College Visit Guides

Drive guide · 2 days, 4 campuses

Clemson, Furman, USC Upstate and UNC Asheville in 2 Days: An Upstate South Carolina College Trip

A parent-first plan for seeing Clemson and Furman on day 1 and USC Upstate and UNC Asheville on day 2, from a downtown Greenville base: how each visit works, where to park, three hotels from budget to upscale, drive times and seasonal weather, every fact sourced.

Tillman Hall's red-brick clock tower rising above trees and a lawn with lampposts at Clemson University
Tillman Hall, Clemson University. Photo: blahedo · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Last checked Oct 28, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).

The short version

Trip at a glance

Schools
Clemson University (Clemson, SC) · Furman University (Greenville, SC) · University of South Carolina Upstate (Spartanburg, SC) · University of North Carolina Asheville (Asheville, NC)
Days
2 weekdays: Clemson in the morning and Furman in the afternoon on day 1; USC Upstate in the morning and UNC Asheville in the afternoon on day 2. Arrive in Greenville the evening before.
Fly into
Greenville-Spartanburg International (GSP), about 25 minutes from downtown Greenville with no traffic. Fly home from Asheville Regional (AVL), about 25 minutes from UNC Asheville, or drive back to GSP (about 1 hour 41 minutes).
Best base
Courtyard by Marriott Greenville Downtown, about 47 minutes from Clemson's visitor center, 15 minutes from Furman and 41 minutes from USC Upstate's admissions office.
Car or transit
Rent a car: every leg is a drive, and the longest, USC Upstate to UNC Asheville, is about 1 hour 25 minutes with no traffic.
Registration
All four schools take visit sign-ups online, and Clemson asks every guest to preregister. USC Upstate's admissions office has temporarily moved off campus, so check where your visit starts.

1. Who this guide is for

This plan is for parents with a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, who want to compare four very different schools in two days: Clemson University, about 47 minutes west of downtown Greenville; Furman University, a private university with 2,304 students on a 940-acre campus in Greenville; the University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg; and the University of North Carolina Asheville, across the state line in Asheville.

Downtown Greenville sits in the middle of the first three, so you can stay put for two nights, then finish in Asheville on day 2 and fly home from there.

Why this order

  • Day 1 morning: Clemson's campus tour starts with a 30-minute admissions presentation, then a short bus ride and a 90-minute student-led walking tour.
  • Day 1 afternoon: Furman's Daily Campus Visit pairs an information session with a tour that combines walking and riding, with optional class visits or lunch with current students.
  • Day 2: USC Upstate runs daily tours you register for online, and UNC Asheville's visit is an admission information session followed by a walking tour led by University Ambassadors, about 1 hour 30 minutes in all.
Register first: each campus has its own visitor parking
  • Clemson: visitors registered for campus tours park free in designated spots at the Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center, 220 Madren Center Drive.
  • Furman: turn right just before the Hartness Admissions Center, halfway around the main traffic circle, and park in the small visitor lot in front.
  • USC Upstate: Admissions is temporarily at Milliken Company Campus, 924 Milliken Road; on the main campus, visitors pick up a Visitors Parking Pass at the Department of Public Safety.
  • UNC Asheville: GPS to Chestnut Hall and park in front of the bronze bulldog statue, with overflow in the marked Admission spaces.
Tour availability varies by season.
  • Clemson tour registrations open on Mondays, six weeks ahead, and there's no waitlist, so book as soon as your date opens.
  • UNC Asheville doesn't offer campus visits during university breaks or final exam weeks, and its December tours are led by university staff.
  • USC Upstate's next Spartan Saturday Open House is Saturday, November 14, 2026, with another on March 20, 2027.

2. The suggested 2-day plan

  • Drive times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, using addresses geocoded with OpenStreetMap Nominatim. Add a cushion for I-85 traffic between Greenville and Spartanburg and on I-26 into Asheville.

