Downtown Visitor Trends – May 2026
May brought renewed energy to Downtown Asheville, with approximately 1.1 million visits — up from 1.0 million in April. Visitation was notably more consistent throughout the month, spreading across a broader range of days and times rather than clustering around peak periods. This pattern suggests Downtown is drawing visitors with greater regularity. While May visits were down 3.9% compared to the same month in 2024, the gap remains relatively modest. Visit counts continued to outpace total unique visitors, reflecting the strong role of repeat visitors in sustaining Downtown activity.
One of the more encouraging trends was how evenly activity was distributed throughout both the week and the day. Weekends remained the strongest performers, but the gap between weekdays and weekends was less pronounced than in prior months. Daytime activity was particularly notable, with visits staying elevated from roughly noon through 8 PM — suggesting visitors were lingering longer and taking advantage of daytime offerings.
The busiest single day of the month was May 16, with approximately 53,800 visits. Pack Square Park remained the most visited location, reinforcing its place as one of Downtown's central gathering spaces.
These insights, gathered through the Asheville Downtown Improvement District, help guide planning, support local businesses, and inform strategies to maintain a vibrant and active Downtown year-round.
