Inside: Your complete 2026 family guide to Travelers Rest, SC: where to eat, the best things to do with kids, where to stay, and local shopping picks. We cover the Swamp Rabbit Trail, the Saturday farmers market, new spots like Joybird Cafe and Field Trip glamping, plus a full day trip itinerary so you can plan the perfect visit to TR.
Have you visited Travelers Rest, SC?
The northern Greenville town of Travelers Rest has seen a revitalization that is getting the attention of people from all over the Upstate, and in January 2026, Southern Living featured TR with “The 14 Best Things To Do In Travelers Rest, South Carolina.” Wonderful dining options, beautiful outdoor spaces, and affordable living make Travelers Rest a great place to work, live, and play. Our guide lists some of the best things to do, places to stay, and dining experiences to enjoy in Travelers Rest, SC.
Quick Facts: Travelers Rest, SC
- Distance from downtown Greenville: About 15 minutes north on US-25
- Best known for: Swamp Rabbit Trail, walkable Main Street dining, Saturday Farmers Market
- 2026 Farmers Market season: Saturdays, April 25 to September 19, 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM
- Family-friendly highlights: Parks, biking trails, farms, live music, craft cafes, glamping
- As seen in: Southern Living (January 2026 feature)
What’s Inside This Guide
- What Our Readers Say About Travelers Rest
- A Full Day Trip Itinerary
- Where to Stay in Travelers Rest
- Things to Do in Travelers Rest
- Places to Eat in Travelers Rest
- Local Shopping in Travelers Rest
- Frequently Asked Questions
Looking for more places to spend the day with your family? Here’s our list of Day Trip Towns, just a short drive from the Upstate.
Itinerary: Spending The Perfect Day in Travelers Rest, SC
If you’re considering making a move to Travelers Rest or just looking to have some fun exploring, we have a day full of fun suggestions right here for you!
Breakfast: We suggest starting the day off with breakfast at one of our reader’s favorite places for crepes! Tandem Creperie and Coffeehouse (2 S Main St) offers up sweet and savory crepes, along with waffles and fruity bowls of granola. Or, grab coffee and a fresh pastry from Joybird Cafe (308 Poplar St), a newer spot with a fun vintage vibe and a drive-thru.
In the morning: After breakfast, you can browse the shops on Main Street while enjoying a to-go coffee, or take the kids to the Bunched Arrowhead Heritage Preserve. This 180-acre wildlife preserve features a family-friendly 1.25-mile hiking trail. While visiting, you can observe wildlife and look for the endangered plant that the park is named for.
Lunch: Once everyone works up an appetite for lunch, you can head over to the Whistle Stop at the American Cafe (109 S Main St). They even have live music!
Afternoon fun: Head over to the Swamp Rabbit Trail to work off lunch with a family-friendly hike. While you are on the trail, keep your eyes peeled for all the murals that adorn the buildings in the area. Here’s a list of where to find the murals in Travelers Rest and all over the Upstate.
If the weather doesn’t permit outdoor fun, you can head to TReehouse Cafe & Studio (27 S Main St) for some family crafting fun.
Dinner: Deciding on dinner is more difficult because of all the wonderful options the downtown area of Travelers Rest offers. Here are some of our reader’s favorites!
- Sidewall Pizza Company (35 S Main St) – Pizza
- Farmhouse Tacos (164 S Main St) – Tex Mex
- Shortfields (24 S Main St) – American
- TopSoil Kitchen & Market (13 S Main St) – Farm to Table
Where To Stay in Travelers Rest, SC
If you are just visiting the Upstate and want to base your trip around Travelers Rest, there are hotels, inns, and even a luxury glamping experience available to guests.
Hotel Domestique
📍 10 Road of Vines, Travelers Rest, SC 29690 | 864.651.9011
A European-influenced high-end boutique hotel in the foothills of Travelers Rest. The hotel offers full-service dining at its restaurant, Restaurant 17, and provides guests with complimentary BMWs to use. Hotel Domestique also hosts seasonal events that non-guests can attend with the purchase of a ticket.
