8 Finest Locations to Retire in South Carolina

Greenville

Situated within the northwest nook of the state, Greenville is a incredible vacation spot with a bit of little bit of every thing.

​​”Greenville provides retirees a dynamic mix of small-town appeal and big-city conveniences, with a wealthy cultural scene, farm-to-table eating, and vibrant neighborhood occasions,” mentioned Sean Hartness, CEO of Hartness Growth, the corporate accountable for Hartness, a 449-acre master-planned residential neighborhood in Greenville.

The town’s walkable downtown is anchored by Falls Park on the Reedy. This centerpiece park encompasses a waterfall, gardens, public artwork, and Liberty Bridge, a pedestrian-friendly suspension bridge. For individuals who want to trip by way of downtown whereas trying out the realm’s retailers and eating places, there’s a free, open-air trolley (that’s even wheelchair accessible).

Thirty-seven parks are situated all through Greenville, providing residents inexperienced areas, strolling and biking trails, disc golf, mini golf, tennis, and playgrounds.

Greenville is residence to 2 main healthcare methods, Bon Secours St. Francis and Prisma Well being, which provide areas all through the town.

For retirees who like to journey, Greenville-Spartanburg Airport (GSP) provides over 100 every day nonstop flights to 23 locations throughout the U.S. Not solely that, however Greenville is a good spot for highway trippers. Coastal cities, together with Charleston, Savannah, and Myrtle Seaside, are lower than 4 hours away.

Columbia

Situated proper in the course of the state, Columbia is South Carolina’s capital metropolis. Whereas it might be often known as a school city, Columbia has so much to supply retirees.

The town has main healthcare methods, together with Prisma Well being, Lexington Medical Heart, and the Medical College of South Carolina (MUSC).

Because of the realm’s delicate local weather, there are actions obtainable all yr spherical for retirees who wish to keep energetic. Three rivers meet in Columbia — the Broad, the Saluda, and the Congaree — making it a scorching spot for water actions like kayaking, canoeing, and tubing.

Congaree Nationwide Park is lower than 20 miles exterior of the town. This 26,000-acre park, good for mountaineering, chook watching, kayaking, and extra, is residence to a few of the oldest timber in jap North America.

Columbia can be an awesome spot for dwell leisure. It has quite a few theaters, together with Trustus Theatre, Columbia Marionette Theater, and City Theatre, one of many oldest repeatedly operated neighborhood theaters within the nation.

Camden

Simply 35 miles exterior of Columbia lies the small city of Camden, South Carolina.

“Camden is the oldest inland metropolis in South Carolina and provides a mix of historic appeal and trendy facilities. The city hosts quite a few occasions all year long, such because the Carolina Cup and Irish Fest, and has well-preserved structure,” mentioned Jenny Parrish, government director of the Olde English District Tourism Fee.

Certainly, Camden provides a mix of historical past and outside actions that can attraction to many retirees. Goodale State Park is a good spot for kayaking and canoeing (there’s even a three-mile paddling path that winds by way of cypress timber and aquatic vegetation).

Historical past buffs will benefit from the excursions and reenactments on the Historic Camden Revolutionary Struggle web site, whereas artwork and theater lovers will flock to the performances, reveals, and live shows on the Arts Heart of Kershaw County.

Anderson

Not removed from the Georgia border, about midway between Atlanta and Charlotte, lies the small city of Anderson. Nicknamed “The Friendliest Metropolis in South Carolina,” Anderson is a spot the place retirees can plant roots and construct a neighborhood. Journey + Leisure even named Anderson, South Carolina, probably the greatest locations to retire within the U.S. in 2022.

Outside lovers will get pleasure from Sadlers Creek State Park, an expansive house with biking and strolling trails, fishing, tenting, boating, and swimming. Lake Hartwell, situated simply exterior of Anderson on the Georgia-South Carolina border, provides much more alternatives for outside recreation. This 56,000-acre lake, which is residence to striped and hybrid bass, largemouth, crappie, bream, and catfish, is particularly good for fishing.

Downtown Anderson provides procuring, eating, and neighborhood occasions all year long.

Anderson’s housing market could also be particularly engaging to retirees. In keeping with Might 2024 knowledge, residence costs have been down 3.3 % from the earlier yr. With a median sale value of $250,000, Anderson, South Carolina, is an inexpensive place to purchase a house.

Charleston

It’s no shock Charleston is on our listing of the perfect locations to retire in South Carolina — it has been voted the finest metropolis within the U.S. by T+L readers yr after yr. It’s an enthralling, historic metropolis stuffed with pure magnificence, artwork, eating, and outside recreation.