Arrival evening: fly into Greenville-Spartanburg and check in downtown

  1. Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) → Courtyard by Marriott Greenville Downtown (50 W. Broad St.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~25 min, 14.0 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Rent a car at GSP

  2. Courtyard Greenville Downtown → Falls Park

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~7 min walk, 0.3 mi
    Driving
    On foot
  • Clemson suggests GSP as the nearest international airport, about an hour's drive from Clemson; Furman notes GSP has more than 100 daily nonstop flights.

Day 1: Clemson University in the morning, Furman University in the afternoon

  1. Courtyard Greenville Downtown → Clemson's Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center (220 Madren Center Dr., Clemson)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~47 min, 30.4 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Car required

  2. Clemson → Furman's Hartness Admissions Center (3300 Poinsett Hwy., Greenville)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~56 min, 34.3 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Car required

  3. Furman → Courtyard Greenville Downtown

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~15 min, 6.8 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Car required
  • Clemson's visit is a 30-minute presentation plus a 90-minute walking tour, so a morning slot leaves time for lunch and the drive to Furman. Tours run rain or shine, and comfortable shoes are a must.
  • Tours don't go inside Clemson's dining halls or residence halls, but you're welcome to eat lunch in a dining hall for a fee.

Day 2: USC Upstate in the morning, UNC Asheville in the afternoon, then home

  1. Courtyard Greenville Downtown → USC Upstate Admissions, temporary location (924 Milliken Rd., Spartanburg)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~41 min, 30.3 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Car required

  2. Milliken → USC Upstate main campus (800 University Way)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~5 min, 1.7 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Car required

  3. USC Upstate → UNC Asheville (Chestnut Hall)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~1 hr 25 min, 65.3 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Car required

  4. UNC Asheville → Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~25 min, 16.6 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Car required

  5. Or: UNC Asheville → Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~1 hr 41 min, 79.6 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Car required
  • Check your USC Upstate confirmation for where your tour starts: Admissions has temporarily moved to Milliken Company Campus during campus renovations. Follow the green USC Upstate signs.
  • Book a later UNC Asheville campus tour so the 1-hour-25-minute drive from Spartanburg fits; not every visit option runs every day.

3. Campus by campus

Tillman Hall's red-brick clock tower rising above trees and a lawn with lampposts at Clemson University
Tillman Hall, Clemson University. Photo: blahedo · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

Clemson University (Clemson, SC)

Where visits start
  • Campus tours run Monday through Friday and on select Saturdays, except university breaks. Everyone must preregister; walk-ins are rarely accommodated. Each registered student can bring up to three guests.
  • Registrations open on Mondays, six weeks ahead, and there's no waitlist. Visitors under 18 must come with an adult.
Visitor parking
  • Visitors registered for campus tours can park free in designated spots at the Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center; metered visitor parking is also available in designated areas across campus.
  • From I-85, take exit 19B, follow Highway 76/28 west for about 12 miles, then take Highway 93 south toward Clemson University.
Getting there
  • Plan on a car: Clemson is about 47 minutes from downtown Greenville and about 56 minutes from Furman with no traffic.
What to know
  • The Clemson photo in this guide shows Tillman Hall. Clemson has three dining halls and 22 retail dining spots on campus, and its tips include student-made ice cream at the '55 Exchange.
  • The free South Carolina Botanical Garden is about 7 minutes by car from the visitor center and open sunrise to sundown every day.
Contact
Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center, 220 Madren Center Drive, Clemson, SC 29634.

