Vacation rentals in Nantahala
Book unique vacation rentals, houses, and more on Airbnb
Top-rated vacation rentals in Nantahala
Guests agree: these vacation rentals are highly rated for location, cleanliness, and more.
Vacation rentals for every style
Get the amount of space that is right for you
Popular amenities for Nantahala vacation rentals
Other great vacation rentals in Nantahala
Lookout Villa
Spectacular Great Smokey Mountains Views
Mountain Memories Cabin/Great Smoky Mountains
Big House with Big Mtn Views, Golf & Pool Access
Jewel in the Skye
Great Escape | Smoky Mountain Views | Hot Tub
Our Holiday Home
Casa Paz: Creekside Oasis in the Smoky Mountains
Your guide to Nantahala
Welcome to Nantahala
Marked by gushing streams, cascading falls, and scattered sunbeams filtering through the treetops, Nantahala is located among some of the lushest land in the southern United States. Sixty-four miles south of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, this North Carolina adventure wonderland lays claim to top-notch whitewater rafting and ample hiking and mountain biking trails. Named for the Cherokee word meaning "land of the noonday sun” — the Cherokee people lived here for almost 4,000 years — Nantahala lies just beyond the border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With its neighbor, Pisgah National Forest, the Nantahala region welcomes millions of visitors annually. Though Nantahala is home to a township of the same name, the bulk of its rental cabins and vacation homes are located in Bryson City and Robbinsville, as well as mountain cabins and glamping options like yurts in Topton.
The best time to stay in a vacation rental in Nantahala
For scenery alone, fall is the best time to visit, when the trees are awash in gold, orange, and red. Peak foliage in Nantahala is around mid-October but can start as early as September at higher elevations and end as late as November, depending on the weather in any given year. April is a beautiful time to visit, when the winter snow thaws and makes way for colorful wildflower blooms. If you’re coming to Nantahala for the rapids, you’ll want to book a cabin rental for warmer months like May or June, when rafting season is at its peak. Summers in Nantahala are warm and green, but also among the busiest times of year to visit, particularly between July and August, when schools are out.
Top things to do in Nantahala
Nantahala River Gorge
Adventure-seekers from all over the globe visit Nantahala for its world-class whitewater rafting. Get your footing via the eight miles of Class II rapids before you attempt the Class III grand finale through Nantahala Falls. If whitewater rafting isn’t your thing, the Nantahala River also boasts kayaking, ziplining, fishing, jeep tours, horseback riding, and hiking.
The Cherohala Skyway
The windy 43-mile Cherohala Skyway snakes its way over 5,400-foot-tall mountains and through the forested lands of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. Beginning in Tellico Plains and ending in Robbinsville, the skyway — whose name is derived from combining the national forests, Cherokee and Nantahala, through which it passes — is a popular route among motorcyclists.
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
If you don’t feel like driving, kick up your feet and be a mere observer on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. This 44-mile, 4.5-hour round trip from Bryson City Depot takes you over the Fontana Trestle bridge, across Fontana Lake, and through the Nantahala Gorge.
Destinations to explore
- Pigeon Forge Vacation rentals
- Asheville Vacation rentals
- Upstate South Carolina Vacation rentals
- Chattanooga Vacation rentals
- Sevierville Vacation rentals
- Atlanta Vacation rentals
- Nashville Vacation rentals
- Gatlinburg Vacation rentals
- Charleston Vacation rentals
- Western North Carolina Vacation rentals
- Myrtle Beach Vacation rentals
- Charlotte Vacation rentals
- Yurt Rentals United States
- Yurt Rentals United Kingdom
- Castle Rentals United States
- Houseboats United States
- Holiday Caravans United Kingdom
- Private Island Rentals United States
- Farm Houses United States
- Farm Cottages United Kingdom
- Cabin Rentals Australia
- Luxury Cabins United Kingdom
- Luxury Cabins United States
- Holiday Chalets United Kingdom
- Cottage Rentals United States
- Holiday Cottages United Kingdom
- Mansion Rentals United States
- Villa Rentals United Kingdom
- Holiday Bungalows United Kingdom
- Bungalow Rentals United States
- Condo Rentals United States
- Holiday Apartments Australia
- Holiday Houses United States
- Holiday Houses United Kingdom
- Private Holiday Rentals United Kingdom
- Big House Rentals United States
- Big Cottages Australia
- Large Villas United Kingdom
- House Rentals with a Pool United States
- Cabin Rentals with a Pool United States
- Villas with a Pool United Kingdom
- Apartments with a Hot Tub United States
- Holiday Cottages with a Hot Tub United Kingdom
- Beach Cabins United States
- Beach Condos United States
- Beachfront Rentals United States
- Beach Houses United Kingdom
- Beach Villas United Kingdom
- Coastal Cottages United Kingdom
- Pet-Friendly Vacation Rentals United States
- Pet-Friendly Beach Rentals United States
- Pet-Friendly Cabin Rentals United States
- Dog-Friendly Cottages United Kingdom
- Luxury Dog-Friendly Cottages United Kingdom
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Anakeesta
- Ober Gatlinburg
- Gatlinburg SkyLift Park
- Dollywood
- Cataloochee Ski Area
- Jurassic Jungle Boat Ride
- Black Rock Mountain State Park
- Neyland Stadium
- Tallulah Gorge State Park
- Soaky Mountain Waterpark
- Gorges State Park
- Bell Mountain
- Ski Sapphire Valley
- Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club
- Soco Falls
- Tennessee Theatre
- Holston Hills Country Club
- Wild Bear Falls
- NASCAR SpeedPark
- Helen Tubing & Waterpark
- Anna Ruby Falls
- Grotto Falls
- Dollywood's Splash Country Water Adventure Park