#1Clemson University
unincorporated, Pickens County · 7,015 peopleOutdoors grade, better than 98% of U.S. towns·No overall grade
Clemson University, #1 on this list · Fort Hill · Photo: blahedo · CC BY-SA 2.5South Carolina rankings · Outdoors
Best towns for the outdoors in South Carolina
Clemson University ranks first on outdoors among South Carolina’s 169 towns of 2,500+; 9 of the 169 grade A− or better on outdoors nationally.
The Outdoors grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the share of land conserved and the trail miles per square mile. How grades work
#1A+
#2Newberry
Newberry County · 10,891 peopleOutdoors grade, better than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #126 of 167 in SC
Tega Cay
York County · 14,457 peopleOutdoors grade, better than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #1 of 167 in SC
All 169 towns
Outdoors grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 4 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
169 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
1Clemson University College campusunincorporated, Pickens County · 7,015 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·No overall grade
4Hilton Head IslandBeaufort County · 38,196 peopleA−better than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #49 of 167
5CharlestonCharleston County · 159,423 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #57 of 167
7BennettsvilleMarlboro County · 7,565 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #162 of 167
9Mount PleasantCharleston County · 95,469 peopleA−better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #21 of 167
11Carolina Forestunincorporated, Horry County · 26,263 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #81 of 167
12North Myrtle BeachHorry County · 21,346 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #100 of 167
15North CharlestonCharleston County · 129,245 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #106 of 167
16Seven Oaksunincorporated, Lexington County · 15,921 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #33 of 167
17SummervilleDorchester County · 53,177 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #73 of 167
20OrangeburgOrangeburg County · 13,383 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #163 of 167
22Travelers RestGreenville County · 9,135 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #30 of 167
28Hilltopunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 2,950 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #101 of 167
29Litchfield Beachunincorporated, Georgetown County · 9,044 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #82 of 167
34SpartanburgSpartanburg County · 39,978 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #117 of 167
39Murrells Inletunincorporated, Georgetown County · 10,044 peopleB−better than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #79 of 167
44Belvedereunincorporated, Aiken County · 5,180 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #45 of 167
58Red Hillunincorporated, Horry County · 15,920 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #86 of 167
62Little Riverunincorporated, Horry County · 11,771 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #84 of 167
64Moncks CornerBerkeley County · 20,612 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #96 of 167
65Isle of PalmsCharleston County · 4,377 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #24 of 167
68Fountain InnGreenville County · 14,722 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #38 of 167
70SimpsonvilleGreenville County · 28,459 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #47 of 167
74Lugoffunincorporated, Kershaw County · 9,786 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #25 of 167
75KingstreeWilliamsburg County · 3,022 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #161 of 167
79Saxonunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 4,085 peopleCbetter than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #102 of 167
82Parkerunincorporated, Greenville County · 12,898 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #76 of 167
87Judsonunincorporated, Greenville County · 2,515 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #97 of 167
89West ColumbiaLexington County · 18,489 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #131 of 167
92Northlakeunincorporated, Anderson County · 4,390 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #15 of 167
93Laurel Bayunincorporated, Beaufort County · 5,882 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #98 of 167
95Baxter Villageunincorporated, York County · 4,542 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #2 of 167
97India Hookunincorporated, York County · 3,960 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #7 of 167
101Ganttunincorporated, Greenville County · 15,401 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #83 of 167
104Boiling Springsunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 12,936 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #26 of 167
105North Hartsvilleunincorporated, Darlington County · 3,304 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #109 of 167
109Red Bankunincorporated, Lexington County · 11,314 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #56 of 167
110Garden Cityunincorporated, Horry County · 11,591 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #105 of 167
112Batesburg-LeesvilleLexington County · 5,346 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #129 of 167
114Welcomeunincorporated, Greenville County · 6,527 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #41 of 167
115Socasteeunincorporated, Horry County · 23,796 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #66 of 167
117Sangareeunincorporated, Berkeley County · 8,681 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #70 of 167
118Oak Groveunincorporated, Lexington County · 12,256 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #18 of 167
120Burtonunincorporated, Beaufort County · 6,912 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #52 of 167
121Forestbrookunincorporated, Horry County · 7,479 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #29 of 167
122Sans Souciunincorporated, Greenville County · 7,665 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #43 of 167
123Lakewoodunincorporated, Sumter County · 3,544 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #160 of 167
