Royal Pines is a census-designated place (CDP) in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States.

Royal Pines is bordered to the west by U.S. Route 25A and the city limits of Asheville, and to the northeast by Mills Gap Road.

Brown Mountain, with an elevation of 2,996 feet (913 m), occupies the center of the CDP.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Royal Pines CDP has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2), all land.

23.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.