Sometimes all you need is a change of scenery to make lasting family memories. Fortunately, Columbia is perfectly situated for easy weekend road trips, with mountains, beaches, charming small towns, and exciting cities all within a few hours’ drive.
Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventure, a relaxing beach escape, or a fun-filled destination packed with kid-friendly attractions, these family weekend getaways from Columbia are worth adding to your travel bucket list.
Charleston, SC
Drive Time: About 2 hours
Charleston is one of the most popular weekend destinations from Columbia—and for good reason. Families can spend the weekend exploring historic streets, relaxing on the beach, and enjoying plenty of kid-friendly attractions. There is truly something for everyone in Charleston!
Things to Do:
- South Carolina Aquarium – This dynamic aquarium offers a variety of sea life, sea birds, and even a chance to touch manta rays. If you’re a SC educator, the aquarium offers free admission to South Carolina certified K-12 teachers with proof of eligibility shown upon entry.
- Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry – A great place for sensory play for young children!
- Charleston City Market – A unique shopping experience you won’t find anywhere else.
- Waterfront Park and Pineapple Fountain – A breathtakingly beautiful park situated right on the water. Be sure to take a picture in front of the famous pineapple fountain and then get some ice cream at one of the local shops just a couple blocks away.
- Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum – Your whole family will enjoy your time exploring the U.S.S. Yorktown and all it offers.
- The Beach
Myrtle Beach, SC
Drive Time: About 2½ hours
Myrtle Beach offers something for every age. Spend your days building sandcastles, riding amusement rides, seeing a show, or visiting exciting attractions.
Things to Do:
- Myrtle Beach Boardwalk -Shops, restaurants, the SkyWheel, an arcade, and Ripley’s attractions.
- Broadway at the Beach – This eclectic area features Broadway theatre, go karts, escape rooms, mini golf, a slime room, and more!
- WonderWorks – A family-oriented amusement area featuring an indoor ropes course, laser tag, interactive exhibits and more.
- The beach
- Shark Wake Park – An inflatables course on the water. What could be better?
Greenville, SC
Drive Time: About 1½ hours
Greenville has become one of South Carolina’s most family-friendly cities. Its walkable downtown and beautiful parks make it an easy weekend getaway.
Things to Do:
- Falls Park on the Reedy/Liberty Bridge – A beautiful park right in the heart of downtown Greenville that boasts a 345 foot long, 12 foot wide, and 8 inches thick bridge suspending high above Falls Park.
- Swamp Rabbit Trail – a scenic 32-mile greenway perfect for walking and biking.
- Greenville Zoo – Come visit your favorite animals at the zoo!
- Children’s Museum of the Upstate – 80,000 square feet dedicated to play-based learning, all for your kiddos!
- Downtown ice cream shops and restaurants
Asheville, NC
Drive Time: About 3 hours
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville offers beautiful scenery, hiking, waterfalls, and family-friendly attractions.
Things to Do:
- Western North Carolina Nature Center – Home to over 60 species of animals native to Southern Appalachia as well as a pair of red pandas.
- Blue Ridge Parkway – A breathtaking, 469-mile scenic roadway that winds through the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and Virginia.
- Sliding Rock (seasonal) – Looking for a unique way to cool off during those hot summer months? Slide down the waterfalls of Sliding Rock!
- Biltmore Estate – The Biltmore is one of the most well-known estates in the south. Stroll through the beautiful grounds and take in the majesty of the estate.
- Downtown Asheville shops and restaurants.
- Mountain hiking trails
Lake Jocassee
Drive Time: About 2½ hours
Often called one of South Carolina’s most beautiful lakes, Lake Jocassee features crystal-clear water, towering waterfalls, and incredible mountain scenery. Its 75 miles of shoreline and 43,000 acres of surrounding forest showcase dense foliage and abundant wildlife.
Devil’s Fork State Park is a great place to visit Lake Jocassee. It has a beautiful campground, and, like most of the state parks in SC, Devil’s Fork offers a variety of water activities for outdoor-loving families. There are fishing, boat rentals, kayaking/canoeing, and swimming.
You can also access Lake Jocassee from other points in the area. And there are plenty of vacation rentals available all along the lake that are perfect for a weekend stay.
Charlotte, NC
Drive Time: About 1½ hours
Charlotte combines big-city attractions with family-friendly fun. There is an endless amount to do in Charlotte from Broadway shows to museums, to theme parks, and more!
