Greenville is one of the top tourist destinations in South Carolina. It offers a mix of small-town living and classic southern hospitality with high-caliber cuisine, entertainment, shopping centers, and more! You get the best of both worlds in one destination. The best part about visiting Greenville is that it is a relatively affordable city you can explore. You can do many activities in the city that will cost you little to nothing! When we visit we like staying at the AC Hotel right in downtown its such a great hotel with the perfect location to access all that Greenville SC has to offer. Here are some of the many free things to do in Greenville SC you shouldn’t miss out on during your visit:
Take A Long Walk Through The Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail
The Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail covers a total of 23 miles running along the Reedy River in Greenville. It stretches through a former railroad corridor and connects the cities of Travelers Rest and Greenville in Southern Carolina, along with many restaurants, parks, schools, and local businesses along the way.
The trail serves as a multi-use greenway for walking and bicycling; it is a perfect spot for those wanting to enjoy the outdoors and exercise. It is one of the top things to do in Greenville with kids.
Hike At Caesar’s Head State Park – Best Nature free things to do in Greenville SC
Caesar’s Head State Park in northern Greenville is formally known as the largest state park in South Carolina. The park is part of the 13,000 acres of woodlands known as the Mountain Bridge Wilderness area. The park has rugged mountain summits, beautiful waterfalls, grassy meadows, vibrant flora and fauna, and freshwater fishing. There are also 60 miles of walking trails winding through the park, popular for hiking and bird watching.
Take A Walk Through Downtown And Take In All The Sights
Downtown Greenville has plenty of areas you can explore on a self-guided tour through the city. It is widely known for its exceptional beauty, tree-lined streets, and of course, the winding Reedy River. The city is incredibly pedestrian-friendly, with wide sidewalks, street-side dining options, and outdoor plazas. You will also find several art galleries that add a touch of creativity to downtown Greenville here and there, all well worth exploring.
Enjoy The Working Farm And Fun Of Barefoot Acres
Barefoot Acres is a 52-acre adventure farm in Greenville, South Carolina, but it is far from a traditional farm. It has a working farm open to the public to visit while also housing a thrilling adventure park next door. You can come and enjoy the great outdoors, stroll through the field, enjoy a lovely picnic, or head to the adventure park for exciting obstacle courses and ziplining fun.
Do An Easy, Breezy Hike At Wildcat Wayside
If you want to spend the day exploring a not-so-challenging hiking trail, head over to the Wildcat Wayside. Here you will find a short, 0.9-mile easy trail hike that stems from a beautiful waterfall view you simply can’t miss. You can find three tiers of the falls as you hike; the lower falls can be seen from the parking area, while the upper falls can be seen from the hiking trail summit.
See Saluda River and Take A Long Hike At Jones Gap State Park
The Jones Gap State Park is another unmissable state park in Greenville. Over 13,000 acres of mountain woodlands connect it to the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. This is right next to Caesars Head State Park. There are plenty of hiking trails, waterfalls, trailside camping, and other recreational activities. Visitors can enjoy bird watching, fishing, geocaching and more too!
Keep an eye out for the Saluda River, which runs through the park and offers the best opportunities for fishing trout in Southern Carolina.
Take A Picture of The Medusa Tree – Best Photography free things to do in Greenville SC
The Medusa Tree is a treasure of horticulture located along the Swamp Rabbit Trail, clinging to a park hillside in Greenville. The tree was originally part of The Arboretum – a collection of over 250 species of trees by the Greenville Gardening Club in 1926. After WW2, the arboretum fell apart, but this tree is one of the few remaining Beech Trees from the collection. It has now become a popular tourist attraction thanks to its visible winding roots, somewhat akin to the head of Medusa.
Go Bike Riding Through Downtown
Greenville is an incredibly bike-friendly city. If you are a biking enthusiast, spend the day bike-riding through downtown Greenville. Plenty of biking trails in the south are lined with beautiful sights, scenic parks, historic landmarks, and other city attractions that make them worth the visit. You can find several bike rental services in the area. It is one of the top-recommended fun things to do outside.
Ride The Greenville Trolley
The Greenville Trolley is a free downtown electric trolley service that runs around Greenville. It runs every Thursday to Sunday throughout the year. Just keep an eye out for the routes it operates on near the trolley stop signs, and hop in when you come across them. You can see the complete list of its routes here. Not only do these offer a convenient and fun way to travel through the city, but they will also allow you to see many of the city’s attractions along the way.
