Looking for a mix of Southern charm, outdoor adventure, and vibrant arts? Head to Spartanburg! This up-and-coming South Carolina city features walkable downtown streets, historic sites, foodie finds, and plenty of green space. Whether you're a history buff, music lover, or outdoor explorer, Spartanburg offers a friendly, culture-rich escape.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Spartanburg is from spring through fall (April to October). Mild weather and blooming landscapes make it perfect for hiking, festivals, and dining al fresco. Fall is especially lovely for leaf-peeping and outdoor markets.
How to Get There
- If you are traveling by car: Spartanburg sits along I-85 and I-26, making it easily accessible from Charlotte (1.5 hrs) or Atlanta (2.5 hrs).
- By Air: Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) is just 25 minutes away and serves major airlines with direct flights from across the country.
- By Train: Amtrak’s Crescent Line stops in downtown Spartanburg with service from New York to New Orleans.
Where to Stay
- AC Hotel by Marriott Spartanburg – Sleek, centrally located hotel with modern rooms and a rooftop bar downtown.
- Spartanburg Marriott – Comfortable upscale option with a pool and fitness center, walkable to attractions and dining.
- Clevedale Historic Inn and Gardens – Romantic bed and breakfast set in a restored Southern estate with lush gardens.
Top Attractions
1. Stroll Through Tranquil Trails at Hatcher Garden & Woodland Preserve
Rating: ★★★★★
Hatcher Garden & Woodland Preserve is a 12-acre botanical garden open freely to the public during daylight hours year-round that features an abundance of perennials, shrubs and mature trees, several tranquil ponds, and a network of walking trails. The woodland preserve features dense forests, meandering creeks, seasonal flower gardens, reflective ponds, and a cascading waterfall and is home to an array of birds and wildlife. Visitors can explore the gardens and preserve on one of the many walking trails or paved pathways and enjoy picnics and ranger-led educational programs on the indigenous plant life in the region.
832 John B White Sr Blvd, Spartanburg, SC 29306, Phone: 864-574-7724
2. Sip Local Craft Beers at RJ Rockers Brewing Company
RJ Rockers Brewing Company is a locally owned microbrewery in Downtown Spartanburg that produces handcrafted beers in bottles, cans, and on draft that have been aged in bourbon, whiskey, and rum barrels from the U.S. Virgin Islands. Established in 1997, RJ Rockers is a solar-powered microbrewery that has been producing barrel-aged for over 22 years with an annual capacity of 16,000 barrels. The brewery has a downtown brewpub that sells the range of beers and offers tasting tours Thursday through Saturday. They also host a range of events from live weekly music and big-screen sports games to trivia nights.
226-A W Main St, Spartanburg, SC 29306, Phone: 864-804-8047
3. Hike, Ride, or Camp in Nature at Croft State Park
Home to well over 7,000 acres of wooded terrain, the Croft State Park is an exciting recreational destination conveniently located a short distance from Spartanburg’s downtown area. Great to visit at any season, the Croft State Park is home to the 165-acre Lake Craig, a hotspot for paddling and fishing activities. Meanwhile, it also boasts 50 RV and tent campsites, a couple of picnic shelters, and even an equestrian show ring. With that being said, equestrians can enjoy over 20 miles of horseback riding trails, while avid bikers have the same number of biking trails to navigate. In terms of hiking-only trails, Croft State Park has 2.5 miles worth to explore. Interestingly, Croft State Park is also full of history as it once served as a WWII training camp for the army.
450 Croft State Park Road, Spartanburg, South Carolina 29302, Phone: 864-585-1283
4. Discover History and Scenic Beauty at Glendale Shoals Preserve
Glendale Shoals Preserve is a 13-acre reserve and natural area situated on the site of the old Glendale Mill on Lawson’s Fork Creek. Dating back to the 1800s, the scenic property has a significant history and was once a large cotton factory known as the Glendale Mill that supported the local mill village and the surrounding area of Bivingsville. Today, the property features the ruins of the mill, an old bridge dating back to 1928, a dam and a waterfall, and numerous hiking trails and is a popular area for outdoor recreation. The Preserve is also home to a diverse array of fauna and flora, including many species of birds.
