Children at daycare

Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Waynesville, NC

Compare 8 child daycare & preschools in Waynesville. Average rating: 4.33/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Waynesville, North Carolina at a glance

Programs
8
Avg rating
4.33/5
Parent reviews
84
Top rated (4.5+)
5

Waynesville has 8 licensed child daycare & preschools with 84 parent reviews averaging 4.33/5.5 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 42% of rated programs, well above average.The largest concentration is in 28786 with 14 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Waynesville

Ranked using a weighted score that combines Google rating with the number of parent reviews — daycares with more reviews rank higher than those with a high rating but few reviews. Last updated: March 2026.

  1. 1
    First United Methodist Child Development Center
    4.64 score
    4.8(20)

    566 S Haywood Street, Waynesville, NC · Church Daycare · Capacity: -999 children

    This facility received no actual parent reviews about its daycare services. All reviews reference the affiliated First United Methodist Church, praising its worship services, community involvement, and programs. No information is available about the child development center specifically.

    Church community described as welcoming and caringstrong music programsmultiple service optionsactive in hurricane relief and community outreach
  2. 2
    Dellwood Baptist Child Enrichment Center
    4.55 score
    4.8(11)

    115 Hall Drive, Waynesville, NC · Church Daycare · Capacity: -999 children

    Dellwood Baptist Child Enrichment Center is a religious facility that receives consistently positive feedback for its welcoming atmosphere and spiritual environment. Parents and visitors praise the compassionate congregation, community events, and faith-centered approach. The facility appears to create a warm, inclusive experience for families.

    Welcoming and friendly staffstrong spiritual atmospherecommunity eventscompassionate people
  3. 3
    Kid Zone
    4.15 score
    4.2(15)

    333 Access Road, Waynesville, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Parents consistently praise Kid Zone for its caring, responsive staff and supportive environment. Children show developmental progress and parents report feeling confident leaving their kids in the center's care. The facility is noted for cleanliness, organization, and willingness to work with children of diverse needs, including those with autism and special requirements.

    Responsive director who returns callscaring and well-trained staffclean facilitiesgood communication with parents
  4. 4
    Long'S Chapel Child Enrichment Center
    4.08 score
    4.1(20)

    133 Old Clyde Rd, Waynesville, NC · Church Daycare · Capacity: -999 children

    Long's Chapel Child Enrichment Center receives consistently high praise from parents, with all reviews rating the facility 5/5 stars. Parents highlight professional and caring staff, clean facilities, strong communication, meals provided, and individualized attention to children's development and needs.

    Professional and caring staffclean facilityexcellent communication with parents (photos and updates)reasonable pricing

Rating Distribution

Based on 12 daycares with Google ratings in Waynesville

4.5 - 5.0
5
4.0 - 4.4
3
3.0 - 3.9
4
Below 3
0

Daycare Types Compared

Average ratings by facility type in Waynesville, based on parent reviews

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.31avg rating
8 daycares · 7 rated

Church Daycare

4.33avg rating
5 daycares · 4 rated

Before or After School Daycare

No ratings yet
4 daycares

Headstart Programs

4.4avg rating
2 daycares · 1 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Waynesville zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
287855
4.37
1
2878614
4.31
4

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Waynesville (– children)

Small

up to 30 children

0

Medium

31–75 children

0

Large

76–150 children

0

Very Large

150+ children

0

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Waynesville based on parent reviews

Eagle'S Nest Early Learning Center And Preschool

5(2)

1358 Sulphur Springs Road, Waynesville, NC

Great Start Child Development Center

5(2)

39 Putnam Street, Waynesville, NC

Hug -A- Bunch Day Care

5(2)

139 Assembly Street, Waynesville, NC

Kid Zone

4.2(15)

333 Access Road, Waynesville, NC

Parents consistently praise Kid Zone for its caring, responsive staff and supportive environment. Children show developmental progress and parents report feeling confident leaving their kids in the center's care. The facility is noted for cleanliness, organization, and willingness to work with children of diverse needs, including those with autism and special requirements.