Last checked Oct 28, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: Clemson: Visit · Clemson: Campus Tour · Clemson: Park, Stay and Play

Furman University's stone Bell Tower on the far shore of Furman Lake, with geese on the water and green trees behind
The Bell Tower across Furman Lake. Photo: olekinderhook · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

Furman University (Greenville, SC)

Where visits start
  • Book a Daily Campus Visit, Monday through Friday: an information session with an admissions counselor, then a guided tour that combines walking and riding, with stops at academic buildings, the Trone Student Center and dining facilities.
  • Optional add-ons include a class visit or lunch with current students. Furman also hosts Showcase Saturdays for families who need a weekend visit.
Visitor parking
  • Some GPS systems won't take you all the way along Poinsett Highway: at the front gate, go halfway around the main traffic circle and turn right just before the Hartness Admissions Center. Park in the small visitor lot in front, with overflow at the Daniel Music Building lot.
Getting there
  • Furman is about 15 minutes from downtown Greenville with no traffic. Asheville Regional Airport is about 45 minutes away by Furman's estimate.
What to know
  • The Furman photo in this guide shows the Bell Tower across Furman Lake. Furman's 940-acre campus sits in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Contact
Furman University, 3300 Poinsett Highway, Greenville, SC 29613; 864-294-2000.

Last checked Oct 28, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: Furman: Visit Furman · Furman: Maps and Directions · Furman: Local Accommodations

The red-brick George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics building on a downtown Spartanburg corner under a blue sky
USC Upstate's Johnson College of Business and Economics, downtown Spartanburg. Photo: PegasusRacer28 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

University of South Carolina Upstate (Spartanburg, SC)

Where visits start
  • Register for a daily tour online. If you also book a meeting with the enrollment team, note that on-campus appointments don't include a tour, so register for the tour separately.
  • Admissions and Financial Aid has temporarily moved off campus to Milliken Company Campus, 924 Milliken Road, because of renovations; look for the green USC Upstate signs.
Visitor parking
  • Visitors parking on the main campus need to stop by the Department of Public Safety for a Visitors Parking Pass, then park in designated visitor spaces.
Getting there
  • USC Upstate is about 41 minutes from downtown Greenville and about 27 minutes from GSP with no traffic.
What to know
  • The USC Upstate photo in this guide shows the George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics, USC Upstate's building in downtown Spartanburg.
Contact
USC Upstate Office of Admissions: 864-503-5246 or 800-277-8727.

Last checked Oct 28, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: USC Upstate: Visit Campus · USC Upstate: Parking Map (PDF) · USC Upstate: Spartan Saturday Open House

Students relaxing on a green lawn at UNC Asheville beneath two flowering crab apple trees, with a white columned building behind
Crab apple trees in bloom on the UNC Asheville quad. Photo: Blue Bullfrog · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

University of North Carolina Asheville (Asheville, NC)

Where visits start
  • Pick a date on the visit calendar and choose the Admission Information Session and Campus Tour: admission staff cover admission and financial aid, then University Ambassadors lead a walking tour, about 1 hour 30 minutes in all.
  • Some days also offer departmental tours, a one-on-one with a professor or an Honors Program information session.
Visitor parking
  • Search for "Chestnut Hall" in your GPS. Park in front of the bronze bulldog statue; overflow parking is down the sidewalk from Chestnut Hall in the marked Admission spaces.
  • For parking anywhere else on campus, check UNC Asheville's parking page first.
Getting there
  • UNC Asheville is about 1 hour 25 minutes from USC Upstate and about 25 minutes from Asheville Regional Airport with no traffic.
What to know
  • The UNC Asheville photo in this guide shows students on the quad in spring. UNC Asheville also offers a virtual tour and 360-degree residence hall videos, since a campus tour can't go inside every hall.
Contact
UNC Asheville Office of Admission, Brown Hall, One University Heights, Asheville, NC 28804; 828-251-6481, admissions@unca.edu.

Last checked Oct 28, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: UNC Asheville: Visits and Events · UNC Asheville: Driving Directions · UNC Asheville: Parking on Campus

4. Where to stay: two nights in downtown Greenville, between Clemson, Furman and Spartanburg

Price tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Upscale) follow each hotel's star class on Expedia. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Hotel · Our pickMid-range

Courtyard by Marriott Greenville Downtown

50 W. Broad St., Greenville, SC

Why here

  • It's about 47 minutes by car from Clemson's visitor center, 15 minutes from Furman, 41 minutes from USC Upstate's admissions office and 25 minutes from GSP, and about a 7-minute walk from Falls Park.
  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Good to know

  • It's on Furman's local accommodations list. Confirm parking and amenities on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateBudget

Hampton Inn Greenville/Travelers Rest

593 Roe Center Ct., Travelers Rest, SC

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 2.5-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's about 7 minutes by car from Furman and about 56 minutes from Clemson's visitor center, though about 36 minutes from GSP.