Johns Island County Park provides 20 miles of trails for walkers, runners, and horseback riders, whereas Cooper River County Park provides easy accessibility for boaters. Artwork lovers will get pleasure from First Friday ArtWalks, a month-to-month occasion hosted by the Charleston Gallery Affiliation (CGA), a collective of dozens of galleries all through the town. Charleston can be residence to quite a few spas and golf programs.

In the case of nightlife, Charleston has one thing for everybody. Breweries, wine bars, effective eating, rooftop bars, and native eating places line the downtown streets. After grabbing dinner and a drink, residents have plenty of choices for leisure. Strive a present at one of many space’s theaters, together with Pure Theatre, Charleston Stage Firm, or The Black Fedora Comedy Thriller Theatre, or hearken to dwell music at Credit score One Stadium, Charleston Jazz, or the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. The realm can be residence to plenty of annual festivals and occasions, together with the Charleston Jazz Competition, Charleston Meals & Wine Basic, and Charleston Carifest.

Charleston is a wonderful vacation spot for retirees who like to journey. Charleston Worldwide Airport is the state’s largest and busiest, with service from 13 airways providing direct flights to over 45 locations throughout the U.S.

Beaufort

In case you’re in search of a seaside vacation spot for retirement, take a look at Beaufort, South Carolina, a city that provides scenic views and a slower tempo of life. Residents have easy accessibility to close by seashores, together with Sands Seaside, Lands Finish Seaside, and Searching Island State Park.

Beaufort is situated on Port Royal Island, one of many state’s largest Sea Islands, on the Atlantic Coast. Its well-preserved downtown, which boasts over 50 historic constructions, has been designated a historic district by the Nationwide Belief for Historic Preservation.

Artwork galleries, retailers, and eating places line the downtown streets, making this space an awesome spot for residents and vacationers alike.

If that’s not sufficient, there are enjoyable festivals and annual occasions all year long, together with The Annual Beaufort Oyster Competition, Beaufort’s Worldwide Movie Competition, and A Style of Beaufort.

Fort Mill

Fort Mill, South Carolina, is a good place to retire for these in search of a small-town way of life close to big-city conveniences.

“Fort Mill’s proximity to Charlotte [North Carolina] means retirees can simply entry city facilities whereas having fun with a quieter, extra relaxed tempo of life,” mentioned Jenny Parrish.

Outside fans will love Anne Springs Shut Greenway, a nature protect that’s over twice the scale of Central Park in New York Metropolis. Along with mountaineering on 40 miles of trails, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, and horseback driving, there are organized occasions, together with live shows, yoga, and even Sunday brunch.

Locals love Fort Mill Golf Membership, an 18-hole championship course, and Springfield Golf Membership, a closely wooded 6,906-yard, par-72 course designed by Clyde Johnston.

For these retirees who like to journey, Charlotte Douglas Worldwide Airport (CLT) is simply half-hour away. Over a dozen airways fly from CLT, providing nonstop service to 186 locations, together with 39 worldwide areas.

Spartanburg

Spartanburg was named the perfect place to retire in South Carolina by U.S. Information & World Report in 2024.

“Spartanburg provides a decrease value of dwelling with loads of facilities that talk to a retiree. Just some of our facilities embody nice climate, world-class path methods, ample waterways, a thriving arts and tradition scene, rising downtown with nice retailers, eating places, and a Minor League Baseball stadium,” mentioned Billy Dunlap, chief tourism improvement officer for OneSpartanburg, Inc.

This metropolis, situated close to the South Carolina-North Carolina border, boasts pure magnificence and plenty of outside actions. Croft State Park covers over 7,000 acres and has over 20 miles of mountaineering and biking trails, a playground, and two lakes for boating and fishing. Hatcher Backyard is a 10-acre free public backyard situated within the coronary heart of Spartanburg.

Retirees who get pleasure from exploring by bike ought to contemplate Spartanburg since The League of American Bicyclists named this metropolis the primary bicycle-friendly neighborhood within the state. Those that choose automobiles to bikes shall be delighted to know that Spartanburg is residence to a BMW museum (the one one in North America), the BMW Efficiency Driving Faculty, and the one BMW manufacturing plant within the U.S. (you possibly can even take a manufacturing unit tour).

Along with outside actions, pure magnificence, nightlife, and historical past, Spartanburg is a sensible selection for retirees who need easy accessibility to healthcare. Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System has a number of areas all through the county and even provides free health lessons every week for seniors over 50.