What’s Inside:
🚗 All Within ~2.5 Hours of Upstate, SC – Easy, family-friendly day trips.
🌿 Sorted by Interest – Adventure, Nature, Animals, Waterfalls, & Mountain Beaches.
💰 Budget-Friendly Options – Free or under $40/day trip ideas included.
🎯 Quick Planning Info – Distance, hours, costs, and unique experiences listed.
🗺️ Unique Family Adventures – From aquaparks to ziplining over lakes.
Planning summer day trips with the family? School’s out, and it’s the perfect time to explore! If a full vacation isn’t possible, day trips are a fun, easy way to enjoy the season and make lasting memories together. We’ve rounded up the best family-friendly summer day trips near Upstate, SC—complete with drive times, admission info, and why each spot is worth the visit.
Choose Your Adventure! Summer Day Trips from Upstate, SC
Looking for other day trips near Greenville, SC?
We have listed only open places, but please double-check before you go, just to make sure they are operating.
Also, we tried to make this list full of new things your family may not have done before or new ways to enjoy familiar places. We didn’t include high-traffic destinations like DuPont Forest and Sliding Rock because there are so many other wonderful locations to enjoy without being on top of each other.
If we missed a place you think should be here, tell us in the comments!
On a budget? Check out this list of cheap summer day trips that are free or less than $40 for a family of four!
For the Outdoor Adventurer
Splash Island or Aqua Zone
There are two pretty awesome floating obstacle courses an hour from Greenville on Lake Hartwell that are super fun and that we recommend! One is the Aqua Zone at The Shores of Asbury and the other is Splash Island at the Big Water Marina.
Hours: Big Water Marina’s Splash Island is open Friday – Sunday (hours vary). The Shores of Asbury is open daily 11 am – 8 pm
Admission: $15/hour or $25/two hours at Big Water Marina; $19.98/hour or $26.98/two hours at The Shores of Asbury (they offer other packages as well, including “all day”). Wednesdays at The Shores of Asbury is $15.98/hour.
Specifications: Big Water Marina allows ages 7+ or 42″ tall and up.
Distance from Greenville: 1 hour
Quarry at Carrigan Farms
1261 Oakridge Farm Highway, Mooresville, NC
Hours: Most days open swim is from 10 am – 3 pm, but see the calendar before you go.
Admission: Admission ranges anywhere from $23 up to $40 per person, depending on weekday, weekend, or holiday time slots. You can choose your time slot via the online reservation portal.
Distance from Greenville: 2 hours
The Quarry is a huge, 25-foot deep natural spring quarry where adventurers jump and dive. The quarry at Carrigan Farms is not only a beautiful sight to behold, but also a full day of water activities, including several rock jump-off points, rope swings, swimming areas, and a sand beach volleyball area.
Tube Down a River
See our giant list of places to go tubing over the summer. We have locations, cost, and open/not open status. This is a great family-friendly activity and day trip! See our reviews of Saluda River Tubing in Greenville, SC, and Cool River in Georgia.
Upstate Zipline at Lake Keowee
138 Museum Circle, Sunset, SC
Hours: See website.
Admission: $89/person; kids as young as 3 years old can participate. Follow them on Facebook for specials.
Distance from Greenville: 1 hour
There are 10 ziplines at Upstate Zipline, which is located right at Keowee-Toxaway State Park, including two that go right over the lake and one that is half a mile long. Read our Upstate Zipline review for all the fun details!
Jocassee Wild Child
Lake Jocassee, Sunset, SC
Hours: Boat tours last around 2-3 hours, and you get to go all around the beautiful lake. Check the website for specific dates and times.
Admission: $55-$65/person
Distance from Greenville: ~an hour and 20 minutes
This fantastic outdoor adventure takes kids and their parents all over the incredibly beautiful Lake Jocassee and lets kids explore secret ponds and trails and learn all about the local wildlife. Spend the day exploring one of the Upstate’s most gorgeous areas.
