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Day Trips Not Far from Greenville

Small minivan in front of a cliff overlooking the sky's sunset in preparation of day trips

Plan Your Next Day Trip in 2023

Greenville was in the limelight for most of 2022. Major publishers from Southern Living to Condé Nast Traveler wanted in on the action. We even had our own 60 minutes segment that aired Jan. 09 called “The Big Quit.” As a result, what was already a town that was beginning to gain traction, Greenville experienced a serious influx of new residents (17 a day), new developments, food & arts venues, and more! So, if all the hype drew you into our charming city, then let us show you all the places you can travel to for perfect day trips.

Asheville, North Carolina

Less than an hour away, this North Carolina town is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Whether you wish to walk or drive, you can find easy access to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail. Renting cabins are popular in this area, especially during the winter months.

Athens, Georgia

Filled with a healthy dose of southern charm, Athens has on display a Victorian-era historic district filled with antebellum buildings that are accompanied by the lively arts and music scene perfect for day trips.

Atlanta, Georgia

Less than 2 hours away, Atlanta is one of the busiest towns South Carolina residents have access to. If you visit Atlanta, three places you should visit are the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola Museum, and the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

Greer, South Carolina

This city is known for its friendly small-town feel, especially in downtown across 12 blocks filled with shops and restaurants. During the summer months, you can catch live music performances every Friday. Greer is also home to the country’s only BMW manufacturing plant.

BMW Factory Tour

BMW Zentrum Museum offers this unique experience of stepping inside a working BMW factory. The museum is open to visitors throughout the week, but you’ll have to reserve that factory tour ahead of time if you’re interested. Among the museum’s treasure filled trove is state-of-the-art, rare, concept vehicles like the Isetta “Bubble Car.”

Charlotte, North Carolina

The modern downtown, described as Uptown by locals, is where you will find the bulk of the city’s best restaurants and retail stores. Surrounded by soaring skyscrapers and high-profile attractions, like the NASCAR Hall of Fame, you’re sure to be entertained.

Columbia, South Carolina

Did you know that South Carolina’s capital is often referred to as “The Real Southern Hot Spot”? Columbia offers trendy stores and fancy cocktail bars, and at the same time, offers a glimpse into the city’s rich heritage. If you’re travelling with your family, a family favorite is the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.

Easley, South Carolina

Dubbed as the biggest city in Pickens County, Easley is at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains allowing visitors to enjoy many lakes, waterfalls, and scenic hiking trails. Every city in South Carolina has a bustling food and retail scene, but Easley specializes in a weekly farmers market and has plenty of antique stores to browse making it a perfect destination for day trips.

Fountain Inn, South Carolina

Fountain Inn received its name from a historic inn that served as an overnight stop for exhausted stagecoach travelers. Today, the town still offers tranquility to visitors who want a break from city life with plenty of parks, walking trails, and outdoor concerts held at Commerce Park during the summer.

Simpsonville, South Carolina

The city of Simpsonville has roots dating back to the 1820s. For visitors seeking a thrill, this city has a zipline canopy tour that takes you across the lush Green River Gorge. You can also get behind the wheel of a race car at the BMW performance Center, or whitewater raft down the Chattooga River. Take your pick.

Musgrove Mill Historic Site

Built in 1780, the site commemorates an important battle fought at that time and the history of the Revolutionary War. The park also boasts some of the best nature has to offer, including the Enoree River and Horseshoe Falls.

Paris Mountain State Park

A nature lovers paradise. Seriously. This historic park was constructed during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps and offers more than 1,500 acres of land for visitors to enjoy. You can do whatever your heart desires: mountain biking, hiking, picnicking, nature watching or swimming in the designated lake during the summer. Start planning your day trips now!

Pickens County

This area is still up and coming with a humble selection of restaurants and shops, but the highlight of the area is the Sassafras Mountain. It’s the highest natural point in the state, so when will this make your perfect day trips list?

We have two blogs sharing state parks and waterfalls in the state and surrounding areas that are worth checking out! Continue reading for some local favorite state parks.

Lake Hartwell State Park

There’s a high chance you have heard of the popular Lake Hartwell State Park. Georgia’s 56,000-acre Lake Hartwell surrounds the state park. This state park is suitable for people that enjoy recreational activities like playing basketball and fishing. This park has many paved campsites suitable for tents and RV camping at 115. Aside from those campsites are 13 walk-in tent sites, two camper cabins, one picnic shelter, and a 75-mile nature trail.

