Four new spacious covered wagons await your next adventure at the Travelers Rest KOA in Greenville County, SC. The campground is beautiful and in an ideal location for that little family getaway you’ve been dreaming about.
Thank you to the Travelers Rest KOA for hosting us so we could do this review!
Always on the hunt for cool places to stay with my kids, when I saw the Travelers Rest KOA – not ten minutes from Main Street in Travelers Rest, SC – post about their brand new covered wagons at the campground, I knew that had to be my next stop. And the fact that it was 30 minutes from where I live in Greenville County was an incredible bonus! If you’re looking for an awesome little getaway that isn’t far, this is it.
This was my first KOA experience and thanks to the pretty awesome managers, Terri & Bill, I learned a lot about the company and this particular site in Northern Greenville County.
I’ll tell you all about the campground, the amenities they offer, the new covered wagons, and nearby activities.
About the KOA in Travelers Rest
Started in 1962 as a campground for travelers, KOA has expanded to over 500 locations in North America. The trademark yellow sign means a place for families to relax and have fun together.
KOA is mostly a franchise operation so many of the individual campgrounds are run and operated by local individuals, which I think really makes each spot unique. Terri and Bill have worked for KOA for many years and have extensive management experience of campgrounds. If they ever decide to write a book, let me tell you that I’d be the first to read it.
The couple moved out here to the Travelers Rest KOA only about a year and a half ago from Wyoming, where they had been managing another KOA campground. They immediately fell in love with Travelers Rest and Terri tells me the people here really make it feel like home. She just loves the community.
The couple has done a lot to make the particular campground welcoming and enjoyable for all guests. They have a seasonal pool open usually Memorial Day through Labor Day, a playground, a nature trail, basketball hoop, an enclosed area for dogs to run around in, giant Connect 4 and Checkers, and space to ride bikes. At the covered wagon sites, there are horseshoe pits, cornhole, and roping of steers. It’s a blast!
Each site also has its own raised charcoal grill and the covered wagons all have firepits and chairs. There are RV sites, cabins, and the covered wagons at the KOA in Travelers Rest.
The Beautiful Covered Wagons
The four covered wagons are from Kansas from a company called Plains Craft. These wagons are surprisingly spacious and comfortable. I was only there with my two kids and we had plenty of space.
There are currently four wagons: two of them sleep four people (one bunk bed and one king bed), one sleeps two people in a king bed, and one sleeps six people (two bunk beds and a king bed). That last one could probably even fit a pack n play if needed – there’s that much space.
Each wagon has a mini-fridge, Keurig coffee maker, and microwave. I had precooked our dinner before we came so I just heated it up because I really didn’t prepare well. I totally slacked on bringing ingredients for s’mores or anything to grill. So don’t be like me – bring those s’mores ingredients at least. You can purchase firewood on site.
There is a big open space at the end of the covered wagons that has two horseshoe pits, two steers to practice roping on because now you’re a cowboy, and cornhole. My girls loved playing all of these games.
We also appreciated the little free library at the campsite since I failed to bring games with me. They had some in there that we were able to borrow and play. Each covered wagon also has its own deck with a table and chairs and grill. This is perfect to enjoy the nearby creek and quiet of the campground. We loved this aspect of the KOA. Granted, we went during the week so it wasn’t as busy but the property is a little slice of paradise in Northern Greenville County, tucked away for its guests to enjoy.
Everything was totally clean and inviting, from the wagons themselves to the grounds of the campground.
All the wagons have heat and air conditioning. As of this writing, the price for one night in a wagon is around $145.
The Bathhouse
The wagons are not outfitted with individual bathrooms so you will have to take a little walk to get to them, about three minutes away on the gravel road.
The bathhouse is really nice! There are three separate stalls that each have a bathroom and shower. They lock individually so you have total privacy. There’s also an outdoor sink for washing dishes or brushing your teeth.
Be sure to bring your own towels.
Things to do Nearby
The KOA in Travelers Rest is at the perfect location for dining and adventure. There are lots of great restaurants nearby plus trails upon trails upon trails.