Nantahala Outdoor Center – Chattooga Outpost
851A Chattooga Ridge Road, Mountain Rest, SC
Hours: Trips are all day – you’ll get to the outpost around 9:15 am and get back by 4:30 pm
Admission: $155/per person for the Section IV rafting trip
Distance from Greenville: 90 minutes
For an awesome adrenaline rush and full day of adventure, you’ll definitely want to go rafting on Section IV 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.
Unicoi State Park & Helen, GA
1788 Highway 356, Helen, GA
Hours: See the website for the park
Admission: Adventures all have varying costs.
Distance from Greenville: 2 hours
Kidding Around® Review of Unicoi State Park
This park is located in Georgia and has tons of outdoor adventure opportunities for families like kayaking, stand-up boarding, archery, ziplining, fishing, mountain biking, and hiking. There’s also a sandy beach on their lake. The park is five minutes from the Bavarian village of Helen, GA where you can enjoy authentic German cuisine and an alpine coaster.
River Snorkeling
2641 Golden Road, Lake Toxaway, NC
Hours: Depends on the trip.
Admission: ~$300+
Distance from Greenville: Hour and 45 minutes
You’ll get to snorkel in rivers in Western North Carolina in a guided half-day tour in small groups. Get up close and personal with hellbenders, trout, and all kinds of creepy-crawling things under the water. So cool! Learn more at the Oxbow River Snorkeling website.
Grandfather Mountain
2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC
Hours: Summer hours are 9 am – 6 pm
Admission: $22-$32/adult, $12/kids. Know that your ticket is timed, so arrive within 1 hour of ticket purchase.
Distance from Greenville: 2.5 hours
Kidding Around® Review of Grandfather Mountain
The mile-high swinging bridge, the bears at the wildlife habitat, the stunning beauty of this mountain – that’s what keeps families coming back to Grandfather Mountain. The Nature Museum serves food and fudge Thursday-Sunday. There is also an abundance of trails at the mountain to enjoy, including some pretty crazy ones where you get to scale the mountain on ladders.
Anne Springs Close Greenway
2573 Lake Haigler Drive, Fort Mill | 803.547.4575
Hours: Open 7 am to Sunset Daily
Admission: Day Passes are $14/person (13+) and $7/child (5-12). Memberships and annual passes are also available.
Distance from Greenville: under 2 hours
Kidding Around® Review of Anne Springs Close Greenway
Anne Springs Close Greenway is great for those looking for family-friendly outdoor adventures. There’s a restaurant, live music events, hiking, horseback riding, historical relevance, paddle sports, and over 2100 acres to explore.
For the Casual Nature Lover
The South Carolina Botanical Gardens
150 Discovery Lane, Clemson SC
Hours: sunrise-sundown
Admission: Free
Distance from Greenville: 45 minutes from Greenville
Kidding Around® Review of the SC Botanical Garden
The botanical gardens consist of 295 acres of gorgeous flowers and landscapes. There are duck ponds for the children to visit, as well as an adorable children’s garden that encourages them to play in the dirt. There’s also a red caboose that kids just love and an amazing, free geology museum.
The Biltmore Estate
One Lodge Street, Asheville, NC
Hours: See hours on their website.
Admission: Starts at $80 adult, depending on season and types of tours
Distance from Greenville: 90 minutes
Kidding Around® Review of Biltmore Estate
Most people think of the Biltmore and see the majestic castle that sits on the 8,000+ acres of lush forest. But there is so much more to see there. The gardens are stunning and a casual stroll admiring the flowers and plants is relaxing. You can do a free wine tasting and kids get grape juice at the winery. There are miles of bike and running trails. Kids can pet baby goats and hold chickens at the farmyard. You can go kayaking or rafting, and the restaurants serve delicious cuisine.
Kings Mountain State Park & National Military Site
1277 Park Road, Blacksburg, SC
Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily
Admission: Minimal fee for the state park; free for the national military site
Distance from Greenville: An hour and 20 minutes
Kidding Around® Review of Kings Mountain
The battle at Kings Mountain between the Loyalists and the Nationalists on October 7, 1780 was one of the defining battles of the Revolutionary War. You can walk a paved 1.5-mile trail that tells you all about the battle and has monuments and plaques about different parts of the battle. There are hiking and equestrian trails as well as a living history farm at the state park and two lakes.
