Travelers Rest : South carolina

Located between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Greenville, South Carolina, Travelers Rest got its name due to the fact it was a stopover for weary travelers and livestock drovers before they began the difficult journey into the mountains during the early 1800's. Ironically enough, travelers who come here today have no intention of resting, but rather for the outdoor activities the quaint town has to offer.  With a population of about 5,000, Travelers Rest went unnoticed until the recent development of the Swamp Rabbit Trail. This 20 mile multi-use greenway system runs along the Reedy River connecting the old railway system between Greenville and Travelers Rest. Opening in 2009, through a partnership with the Greenville Health System, the Swamp Rabbit Trail has been an economic boom for Travelers Rest, with several businesses springing up within the town, and over 500,000 hikers, bikers and walkers visiting each year.  Along the trail are some of the area's most picturesque parks, waterfalls, scenic views, and the campus of Furman University, considered one of the most beautiful in the nation.

Today, the area in and around Travelers Rest offers a unique variety of antique and specialty shops, restaurants, and leisure activities.  Budget Travel named it as one of America's Coolest Small Towns. Picture of the George Salmon House, one of the earliest settlers in Travelers Rest and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, are courtesy of Wikipedia and Bill Fitzpatrick, Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0/

Zillow reports the median home value in Travelers Rest was $269,855in early 2023.  There are communities in Travelers Rest, see link at left.

Situated at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Travelers Rest is a small community that welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, and the Swamp Rabbit Trail has encouraged economic development since the early 2000's.  The town also boasts a library, a health care facility that includes an emergency room, and a public golf course that features beautiful views.

Winters are cool, with the average January temperature in the low 40's. If you don't enjoy the outdoors and hiking, and biking, you won't find much to do here.

Retirees who want a small town, yet close to cultural events, and an airport (Greenville), may enjoy living here. Travelers Rest also offers housing costs well below the national average, a library, and several outdoor recreation opportunities. 

Tourism drives the economy.

January's average temperature is 44 degrees with July's average at 75. Travelers Rest gets about 50 inches of rain and 6 inches of snow annually.

Travelers Rest features cafes, breweries, ice cream, pizza shops and several restaurants. Trailblazer Park is the regions newest performing arts and cultural center featuring panoramic mountain views, festival grounds, an open-air amphitheater, and a covered pavilion that hosts the Travelers Rest Farmers Market.  For various cultural venues, Greenville is just 10 miles south.