Field Trip Travelers Rest (NEW)
📍 95 Trammell Rd, Travelers Rest, SC 29690
The Upstate’s first luxury glamping destination, opened in 2025 and founded by two local moms. Field Trip offers 23 units including A-frames, geo domes, and family cabins. Kids will love the outdoor playground with jungle gyms and climbing walls, the micro-farm with baby goats, and the slingshot range. There’s also a community lodge for gathering. It’s a fantastic option for families who want a nature getaway without giving up creature comforts.
Swamp Rabbit Inn
📍 426 South Main Street, Travelers Rest, SC 29690 | 864.345.7990 (text is the fastest way to get in touch)
Conveniently located right in the heart of downtown Travelers Rest, this rental property offers several options for guests. You can take a dip in the pool or rent a bike and hop on the neighboring Swamp Rabbit Trail.
Hampton Inn Greenville / Travelers Rest
📍 593 Roe Center Court, Travelers Rest, SC 29690 | 864.834.5550
Located close to Furman University, this Hilton brand hotel offers guests complimentary breakfast and an on-site swimming pool.
Travelers Rest / North Greenville KOA Campground
📍 2400 North Highway 25, Travelers Rest, SC 29690 | 864.834.8150
The campground offers cabin rentals, RV sites, and tent sites for guests. Conveniently located just minutes from everything in Travelers Rest. Onsite amenities include a seasonally open swimming pool, a playground, a dog park, and sports (basketball, cornhole).
Things to Do in Travelers Rest, SC
Visit The Farmers Market
If you happen to be in town on a Saturday, the Travelers Rest Farmers Market shouldn’t be missed. The Travelers Rest market is so much more than just a produce stand! The market offers visitors yoga sessions, cooking demos, live music, food trucks, and more. The 2026 season runs Saturdays from April 25 through September 19, 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM. There’s also a weekly Thursday evening Harvest Market in October (5:30 to 8:00 PM) with bluegrass music.
Ride a Bike on the Swamp Rabbit Trail
The Swamp Rabbit Trail runs right through Travelers Rest, making it one of the best spots to hop on for a family ride or walk. Or, if mountain biking is more your speed, you’ll want to check out Gateway Park for trails with a variety of skill levels. New in late 2025, the Gold Line Trail added a 2-mile paved segment connecting the Swamp Rabbit Trail network, with a trailhead near Travelers Rest High School extending to the Travelers Rest YMCA.
Get Creative at TR Makers Co.
Located on Main Street downtown, TR Makers Co. is a beautiful little shop that sells goods from local artists, including soap, printed shirts (that are the softest I’ve ever felt, by the way), sweatshirts, jewelry, dolls, and pottery. The coolest part, at least for the kids, is all of the neat stuff Kristin has for the art section of TR Makers. They also offer summer camps and seasonal workshops for kids.
Have Some High Spirited Fun at The Poinsett Bridge Preserve
The Poinsett Bridge is part of a 120-acre preserve and one of the oldest bridges in the Southeast United States. All the history the bridge has seen makes for a place that visitors often report as haunted. It’s a great spot for a short hike and some family photo ops.
Go Have Some Fun at the Park
Travelers Rest has several parks to enjoy. You can visit one, or make a day of doing a park hop.
- Poinsett Park
- Trailblazer Park
- Gateway Park
- Northwest Park
Head to Trailblazer Park for Live Music and Movies
The same park that hosts the summertime Farmers Market hosts other family-friendly events throughout the year.
- Music in the Park Concert Series (2026): Saturdays in May, June, and September. Food trucks at 6 PM, live music at 7 PM. Free! See the full 2026 lineup.
- Outdoor Movie Series: Saturdays in August. Check for the 2026 movie schedule.
- Harvest Market and Bluegrass Music: Thursdays in October, 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM.