Sassafras Mountain & Hiking
Sassafras Mountain Rd, Sunset, SC
Hours: N/A
Admission: Free
Distance from Greenville: An hour and 20 minutes
You can get to the highest peak in South Carolina without hiking at the Sassafras Mountain Overlook. And you can even stand right on the state line of SC and North Carolina while overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lake Jocassee, and out towards the Great Smoky Mountains. There are lots of trails nearby to add onto this trip like Beech Bottom Falls (1.7 miles), Twin Falls Trail (2.3 miles). Take a trip through Pickens for dinner at Main Street Pizzeria on the way home.
For the Animal Enthusiast
Ride Horses at The Dillard House
768 Franklin Street, Dillard, GA
Hours: See website
Admission: Rates vary depending on which ride you choose
Distance from Greenville: 2 hours
Kidding Around® Review of The Dillard House
Ride horses through open pastures or in the Little Tennessee River. Dine on delicious cuisine. Enjoy the breathtaking views of the Tennessee Mountains.
Riverbanks Zoo
500 Wildlife Pkwy, Columbia
Hours: Open 9 am – 5 pm (most days)
Admission: Adults (ages 13 and up): $24.99; Children (ages 2–12): $21.99, online. Parking is free when you buy tickets online. Children younger than 2 are free. If you have a reciprocal membership, then admission is half price.
Distance from Greenville: 90 minutes
Kidding Around® Review of Riverbanks Zoo
The Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia is hugely popular for families and has enough activities and animals that you can easily spend a whole day there. Don’t forget the Riverbanks Botanical Gardens and the splash pads and play areas at Waterfall Junction are included in your admission to the zoo!
Chattahoochee Nature Center
9135 Willeo Road, Roswell, GA
Hours: 9 am – 7 pm Monday – Saturday; Noon – 7 pm Sunday
Admission: see website for current rates
Distance from Greenville: 2.5 hours
You’ll find hiking, interactive exhibits, gardens, and wetland habitats at the Chattahoochee Nature Center just outside of Atlanta.
Carolina Raptor Center
6000 Sample Road, Huntersville, NC
Hours: See website for hours and special programming
Admission: Admission: $16 adults / $14 seniors, teachers, military, students 13-22 years old / $12 kids 3-12 / Free for children ages 2 and under.
Distance from Greenville: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Kidding Around® Review of the Caroina Raptor Center
Carolina Raptor Center is located just north of Charlotte in Huntersville, NC. An easy day trip from Greenville and Spartanburg, the center is home to falcons, hawks, owls, eagles, and vultures from all over the world. Visitors can view these magnificent raptors up close and learn about their individual stories and unique characteristics that help them survive in the wild.
For the Waterfall Chaser
For more fabulous waterfalls to visit with your family, check out our guide to Waterfalls of the Southeast featuring waterfalls with family-friendly hikes in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee.
Gorges State Park & Whitewater Falls
976 Grassy Ridge Road, Sapphire, NC
Hours: 7 am – 10 pm during the summer
Admission: Free
Distance from Greenville: 90 minutes
Hike through this beautiful North Carolina State Park and enjoy stunning waterfalls, like Rainbow Falls (pictured below) and Turtleback Falls (four miles total). There is also a picnic area and camping, and it’s close to Whitewater Falls, the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, at more than 400 feet high. That trail is an easy quarter mile on a paved path. Coming from Greenville, you’ll pass it on your way to Gorges State Park.
Brevard & Pisgah Forest
Hwy 276, Brevard, NC
Hours: 24/7
Admission: Free
Distance from Greenville: A little over an hour
Things to do in Brevard, NC
Brevard is a cute little town that borders Pisgah National Forest in Transylvania County, which is home to more than 200 waterfalls, including Looking Glass, Moore Cove, Courthouse, and many others. This review on Pilot Cove, an awesome place to stay, also has several things to do in Brevard and where to eat and shop.