Good to know

  • Furman lists it among nearby hotels, about 3.3 miles from campus. Confirm parking and amenities on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateUpscale

The Westin Poinsett Greenville

120 S. Main St., Greenville, SC

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 4-star property, so we place it in the Upscale tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's on Main Street downtown, about a 7-minute walk from Falls Park and about 47 minutes by car from Clemson's visitor center and 16 minutes from Furman.

Good to know

  • Confirm parking and amenities on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Book two nights in downtown Greenville: it's under an hour from Clemson, Furman and USC Upstate, so you never have to repack until the drive to Asheville on day 2. If Furman is your top priority, the Travelers Rest Hampton Inn puts you 7 minutes from campus.

5. Meals between tours

Hours change, so check before you go.

Clemson's dining halls and downtown Clemson

Visitors can eat in any open Clemson dining hall for a fee, and Clemson suggests asking your tour guide or the visitor center staff for favorite spots in downtown Clemson, a short walk from campus.

Lunch with Furman students

Furman's Daily Campus Visit can add an optional lunch with current students; choose it when you register.

6. Things for siblings along the route

With siblings

South Carolina Botanical Garden

150 Discovery Lane, Clemson, SC

Clemson's free botanical garden, about 7 minutes by car from the Nieri visitor center; the grounds are open sunrise to sundown, 365 days a year, and the visitor center is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Official page →

With siblings

Falls Park

Downtown Greenville, SC

The city park around the Reedy River falls, about a 7-minute walk from the Courtyard and the Westin, for an easy arrival-evening stroll.

Official page →

With siblings

A Tigers, Paladins, Spartans or Bulldogs game

Clemson, Greenville, Spartanburg or Asheville

Check the Clemson, Furman, USC Upstate and UNC Asheville athletics calendars for a home game on your dates.

Official page →

7. Practical tips

Driving and parking

  • Clemson tour visitors park free at the Nieri Center; Furman visitors use the lot in front of Hartness; USC Upstate visitors get a pass from Public Safety; UNC Asheville visitors park by the bronze bulldog at Chestnut Hall.
  • Clemson to Furman is about 34 miles and 56 minutes, and USC Upstate to UNC Asheville about 65 miles and 1 hour 25 minutes, with no traffic.

Flying in and out

  • Fly into GSP (about 25 minutes from downtown Greenville) and home from Asheville Regional (about 25 minutes from UNC Asheville), or loop back to GSP, about 1 hour 41 minutes from UNC Asheville.
  • Clemson notes that Charlotte and Atlanta are each about 2 1/2 hours from Clemson by car if you need a bigger airport.

Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Greenville-Spartanburg Airport)

  • Spring: April averages about 73°F highs and 49°F lows, with about 4 inches of rain.
  • Summer: July averages about 90°F/69°F, with about 4.8 inches of rain, the wettest month.
  • Fall: October averages about 73°F/50°F, with about 3.6 inches of rain, the driest month.
  • Winter: January averages about 53°F/32°F, with about 1.6 inches of snow.

Parent checklist

  • Register for a Clemson campus tour and a Furman Daily Campus Visit for day 1, and a USC Upstate daily tour and a UNC Asheville campus visit for day 2.
  • Book two nights in downtown Greenville, plus a one-way rental car from GSP to Asheville Regional (or a round trip from GSP).
  • Note where each visit starts: Clemson's Nieri Center, Furman's Hartness Admissions Center, USC Upstate's temporary office at 924 Milliken Road and UNC Asheville's Chestnut Hall.
  • Pack comfortable shoes and rain gear: Clemson's 90-minute walking tour runs rain or shine.
  • After each visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.