124Taylorsunincorporated, Greenville County · 24,505 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #20 of 167
125Dentsvilleunincorporated, Richland County · 15,209 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #69 of 167
126St. Andrewsunincorporated, Richland County · 19,868 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #128 of 167
129Arthurtown College campusunincorporated, Richland County · 3,272 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall C+
130SpringdaleLexington County · 2,877 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #125 of 167
131Ladsonunincorporated, Berkeley County · 16,140 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #63 of 167
133Wade Hamptonunincorporated, Greenville County · 20,898 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #5 of 167
136Piedmontunincorporated, Anderson County · 5,462 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #55 of 167
137Dalzellunincorporated, Sumter County · 2,946 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #138 of 167
138Glovervilleunincorporated, Aiken County · 2,505 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #78 of 167
139Homeland Parkunincorporated, Anderson County · 6,632 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #95 of 167
140Lake Wylieunincorporated, York County · 16,006 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #17 of 167
141Valley Fallsunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 8,239 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #36 of 167
142Powdersvilleunincorporated, Anderson County · 10,771 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #9 of 167
143Brookdaleunincorporated, Orangeburg County · 4,291 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #147 of 167
144Five Forksunincorporated, Greenville County · 18,656 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #12 of 167
145Duneanunincorporated, Greenville County · 3,668 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #62 of 167
146Arkwrightunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 2,816 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #119 of 167
149Southern Shopsunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 3,797 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #111 of 167
150Lake Murray of Richlandunincorporated, Richland County · 7,023 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #22 of 167
152Whitneyunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 3,685 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #92 of 167
153White Knollunincorporated, Lexington County · 8,310 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #60 of 167
154Capitol Viewunincorporated, Richland County · 4,374 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #115 of 167
155Bereaunincorporated, Greenville County · 16,862 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #89 of 167
156Wyboounincorporated, Clarendon County · 3,639 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #133 of 167
157Roebuckunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 2,902 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #50 of 167
158Newportunincorporated, York County · 4,121 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #10 of 167
159East Camdenunincorporated, Kershaw County · 4,194 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #58 of 167
160Centervilleunincorporated, Anderson County · 7,049 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #42 of 167
161Clearwaterunincorporated, Aiken County · 3,319 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #68 of 167
162Arcadiaunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 3,426 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #112 of 167
163East Gaffneyunincorporated, Cherokee County · 2,824 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #123 of 167
164Cherryvaleunincorporated, Sumter County · 2,611 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #132 of 167
165Woodfieldunincorporated, Richland County · 9,465 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #85 of 167
T166Golden Groveunincorporated, Greenville County · 2,913 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall B · #39 of 167
T166Homewoodunincorporated, Horry County · 2,708 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall B · #48 of 167
T166Keowee Keyunincorporated, Oconee County · 3,351 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall B+ · #27 of 167
T166Lesslieunincorporated, York County · 3,077 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall A · #8 of 167
Quick answers
Questions people ask
Which South Carolina town is best for the outdoors?
Clemson University (Pickens County) ranks first on outdoors among 169 towns, with an A+; Newberry and Tega Cay follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Outdoors grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the share of land conserved and the trail miles per square mile. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a outdoors grade (169 in South Carolina). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the South Carolina page.
Go deeper
All South Carolina rankings →More South Carolina lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live167 towns · #1 Tega CayBest small towns103 towns · #1 Baxter VillageMost affordable towns168 towns · #1 ArthurtownSafest towns87 towns · #1 Tega CayTowns with the best schools169 towns · #1 Baxter Village and Fort Mill and Tega CayHealthiest towns169 towns · #1 Mount PleasantBest towns for jobs & income168 towns · #1 Tega CayMost walkable towns169 towns · #1 Clemson UniversityTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk169 towns · #1 HilltopMost historic towns169 towns · #1 AbbevilleTowns with the most civic life102 towns · #1 Isle of PalmsTowns with the least snow64 towns · #1 EasleyDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns64 towns · #1 LandrumDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters163 towns · #1 Hilton Head IslandDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers163 towns · #1 CayceDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers163 towns · #1 Travelers RestDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes168 towns · #1 Isle of PalmsDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes168 towns · #1 CherryvaleDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns98 towns · #1 HardeevilleDescribed, no letters
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