Emma Cudd Rd, Spartanburg, SC 29302, Phone: 864-948-0000
If you are traveling with kids:
5. Encounter Exotic Creatures at Hollywild Animal Park
Hollywild Animal Park is a non-profit animal sanctuary set on 100 acres of land that is home to more than 500 animals, many of which have appeared in movies and television shows. The zoo provides natural habitats for a wide range of animals from around the world and features an outback safari section where animals such as bison, Watusi cattle, several species of deer, and donkeys roam free. Visitors to the zoo can hand-feed some of the animals in the safari section, and the sanctuary offers a range of educational programs, field trips, scout workshops, summer camps, and community outreach programs.
2325 Hampton Rd, Wellford, SC 29385
6. Explore Local Creativity at West Main Artists Co-op
The West Main Artists Co-op is a community-centric arts center that is home to three dozen working artists’ studios and displays their works in a variety of rotating exhibitions. Housed in a 20,000-square-foot red brick building with a steeply sloped roofline and large, ornate windows that was once a Baptist church, the gallery is a unique destination for local art in Spartanburg County. The building houses 32 studios in which more than 40 artists work and exhibitions in the hallways and small gallery rooms which the public can view and purchase. The arts center also hosts an array of educational programs, workshops, and artistic performances.
578 W Main St, Spartanburg, SC 29301, Phone: 864-804-6501
Activities and Attractions for Couples:
7. Birdwatch and Unwind at Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve
The Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve is a 115-acre nature reserve and urban greenspace that features over five miles of wooded hiking and biking trails, pristine wetlands, rolling grasslands, and interesting geological formations.
The park is also home to a diverse array of fauna and flora with animals like wild turkey, deer, beavers, raccoons, fox, and numerous birds and reptiles, and offers a range of recreational activities such as hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, picnicking and wildlife watching.
Beechwood Dr, Spartanburg, SC 29307, Phone: 864-948-0000
8. Shop, Dine, and Browse at Westgate Mall
Westgate Mall is Spartanburg’s primary shopping market, boasting 954,302 square feet of retail space and housing major anchor stores such as Costco, JCPenney, Bed Bath & Beyond, Dillard's, and Belk. Located on West Blackstock Road off Interstate 26 and US Highway 29, the shopping mall offers center-wide accessible parking, ATMs, modern restrooms with baby changing stations, nursing mother stations, children’s play areas, fire pits, fountains, and a security and police substation.
205 W Blackstock Rd, Spartanburg, SC 29301
9. Visit the Historic Anderson Mill on the Tyger River
Located at the intersection of the North Tyger River and Anderson Mill Road near Fairmont in Spartanburg County, Anderson Mill is a historic water-powered gristmill dating back to the late 19th century. Resting on the banks of the North Tyger River, the mill was formerly known Nicholl’s Fort, Nichol’s Mill, and Tanner’s Mill, and is now named after Jim Anderson who purchased the mill in 1831. Anderson Mill is the oldest standing mill in South Carolina and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
5255 Anderson Mill Rd, Moore, SC 29369, Phone: 864-978-6528
10. Immerse Yourself in Contemporary Works at Spartanburg Art Museum
Showcasing exceptional works of regional and contemporary visual arts, the Spartanburg Art Museum is a fantastic destination for visitors of all ages as it inspires and engages all those who enter with well-curated exhibits. The museum is nestled in the center of downtown Spartanburg and holds the distinction of being the Upstate region’s only contemporary art museum. Admission to the museum is free and will treat guests to a great range of exhibits. Meanwhile, the museum also hosts regular classes from basics in sketching to graphic design classes, and even weaving classes. While classes do charge a fee, they are a great way to cultivate the skills of budding artists.
200 E. Saint John Street, Spartanburg, South Carolina 29306, Phone: 864-582-7616
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