Overview
Clemson is a college town in Pickens County, in Upcountry South Carolina.
16 sights · 4 things to do · 10 places to eat · 9 bars & cafés · 7 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Clemson
Mountain View Park at Lake Hartwell
Park along man-made lake created by Hartwell Dam, which supplies hydroelectric power to the area. The lake and nearby forests are maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers, and there are many places for swimming, sunb…
Old Stone Church
Built by Revolutionary War hero Andrew Pickens, this Presbyterian church is one of the most interesting historical attractions in the Upstate and was the second structure built by the religious community. Although the ch…
Class of 1944 Visitors Center
For thousands of prospective students, special guests and Upstate tourists each year, the Clemson experience begins at the University's Visitors Center. Made possible by gifts from the Class of 1944, the Visitors Center …
Bob Campbell Geology and Natural History Museum
The University's extensive geology collection including meteorites, minerals, dinosaur fossils and the largest faceted-stone collection in the Southeast.
Carillon Garden
A gift to the university during Reunion 1993 by the Golden Anniversary Class of '43. The garden is dedicated as a lasting tribute to the entire class and particularly to those who lost their lives during World War II. It…
Clemson Memorial Stadium
One of the 10 largest on-campus stadiums in the United States.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov. Summer highs reach about 90°F; winter lows dip to about 32°F. Very hot (Jul) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jul and Aug. (climate data from nearby Greenville)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- GSP Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, Greenville/Greer/Spartanburg — 37 mi away. Directions
- AVL Asheville Regional Airport, Asheville — 54 mi away. Directions
- TYS McGhee Tyson Airport, Knoxville/Maryville — 102 mi away (major hub). Directions
Clemson Area Transit provides free bus transportation connecting to the surrounding cities of Anderson, Central, Pendleton and Seneca.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Class of 1944 Visitors Center, Carillon Garden, Military Heritage Plaza
- Lunch '55 Exchange
- Afternoon Tillman Hall Bell Memorial, The Walter T. Cox Jr. Union Plaza
- Dinner Columbo's Pizza
- Evening TD's Food & Drinks
Day 2
- Morning Old Stone Church, Hanover House, The South Carolina Botanical Garden
- Lunch Mac's Drive-In
- Afternoon Bob Campbell Geology and Natural History Museum, T. Ed Garrison Livestock Arena
- Dinner Pot Belly Deli
- Evening Loose Change
Day 3
- Morning Mountain View Park at Lake Hartwell
- Lunch Todaro Pizza
- Dinner Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers
- Evening Sloan Street Tap Room
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Clemson is home to an unusual number of sandwich shops, this is due to a rumor that the Clemson Subway Sandwich Shop was at one point in time the highest grossing Subways in the world. Clemson also has numerous fast food restaurants on Tiger Blvd as well as many casual and formal restaurants in Downtown Clemson.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Although there are nearly 20,000 permanent residents, people who visit are typically students, family of students or college football fans. The busiest time of the year is typically on Saturdays of Clemson Tigers football home games (September–November). In 2015, the Princeton Review named Clemson as the #1 college town in the United States when it came to the relationship between college students and full-time residents. While it is a smaller town, there are numerous restaurants, shops and activities.
Get in
By bus
Clemson Area Transit provides free bus transportation connecting to the surrounding cities of Anderson, Central, Pendleton and Seneca.
By car
- US Highway 76 (Clemson Blvd) enters Clemson from the east at Exit 19B on I-85 in South Carolina.
- US Highway 123 (Tiger Blvd) bisects the city running north to south allowing for travel from Greenville 30 miles (48 km) to the north and Seneca 10 miles (16 km) to the south.
By train
Amtrak's Crescent connects Clemson with the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans The Amtrak station is situated at the intersection of Tiger Blvd and College Avenue.
Get around
By bus
Clemson Area Transit, sponsored by the City of Clemson and Clemson University, this bus line is not only fare-free, it also does not generally suffer from many of the problems that plague larger city bus systems (schedule delays, sketchy clientele, dirty buses, etc.) For this reason, the CAT bus system is one of the best public transit systems in the entire nation. Several larger cities have come to Clemson to observe the system, which even carries many university students and well-to-do professors to class. Clemson Area Transit covers many major destinations, including most of the area's hotels, motels, and most major eateries. For the traveler on a budget, or even those not on a tight budget, the CAT bus system may be the way to go. It covers the campus and surrounding cities, including Anderson, Central, Pendleton and Seneca. Travelers on the CAT bus going to Anderson can, upon transfer, obtain a fare-free day pass to the Electric City Transit system which serves the city of Anderson.
By car
- SC State Highway 93 (Old Greenville Hwy) is the de facto boundary between Clemson University and City of Clemson. The road is 4 lanes without a middle turn lane and provides no public parking.
- SC State Highway 133 (College Ave) begins at the intersection with Old Greenville Hwy at the border of Clemson University and intersects with Tiger Blvd less than a mile to the north. College Ave is home to many of the Clemson Bars, Sandwich Shops, and Clemson Fan Apparel.
Parking
Public street parking exists on both sides of the street for the length of the downtown area. Parking is free 24 hours a day but there is a 1-hour restriction during business hours. The City of Clemson Parking deck is located at the intersection of Keith Street and College Avenue.
See
Greater Clemson
See Mountain View Park at Lake Hartwell
Park along man-made lake created by Hartwell Dam, which supplies hydroelectric power to the area. The lake and nearby forests are maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers, and there are many places for swimming, sunbathing, camping, fishing, and hiking.
