With some great day trip options available in the surrounding area, having your own car makes sense. Without one, it’d be much harder to explore everything that Townsend, 17 miles away, has to offer. Among your first stops here should be Tuckaleechee Caverns, Dark Island Swinging Bridge and Hedgewood Gardens. Don’t forget about Topton either! Just 18 miles away, Nantahala Lake, Nantahala National Forest and Appalachian Rivers Raft Company are essential stops here.