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Registration, Hotel, & Travel Information

Conference Venue

Crowne Plaza Asheville, NC

A 125 acre resort in the heart of Asheville, NC, located minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway and near downtown Asheville. The hotel features features contemporary rooms with free Wi-Fi and fantastic amenities including a fitness center, outdoor pool, zip line, downtown shuttle, and walking/bike trails.

Address:
1 Resort Drive
Asheville, NC 28806

Hotel Information

Crowne Plaza Asheville, NC

$199 per night

Cut Off Date: Monday, August 31, 2026

1 Resort Drive, Asheville, NC 28806
828-254-3211

Cancellation Policy: A credit card will be required to complete the reservation. Reservations canceled within 48 hours of the arrival date will be charged for the first night’s room and tax.

Early Departure Policy: Individuals checking out early without 24 hour notice will be charged a $50.00 early departure fee.

Getting Here

Getting to Asheville by Air

Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)

Rated as one of the fastest growing airports in the U.S., conveniently located just 20 minutes south of downtown Asheville. The Asheville airport serves dozens of direct flight options to Asheville from major airlines.

Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP)

Located approximately 90 minutes from Asheville, NC, GSP offers over 100 daily non-stop flights and many more connecting options. Ground transportation includes rental cars and airport transport service through Eastern Transportation, as well as access to ride share services.

By Car

Registration Fees

Registration opens June 2026.

Registration fees will be posted in June 2026. Why the delay? Because we are working hard to make registration fees as affordable as possible! 

Do you have questions? Do you have a budget deadline and need to register earlier? 

Contact us: info@naturalareas.org

NAC26 Inclusive Registration Fees

We heard you! Informal conversations are as important to sharing knowledge and experience as the presentations. It is when we are together, in a relaxed setting, that colleagues make connections, share openly, and become resources to each other.

Your time is valuable and resources are tight. Our goal is to create a quality experience for the best value. That is why the registration fee includes more meals and reception opportunities than most other industry conferences.

Cancellation Policy:

Refund Deadline September 6, 2026 – Conference registrations canceled on or before September 6, 2026 less a $50 administrative fee.

Conference registrations canceled on or after September 7, 2026 will not be refunded; however, registration fees may be transferred to another individual.

Why should you attend the 2026 Natural Areas Conference?

The NAC gathers over 350 natural areas practitioners in one location featuring plenary and concurrent sessions, symposia, round tables, field workshops, and poster presentations.

• The NAC is the forum for information-exchange among natural areas practitioners across North America. Participants have shared countless stories about how information gained from their participation in this conference had a direct impact on the lands they steward.
• The NAC provides science-based content for natural area practitioners and researchers seeking applied science, practical solutions, and knowledge transfer related to the management of natural areas on a day-to-day basis; such as land stewards in land trusts, nature centers, and nature preserves who manage land for their conservation or natural area values.
• The NAC supports the conservation and the protection of biodiversity by providing access to quality science, new knowledge, best practices, and emerging methodologies for those who steward natural areas.

Land stewardship benefits from shared knowledge rich in a variety of perspectives to enrich learning for all.