The Ultimate Guide to Day Trips

Posted on by Shannon Carroll |

Are you looking for day trip ideas near the Upstate South Carolina area? You have found our official Kidding Around Day Trip Headquarters! We have compiled our ever-expansive list of day trip offerings to one page, where you can easily find your desired trip, fuel your wanderlust and still have the kiddos back by bedtime! Happy adventuring!

This article includes:
South Carolina Day Trips
Upstate, SC Day Trip Destinations
Day Trip to Columbia, SC
Charleston, SC Day Trips
North Carolina Day Trips
Day Trips in Western North Carolina
Charlotte, NC Day Trip Ideas
Georgia Day Trips Ideas
Tennessee Day Trips
Educational Day Trips
Day Trips by Season
Holiday Day Trips

South Carolina Day Trips

Looking for a day trip in South Carolina? Start with our South Carolina Day Trips list or view all our SC day trip content by city below!

Day Trip Towns Near the SC Upstate

To get you started, try this list of Easy Day Trip Towns. If you just want to explore a town, grab some coffee, maybe visit a park or do some light hiking, this is the list for you. Check out these day trip-worthy towns near South Carolina’s Upstate area.

Upstate, SC Day Trips

These Upstate, SC day trip destinations are all very close to Greenville, SC. Getting your day trip feet wet with getting out and about with the kids? Or even scarier…first time AWAY from the kids! Baby steps are where it’s at. Stay close to home with these great nearby options that are easy to get to, and you can be back by nap time!

Greer at Christmas
Greer, SC

Columbia, SC Day Trips

Home of the Riverbanks Zoo, State Capitol Building, Edventure (and all of the other great spring break day trips you’ve ever wanted to try, but didn’t have the time)! A quick hour and a half drive down the interstate, Columbia has it all within your reach!

Charleston, SC Day Trips

Make a visit to Charleson for a long day trip or a weekend near home. The lovely low country…home to beautiful historic downtown Charleston for the grown-ups, and so many awesome options for the kids! The South Carolina Aquarium, Children’s Museum, and the beaches make this dreamy destination a hit any time of year. Here’s our Travel Guide to Charleston: Where To Stay, Eat, And Play! so you don’t miss any of the fun. Or, check out some of these favorite places in Charleston, SC to spend the day.

North Carolina Day Trips

Western North Carolina Day Trips

Venturing a little further? You need to check out our Western North Carolina Day Trip Guide! The mountain views are SO stunning…especially if you plan a trip in the fall! Peep those leaves while you’re at it!

This trip is one of our reader favorites! You do not want to miss this Driving Tour: Stunning Waterfalls in NC That Involve No Hiking

But WNC is a great place for a day trip any time of year. Don’t miss the “Secret Season” in Western North Carolina for Budget-Friendly Family Adventures

Here are some destinations that make great day trips in the Western North Carolina area:

WNC Waterfall Driving Tour

Day Trips in Asheville, NC:

Day Trips in Brevard, NC:

Day Trips in Cashiers, NC:

Flat Rock, NC Day Trips:

Things to Do in Hendersonville, NC:

Visit Linville, NC:

Rutherfordton, NC:

Waynesville, NC:

Raptor program at Carolina Raptor Center
Carolina Raptor Center

Charlotte, NC Area Day Trips

A little over an hour and a half from the Upstate, Charlotte is the perfect day trip destination. The charming city is lively, with a fun downtown area equipped with great restaurants and shopping! Added bonus: there is no shortage of activities in the Queen City for both adults and kiddos alike! Check out our list below:

Panda cubs playing at Zoo Atlanta in Atlanta, GA
Zoo Atlanta, Georgia

Georgia Day Trips

World of Coca Cola, The Atlanta Zoo, The Georgia Aquarium, Stone Mountain, Fernbank, the World Series Champs, the list goes on! Is there anything Atlanta doesn’t have? We have even included surrounding suburban and North Georgia areas that are jam-packed with options to make your day trip just peachy!

Tennessee Day Trips

Chattanooga, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, the Queen of Country’s Dollywood, and The Great Smokies…let’s just say that Tennessee is a must-see!

Chattanooga, TN

Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge & Sevierville, TN

Panda cubs play in the outdoor exhibit at Zoo Atlanta
Pandas at Zoo Atlanta

Educational Day Trips

Learn On The Road Any Day, Any Time!

Check out these awesome educational day trip ideas near Upstate, SC that are great for kiddos who are not yet in school, and perfect for our homeschooling families! We’ve compiled great options throughout Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee!

Day Trips By The Seasons

Winter Day Trips

Brrr! Baby, it’s cold outside! Enjoy the great outdoors and discover the magic in the mountains!

Spring Day Trips

Spring has sprung, and what better time to get outside?! Check out these 26+ Fun Spring Day Trips full of all the best picnic, hiking, and gardens throughout the Carolinas!

Floating in tubes at the beach at Lake Lure
Lake Lure, NC

Summer Day Trips

Summer, Summer, Summertime! Summer is a state of mind, so when all else fails…take a little vacay! Here’s our HUGE list of Awesome Summer Day Trips from Greenville, SC to get you started. Or, check out some of these favorites:

Fall Day Trips

Happy Fall, Y’all! For so many of us, this begins our favorite time of the year! Between apple picking, pumpkin patches, farm trips and the cooler temps, we’re big fans of fall because it is a truly happy time of year to venture out and about! Our Fall Day Trip Guide is full of great ideas. Or, just pick one of these fall favorites.

Holiday Day Trips

‘Tis the Season for holiday day trip guides! From the start of Spooky Season all the way to Christmas, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

Stone Mountain, GA

Boo! Our spooky day trips will put a spell on you! Click below to see why we’re so glad we live in a world where there are Octobers, because this post includes all of the happy hauntings that the Carolinas have to offer!

Christmas in the Carolinas and Beyond! Click below for all of the merriment you can muster while you make memories in Western North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and the Upstate of South Carolina.

About the Author
Shannon Carroll Ogulewicz is a former school counselor turned freelancer/SAHM to one sweet little boy, who is aptly nicknamed Sir Talks A Lot. She enjoys cheering on the Clemson Tigers with her family, reading, writing, and dabbling in interior design. She believes the most important work of childhood is play, and loves researching the best practices of early childhood and creating fun-filled experiences for her son at home and throughout the Greenville community.

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