GETTING HERE
265 North Sixth Street
Highlands, NC 28741
Driving Directions
Airport Information
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
Fastest Route
(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.
Scenic Route
(Approximately 1.5 – 2 hours)
- From Asheville take I-26 toward Greenville, get off at Airport Exit
- At Exit take right turn onto 280 South, Pass airport on right
- Continue on 280 South to Brevard
- Continue to 64 West through Brevard
- Follow 64 West through Cashiers to the second traffic light in Highlands.
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)
ON CAMPUS
Discover our hours of operation, campus map, and more!
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.
Thelma Howell Administration
(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.
- All pets must be properly leashed and cleaned up after.
- Stay on the marked trails to protect the plants.
- Do not pick or remove plant material.
- Do not leave trash on Station grounds.
- Please watch for uneven terrain, rocks, and roots.