Waynesville, North Carolina
Waynesville is a town of 10,502 people in Haywood County, North Carolina, founded in 1810.
Why visit Waynesville
Townapedia lists 18 museums and landmarks, 10 parks and trails, 50 places to eat, 8 places to stay and 8 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Smoky Mountain Cinema, The Strand at 38 Main, Alden and Thomasene Howell House and Boone-Withers House.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 24°F.
Weather in Waynesville
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Waynesville
Waynesville is a town in and the county seat of Haywood County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest town in North Carolina west of Asheville. Waynesville is located about 30 miles (50 km) southwest of Asheville between the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains.
From the Wikipedia article Waynesville, North Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do8
Museums and landmarks18
Alden and Thomasene Howell House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Boone-Withers House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Charles and Annie Quinlan House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Clyde H. Ray Sr. House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Waynesville, North Carolina, listed on the NRHP in Haywood County
Dr. J. Howell Way House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Former Citizens Bank and Trust Company Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Bank building in Waynesville, United States of America
Francis Grist Mill
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
Grist mill in Haywood County, North Carolina
Frank Smathers House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Frog Level Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic district in Waynesville, North Carolina
Haywood County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Courthouse in North Carolina, United States
Lambuth Inn
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Hotel in Lake Junaluska, United States of America
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Masonic Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Building in North Carolina, United States
6 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds10
Waynesville Kiwanis Community Playgroup
Playground · 1.4 mi
Playground
69 West Marshall Street, Waynesville
Restaurants and cafes50
VALÉ 243 Italian Kitchen
Restaurant · Italian, Pizza, Dessert, Sandwich, Wings, Pasta, Pastry, Salad, Regional, Chicken, Steak House, Seafood, Cake, Ice Cream, Fish, Mediterranean, Noodle, Italian Pizza · 0.6 mi
454 Hazelwood Avenue, Waynesville
Mo-Th 11:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-20:30
Bocellis Italian Eatery
Restaurant · Italian · 0.7 mi
Mo-Th 11:30-21:00, Fr-Sa 11:30-22:00, Su 12:00-21:00
Dough Boys Pizza & Wings Waynesville
Restaurant · American, Pizza · 0.5 mi
180 Legion Drive
Mo-Fr 16:00-21:00; Sa-Su 12:00-21:00
Frogs Leap Public House
Restaurant · 0.7 mi
Tu-Th 11:30-15:00, 17:00-21:00; Fr, Sa 11:30-15:00, 17:00-22:00;...
The Scotsman Public House
Restaurant · 0.6 mi
Tu 11:00-14:00; We-Fr 11:00-14:00, 17:30-21:00; Sa 17:30-21:00; Su...
38 more on the map.
History
Prior to European colonization, the area that is now Saunook was inhabited by the Cherokee people and other Indigenous peoples for thousands of years. The Cherokee in Western North Carolina are known as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, a federally recognized tribe.
The town of Waynesville was founded in 1810 by Colonel Robert Love, a Revolutionary War soldier. He donated land for the courthouse, jail, and public square, and named the town after his former commander in the war, General "Mad" Anthony Wayne.
The Boone-Withers House, Citizens Bank and Trust Company Building, Former, Francis Grist Mill, Frog Level Historic District, Haywood County Courthouse, Alden and Thomasene Howell House, Masonic Hall, Charles and Annie Quinlan House, Clyde H. Ray Sr. House, Frank Smathers House, Spread Out Historic District, Waynesville Municipal Building, Dr. J. Howell Way House, and Waynesville Main Street Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Waynesville was incorporated as a town in 1871. In July 1995, the towns of Hazelwood and Waynesville merged into one community and continued to grow with a population today of over 10,000.
From the History section of Waynesville, North Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay8
Brookside Mountain Mist Bed & Breakfast
Motel and hotel · 1.0 mi
142 Country Club Drive, Waynesville
The Yellow House On Plott Creek Road
Motel and hotel · 1.9 mi
89 Oakview Drive, Waynesville
Waynesville Country Club Inn
Motel and hotel · 1.1 mi
176 Country Club Drive, Waynesville
Churches and places of worship18
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Place of worship · Jehovahs Witness · 1.7 mi
100 Counsel Place, Waynesville
First Presbyterian Church
Church · Presbyterian · 0.9 mi
305 North Main Street, Waynesville
North Hazelwood Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 0.7 mi
809 Hazelwood Avenue, Waynesville
Shopping25
Gas and EV charging6
Schools, colleges and libraries14
Haywood County Public Library
Library · 0.4 mi
678 South Haywood Street, Waynesville
Map of Waynesville
157 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 24°F | 4.6 in | 2.6 in |
| Feb | 50°F | 26°F | 4.3 in | 1.6 in |
| Mar | 57°F | 32°F | 4.5 in | 3.0 in |
| Apr | 66°F | 40°F | 4.5 in | 0.4 in |
| May | 73°F | 48°F | 4.2 in | 0.3 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 56°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 60°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 80°F | 59°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 76°F | 53°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 67°F | 41°F | 3.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 58°F | 31°F | 3.6 in | 0.5 in |
| Dec | 50°F | 26°F | 4.7 in | 2.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Waynesville 1 E Hcn (2 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
Haywood County has had 14 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
Barker Private STOL Airport (53NR) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 22 miles away.
- Lake Junaluska 3 mi northeast, about 5 min by car
- Maggie Valley 4 mi northwest, about 7 min by car
- Clyde 6 mi northeast, about 10 min by car
- West Canton 8 mi northeast, about 14 min by car
- Canton 10 mi east, about 16 min by car
- Sylva 15 mi southwest, about 23 min by car
- Cullowhee 16 mi southwest, about 26 min by car
- Cherokee 17 mi west, about 27 min by car
- Asheville 26 mi east, about 41 min by car
- Hendersonville 33 mi east, about 52 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
- Downtown Waynesville NC, Daniel Hass, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Citizens Bank and Trust Company Building, Waynesville, NC (39750590633), Warren LeMay from Cincinnati, OH, United States, CC0
- Waynesville, North Carolina - Haywood County Courthouse, Travis K. Witt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Frog Level District, Blastoids, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Historic Main Street Waynesville, Lawrenceoftyrone, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Waynesville, North Carolina - Municipal Building, Travis K. Witt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Masonic Hall - Waynesville, NC, AbeEzekowitz, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Dr. J. Howell Way House, AbeEzekowitz, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Shelton House, AbeEzekowitz, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Francis Grist Mill, Blastoids, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Clyde H. Ray Sr. House, AbeEzekowitz, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Boone-Withers House, AbeEzekowitz, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Alden and Thomasene Howell House, AbeEzekowitz, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lambuth Inn, Lake Junaluska, NC (46642287502), Warren LeMay from Cincinnati, OH, United States, CC0
- Frank Smathers House, AbeEzekowitz, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Charles and Annie Quinlan House, AbeEzekowitz, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Shackford Hall, Lake Junaluska, NC (45970267024), Warren LeMay from Cincinnati, OH, United States, CC0
.jpg){kind=link}
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.