Getting Here
Nestled in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains at 4,118 feet, our campus is worth the journey. Here's everything you need to plan your visit.
Plan your visit
Hours of Operation
Different areas of campus keep different hours. Here's what to expect at each location before you arrive.
Administrative
HBS Offices
As a unit of Western Carolina University, HBS offices follow university business hours and the WCU holiday schedule.
Outdoor Access
Botanical Gardens & Trails
The 12-acre HBS Botanical Gardens and grounds are open year-round with no entrance fee. Download the trail & garden map →
Public Programs
Nature Center
The historic WPA-built Highlands Nature Center (Clark Foreman Museum) is open seasonally for visitors and programs. More about the Nature Center →
Finding us on campus
Campus Entrances
Our campus has three entrances depending on where you're headed. Use the guide below to park in the right spot.
Visitors & Public
Highlands Nature Center
930 Horse Cove Road, Highlands, NCPark behind the Nature Center or at the Sunset Rock parking area across the street. Follow the path behind the Nature Center along the Amphitheater margin to the Woodland Way trail, then down the stone steps to the main Botanical Garden entrance.
Gardens & Trails
North Campus
111 Lower Lake Road, Highlands, NCPark off Lower Lake Road at our northern entrance. The Lindenwood Lake dam hosts the Native Pollinator Conservation Garden. Follow the gravel path through the garden and across the dam to access the boardwalk into the Highlands Botanical Garden.
Researchers & Students
HBS Administration Building
265 North 6th Street, Highlands, NC 28741Visiting researchers and students taking courses or workshops should park here or at the Valentine House. The majority of Station staff work from this building — it's the main academic and professional building on campus.
By road
Driving Directions
Highlands sits at the intersection of several scenic mountain routes. All roads lead through beautiful country — plan extra time to enjoy the journey.
From Knoxville, TN
~2.5 hrs- Take I-40 East into North Carolina toward Waynesville.
- Take US-23/441 toward Dillsboro, Sylva, and Franklin. Stay on the by-pass through Franklin.
- Just past Walmart on the left, take the right-hand exit ramp to US-64 East toward Highlands.
- Turn left onto US-64 East and follow into Highlands.
From Atlanta, GA
~2.5–3 hrs- Take I-85 North toward Greenville, SC, then I-985 toward Gainesville, GA (becomes GA-365).
- Continue on GA-365 as it becomes US-441 North through Tallulah Falls, Clayton, and Mountain City.
- At the traffic light in Dillard, turn right onto GA-246 (becomes NC-106 at the state line).
- Proceed up NC-106 into Highlands — enjoy the final scenic 20-minute mountain drive.
From Greenville, SC
~2 hrs- Take US-276 North to Scenic Highway 11.
- About four miles past the Lake Keowee bridge, turn right onto NC-130 toward Cashiers and Whitewater Falls.
- Follow NC-130 to NC-107 North; turn right and proceed to the intersection of NC-107 and US-64 in Cashiers.
- Turn left onto US-64 West and travel approximately 12 miles into Highlands.
From Asheville, NC
~1.5 hrs- Take I-40 West to US-23/74 West toward Waynesville.
- Continue on US-23/74 to US-23/441 toward Dillsboro, Sylva, and Franklin. Stay on the by-pass at Franklin.
- Follow signs for US-64 East toward Highlands.
- Turn left and follow US-64 East through the scenic Cullasaja Gorge into Highlands.
From WCU (Cullowhee, NC)
~1 hr- Take NC-107 South toward Cashiers.
- Turn right onto Slab Town Road.
- Turn right onto US-64 West.
- Turn left onto Chestnut Street, then right onto N 6th Street to the Administration Building.
By air
Airport & Transportation
Five major airports serve the Highlands area, with shuttle services connecting most to campus.
| Airport | Drive Time | Map |
|---|---|---|
| Asheville (AVL) | ~1.5 hrs | Directions ↗ |
| Greenville (GSP) | ~2 hrs | Directions ↗ |
| Atlanta (ATL) | ~3 hrs | Directions ↗ |
| Knoxville (TYS) | ~3.25 hrs | Directions ↗ |
| Charlotte (CLT) | ~3.5 hrs | Directions ↗ |
Rental Cars
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car 71 W Palmer St., Franklin, NC 28734
Airport Shuttle Services
- Cashiers Carolina Connection (828) 743-3911
- Mountain Motor Coach (888) 506-1907
- Smoky Mountain Transportation (561) 545-7368
- Georgia Shuttle (706) 493-7372 · ATL airport only
Hours of Operation
HBS Offices
As a unit of Western Carolina University, HBS offices follow university hours of operation (business hours M-F, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM) and holiday schedule.
