Why Hendersonville NC is one of the best day trips from Greenville, SC

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Why Hendersonville NC is one of the best day trips from Greenville, SC

Bella CarpentierGreenville News
Sept. 5, 2026, 9:18 a.m. ET

I’ve passed through Hendersonville countless times on the way to Asheville, North Carolina, or the nearby Dupont State Forest, but I had never taken the time to spend a day there until this August

It didn’t take long for me to learn that Hendersonville is the perfect day trip for someone looking to enjoy nature, shopping, museums, and cute cafes

I started my day trip with a coffee here in Greenville, before heading North on Highway 25. The route up to Hendersonville can take around an hour, give or take, depending on traffic. The route brings you through a brief bout of construction just over the North Carolina border, so you may experience slowdowns in that area — but any delays give you more time to enjoy the mountain views on the way.

My day started with a morning hike on the Bearwallow Mountain Trail, which was challenging at times but worth it. The hike is 2 miles round trip, and it’s mostly uphill to the grassy overlook. I was pleasantly surprised at the top, though, to find dozens of cows grazing throughout the field at the overlook

I finished the hike right around noon and decided to head to Arabella Breakfast and Brunch along Main Street. Arabella’s menu offers a mix of American and Latin-inspired plates, along with a full coffee bar and mocktails. Its casual atmosphere was a great place to recharge after the hike before I got to shopping around

Shopping down Main Street, I stopped in a bookstore, an emporium, and an antique store before ducking into McFarlan Bake Shop for a pastry. I had planned to visit the Mineral & Lapidary Museum as well, but it was closed when I stopped by

The Appalachian Pinball Museum was my last, and favorite, stop of the day. I went in expecting to see the vintage machines out of order or for viewing only, but it turned out to be more like an arcade with both antique and contemporary games. I spent the better part of my visit trying to dodge Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde on the Ms. Pac-Man machine