Visit The Bob Campbell Geology Museum – Best Cultural free things to do in Greenville SC
The Bob Campbell Geology Museum is one of the most fascinating museums in the region, nestled in the botanical gardens of Clemson University. The museum houses a stunning collection of over 10,000 minerals, rocks, and fossils from around South Carolina and across the globe. Visiting the museum can be quite the treat for visitors interested in the wonders of geology and paleontology! It is one of the top fun things to do in Greenville SC.
Falls Park On The Reedy
The Falls Park On The Reedy is one of the popular public parks in Greenville. It is located in downtown Greenville in the Historic West End. It is easily recognized by the Reedy River that winds through it.
The park is one of the central oases of the city where people gather to socialize and relax for the day. You can spend the day strolling through the park as you explore the banks of the Reedy River or have a picnic with your loved ones! Afterward grab some food by nearby Hall’s Chophouse or Smoke On The Water.
NOMA Square And ONE City Plaza Both Have Lots Of Free Things Like Yoga Classes, Live Music, and Dog-Friendly “Yappy” Hours
NOMA (North Main) Square is a large downtown plaza in Greenville that offers many free events for the community to enjoy year-round. You can enjoy yoga classes, live music sessions, fashion shows, soil-to-city- cuisines, retail stores, delicious treats, dog-friendly amenities, and more.
The ONE City Plaza is a similar must-see plaza serving as a pedestrian-only city center. Definitively you will enjoy an equally diverse range of activities and amenities here.
Take A Free Tour At Kilgore-Lewis House
Kilgore-Lewis House, built in 1939, is a historic home in downtown Greenville and is considered one of the oldest surviving structures in Greenville County. This is one of the few historic homes that are open for the public to explore in Greenville. If you like, you can join the free tours offered at the house every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. The house also has a public garden and an accredited arboretum you can explore during your visit.
Go Bird Watching At Lake Conestee Nature Preserve
The Conestee Nature Preserve is a 640-acre nonprofit wildlife sanctuary in downtown Greenville. The preserve includes over 13 miles of trails and boardwalk, 40 self-guided learning stations, and 11 wildlife observation decks. You can visit the park to enjoy birding, biking, hiking, and photography. You can also explore the native wildlife of South Carolina.
Tour The Only Official BMW Museum
Greenville houses the only BMW museum in North America. You can visit the museum and take a self-guided tour through the many exhibits it hosts. Inside, the BMW brand showcases the many milestones it has traversed throughout the years in the aviation and motorsports industry. The best part is that visitors can come and explore the museum completely free of cost. This is one of the coolest free things to do in Greenville SC area and we highly recommend it!
Visit Campbell’s Covered Bridge, The Only Remaining Covered Bridge in the State
The Campbell’s Covered Bridge is a wooden covered bridge in northeastern Greenville. This bridge was originally constructed in 1989 and is one of the only remaining covered bridges across South Carolina. This bridge, along with the 18-acre park, is a popular tourist destination. It is a perfect place where visitors can take a stroll in the grass, go hiking, or enjoy a picnic.
Log On To The Interactive Online Map of The Public Art Locations in Greenville And Take Yourself On A Little Art in Public Places Self-Guided Tour
Greenville has a thriving art community that shares many public art pieces throughout the city. You can spend the day touring through the 120 pieces of public art in the city, thanks to the interactive online map here. The works include sculptures, statues, murals, historical pieces, and architectural structures, all of which help beautify the city.
Visit The South Carolina Room At The Greenville County Hughes Main Library
The Greenville County Hughes Main Library is one of the central libraries in the county, officially opened for the public in 2002. Besides its beautiful architecture, it is notable for the extensive resources it has inside. The South Carolina Room, in particular, is an extensive collection of historical archives. Here you can do research, explore the city’s past, or even build your family tree!
Final Thoughts
Greenville, South Carolina is popular for the many outdoor activities it offers. The city has abundant natural walkways, hiking trails, public parks, museums, eateries, and more. The best part is that a lot of places in the city will cost you nothing to explore! If you want to have a fun, fulfilling vacation without breaking the bank, we hope you enjoy these free things to do in Greenville SC.
The Musts!
Where To Stay: AC Hotel
Must-Eat Restaurant: Fork And Plough
What To Do: Falls Park On The Reedy