Grab Some Coffee and Get Creative at TReehouse Cafe
You and your family could spend hours at the TReehouse Cafe (27 S Main St) with all the art supplies laid out to use! It’s part cafe, part art bar, and all fun for kids and parents alike.
Go Visit a Local Farm
Travelers Rest is home to several farms offering all kinds of different crops for purchase. Some offer the chance to pick-your-own produce.
- Arrowhead Acres – Blueberries
- Blueberry Hill – Blueberries
- Wellborn Winery – Vineyard
- Beechwood Farms – Seasonal Produce and Sunflowers
- MacGregor Orchard – Peaches, Apples, Pears, Figs, and more
Go Practice Your Swing
Spring Park Golf Range is a family-friendly range where you can practice your golf swing. There is a golf instructor on-site, in case your swing needs more than a little help. Who knows, you might be fostering a love that blooms into your child being the next Tiger Woods. Open Mon-Sat 10 AM to 9 PM, Sunday 1 PM to 9 PM.
Dining Options in Travelers Rest, SC
One of the best things about Travelers Rest is how many great restaurants are packed into a walkable stretch of Main Street. Here’s a rundown of the local dining scene.
TopSoil Kitchen and Market
📍 13 S Main St | topsoilrestaurant.com
Recent nominees for a James Beard award, the kitchen at TopSoil bases their menu on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. This is a special-occasion-worthy dinner spot for families.
Sidewall Pizza
📍 35 S Main St | sidewallpizza.com
Hands down the favored local pizza place with our readers! Don’t forget to try their ice cream on a visit; they make it in-house.
Chicora Alley
📍 117 N Poinsett Hwy | chicoraalley.com
Boasting TR’s largest bar, here you can enjoy a cocktail, coffee, pastries, and items from Chicora Alley’s full menu. Our readers RAVE about their Nachos!
Farmhouse Tacos
📍 164 S Main St | farmhousetacos.com
American-style Mexican food served from locally sourced ingredients. A reader favorite for good reason.
Shortfields
📍 24 S Main St | shortfields.com
A solid American fare spot right on Main Street, perfect for families who want a relaxed sit-down meal.
Whistle Stop at the American Cafe
📍 109 S Main St | whistlestopattheamericancafe.com
The cafe is charming, with lots of memorabilia and decor along with a staff that was eager to greet us. The fried tomatoes are amazing. The kids tried a little but preferred the kids menu, which, wait for it, was written on a Dinosaur TRAIN coloring sheet!
Restaurant 17
📍 10 Road of Vines (inside Hotel Domestique) | hoteldomestique.com
Located inside Hotel Domestique, Restaurant 17 serves locally sourced meals. Guests can enjoy dinner daily and brunch on Saturday and Sunday.
Joybird Cafe (NEW)
📍 308 Poplar St | Joybird Kidding Around Review
A newer addition to the TR dining scene, Joybird started as a trailer coffee stand before moving into a permanent brick-and-mortar with a drive-thru. They serve Counter Culture coffee, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and fresh pastries. The 50s vintage vibe is a fun touch, and the drive-thru is a lifesaver when you have kids in the car.
Caribou Coffee (NEW)
📍 569 Roe Center Court, Suite 500 | cariboucoffee.com
Opened in April 2026, this is the first Caribou Coffee location in the Upstate. Open daily 6 AM to 6 PM, located in the TR Gateway Retail Center off Main Street.
Pink Mama’s Ice Cream
📍 11 S Main St | pinkmamasicecream.com
A great place to enjoy a frozen treat after a day of exploring Main Street. Our readers say Pink Mama’s has THE BEST ice cream in TR.
Tandem Creperie and Coffeehouse
📍 2 S Main St | tandemcreperie.com
A reader favorite for crepes, coffee, waffles, and fruity bowls of granola. A perfect spot to start your day in TR.
Shopping in Travelers Rest, SC
Main Street in Travelers Rest is full of unique shops worth browsing. Here are some of our favorites.
Charlie’s Southern Rustiques (226 S Main St) – Located in an old service station, Charlie’s offers a unique collection of vintage collectibles, antiques, and decor for your home. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 AM to 5 PM.
