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Spartanburg, SC Travel Guide

Destinations › Upstate › Spartanburg

Spartanburg is in Spartanburg County, in South Carolina's Upstate, with about 39,606 residents (2024 Census estimate). Experience Spartanburg highlights downtown streets, small-town hospitality, trails and food, the Fall International Festival and the Hub City Farmers Market.

  • Population39,606Census estimate, July 2024
  • CountySpartanburg CountyUpstate region
  • Our Guides Nearby6parks, attractions, venues within 25 mi
  • Things to Do15 pickshours, costs, kids, dogs

Plan It in Three Lines

  1. Things to Do

    15 picks with hours, costs and kid, dog and rain notes.

    Open the list

  2. Where to Park

    City garages: Dunbar Street (650), Kennedy Street (750), Magnolia Street (554), St. John Street (750), Stadium Garage (644): First 2 hours free, then $0.50 per hour, $4 per day

    All parking below

  3. What's On

    Dated events in and around Spartanburg, checked on organizer pages.

    Events page

Things to Do in Spartanburg Spartanburg Events

About Spartanburg

  • Experience Spartanburg highlights downtown streets, small-town hospitality, trails and food, the Fall International Festival and the Hub City Farmers Market. source
  • Spartanburg is home to seven colleges and universities (Experience Spartanburg). source
  • Downtown Spartanburg's Cultural District and Chapman Cultural Center host the art museum, science center and performing groups. source
  • City offices are at 295 E Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302, phone 864-596-2000. source

Areas Visitors Use

  • Downtown / Morgan Square Dining, retail, live music and events; Magnolia Street Garage is adjacent to Morgan Square. City site notes a redesign of the square is under discussion. source
  • Cultural District / Chapman Cultural Center Campus at 200 E. St. John St. with the Spartanburg Art Museum and Spartanburg Science Center; St. John Street Garage is adjacent. source
  • West Main Street Downtown street named by Experience Spartanburg for on-street parking, dining and events (Music on Main, Art Walk). source
  • Fifth Third Park area Ballpark of the Hub City Spartanburgers; Stadium Garage is adjacent. source

Getting There and Around

  • Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP), 2000 GSP Drive, Greer, SC 29651, is near Interstate 85 and is described as accessible from Spartanburg, Greenville and Asheville. source
  • City garages are served by a complimentary downtown shuttle: Monday-Saturday 11 AM-3 PM and 5:30-9:30 PM, Sunday 11 AM-3 PM (as listed on the city parking page). source
  • The Mary Black Rail Trail is about two miles just south of downtown, with the Hub City Hopper extension connecting to downtown. source

Visitor center: Experience Spartanburg. 105 North Pine Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302; (864) 594-5000 source

Parking in Spartanburg

WhereRateNotesSource
City garages: Dunbar Street (650), Kennedy Street (750), Magnolia Street (554), St. John Street (750), Stadium Garage (644)First 2 hours free, then $0.50 per hour, $4 per dayFree after 5 PM each day and all weekend. Tickets must be pulled at all times, even during free hours. Pay by card at exit kiosks. Stadium Garage: $10 non-refundable event parking on game days.source
Surface lots: N Church St. Lot (36), St John St. Lot (92)not statedListed on city pagesource
On-street downtownFree after 5 PMAvailable on parts of West Main, Broad, Spring, Magnolia, King and East Main; some have enforced time limits (Experience Spartanburg guide).source

Dogs

  • Rail Tail Dog Park is across from the main entrance to Duncan Park, open during daylight hours. source

When to Go

  • Music on Main runs on Thursdays in summer; Art Walk is the third Thursday monthly; Fall International Festival is named on the CVB home page. source

Food

  • Experience Spartanburg lists a Spartanburger Trail, a guide to burgers in Spartanburg. source

Coming Up in and Near Spartanburg

13 more on the full events calendar.

Events within 15 miles, measured in a straight line to the centre of the event's town. Dates come from our checked events list; confirm with the organizer.

Near Spartanburg

Around Spartanburg within 25 miles
10 mi20 mi25 miNSEW123456
  1. 1Mary Black Foundation Rail Trailrail trailunder 1 mi
  2. 2Spartanburg Memorial Auditoriumtheatreunder 1 mi
  3. 3Croft State ParkState Parkabout 6 mi
  4. 4Cowpens National BattlefieldNational Battlefieldabout 14 mi
  5. 5CCNB Amphitheatreamphitheatreabout 23 mi
  6. 6Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic SiteState Historic Siteabout 25 mi

Straight-line distances between map points, not driving miles. Dots sit in their true compass direction; distance is stretched near the middle so close neighbors stay readable.

Nearby Towns With Their Own Guide

FAQ

Is downtown parking free?

City garages: first 2 hours free, then $0.50/hour up to $4/day; free after 5 PM and on weekends. Pull a ticket even during free hours. source

Is the art museum free?

Yes, general admission is free; Tuesday-Saturday 10-5. source

What can kids do on a rainy day?

Experience Spartanburg lists the Children's Museum of the Upstate, Science Center and Art Museum. source

Where is the visitor office?

105 North Pine Street, (864) 594-5000. source

What does Walnut Grove cost?

Guided tours are $10 adults, $8 seniors, $6 ages 5-16; self-guided grounds $5 per person. source

How many people live in Spartanburg?

About 39,606, the U.S. Census Bureau’s estimate for July 1, 2024 (Census table).

What We Could Not Confirm

Not confirmed: we looked for these on official pages and did not find them. Check with the town or operator before you rely on them.

  • Incorporation year and why Spartanburg is called Hub City: not stated on pages read.
  • Children's Museum of the Upstate admission prices and parking not on page. Page showed 'closed today' banner.
  • Spartanburg Science Center page lists conflicting hours.
  • Mary Black Rail Trail trailheads, surface, parking, leash rules not stated.
  • Visitor center walk-in hours not found.
  • Hatcher Garden dog rules and acreage not stated; Regional History Museum, Cowpens, Croft State Park not researched on official pages.
  • cityofspartanburg.org page is undated; Experience Spartanburg's parking article text was garbled on the hourly rate so city page rate used.

Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, Vintage 2024
  2. Experience Spartanburg home
  3. City of Spartanburg Downtown Parking
  4. City of Spartanburg home
  5. Parking guide
  6. Downtown
  7. Things to do
  8. Kid-friendly
  9. Rainy day
  10. Rail trail
  11. Spartanburg Art Museum
  12. Science Center
  13. Children's Museum of the Upstate
  14. Hatcher Garden
  15. Walnut Grove
  16. GSP

Read on October 26, 2026. How we check: editorial standards; spot a mistake? Tell us.

Cite this page: It's South Carolina, “Spartanburg, SC Travel Guide”, itssouthcarolina.com/destinations/upstate/spartanburg/ (updated ). By the It's South Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.