Sapphire Valley “Land of the Waterfalls”
Hwy 64, Sapphire, NC
Hours: 24/7
Admission: Free
Distance from Greenville: 90 minutes
The Sapphire Valley in Western North Carolina, which encompasses Cashiers and Highlands, is known as the “Land of the Waterfalls” for the extensive number of them. You can easily make a day trip out of heading to Silver Run Falls, Sliding Rock in Cashiers (different than Pisgah Forest), Bridal Veil Falls, Dry Falls, and Bust Yer Butt Falls if you’re in the mood. You can also choose a non-hike driving tour of waterfalls in the area.
Stumphouse Park and Issaqueena Falls
About 7 miles northwest of Walhalla on Highway 28
Distance from Greenville: Around 90 minutes
Admission: $5 parking fee
Kidding Around® Review of Stumphouse Tunnel & Issaqueena Falls
Stumphouse Park, which includes Issaqueena Falls, is super cool and pretty unique. The Stumphouse Tunnel maintains the same temperature all year round and the waterfall is stunning. There are hiking trails and a picnic area. Pair it up with a trip to the Walhalla Fish Hatchery for a great day trip.
For the Mountain Beach Bum
Lake Lure & The Flowering Bridge [CLOSED FOR 2025 SEASON DUE TO HURRICANE HELENE DAMAGE]
2724 Memorial Hwy, Lake Lure, NC
Hours: Open weekends 10 am – 6 pm
Admission: Currently closed
Distance from Greenville: An hour
This is the lake where Dirty Dancing was filmed (that’s enough of a reason for me to visit), and you can lie out in the sun or slide down water slides or rent kayaks. Read our review of Lake Lure here.
Chau Ram County Park
1220 Chau Ram Park Rd, Westminster, SC
Hours: 7 am – 8 pm
Admission: $3/car
Distance from Greenville: 90 minutes
Chau Ram County Park is a great day trip idea because you can hike around the island and swim in the creek and there is a great little sandy beach, too. Either bring your own life jackets for the kids or borrow them at the park. There’s a small waterfall to splash around in as well. See other parks and things to do in Oconee County in our guide. You can also check out High County Falls Park while you’re in the area.
Lake Powhatan & NC Arboretum
375 Wesley Branch Road, Asheville, NC
Hours: 2 pm – 8 pm
Admission: Day use pass is $5/person
Distance from Greenville: An hour and 20 minutes
Guests can lounge on the sandy beach at Lake Powhatan or walk the Bent Creek Trails. Nearby is the NC Arboretum, a vast garden that is breathtaking! There’s a parking fee of $20, and hours are 8 am – 9 pm.
Other Day Trip Resources
While we didn’t include beach trips, we certainly have many reviews of those:
- 21+ Beaches Near Greenville
- 14 Unique Ideas for Family Fun in the Port Royal-Hilton Head-Beautfort Area of the Lowcountry
- Planned a trip to Hilton Head? This dolphin tour is a must-do!
- Why my family loves Myrtle Beach
- Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort
- Visitor’s Guide to Edisto Beach
- Why Carolina Beach is the Perfect Destination for Upstate Families
- Surf City, NC is the Perfect Beach Town for my Family
- Why Isle of Palms in Charleston is the Perfect Day Trip
- Recreational Lakes Near the Upstate
Other day trip suggestions can be found below. Be sure to verify their operating hours before going.
- Day Trips in Western North Carolina
- Day Trips for Couples
- Day Trips in South Carolina
- Guide to Hiking for Families, Teens, and Adventurers
- Waterfalls Near Greenville
- 23+ Mountain Sandy Beaches Near Greenville
- Our Travel Page
Where is your family’s favorite summer day trip?
Looking for day trips for other times of the year? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Day Trips.
Plan out the perfect summer day trip with one of these day trip ideas near Greenville, SC! Each trip is less than 2.5 hours from home, so pack a lunch, and grab your kids, and get ready for an adventure!