Croft State Park

A historic state park worth mentioning is Croft State Park. What used to be a WWII Army training camp now holds several recreational activities like biking, hiking, camping, fishing, and equestrian riding. For the avid equestrian, this park has over 20 miles of equestrian trails and houses equestrian events. Of the 7,054 acres of land, there are three picnic shelters, 50 campsites for tent and RV camping, over 20 miles of biking trails, and almost three miles of hiking trails. Lastly, Lake Craig spans 165 acres and is perfect for fishing. Paddling is also an advantage of the lake.

Table Rock State Park

Another park built by the Conservations Corps is Table Rock State Park. There are 94 campsites for tent or RV camping, four picnic shelters, and a swimming hole with a high dive that’s open in the Summer. There are two park lakes, the Pinnacle Lake and Lake Oolenoy amounting to 103 acres of the total 3,083 acres (about twice the area of Philadelphia Airport) of the park.

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Home of the infamous Dolly Parton’s amusement park, Dollywood, Pigeon Forge is a lively mountain town for country music fans and mountain lovers alike. What many people don’t realize is that this mountain town hosts several annual car shows, like the Great Smoky Mountain Jeep Club Invasion. “With over 43,000 people (about twice the seating capacity of Madison Square Garden) in attendance and 20,000 Jeeps over the 3-day event, GSMJI 2022 shattered previous years’ records in attendance.” It is a car enthusiasts’ paradise and an ideal destination for day trips.

South Carolina Botanical Garden

This 295-acre sanctuary for a diverse collection of plant life is on Clemson University’s campus and has no admission fee. Visitors have the choice to use the garden’s 3 mile of nature trails, check out the geology museum, or visit the Hanover House; a house built during the early 18th century.

The Anderson County Museum

The museum is home to more than 25,000 artifacts that show off the county’s history. You can also learn more about the history of South Carolina and engage in family-friendly activities the museum offers like scavenger hunts and interactive games.

Travelers Rest

The name of this city has an interesting backstory. Because TR is located near the start of the Appalachian Trail, travelers would rest in TR before starting or continuing their journey, hence Travelers Rest. This small town has plenty to highlight. Although the downtown area is not vast, several retail stores, restaurants and souvenir shops are sprinkled along the street. What is new in Travelers Rest are the two brand new wineries: Eagle Mountain Vineyards and Kennington Family Winery.

Check Out More Prime Realty Blogs About Upstate South Carolina

Day trips are good for the soul! If you are looking for recommendations of more places to go or things to do, check out Prime Realty’s blog all about the Upstate of South Carolina. If you want to learn more about some local favorites in the Upstate, our real estate agents would love to share their personal favorites with you! What is more exciting? The New York Times kicked off the start of 2023 by featuring an article, “52 Places for travelers to Visit in 2023.” Not one, but two South Carolina cities made the list! Greenville and Charleston.

Dog Friendly Places in Greenville

State Parks Not Far from Greenville

Happy Hours Around Town

Waterfalls in Upstate, South Carolina

Photos are sourced from various websites like SC Picture Project, GVL journal, and respective official city webpages along with stock image sourcing.

Waterfalls in Upstate South Carolina

Picture of a waterfalls within a mountains-cape

Your Guide to Waterfalls in Upstate S.C.

It’s finally that time of year when the weather is getting nice and it’s starting to warm up in the Upstate of South Carolina. It’s no secret that the Upstate is full of waterfalls, but did you know we are known for having one of the highest concentration of waterfalls in the United States? The specific area is called the Blue Ridge Escarpment, also known as “The Blue Wall.” The Blue Wall rises 3,554 feet at its highest peak and spans around 20,000 acres through South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. Many of the waterfalls are located in Oconee, Pickens, and Greenville Counties, this area has an average rain fall of 80 inches which creates beautiful rushing waterfalls. We did some reading and spoke to a couple of locals to create a list of a of waterfalls in each area of the Upstate that are perfect for every kind of adventurer!

Click on the section heading to be directed to one of the many state parks found in that county.

Oconee County Falls

Oconee County is also known as “The Golden Corner” and it runs along the Chattooga River and marks the border between South Carolina and Georgia.

