Local teens and parents share their favorite day trip destinations for teens and tweens near Greenville, SC.
Are you looking for a fun day trip for teenagers around Upstate, SC? We’ve rounded up ideas that real teens actually enjoy. These outings give you a chance to explore somewhere new, laugh a little, and sneak in some quality time without forcing it.
Here’s our list of 20 great day trips for teens and tweens near Greenville.
The Quick Summary: Day Trips for Teens
We’ve put together a teen-approved list of 20 awesome day trips, from thrilling outdoor adventures like whitewater rafting on the Chattooga River to exploring charming towns like Hendersonville. 🌄🚣♂️
✅ Adventure parks
✅ Waterfalls
✅ Cool museums
✅ Amusement parks
✅ Historic sites
Day trips are the perfect way to unplug, bond, and make memories that last a lifetime. Whether your teen loves adrenaline, history, or just good food and downtown exploring, you’ll find something they’ll be excited about.
Why Are Day Trips Perfect for Teens Near Greenville, SC?
If your teen is like the teens I know and love, then you know planning an outing that they’ll enjoy isn’t always easy. But, it’s totally possible! Teenagers living in the Upstate are lucky to have so many wonderful places to explore in town or nearby. For example, you can travel to both Asheville and Charlotte in less than two hours.
Day trips with teens get them out of the house, off the devices, and give you lots of time to chat and experience something fun together. It’s organic bonding time that’s not forced. You’ll be surprised the things they bring up on those long car rides. In addition, these day trips make excellent field trips for homeschooled teenagers.
Best Adventure-Filled Day Trips for Teens
1. Rafting the Chattooga River with Nantahala Outdoor Center
For an awesome adrenaline rush and full day of adventure, you’ll definitely want to go rafting on the Chattooga River with the Nantahala Outdoor Center in SC. This is a fun, fun trip that includes lunch and Class IV-V rapids, checking out a beautiful waterfall, and jumping in the river. Read our full review here.
2. Asheville Adventure Center
Teens will love the unique things to do at the Asheville Adventure Center. It includes Asheville Treetops Adventure Park, Asheville Zipline Canopy Adventures, KOLO Bike Park, KidZip, and Wildwater Rafting. Cost varies by activity.
3. Chimney Rock State Park
Chimney Rock State Park is home to Chimney Rock, an amazing peak that tourists can climb with stunning views of Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure. The state park has miles of trails and stairs to climb. And if your teen wants to try actual rock climbing and rappelling, they can do it at Chimney Rock. You can book a two-hour, half-day, or full-day climbing adventure. Reservations are required.
4. Hike Table Rock
Table Rock is a short drive from Greenville and offers one of the best hikes around. You could easily spend a day at Table Rock with your teen. Choose one of the many trails to explore, spend some time on the beach, and rent paddle boats.
5. Explore the Waterfalls Near Greenville
I don’t care how old you are. Waterfalls never go out of style! And if you’re wondering where to take teenagers hiking near Greenville SC, waterfalls could be the answer. Take your teen on a day trip to explore and do some hiking. In particular, Chau Ram County Park is a great day trip idea because it takes a little more than an hour, but once you get there, you can hike and swim at Ramsey Creek for just $5.
P.S. Be prepared to take plenty of posed waterfall pictures for your teen’s Instagram and Tiktok feeds.
6. U.S. National Whitewater Center
If you’re thinking about cool places to take teens near Charlotte, NC, don’t overlook the U.S. National Whitewater Center. It’s an awesome place for families looking for outdoor activities. In addition to offering whitewater rafting, you can kayak, paddleboard, and mountain bike. Guests also have the opportunity to do some rock climbing, conquer ropes courses, canopy courses, and more. Plus, there is live music during summer months. You can purchase a day pass for $79 that includes all activities or a cheaper single-activity pass.
7. Snow Tubing/Skiing/Snowboarding
There are so many awesome places to enjoy winter sports in our area, whether it’s snow tubing, skiing, or snowboarding. You can easily turn any of these into an overnight or weekend adventure!
Best Educational and Historic Day Trips for Teens
8. Discovery Place in Charlotte
We love Discovery Place in Charlotte! This science museum is tons of fun for kids of all ages. The interactive second floor includes several hands-on opportunities geared for this age group. Teens can lie across a bed of nails, try hydraulic arm wrestling, or compete to see who can build the largest tower. It’s also home to an IMAX theatre. The cost is $24 for adults, and kids age 2-13 get in for $19.
BONUS: Check out the Sullenberger Aviation Museum, also in Charlotte. Our teens loved visiting, flying the simulators, and learning about the aircraft.
