Mills River, North Carolina
Mills River is a town of 7,281 people in Henderson County, North Carolina, founded in 2003.
Why visit Mills River
Townapedia lists 5 museums and landmarks, 7 parks and trails, 14 places to eat, 3 places to stay and 16 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Brock Mountain, Bryson Mountain, Arthur W. Moore House and Bryn Avon.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 83°F; January lows average 27°F.
Weather in Mills River
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Mills River
Mills River is a town in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 6,802 at the 2010 census, and was estimated to be 7,406 in 2019. The town took its name from the nearby confluence of the Mills River and French Broad River. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From the Wikipedia article Mills River, North Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do16
4 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks5
Arthur W. Moore House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.0 mi
Horse Shoe, North Carolina, listed on the NRHP in North Carolina
Bryn Avon
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.9 mi
Estate in Henderson County, North Carolina
Moss-Johnson Farm
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.8 mi
Historic farm in North Carolina, United States
Rugby Grange
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.7 mi
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Holly Springs Union Chapel and School
Monument and historic site · 2.5 mi
Brannon Road, Horse Shoe
Parks, trails and playgrounds7
Restaurants and cafes14
Cognative Cafe
Cafe · Coffee Shop, Sandwich, Breakfast, Beer · 3.5 mi
3771 Brevard Rd, Hendersonville
Mills River Restaurant
Restaurant · 1.4 mi
4467 Boylston Highway, Mills River
Mo-Su 06:00-21:00
Mills River Brewing Co. Mills
Brewery and winery · 1.3 mi
336 Banner Farm Road, Mills River
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Brewery and winery · 4.0 mi
100 Sierra Nevada Way, Mills River
Bold Rock Hard Cider
Brewery and winery · 1.7 mi
72 School House Road, Mills River
Burning Blush Brewery
Brewery and winery · 1.1 mi
4891 Boylston Highway, Mills River
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Taproom
Restaurant · 3.9 mi
100 Sierra Nevada Way, Mills River
2 more on the map.
History
Prior to European colonization a large Cherokee settlement existed within the borders of Mills River.
Mills River is among the oldest communities in Henderson County, with its first landholder receiving a deed from the state of North Carolina in 1788. It was once a thriving agricultural community, often called the "fertile crescent".
The Mills River Chapel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
From the History section of Mills River, North Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay3
Churches and places of worship18
Mills River Chapel
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Place of worship · Jehovahs Witness · 1.8 mi
2184 Jeffress Road, Mills River
All Saints Anglican Church
Church · Anglican · 2.7 mi
15 McDowell Road, Mills River
Emmanuel Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 1.4 mi
11 Pennsylvania Road, Mills River
Fanning Chapel
Church · United Methodist · 2.8 mi
5490 Old Haywood Road, Mills River
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging8
Schools, colleges and libraries9
Healthcare3
Map of Mills River
84 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 27°F | 4.4 in |
| Feb | 51°F | 29°F | 3.6 in |
| Mar | 58°F | 35°F | 4.0 in |
| Apr | 67°F | 42°F | 4.3 in |
| May | 74°F | 51°F | 4.2 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 59°F | 4.8 in |
| Jul | 83°F | 63°F | 5.3 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 62°F | 4.7 in |
| Sep | 77°F | 56°F | 4.4 in |
| Oct | 68°F | 44°F | 3.5 in |
| Nov | 58°F | 34°F | 3.9 in |
| Dec | 50°F | 30°F | 4.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Asheville 13 S 74697 (3 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
Henderson County has had 13 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)
- 2020-08-02: Hurricane Isaias (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-25: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.
- Horse Shoe 4 mi southeast, about 6 min by car
- Etowah 5 mi south, about 9 min by car
- Fletcher 6 mi northeast, about 9 min by car
- Avery Creek 6 mi north, about 9 min by car
- Balfour 6 mi east, about 10 min by car
- Laurel Park 7 mi southeast, about 11 min by car
- Hendersonville 8 mi southeast, about 14 min by car
- Bent Creek 9 mi north, about 15 min by car
- Fruitland 10 mi east, about 15 min by car
- Hoopers Creek 10 mi northeast, about 16 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
- Mills River Chapel, Upstateherd, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rugby Grange, Johnston, Francis Benjamin, Public domain
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.