Getting Here | Directions to Highlands Biological Station, Highlands, NC

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.

3 campus entrances Free admission & parking 5 major airports nearby 4,118 ft elevation

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

Mon – Fri, 8 AM – 5 PM

As a unit of Western Carolina University, HBS offices follow university business hours and the WCU holiday schedule.

Outdoor Access

Botanical Gardens & Trails

Year-round, dawn to dusk

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

Open seasonally

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, NC

Park 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, NC

Park 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 28741

Visiting 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
  1. Take I-40 East into North Carolina toward Waynesville.
  2. Take US-23/441 toward Dillsboro, Sylva, and Franklin. Stay on the by-pass through Franklin.
  3. Just past Walmart on the left, take the right-hand exit ramp to US-64 East toward Highlands.
  4. Turn left onto US-64 East and follow into Highlands.

From Atlanta, GA

~2.5–3 hrs
  1. Take I-85 North toward Greenville, SC, then I-985 toward Gainesville, GA (becomes GA-365).
  2. Continue on GA-365 as it becomes US-441 North through Tallulah Falls, Clayton, and Mountain City.
  3. At the traffic light in Dillard, turn right onto GA-246 (becomes NC-106 at the state line).
  4. Proceed up NC-106 into Highlands — enjoy the final scenic 20-minute mountain drive.

From Greenville, SC

~2 hrs
  1. Take US-276 North to Scenic Highway 11.
  2. About four miles past the Lake Keowee bridge, turn right onto NC-130 toward Cashiers and Whitewater Falls.
  3. Follow NC-130 to NC-107 North; turn right and proceed to the intersection of NC-107 and US-64 in Cashiers.
  4. Turn left onto US-64 West and travel approximately 12 miles into Highlands.

From Asheville, NC

~1.5 hrs
  1. Take I-40 West to US-23/74 West toward Waynesville.
  2. Continue on US-23/74 to US-23/441 toward Dillsboro, Sylva, and Franklin. Stay on the by-pass at Franklin.
  3. Follow signs for US-64 East toward Highlands.
  4. Turn left and follow US-64 East through the scenic Cullasaja Gorge into Highlands.

From WCU (Cullowhee, NC)

~1 hr
  1. Take NC-107 South toward Cashiers.
  2. Turn right onto Slab Town Road.
  3. Turn right onto US-64 West.
  4. 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