9. Visit the Biltmore Estate and Grove Park Inn
If you want to take kids to Biltmore, be sure to review 5 Reasons to Take Your Kids to Biltmore.
If your teenagers are fans of history or literature, a trip to the Biltmore Estate and Grove Park Inn is an absolute must. Both locations are steeped in history and give teens a real-life glimpse into the past. They will enjoy learning about the Vanderbilt Family at the Biltmore and hearing about F. Scott Fitzgerald’s time at the Grove Park Inn. The cost to visit the Biltmore Estate varies by season.
10. BMW Factory Tour
We’re lucky to have BMW so close to us, and if you have a teen who loves cars, attending one of the factory tours at BMW makes for a great day trip. They offer a couple of tour options, anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Be sure to make an appointment because the tours fill up quickly.
11. Georgia Aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium is roughly two hours from the Upstate and makes for a great day trip with teens. With thousands of animals and a large number of exhibits, it’s a great place to spend half a day. The dolphin viewing area will give your teen their photo opp. You can even swim with whales, sharks, and manna rays during your visit.
Outdoor Fun and Water Adventures Teens Will Love
12. Sliding Rock (Pisgah Forest)
There’s probably no more iconic summer experience in Western NC than Sliding Rock in Pisgah National Forest. This is a really fun adventure that your teen will love (and probably freeze doing). Go before noon or after 4pm for smaller crowds. Admission is $5 per person. We suggest adding on Moore Cove Falls (1.5 miles round trip) and Fryingpan Tower (1.5 miles roundtrip) hikes to make it a full day trip.
13. River Tubing
There are so many awesome spots to go river tubing over the summer. The closest one to Greenville is the Saluda Outdoor Center. We also love Deep Creek in Helen, GA, and Smoky Mountain Tubing in Cherokee, NC. We also have a huge list of places to go tubing in and near the Upstate over the summer.
14. Linville Caverns
Linville Caverns in Marion is another unique day trip option for teens. You’ll explore “inside the mountain” with a guide and experience the caverns, which stay a cool 52 degrees year-round. The caverns are also home to bats, so you may see a few during your visit. Since you are allowed to take pictures inside the cave, this is another spot where your teen will ask you to take about a hundred.
Cool Towns and Cities Perfect for a Teen Day Trip
15. Hendersonville, NC: A Fun Small-Town Adventure
Hendersonville, NC is about an hour away from Greenville and offers plenty of things to do on a day trip with your teen. If it’s fall, you can visit an apple orchard or pumpkin patch. There’s an aquarium, too. Or if you have a teen who loves views, a visit to Jump Off Rock would be fun. Play all day at the Appalachian Pinball Museum. Or just walk around downtown Hendersonville, grab lunch somewhere, and enjoy a fun afternoon activity before heading home. Take a look at all the things you can do in Hendersonville.
16. Athens, GA: Exploring Campus Life and Downtown Fun
Athens, GA is only two hours from the Upstate. Home to the Georgia Bulldogs, it has a great downtown area full of retail stores and restaurants. Spend a day with your teen walking around the University of Georgia campus and wandering around downtown. We have an entire guide to your day trip to Athens.
17. Downtown Asheville, NC: Trolley Tour and Chocolate Factory Fun
Asheville, NC is a vibe, and it’s also beautiful and has a lot of fun things to explore. You can take a trolley tour, check out the Grove Arcade to shop and dine, and even go on a tour of a real-life chocolate factory! See our handy guide to learn how to plan the perfect downtown Asheville day trip with your teen.
Amusements and Unique Day Trips for Teens
18. Asheville Retrocade (Bonus: Retro Arcade Games!)
For a fun add-on to any Asheville trip, take the teens to play some old school video games at Asheville Retrocade. It’s just $12 per person for all-day play.
19. Carowinds Amusement Park, Charlotte NC
Carowinds Amusement Park in Charlotte is always a hit with teenagers. Less than two hours from Greenville, it has roller coasters, thrill rides, and a waterpark. Carowinds will keep your teen entertained all day long. Also, Scarowinds, Carowinds’s annual Halloween nighttime event, draws the teen crowd. Ticket prices start at $40.
20. Tryon International Equestrian Center
The Tryon International Equestrian Center is a little less than an hour from Greenville and hosts really fun (and free) events. The center is open to the public and has restaurants and shopping, as well as the opportunity to see competition. It’s free to visit, but Saturday Night Lights has a $10 parking fee. Don’t miss out.
Looking for more things to do for teenagers? Ways to get them involved in the community?
What? You need more day trip ideas?
No problem!
Here’s The Ultimate Day Trip Guide and Day Trips Ideas for Teens from Charlotte, NC!
Do you have teen day trip ideas to add to our list?