Bee Cove Falls: This waterfall is divided into four sections. The hiking distance is about 2 miles to see all four and the hike is considered difficult.
- #1. 40 foot waterfall
- #2. 30 foot waterfall
- #3. 40 foot waterfall
- #4. 20 foot waterfall
Big Bend Falls: This 30 foot waterfall gets its name from the hairpin curve where it is located on the Chattooga River just before the falls. The hike to Big Bend is almost three miles and is considered an easy hike. The shoreline of the river below the falls is beachy and boulders where you can relax, have a snack, or take a swim after your hike.
Brasstown Falls: This series of three waterfalls is located on the edge of Sumter National Forrest. It is a quick hike, only .3 miles to see all three but is not recommended for new hikers!
- Cascades: 50 feet
- Veil: 35 feet
- Sluice: 35 feet
Disappearing Falls: This 12 foot waterfall is one of the more interesting waterfalls in the upstate. At first glance, it appears to be a small stream, but when you get closer there is a 12 foot drop over a black granite rock, the water ends up in an underground stream.
Hidden Falls: This 60 foot waterfall is best viewed after a rainy day and was unnamed until 1995. The hiking distance is a little over two miles and is considered a moderate hike.
Issaqueena Falls: This 100 foot waterfall is one of the easiest to access in South Carolina. Just a 10 minute hike, perfect for all kinds of hikers!
Whitewater Falls: This 200 foot waterfall is located north of Salem. There are two major falls, and it is considered the highest series of falls in North America.

Pickens County Falls

Pickens County is known as the upper Eastatoee Valley. Eastatoee is a Cherokee word that translates to Valley of the Green Bird, which is a reference to the now extinct Carolina Parakeet. Pickens County is located he northwest part of the U.S. state of South Carolina, between Greenville and Clemson and up to the North Carolina border.

Carrick Creek Falls: This 15 foot waterfall is an easy .2 miles hike in Table Rock State Park.
Eastatoee Gorge Falls: This 25 foot waterfall is an amazing sight after a difficult 2.5 mile hike. The fall is at the point where the 15 foot wide river is forced into a three-foot-wide sluice.
Gauley Falls (also known as Sliding Rock Falls): This is a 12 foot waterfall that is made up of a series of large boulders that the water flows over. There is no need to hike to get here, it is located right off the golf course at The Rock at Jocassee.
Mill Creek Falls: This waterfall is divided into two parts, upper and lower.
- Upper: This 25 foot waterfall is about a three mile hike that will take you to the bottom of the falls so you can look straight up at it.
- Lower: This 50 foot waterfall is technically located on private property, but can be seen taking a quick road side break on your way to Table Rock State Park.
Pinnacle Mountain Falls: This 100 foot waterfall is a 1.4 mile hike through a rough trail but is totally worth the view. This multi-tiered waterfall runs over rocks and fallen trees.
Todd Creek Falls: This 20 foot waterfall is breathtaking and only a 20 minute hike.
Twin Falls: This 75 foot waterfall is located an easy ¼ of a mile hike, it even has a viewing deck with seating. If you visit after a heavy rain, you can sometimes see a third waterfall to the right of the falls.

Greenville County Falls

Greenville County is located north of Pickens and Oconee Counties. The waterfalls in this area are surrounded by a rich history of mountaineers in the Upstate.

Ashmore Falls: This 150 foot waterfall is located in the Ashmore Heritage Preserve. While it is only a short walk to be able to see the waterfalls, if you want to get a closer look, you’d have to hike a bit further into the steep terrain.
Drip Rock Falls: This 12 foot waterfall is located right on the side of the road and is best viewed during the winter months. The slow flowing water creates beautiful large icicles in the winter.
Falls Creek Falls (not to be confused to Fall Creek Falls): This 125 foot waterfall is a 1.2 mile hard hike in Westminster, SC and is one of the most unique waterfalls in the Upstate.
Firewater Falls: This 20 foot waterfall is located 1 mile into a Caesars Head State Park. The name came from an old moonshine still that once was on top of the granite shelf.
Jones Gap Falls: This 50 foot hike is located only one mile down a well maintained hiking trail. The water flows over many multi-colored ledges of granite.
Mashbox Falls: This 80 foot waterfall is a difficult hour long hike near Caesars Head State Park. This waterfall location is interesting because of the mashbox and two 55-gallon water drums used for making moonshine that are stuck in the ground around 300 feet from the base of the waterfall.
Rainbow Falls: This 140 foot waterfall is located a hard half mile hike in Cox Camp Creek. The hard hike is worth it to see this beautiful thin ribbon of water falling and swaying in the wind.
Reedy River Falls: This 28 foot waterfall is located in the heart of downtown Greenville. If you want to take a long or short walk on the Swamp Rabbit Trail to check it out, this waterfall is hard to miss.

There are a so many great waterfalls to visit in the Upstate. We only picked some local favorites, there are so many more to choose from! Hopefully, we’ve inspired you to visit these beautiful Upstate waterfalls for yourself. If you enjoyed this guide, please share it with other hikers and lovers of the great outdoors and check out some of our other guides to the Upstate. Happy adventuring!