12 Free Things to do in Greenville, South Carolina

7. See the last remaining covered bridge in South Carolina

Campbell’s Covered Bridge lies about 11 miles north of Greenville and is a great side trip for photographers and history buffs. The bridge, built in 1909, is the last standing in the state, yet it is still in pretty good condition. I like visiting during fall season as the colorful hues of autumn comprise the background. Unfortunately, so does everyone else! You will see lots of family and engagement photos being taken this time of year.

To make this drive a bit more worthwhile, I recommend driving an extra 30 minutes to Caesars Head State park. A bit out of the way, but you can hike to the state’s tallest waterfall. It’s one of my favorite places for fall leaf peeping.

Location: 171 Campbell Covered Bridge Rd, Landrum, SC 29356

Tip: Combine a trip to Poinsett Bridge & Campbells to save yourself some time.

8. Awe at the beauty of Wildcat Branch Falls

Beautiful Wildcat Branch Falls, a small but beautiful 2 tier waterfall located just 10 miles outside of Greenville, is worthy of the short drive. Unlike most states parks in the area, it is completely free to see this roadside wonder. No hiking required! If you are up for more aventure, I recommend the 1 mile out-and-back trail where you will come across another 100 ft waterfall. It’s a quiet, woodsy trek and definitely worth the extra effort.

Any nature lover, photographer, and fitness buff visiting Greenville should really take the time out to see this gorgeous waterfall. Not only is Wildcat one of the closest waterfalls to the city, it’s also one of the most stunning in my opinion. As this waterfall is located right off the Cherokee Scenic Foothill Drive (SC 11), the views on the drive over are also quite beautiful. This is a great half day trip outing for anyone looking to totally relax in nature.

Location:  5325 Geer Hwy, Cleveland, SC 29635

Tip: Wear comfortable workout clothes, hiking shoes (the trail gets very muddy), and bring with a water bottle.

Check out more of my favorite roadside falls in the Carolinas.

9. Take the Art in Public Places self-guided tour

If you take a stroll around downtown Greenville, you will notice many unique pieces of art. There are dozens of beautiful works of art to see within an easy walk of Main Street. You can download this Greenville Public Art Tour map to help guide you along the way. Pictured above is one of the incredible glass blown art pieces by Dale Chihuly. He is so talented and I love when I come across any of his pieces in various museums, arboretums, and outdoor exhibits throughout the US. If you like his work, I highly recommend a visit to the fabulous Chihuly Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida.

If you are looking for a family friendly activity, Mice on Main, inspired by the children’s classic Goodnight Moon, is a big hit with families. It’s so popular that they even sell mini mice at the gift shops. Hidden along 5 blocks of Main Street are 9 mini bronze mice sculptures. This is a fun free scavenger hunt activity which makes for a great free activity during the warmer months. Find out more at the visitors center.

10. Stroll the Lake Loop trail at Furman University

Furman University frequently ranks as one of the most gorgeous college campuses in the country. I totally agree with this ranking, and hence why I planned so many hikes and bike rides while living in an apartment nearby.There are numerous trails on the lovely grounds including a portion of the Swamp Rabbit trail as well as a 1.5 mile walking loop around beautiful Furman Lake.

Although it may seem a bit odd to walk around a college campus as a non student, this is one of the prettiest places in the city to take a nature walk or get in a scenic cycling workout. Mike and I often came here after a long work day to bike or walk and just get away from the computer for a bit. I recommend planning your visit at sunrise to take advantage of the views and free parking. Parking is free for visitors Fridays after 5 and on weekends in a large lot right next to the lake.

Location: 3300 Poinsett Hwy.

11. Get back to nature at Cleveland Park

Cleveland Park, a downtown park, is home to numerous amenities including fitness stations, tennis courts, a playground, picnicking facilities, and sand volleyball courts. A nice tree-lined section of the Swamp Rabbit trail also runs through this park. History buffs will also want to check out the Rudolf Anderson Jr. War Memorial.

Next to the park is the Greenville Zoo, a very small zoo which only takes an hour at most to walk through. The zoo hosts a number of events throughout the year and is currently planning for expansion.

Extra bonus – if you have an electric car, you can charge it for free while you explore the park!

Location: Cleveland Park Dr & East Washington

12. Attend Downtown Alive, Main Street Fridays, & various free festivals

The city of Greenville puts on over 300 events per year. From the Saturday Farmer’s Market, to themed 5k races, to the Festival of Trees Christmas festival, it is not hard to find some event to your liking, anytime of the year. Many of these events are free including the Downtown Alive and Main Street Concert Series. Every Friday from March 22-September 27, you can enjoy a free concert at NOMA square downtown.

Other fun free events include Moonlight Movies in the Park, which includes screening of popular movies on a big blow up screen in Falls Park (Thurs nights in Sept. & Oct.), The St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Irish Festival, and the First Fridays art walk. My favorite event is the TD Saturday Market where I can pick up fresh produce and shop for local crafts. I also love Artisphere, a renowned festival taking place in May each year.

Tips for a great trip

Despite claims of “mild” weather, winter days typically see highs in the 30-50’s and summer days can easily soar into the 90’s for weeks on end. I’ve even experienced a 4inch snowstorm while living here! Spring and fall are the best times comfort-wise to enjoy the outdoors!

This is an extremely busy popular city. The traffic is bad city-wise, and this coming from someone who has lived in several major cities. The traffic downtown is always horrible, particularly on weekends. If you are not a fan of crowds, definitely save your downtown visit for a weekday morning.

If you are coming here via a roadtrip, bring your own bike as rentals are quite overpriced.

Free 2 hour side street parking is available, although tough to find in the afternoon and on weekends. On weekends, the Richardson Street (66 Richardson St) parking garage is free. It’s usually pretty easy to find a spot unless there is a major event.

A few affordable (and decent) breakfast choices include: Sully’s Steamers (excellent steamed bagels for just 6-8 bucks) and Biscuit Head (a trendy Asheville chain serving humongous biscuits with a self service jam bar). These restaurants are also one of only a handful that offer plenty of vegetarian choices.

Joel’s Java and Coffee Underground are 2 nice affordable local choices for coffee.

Affordable lunch options include: Greektown Grill (offering great pita sandwich deals) and Roost (try the healthy all-you-cat eat salad & soup buffet).