Things to Do:
- Discovery Place Science – This isn’t your ordinary children’s museum! Discovery Place Science is hands-on science museum packed with interactive exhibits, an IMAX Dome theatre, live experiments and animal encounters.
- Carowinds – Towering rollercoasters, rides of all types, and a fun-filled water park.
- SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord Aquarium – An aquarium featuring thousands of types of marine life and North Carolina’s only underwater ocean tunnel.
- NASCAR Hall of Fame – Perfect for racing fans of all ages!
- Freedom Park
- U.S. National Whitewater Center – Looking for a daring outdoor adventure? The Whitewater Center offers ziplines, ropes courses, flatwater paddling, whitewater kayaking, hiking, whitewater rafting, and more!
Atlanta, GA
Drive Time: About 3½ hours
Atlanta makes an excellent long weekend destination packed with attractions for all ages. It’s perfect for families wanting a busy weekend full of attractions.
Things to Do:
- Georgia Aquarium – You can easily spend half a day in this aquarium checking out all of the amazing animals, programs, galleries and exhibits, and animal encounters. This aquarium also boasts an amazing ocean tunnel, featuring Whale sharks.
- World of Coca-Cola – Step inside a world of fun flavors, iconic stories, and moments of real magic. From tasting your way around the globe to meeting the Coca‑Cola Polar Bear, there’s a surprise waiting around every corner.
- Zoo Atlanta – This zoo features amazing animals from all over the world. From African Savannah elephants to orangutans to clouded leopards, and more!
- Fernbank Natural History Museum – Take a walk through the past as you explore massive dinosaur fossils, stroll through a forest, gaze at stars, and discover underwater shells and creatures.
- Children’s Museum of Atlanta – Your kids will love the multiple hands-on learning and play spaces where they can learn about science and let their creativity soar!
Boone, NC
If your family is looking for the perfect mountain getaway, Boone, NC is the place to be. Not only will you experience majestic mountain views, but you will also find yourself surrounded by a variety of natural wildlife, and unique experiences.
Things to Do:
- The Land of Oz – Step into the world of the Wizard of Oz – literally! Your family will love this one-of-a-kind experience nestled at the top of Beech Mountain. This is truly a magical experience your family will never forget! Note: It is only open in September, so sign up for their newsletter so you can purchase tickets as soon as they go on sale.
- Gem Mining – Mine for real gems in the region known for underground treasure.
- Linville Caverns – Explore beautiful caverns hidden beneath the mountains.
- Mystery Hill – Ride a mechanical bull, defy gravity, enjoy some “weird science,” try your hand at axe throwing, and more!
- Grandfather Mountain – Walk across a 228-foot suspension bridge spanning an 80-foot chasm at more than one mile in elevation! It’s an experience you won’t get anywhere else.
- Wilderness Run Alpine Roller Coaster – The first alpine coaster in North Carolina! The track’s length of 3,160 feet includes three circular loops (you do not go upside down), a series of waves and several twists and turns for plenty of excitement. Fun for all ages, this thrill ride reaches up to 27 mph at the control of the rider.
- Winter Sports – If your family enjoys winter sports, check out Beech Mountain for skiing and tubing.
Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg, TN
Drive Time: About 5 hours
If you’re looking for a longer weekend getaway, the Smoky Mountains are packed with family attractions. Tennessee offers all types of family-friendly options from Dollywood, to hiking in the mountains, to alpine roller coasters.
Things to Do:
- Anakeesta – Anakeesta is a beautiful outdoor park in the heart of Gatlinburg. You’ll find breathtaking views from the Treetop Skywalk and the Anakeesta Smoky Mountain Observation Tower.
- Ober Mountain – Experience the beauty of the mountains through ziplining, bobsleds, alpine coasters, skiing, a mountain tram, and more!
- Ripley’s aquarium of the Smokies – A wonderful aquarium featuring a penguin parade – a daily show that features the penguins marching around the aquarium.
- Pigeon Forge Snow – An indoor snow park featuring all sorts of snow play.
- Alpine Mountain coasters – Race through the mountains on a roller coaster track like no other!
One of the best things about living in Columbia is how many incredible destinations are just a short drive away. Whether your family loves beaches, mountains, amusement parks, museums, or outdoor adventures, there’s a perfect weekend getaway waiting nearby.
Sometimes the best family memories don’t require a plane ticket—just a full tank of gas, a packed cooler, and a sense of adventure!