Botanical Gardens/Trails
The 12-acre HBS Botanical Gardens and HBS grounds are open year-round dawn to dusk; there is no entrance fee. Click here for more information about the HBS Botanical Gardens, and a downloadable map of gardens and trails.
Nature Center
The home of most HBS public programming, the historic WPA-built Highlands Nature Center, officially known as the Clark Foreman Museum, is open seasonally for visitors and programs. Click here for more information about the Nature Center and programs.
Station Entrances
Highlands Nature Center
(930 Horse Cove Road): Visitors wishing to visit the Nature Center should park behind the Nature Center or at the Sunset Rock parking area across the street. Follow the path behind the Nature Center along the margin of the Amphitheater to the Woodland Way trail. Continue down the trail and stone steps and walkway to the main Botanical Garden entrance a short distance up on your right.
North Campus
Stowers Teaching Pavilion & Native Pollinator Conservation Garden (111 Lower Lake Road): Visitors wishing to visit our botanical gardens and hike our trails should park off of Lower Lake Rd. at our northern entrance. The Lindenwood Lake dam hosts the latest garden at HBS, the Native Pollinator Conservation Garden. Follow the gravel path through the garden and across the dam to access the boardwalk into the Highlands Botanical Garden.
HBS Administration Building
(265 North 6th Street): Visiting researchers and students taking courses and workshops should park here or at the Valentine House. The majority of Station and Foundation staff work out of this building, and this is the main academic and professional building on campus.
Driving Directions
From Knoxville, TN
(Approximately 2.5 hours)
- Take I-40 East into North Carolina towards Waynesville
- Take 23/441 towards Dillsboro, Sylva and Franklin. Stay on by-pass in Franklin.
- Just past Walmart on left look for right hand side exit ramp to 64 E to Highlands. Take left on 64 E.
From Atlanta, GA
(Approximately 2.5 – 3 hours)
- Take I-85 North (toward Greenville, SC)
- To I 985 toward Gainesville, GA where it becomes GA 365
- Continue on GA 365 as it changes to 441 North
- Go through Tallulah Falls, Clayton and Mountain City to Dillard, GA
- At the traffic light in Dillard take right onto GA 246 that becomes NC 106
- (At this point you are about a beautiful 20 minute drive to Highlands)
- Proceed up GA 246/NC 106 to enter Highlands.
- I-85 North, exit I-985 to Gainesville, becomes US 23/441.
- Continue North through Dillard.
- Turn right onto GA 246 (becomes NC 106 at state line) to Highlands.
From Greenville, SC
(Approximately 2 hours)
- Take 276 North to Scenic Highway 11
- About four miles from bridge over Lake Keowee turn right onto Rt. 130 towards Cashiers & Whitewater Falls
- Follow 130 to Route 107 N, turn right on hwy and proceed to traffic light at intersection of 107 & 64 in Cashiers.
- Turn left onto 64 W-travel about 12 miles.
- If you are comfortable with reading maps and back roads, a shorter way from downtown Greenville is to Pickens on Route 183.
- From 183 turn right on Hwy 133 past Pickens and proceed to Scenic Hwy 11.
- Take left hand turn, cross Lake Keowee bridge and proceed to Route 130 about four miles ahead on your right.
- Follow 130 toward Cashiers to NC 107. Take right on 107 to intersection at crossroads in Cashiers.
- Take left onto 64 W to Highlands.
From Asheville, NC
(Approximately 1.5 hours)
- Take I-40 West to route 23/74 W towards Waynesville.
- Take 23/74W to 23/441 towards Dillsboro, Sylva and Franklin
- At Franklin stay on the by-pass
- Look for Highlands exit 64E towards Highlands
- Turn left and follow 64 East through the Cullasaja Gorge, a curvy but beautiful road through the mountains.
From WCU
(Approximately 1 hour)
- Take NC-107 S towards Cashiers.
- Turn right onto Slab Town Rd.
- Turn right onto US-64 W
- Turn left onto Chestnut St.
- Turn right onto N 6th St.
Airport Information
Nearby Airports
Transportation Services
Rental Cars:
Enterprise Rental Car Company – 71 W Palmer St., Franklin, NC 28734
Airport Connections:
Cashiers Carolina Connection – (828) 743-3911
Mountain Motor Coach – (888) 506-1907
Smoky Mountain Transportation – (561) 545-7368
Georgia Shuttle – (706) 493-7372 (ATL airport only)