Where to eat
Williams Pit Stop
About five minutes from the Travelers Rest KOA on Hwy 25 is Williams Pit Stop, where you’ll be greeted by traditional Southern charm and a very affordable menu of Mike & Jeffs BBQ and loaded hot dogs. Don’t miss this gem.
2001 Highway 25, Travelers Rest
Tandem Creperie
Located in downtown Travelers Rest, Tandem is known for their incredible sweet and savory crepes. This is the perfect way to start your day.
2 S Main Street, Travelers Rest
TReehouse Cafe & Art Studio
Readers will recognize this place as it’s one of our favorites! Owner Kristen is such a gem and works so hard to make the cafe a place of welcome and creativity. You can get breakfast, lunch, and coffee here alongside a serving of art!
27 S Main Street, Travelers Rest
Whistle Stop Cafe
If your kid loves trains, this is the place to take them. You can’t miss it as they have a giant mural of a train on the side of the restaurant, which serves up typical American cuisine of burgers and sandwiches.
109 Main Street, Travelers Rest
Aunt Sue’s Country Corner
Open seasonally, Aunt Sue’s is a good place to stop after a hike to eat some ice cream and shop at the little general store for candles and other homemade goodies. There’s also a restaurant there serving up a buffet lunch or dinner.
107 Country Creek Dr A, Pickens
Where to play
TR Makers Co.
Also located in downtown Travelers Rest, TR Makers Co. is the perfect place to shop for local goods as well as try your own hand at making some art. They have an array of different classes and it’s a fun spot to visit.
2 S Main Street, Travelers Rest
Table Rock State Park
Hike the two-mile, kid-friendly Carrick Creek trail for beautiful creek crossings and waterfalls or test your endurance on the strenuous 7.5 mile Table Rock Summit Trail. Or just take a walk around the lake for incredible views of Table Rock, go for a swim at the beach, or picnic by the playground. You can’t go wrong spending a day at Table Rock State Park.
158 Ellison Lane, Pickens
Table Rock Tea Company
Did you know there’s a tea farm in the Upstate? It’s the only one and they give tours of the farm, which are incredibly fascinating – plus their tea is really good.
118 High Hills Lane, Pickens
Caesars Head State Park
Another SC State Park that you can’t miss. For the best views of Table Rock, go to Caesars Head. You can also see the hawks migrating there during September. There’s also beautiful hikes – Raven Cliff Falls, Frank Coggins Trail, and the aptly named Dismal Trail.
8155 Geer Highway, Cleveland
Jones Gap State Park
Another gem of a park in the Upstate, Jones Gap boasts stunning hiking trails, especially the most popular one to Rainbow Falls. It’s a tough four-mile trek but well worth the effort. Be sure to make reservations for parking on weekends.
303 Jones Gap Road, Marietta
Campbell’s Covered Bridge
Head to the Upstate’s last covered bridge at Campbell’s Covered Bridge in Landrum. It’s a pretty spot for leaf peeping and creek stomping.
171 Campbell Covered Bridge Road, Landrum
Overall Review of the KOA Travelers Rest
There are a lot of reasons why we really enjoyed our stay: the management, the cool accommodations, the peace and quiet- but I think one of the best things was the time I got to spend with my kids where we didn’t need to put a lot of miles on the car and drive far.
It was so, so easy to come to the KOA in Travelers Rest and feel a world away from our everyday lives. It’s such a great local getaway and one that really works for families who want to do something fun but who aren’t sure yet of a bigger trip or who maybe just don’t have the time to drive hours each way for a short getaway. Kids will absolutely love this place and there is plenty of space for them to run around and play and enjoy the outdoors.
And I was so impressed with Terri and Bill as managers. It was plainly obvious how much they loved their work at the campground and how much they wanted to make it a special place for families or anyone looking to get outside and enjoy nature.
To book your own covered wagon, you can call the campground at 864.834.8150 or reserve online.
Travelers Rest KOA
2400 US-25, Travelers Rest, SC
864.834.8150
