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 27 miles away.
- Boone 12 mi east, about 19 min by car
- Elizabethton 24 mi northwest, about 39 min by car
- Lenoir 26 mi southeast, about 42 min by car
- Morganton 30 mi south, about 49 min by car
- Johnson City 31 mi northwest, about 50 min by car
- Bristol 34 mi northwest, about 54 min by car
- Bristol 36 mi northwest, about 57 min by car
- Hickory 42 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Kingsport 45 mi northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Newton 49 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Shawneehaw Creek into Mill Pond, Mark Clifton, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Banner Elk Hotel apartments, Nyttend, Public domain
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.