The City of Spartanburg, SC is known by locals as “Hub City” for its many highways and railways, which converge around the city like spokes on a wheel. With convenient access to the Blue Ridge Mountains and nearby cities of Greenville, Charlotte and Atlanta, plus plenty of family activities all its own, the Spartanburg area makes a great family travel destination.
Highlights:
- Insider tips from a Spartanburg local on the best family-friendly outdoor adventures, including lakes, nature preserves, and agritourism farms.
- First-hand recommendations for indoor escapes like the Planetarium Learning Center, kid-focused art studios, and children’s museums.
- Local dining and lodging advice, highlighting family favorites, hidden gems, and budget-friendly options that will make your visit seamless.
Read on to learn more about the affordable family fun I’ve found in the Spartanburg area and beyond, and why it’s one of the best places to get a taste of life in the Carolinas!
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Outdoor Spartanburg Family Activities
Spartanburg County is perfectly positioned to offer outdoor adventure for every age, and a variety of landscapes await your family’s exploration!
- Lake Life: We love Anchor Park on Lake Bowen, where the whole family can boat, fish, or picnic at the fully fenced lakeside playground. Duncan Park near downtown Spartanburg offers calmer waters with kayak rentals, fishing spots, pickleball courts, and a mix of paved and natural walking trails.
- Nature Preserves: The Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve sits conveniently near downtown Spartanburg, with a blend of natural and paved trails spanning over 100 acres of wetlands along Lawson’s Fork Creek. Another family favorite is Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve, which offers stroller-friendly trails, beautiful flowers, and little waterfalls at every turn.
- Agritourism Farms: Some amazing family-owned farms open for agritourism throughout the year, and I recommend a visit to Dirt and Grit Farm in spring, Bison Berry Farms in summer, and Strawberry Hill USA in fall. Locals love each of these farms for their specialty produce and uniquely designed play areas for kids.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Spartanburg’s lakes and nature preserves are usually free, but plan ahead for boat permits, fishing licenses, or equipment rentals. Most agritourism farms will charge for admission, picking produce, and other attractions, so be sure to check on seasonal pricing!
Indoor Escapes for Any Weather
While we’re pretty big fans of the great outdoors in Spartanburg, my family always appreciates that there are so many indoor things to do with kids in the area, too.
- Library Planetarium: The brand-new Planetarium Learning Center just opened at Spartanburg’s downtown library. With shows multiple times a day, most days a week, our kids have gotten to see the solar system at a whole new scale. The best part? Admission is free for a limited time!
- Art Studios: If your kids love to create, then don’t miss our favorite kid-friendly art studios in Spartanburg. Visit The Painted Palmetto for a variety of projects geared towards kids right in the middle of downtown, or Hearts of Clay on Spartanburg’s westside, where you can paint pottery together as a family. Pricing varies by project.
- Children’s Museums: Looking for a learning experience? The Spartanburg Science Center is only $5 per person and has live animals, hands-on engineering exhibits, and real fossils. TCMU Spartanburg offers two stories of fun for children ages 6 and under for only $10 to $15 per person. Both are just minutes apart in downtown Spartanburg.
Iconic Spartanburg Restaurants
Spartanburg family activities will be incomplete unless you check out the booming local food scene, too. Fantastic new restaurants are popping up all the time, but we’ve found a few tried-and-true family restaurants with consistently delicious food and quality service.
- Best Breakfast and Brunch: If you’re an early riser, plan to enjoy a morning meal at one of Spartanburg’s top breakfast spots. The Skillet offers a classic diner experience, and John’s Café & Catering is renowned for its frisbee-sized pancakes. Mon Amie Morning Café is a small but very popular French bistro with fantastic crepes. All these restaurants are family-owned with a rock-solid reputation among the locals.
- Best Lunch and Dinner: After a hard day of play, check out one of Spartanburg’s iconic restaurants for lunch or dinner. The Beacon Drive-In is regionally recognized for its burgers, sandwiches, and sweet tea. Wade’s Restaurant is another family favorite, knocking it out of the park with their meat-and-threes and southern holiday meals.
Where to Stay in Spartanburg
Spartanburg offers some of the most affordable places to stay in the Upstate, so it makes an excellent home base whether you’re exploring the city itself or just need a place to stay near Greenville or nearby North Carolina.
- Bed & Breakfast: Clevedale Historic Inn & Gardens is a beautiful bed & breakfast with four private acres on Spartanburg’s west side. The owners are kind and conversational, and your family is sure to appreciate having such a serene place to rest during your visit.
- Downtown Hotels: The Spartanburg Marriott and AC Hotel Spartanburg both offer quality accommodations with walkability to some of Spartanburg’s top restaurants and attractions. For pretty nighttime views of the city, request a room on one of the Marriott’s top floors or eat dinner one night at the AC Hotel’s rooftop restaurant.
Why Choose Spartanburg?
Spartanburg is one of the most affordable places for families to visit in South Carolina with plenty of things to do. You’ll find hotel stays, local attractions, and restaurants generally priced lower than nearby cities with higher population densities.
Spartanburg’s many outdoor activities are ideal for all ages to enjoy together, and their child-focused attractions are designed with parents, grandparents, and other caregivers in mind.
Spartanburg’s agritourism options provide an informative introduction to the local farming culture, and local municipalities such as Inman, Cowpens, and Woodruff also host historical and seasonal festivals throughout the year.
Learn in the great outdoors with a guided hike, fishing clinic, nature scavenger hunt, or farm tour. Get hands-on learning experiences at the Planetarium Learning Center, downtown museums, and art studios.
Consider exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains, only an hour from Spartanburg, or major urban centers like Charlotte and Atlanta within about 2-3 hours. South Carolina’s beaches are all within a half-day’s drive of the city, too, and both the Myrtle Beach and Charleston areas are packed with family-friendly things to do.
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