The Carolina Honey Bee Company (14 Center St) – Not only does The Carolina Honey Bee Company sell pure, raw honey straight from their hives, but they also sell bees themselves! Whether you are looking for fresh honey or to become your own beekeeper, they have all the bee supplies you will need. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 6 PM.
Beyond the Threads (106 S Main St) – A boutique clothing store that offers hand-selected items like apparel, beautiful clothing, and personalized gifts.
Retro Marketplace (128 S Main St) – Retro Marketplace contains a plethora of vintage clothing and upcycled pieces. They occasionally host events such as wine tastings and vintage clothing fashion shows.
The Crescent Olive (108 S Main St) – An olive oil and balsamic vinegar distributor that sells premium oils produced in various countries throughout the world! They have specialty oils, flavored oils, and a selection of vinegar to purchase. Their highly knowledgeable staff will help you locate something new and delicious to add to your kitchen.
TR Farmers Market – Local food, goods, and makers can be found at this market that runs Saturdays, April 25 through September 19 (2026 season), in downtown Travelers Rest.
Looking for more family-friendly day trips near Greenville? Check out our complete guide to the best day trips near Greenville, SC!
What Our Readers Are Saying About Travelers Rest
We love going to the farmers market when they are open, the flop shop on Main Street has ALL the cute stuff and a $1 jewelry wall my daughter loves picking a necklace, our favorite restaurant is farmhouse tacos even though you really can’t go wrong with anything to eat, monkey wrench has story time on Fridays or else they used too, pink mamas has THE BEST ice cream, the library is also right there and they used to have an amazing lady who did the mother goose on the loose, the park is fun and if you have boys they have a pretty awesome area for some trick riding like hills and stuff to ride your bike and try to jump so it’s cool to even just sit and watch sometimes, you can also use the football field for play area so we usually have a soccer ball in the car the kids love to kick around, go to upcountry provisions and get a sandwich and cookie they are sooooo good too! We LOVE Travelers Rest! – Stephanie B.
I grew up near TR! Great little town. Tandem coffee shop, Monkey Wrench, Whistle Stop, Chicora Alley, and Swamp Rabbit Trail! – Jennifer M.T.
I drive from Inman to go to Tandem once in a while. – Kristin J.
Frequently Asked Questions About Travelers Rest, SC
How far is Travelers Rest from downtown Greenville?
Travelers Rest is about 15 minutes north of downtown Greenville via US-25. It’s an easy drive, making TR a perfect half-day or full-day trip for families in the Upstate.
When is the Travelers Rest Farmers Market open in 2026?
The 2026 season runs Saturdays from April 25 through September 19, from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM. There’s also a Thursday evening Harvest Market in October (5:30 to 8:00 PM) with bluegrass music.
Is the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Travelers Rest good for kids?
Yes! The paved Swamp Rabbit Trail is flat, wide, and great for kids of all ages, whether they’re in a stroller, on a balance bike, or riding on their own. The trail runs right through downtown TR so you can easily stop for snacks or rest breaks.
What are the best family-friendly restaurants in Travelers Rest?
Reader favorites include Sidewall Pizza, Farmhouse Tacos, and Tandem Creperie. For a special dinner out, TopSoil Kitchen and Market is a James Beard-nominated spot with locally sourced ingredients. And don’t skip Pink Mama’s Ice Cream for dessert!
Can you camp or glamp near Travelers Rest?
Yes! The Travelers Rest / North Greenville KOA Campground offers cabin rentals, RV sites, and tent camping. For a more upscale experience, Field Trip Travelers Rest (opened in 2025) offers luxury glamping in A-frames and geo domes, with a playground, micro-farm with baby goats, and a community lodge.
We hope you decide to explore Travelers Rest! Did we leave out your favorite part of this southern town? Let us know in the comments!
Explore more of the Upstate! Check out our complete Day Trip Guide for family-friendly towns near Greenville, SC.