See Old Stone Church
Built by Revolutionary War hero Andrew Pickens, this Presbyterian church is one of the most interesting historical attractions in the Upstate and was the second structure built by the religious community. Although the church is no longer in service, there is a cemetery on site that contains numerous old tombstones including those of Pickens and his family.
Clemson University
See Class of 1944 Visitors Center
For thousands of prospective students, special guests and Upstate tourists each year, the Clemson experience begins at the University's Visitors Center. Made possible by gifts from the Class of 1944, the Visitors Center is a comfortable and educational starting point for exploring the Clemson campus and surrounding areas. The Class of 1944 Visitors Center, located on Alumni Circle, is the front door to Clemson -- a friendly place to get information, assistance and an introduction to this beautiful and historic university and community. Guided hour-long walking tours of the campus are led by the Clemson University Guide Association.
See Carillon Garden
A gift to the university during Reunion 1993 by the Golden Anniversary Class of '43. The garden is dedicated as a lasting tribute to the entire class and particularly to those who lost their lives during World War II. It is used for a number of activities ranging from student meetings, traveling games and even weddings.
See Clemson Memorial Stadium (AKA: Death Valley)
One of the 10 largest on-campus stadiums in the United States.
See The Walter T. Cox Jr. Union Plaza
A gift from the student bodies of 1997-98 and 1998-99. It is used for a number of activities ranging from student fairs, traveling games and other student events.
See Memorial Square
Dedicated to the university in February 1993 as a gift from the Class of '44, The square, features an original life-size bronze sculpture of a student and a soldier sitting back to back, representative of the sudden shift from boyhood to manhood as a result of war.
See Military Heritage Plaza
Features a life-size statue of a cadet and 41 sets of footprints of former Clemson cadets to commemorate the spirit of Clemson's military heritage.
See Outdoor Theater
A gift from the Class of 1915. The stage is a sunburst of gray, red and beige marble with the year 1915 set in. It is used for a number of activities ranging from pep rallies, outdoor movies and concerts.
See Tillman Hall Bell Memorial
It displays the bell that hung in the clock tower of Tillman Hall for 80 years, "where it faithfully tolled the hours until replaced by the Carillon in 1985." The memorial was erected by the Class of '39 in memory of classmates who gave their lives in the cause of freedom. The memorial also features an Award for Excellence plaque given to the faculty by the Class of '39.
Do
Greater Clemson
- Spend a Friday night bar-hopping at Downtown Clemson. (See the Drink section for more)
- Go Boating on Lake Hartwell, the water temperature is usually perfect in the summer for any kind of on-the-water activity.
Clemson University
Buy
Like most college towns, Clemson is home to numerous fan apparel shops along College Avenue in Downtown Clemson. A few to check out are:
Shop Judge Keller's
Shop Tiger Sports Shop - Hwy 28
Eat
Clemson is home to an unusual number of sandwich shops, this is due to a rumor that the Clemson Subway Sandwich Shop was at one point in time the highest grossing Subways in the world. Clemson also has numerous fast food restaurants on Tiger Blvd as well as many casual and formal restaurants in Downtown Clemson.
Budget
Eat '55 Exchange
Made possible by a generous gift from Clemson's Class of 1955, the ’55 Exchange is a student run retail operation that sells and serves Clemson’s world famous ice cream and other Clemson produced items, including meat, organic produce, and blue cheese. All revenues generated through the retail center go to support Clemson students and academic programs.
Eat Mac's Drive-In
A Clemson tradition; great cheeseburger steaks.
Mid-range
Splurge
Eat Blue Heron Restaurant & Sushi
Drink
Drink 356 Sushi and Cocktail Bar
Upscale bar with live music most nights.
Drink Backstreets Pub & Grill
Cheap liquor pitchers and pizza on Tuesdays.
Drink The Esso Club
Live music on football weekends.
Drink Loose Change
Live acoustic most nights.
Drink Nick's Tavern
Wide selection of obscure beers; one of the few bars in town rarely patronized by the fraternity crowd (see also Sloan Street).
Drink TD's Food & Drinks
Karaoke Tuesday nights, live music on the weekends.
Drink Tiger Town Tavern
Pool tables, HDTVs, outdoor seating, Wednesday night trivia.
Drink Top of the Tavern
Private club. Cheap cover, year membership available, open Sundays.
Sleep
Hotels
Stay Comfort Inn
Nearby restaurants; 122 rooms, 56 NS, handicap-accessible, 18 suites with whirlpool, tv/vcr, Microwave, wet bar; pool, hot tub, health facilities; meeting room for 130, laundry; coffee shop open 6AM-10AM with complimentary continental breakfast. All major credit cards with special rates for government/corporations, AAA, AARP.
Stay James F. Martin Inn
Surrounded by the Walker Golf Course at Clemson University. 89 rooms, interior-corridor hotel features 27 luxurious suites and 62 guest rooms, hospitality suite and health club including pool and tennis, restaurant, complimentary continental breakfast. Owned and Operated by Clemson University.
Bed and Breakfast
Camping
Stay Clemson University Outdoor Lab Suites & Cabins
5 miles from the Clemson University campus, this unique conference center and camp has residential cabins (accommodating up to 10) and suites available for rental from mid-August through May. Discounted rates are available November 1-February 28.
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