8. Student-athlete recruiting visits

For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.

Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.

Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.

4 Division I

NCAA basics for parents

  • Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
  • Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
  • Division I (Clemson University, Furman University, University of South Carolina Upstate and University of North Carolina Asheville): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
  • Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.

Planning around the season

  • Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
  • Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.

Student-athlete sources

All checked Oct 26, 2026.

  1. NCAA, 2026-27 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete (pp. 3, 21–25)
  2. NCAA.org: NCAA Recruiting
  3. NCAA: Division I and II Recruiting Calendars and Guides
  4. NCAA Directory: Clemson University
  5. Clemson University Athletics (official site)
  6. Clemson University Athletics: Compliance
  7. Clemson University Athletics: Staff Directory
  8. Clemson University Athletics: schedule of events
  9. NCAA Directory: Furman University
  10. Furman University Athletics (official site)
  11. Furman University Athletics: Compliance
  12. Furman University Athletics: Staff Directory
  13. Furman University Athletics: schedule of events
  14. NCAA Directory: University of South Carolina Upstate
  15. University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics (official site)
  16. University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics: Compliance
  17. University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics: Staff Directory
  18. University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics: schedule of events
  19. NCAA Directory: University of North Carolina Asheville
  20. University of North Carolina Asheville Athletics (official site)
  21. University of North Carolina Asheville Athletics: Compliance
  22. University of North Carolina Asheville Athletics: Staff Directory
  23. University of North Carolina Asheville Athletics: schedule of events

Trip planner

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Sources

All checked Oct 28, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.

  1. Clemson University Undergraduate Admissions: Campus Tour
  2. Clemson University: Campus Visit (official sign-up)
  3. Clemson University Undergraduate Admissions: Park, Stay and Play in Clemson
  4. Furman University Admissions: Visit Furman
  5. Furman University: Visit Campus (official sign-up)
  6. Furman University Admissions: Maps and Directions
  7. Furman University: Local Accommodations
  8. USC Upstate Admissions: Visit Campus
  9. USC Upstate: Daily Tours Registration (official sign-up)
  10. USC Upstate: Parking Map 2026–2027 (PDF)
  11. USC Upstate: Campus Map to the Temporary Admissions Location at Milliken (PDF)
  12. USC Upstate: Spartan Saturday Open House
  13. UNC Asheville Admission: Visits and Events
  14. UNC Asheville: Campus Visits and Events (official sign-up)
  15. UNC Asheville Admission: Driving Directions
  16. UNC Asheville Parking: Parking on Campus
  17. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), driving profile
  18. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), foot profile
  19. OpenStreetMap Nominatim geocoder
  20. NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Monthly Normals, Greenville-Spartanburg Airport, Greer, SC (USW00003870)
  21. Expedia listing: Courtyard by Marriott Greenville Downtown (star class, checked 2026-10-28) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Greenville-Hotels-Courtyard-By-Marriott-Greenville-Downtown.h3374120.Hotel-Information)
  22. Expedia listing: The Westin Poinsett Greenville (star class, checked 2026-10-28) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Greenville-Hotels-The-Westin-Poinsett-Greenville.h575983.Hotel-Information)
  23. Expedia listing: Hampton Inn Greenville/Travelers Rest (star class, checked 2026-10-28) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Travelers-Rest-Hotels-Hampton-Inn-GreenvilleTravelers-Rest.h125177.Hotel-Information)
  24. South Carolina Botanical Garden (Clemson): Plan Your Visit
  25. City of Greenville: Falls Park
  26. Clemson Tigers Athletics: All-Sports Schedule
  27. Furman Paladins Athletics: Calendar
  28. USC Upstate Spartans Athletics: Calendar
  29. UNC Asheville Bulldogs Athletics: Calendar