Greenville, South Carolina, via the Greenville Downtown Airport (KGMU), is a cool destination for a fun (preferably long) weekend for the entire family.
There are several things you can do at GMU without even leaving the airport grounds. If we ranked airports by “entertainment options upon arrival,” I bet GMU would come up in the Top 10 in the country. You can enjoy a meal at the airport’s restaurant (the “Runway Café” may be currently closed, as of the publication of this article, however), let the kids play at “Runway Park,” enjoy a round of mini golf at “Takeoff,” and/or visit the “Military History Center” of the Carolinas (MHCC).
- Runway Park creates a family-oriented place to play and has covered picnic areas that can be reserved for birthdays or events. It’s not just a place for aviation nerds like us; it is ranked #4 in the 10 best things to do in Greenville, S.C.
- At Takeoff Mini Golf, every hole is designed to be amazing from start to finish. It is aviation themed and players takeoff on hole 1 and end with landing on the runway on hole 18. The finale hole 19 has a real-life beacon that lights up… if you are skilled enough to get a hole in one!
- MHCC has evolved from a club in the mid-1990s, to a 501(c)(3) non-profit museum in 2009. MHCC is dedicated to honoring veterans, preserving U.S. military history and performing community service by collecting, restoring, and displaying items of historical value.
But, GMU is also only three miles from the heart of Greenville’s award-winning downtown. You can certainly take a courtesy car, rental car, taxi, or rideshare into downtown from GMU but, today, I’m here to suggest to you another alternative: biking! How fun to combine flying and biking! I’ve written other blogs about biking from airports (ex. San Antonio’s Stinson Field) and, today, I want to showcase another great plan!
The 28-mile-long Swamp Rabbit Trail (SRT), once a railroad corridor, is one of Greenville’s most popular recreational options. The multi-use trail system runs along the Reedy River, connecting Greenville County with restaurants, schools, parks, and other local businesses. With several entry/exit points, water stops, and restrooms, rolling (or strolling) along the paved path is a captivating way to explore the area.
Additionally, a new mountain biking trail, the Rad Rabbit Trail, is open near GMU, running parallel to the Swamp Rabbit Trail. It is intended for all ages and levels of expertise.
The entrance closest to GMU, for both the Swamp Rabbit Trail and the Rad Rabbit Trail, is located by Think Tank Brew Lab, located at 101 Airport Road, Greenville, SC 29607.
Source: City of Greenville GIS Division (https://grvlsc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=c29d31875d334912ab029a495cf9f259)
To give an idea of distances, the trail from the Think Tank Brew Lab to Reedy River Falls downtown is 3.3 miles, which may take about 15 minutes non-stop on the bike. However, do stop along the way. The Greenville Zoo, for example, is only 1.9 miles from the trail entrance. If you want a longer ride, you can make it all the way to the town of Travelers Rest. Or, at least, to see Furman University, consistently rated one of the nation’s most beautiful college campuses by Condé Nast Traveler editors. A wide walking path surrounds the 40-acre Furman Lake (“Swan Lake” to locals) and is home to a variety of waterfowl and the university’s iconic bell tower.
Hopefully you have your own bike you can load up in your aircraft to use, but if you need a rental, the closest rental option to GMU may be Cruise GVL. They rent ebikes.
If you’re into geocaching, there are more than 60 active geocaches located within approximately two-tenths of a mile from the SRT network, and more are being hidden every day.
And, if that wasn’t enough fun, a wheelsports park is being added at 425 Airport Road, adjacent to GMU, with a concrete skatepark, an asphalt pump track, and a paved bicycle playground. Additionally, the plan calls for shade structures and viewing areas, a central pavilion with restrooms, parking, landscaping, art installations, stormwater improvements and a direct paved connection to the SRT.
Please share other flying and biking adventures with me!
For more information about air trails and other flying destinations, visit www.airtrails.weebly.com. Fly safe, fly often!
© Copyright 2025. All rights reserved!
