Overview
Upcountry South Carolina, also known as The Upstate, consists of the northwestern corner of the state.
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
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 — 13 mi away. Directions
- AVL Asheville Regional Airport, Asheville — 54 mi away. Directions
- CLT Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Charlotte — 78 mi away (major hub). Directions
Sample 3-day trip
- Day 1: Greenville — Falls Park on the Reedy, Greenville County Museum of Art, Sigal Music Museum.
- Day 2: Clemson — Mountain View Park at Lake Hartwell, Old Stone Church, Class of 1944 Visitors Center.
- Day 3: Simpsonville — Downtown Simpsonville, City Park, Heritage Park Amphitheater.
Built from the best-covered destinations in this region; open each for its own day plan.
Places in Upcountry South Carolina
Greenville
City / town · 81 listings
Clemson
City / town · 52 listings
Simpsonville
City / town · 21 listings
Walhalla
City / town · 12 listings
Spartanburg
City / town · 11 listings
Anderson
City / town · 8 listings
Greer
City / town · 7 listings
Five Forks
City / town · 4 listings
Ninety Six
City / town · 4 listings
Belton
City / town · 3 listings
Devils Fork State Park
Park · 2 listings
Mauldin
City / town · 2 listings
Fountain Inn
City / town · 2 listings
Understand
While there are many upscale gated communities here, the area remains primarily rural in nature. This is an excellent place for family vacations and romantic getaways in particular. The best time for touring is from May to November. Autumn foliage is at its peak usually in mid to late October. Accommodations range from camping to vacation rental properties.
Cities
Principal cities
- Anderson
- Clemson
- Greenville
- Spartanburg
Other cities and towns
- Belton
- Fountain Inn
- Five Forks
- Greer
- Mauldin
- Ninety Six –
- Simpsonville
- Sugar Tit
- Taylors
- Walhalla
Other destinations
- Blue Ridge Mountains
- [http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/caesarshead/introduction.aspx Caesar's Head State Park] in North Greenville County off of US-276, has a famous rock formation that looks like a man's face in profile
- Devils Fork State Park
- Table Rock State Park
Get in
Get around
I-85 is the major highway, connecting Charlotte and Atlanta by way of Gaffney, Spartanburg, Greenville and Anderson. I-26 cuts south from North Carolina through Spartanburg, then goes to Columbia by way of Laurens and Newberry. I-26 crosses I-85 in Spartanburg, but can also be reached from Greenville by following I-385, which goes through Mauldin, Simpsonville and Fountain Inn.
Clemson and points west can be reached from Greenville by US-123. The mountains can be reached by US-25.
Mass transit is limited. Greyhound buses stop in Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson. The Amtrak Crescent stops in Spartanburg, Greenville and Clemson.
See
Furman University, north of Greenville, has a beautiful campus with lake and bell tower.
The Peachoid, near Gaffney (just off I-85), is a water tower in the shape of a peach is a familiar landmark for anyone who has driven up and down I-85.
Do
The Upcountry Region of SC has the highest number of waterfalls of any area in the Eastern US. Many can be seen by car at roadside stops. Access to some of the more spectacular ones are by foot trail or even guided tour boats. Lake Jocassee in particular offers the best boat access to the Jocassee Gorges Conservation Area for sightseeing.
Magnificent hikes are available at Table Rock State Park in Spartanburg County.
If it's the right season, a Clemson football game is one of the biggest sports draws in the area, especially when they play their rival, the University of South Carolina. Greenville's minor league baseball team, the Greenville Drive, plays in the West End of Greenville within sight of Shoeless Joe Jackson's relocated childhood home. Bon Secours Wellness Arena is the home rink of the Road Warriors, an ECHL hockey team.
The Cowpens and Kings Mountain battlefields, both preserved by the National Park Service, are two of the most significant sites in the Southern Theater of the Revolutionary War. Both are quickly accessible from I-85.
Go next
Outdoor Adventure is what this area is all about. Whitewater rafting on the Chattooga "Deliverance" River is not to be missed. World class trophy fishing in the depths of Lake Jocassee offers anglers a very rewarding experience. Octoberfest in Walhalla SC is a must if you happen to be in the neighborhood.
Nearby
Laurens
City / town · 8 listings · 18 mi away
Greenwood
City / town · 6 listings · 36 mi away
Abbeville
City / town · 5 listings · 39 mi away
Hendersonville
City / town · 20 listings · 44 mi away
Brevard
City / town · 10 listings · 48 mi away
York
City / town · 11 listings · 57 mi away
Cashiers
City / town · 1 listings · 58 mi away
Highlands
City / town · 1 listings · 62 mi away
My experience
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