Responsive director who returns callscaring and well-trained staffclean facilities

Luv-N-Stuff Too Child Development

3.7(1)

72 1/2 South Hill Street, Waynesville, NC

Luv-N-Stuff Home Preschool

3.7(1)

72 S Hill St, Waynesville, NC

Map

Daycare types in Waynesville

Child Daycare & Preschools 8Headstart Programs 2Church Daycare 5Before or After School Daycare 4

Browse by type in Waynesville

🎨 Preschools 3🕊️ Baptist Daycare 2

Child Daycare & Preschools in Waynesville, North Carolina

There are 8 child daycare & preschools in Waynesville, North Carolina, making up 42% of the 19 total childcare facilities in the city. Below you'll find a complete directory to help you compare and choose the right daycare for your child.

Based on Google reviews, daycares in Waynesville have an average rating of 4.33 out of 5 across 12 rated facilities, with 42% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Headstart Programs facilities lead with an average of 4.4 stars. Our analysis covers 84 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Waynesville, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.

All Child Daycare & Preschools in Waynesville

Showing 8 results

Eagle'S Nest Early Learning Center And Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
5
Address
1358 Sulphur Springs Road, Waynesville, NC
Phone
(828) 476-5133
Great Start Child Development Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
5
Address
39 Putnam Street, Waynesville, NC
Phone
(828) 246-9158
Hug -A- Bunch Day Care
Child Daycare & Preschools
5
Address
139 Assembly Street, Waynesville, NC
Phone
(828) 452-5820
Kid Zone
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.2

Parents consistently praise Kid Zone for its caring, responsive staff and supportive environment. Children show developmental progress and parents report feeling confident leaving their kids in the center's care. The facility is noted for cleanliness, organization, and willingness to work with children of diverse needs, including those with autism and special requirements.

Responsive director who returns callscaring and well-trained staffclean facilities
Address
333 Access Road, Waynesville, NC
Phone
(828) 456-3000
Luv-N-Stuff Too Child Development
Child Daycare & Preschools
3.7
Address
72 1/2 South Hill Street, Waynesville, NC
Phone
(828) 456-5933
Luv-N-Stuff Home Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
3.7
Address
72 S Hill St, Waynesville, NC
Phone
(828) 456-5933
St Johns Early Education And Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
3.6

Feedback highlights exceptional support for children with special needs, particularly praising Director Debbie and teacher Cecily for their patience and engagement. However, severe allegations of abuse, neglect, and failure to manage behavioral issues like biting are also reported, with one parent citing a lack of response to management complaints.

inclusive of special needspatient staffengaging activities
Address
225 Church Street, Waynesville, NC
Phone
(828) 452-2726
Hazelwood Elementary
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
1111 Plot Creek Rd, Waynesville, NC
Phone
(828) 456-2406

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Frequently asked questions

There are 8 child daycare & preschools daycares in Waynesville, North Carolina, out of 19 total childcare facilities in the city. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.
Based on parent reviews, daycares in Waynesville have an average Google rating of 4.33 out of 5 across 12 rated facilities. About 42% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Waynesville, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • Licensing status with North Carolina's regulatory agency
  • Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in North Carolina)
  • Safety measures and cleanliness
  • Daily routines and educational curriculum
  • Parent reviews and ratings
  • Location and hours that fit your schedule
Waynesville offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 8 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 2 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 5 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 4 facilities
Each type serves different needs — center-based facilities typically offer structured programs, while head start programs are federally funded for low-income families.
Daycare costs in North Carolina typically range from $200 to $400 per week for full-time care, depending on the child's age, facility type, and location within the state. Infant care tends to be more expensive due to lower staff-to-child ratio requirements. Contact individual facilities in Waynesville for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Waynesville must be licensed by North Carolina's childcare licensing agency. Licensed facilities are required to meet standards for safety, health, staff qualifications, and staff-to-child ratios. You can verify a facility's license status through your state's licensing database.