Cities Near Greenville SC: From the Big Cities to the Small Towns
Looking for cities near Greenville SC to visit. One thing I appreciated growing up in the Upstate as how close we are to lots of interesting places.
If you want to go to some big cities near Greenville, Charlotte and Atlanta are not that far.
My family and I had a good time driving up to North Carolina to spend the day at Carowinds. We also enjoyed going down to Georgia to watch the braves game.
But if you’re looking for some unique small town vibes, Clemson, Anderson, and Greenwood are all not that far away.
Other lists mention places like Taylors, Mauldin, Greer, Easley, and Simpsonville, which are near the city of Greenville.
But I put together a list that allows you to really get out on a nice drive for the day or for the weekend. Mileage and time will vary, but I did a quick search to get a rough estimate of each.
Cities Near Greenville SC
Anderson SC (30.9 mi, 37 min)
I’ve been to Anderson a few times in my life, though not for very long. The area is home to Anderson University. They also have a prety cool historic district you can walk down to see the Anderson County Courthouse and the museum.
Clemson SC (30.1 mi, 38 min)
Given I graduated from here, I have lots of memories of Clemson, SC. They have a beautiful botanical gardens to enjoy walking around. You can also enjoy looking around the campus area. Lake Hartwell and other nature areas are not far by either. Check out this list of things to do in Clemson.
Greenwood SC (53.9 mi, 1 hr. 3 min)
I spent a year in Greenwood when I briefly went to Lander University. It definitely has a small town vibe if you’re feeling in the mood for it. You can enjoy walking around the campus, checking out the Emerald Farm, or seeing the Railroad Historical Center.
Asheville NC (62.8 mi, 1 hr. 3 min)
The mountains are beautiful up in Asheville. I’ve gone up there on a few separate occasions. I always enjoying seeing the views of the hills and the cliffs and lots of other stuff. It’s a great destination nearby for those who really enjoy in nature.
Charlotte NC (102.3 mi, 1 hr. 40 min)
As mentioned earlier, my family and I enjoyed spending the day at Carowinds, which is located in Charlotte. There’s a ton of other stuff to see in this area, with all their major sports teams and race tracks. If you’re looking for a day in the big city in a short drive, check out Charlotte.
Columbia SC (103.4 mi, 1 hr. 32 min)
If you’re interested in a little civics, visit Columbia, the capital of South Carolina. Admittedly, I think most of the time I was driving through Columbia heading to somewhere else. I may have stopped there one time. But I did know someone who went to school at the University of South Carolina and seemed to enjoy the area.
Atlanta GA (145.4 mi, 2 hr 14 min
For a little bit longer drive, you can get to one of the biggest cities in the south. As a kid, I had fun seeing a Braves game, and also going to Six Flags. Traffic may be kind of crazy at times, but you just have to know when to drive there.
