Key Takeaways
- Places to stay near Clemson, SC range from hotels within walking distance of campus to Seneca and Anderson hotels 6 to 14 miles out, plus vacation rentals, lake cabins, and RV parks.
- On Clemson football weekends, rooms close to Memorial Stadium book up fast, so it pays to plan early or look a little farther out.
- The Clemson vs. South Carolina game on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, falls on Thanksgiving weekend and is one of the toughest weekends of the year to find a room.
- If you travel by RV, Clemson RV Park at The Grove in historic Pendleton offers full hook-up sites, a gameday shuttle to the stadium, and Friday night dinner with live bands on home weekends.
Clemson is a small college town that turns into one of the biggest cities in South Carolina on a fall Saturday. More than 80,000 fans can pack Memorial Stadium, and nearly all of them need somewhere to sleep.
Whether you are coming for a home game, graduation, a campus visit, or a weekend on Lake Hartwell, this guide covers the main places to stay near Clemson, SC, how far each option is from campus, and how to plan around football weekends. We are an RV park, so we will tell you plainly when a hotel makes more sense and when an RV site is the better call.
Places to Stay Near Clemson at a Glance
Distances below are to Memorial Stadium, based on HotelGuides.
| Area | Distance to the stadium | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Clemson | Under 1 mile | Walking to campus and downtown |
| James F. Martin Inn | About 1 mile | On-campus stay with golf and lake views |
| Clemson chain hotels | 1 to 2 miles | Familiar brands close to town |
| Inn at Patrick Square | About 3.3 miles | A quieter stay just outside downtown |
| Seneca | 6 to 9 miles | More rooms, lake access |
| Anderson and I-85 | 10 to 14 miles | Easy interstate access, more availability |
| Greenville | About 45 minutes | Pairing the game with a city weekend |
| Clemson RV Park at The Grove | A few miles, with a gameday shuttle | RVers, tailgaters, and groups |
How Football Weekends Change Lodging Near Clemson
On a normal weeknight, finding a room in Clemson is easy. On a home game weekend, the math changes. A town of roughly 17,000 people suddenly needs beds for tens of thousands of visitors, and every hotel, rental, and campground within an hour feels it.
Here is what that usually means for your trip:
- Rooms closest to campus go first. Downtown hotels and the James F. Martin Inn can book up months ahead for big games.
- Rates and rules shift. It is common to see higher weekend rates, two-night minimums, and stricter cancellation policies.
- Traffic matters as much as distance. A hotel 10 miles away can take longer to reach than you expect when the whole region is heading to Death Valley.
- Parking is part of the plan. Wherever you stay, decide in advance how you are getting to the stadium.
The upside is that the Upstate has plenty of options once you widen the map a little. Pendleton, Seneca, and Anderson are all close enough to make a game day work.
Hotels Near Clemson University
Staying close to Clemson University puts you near the stadium, downtown, and the campus sights, but it also means competing with every other fan for a limited number of rooms. Here is how the closest options compare.
Downtown Clemson
If walking distance is the priority, downtown is where you want to be. The Abernathy, a 41-room boutique hotel, is about 0.3 miles from Memorial Stadium, and downtown hotels put you close to restaurants, shops, and the main campus. You will pay for that location, and on home game weekends these rooms are often the first to go.
The Shepherd Hotel on Sloan Street opened in 2022 as downtown Clemson’s first luxury boutique hotel. It features original art, the Delish Sisters restaurant, and the Thomas Bar, and it partners with Clemson University’s ClemsonLIFE program to employ adults with disabilities.
The James F. Martin Inn
Clemson University’s own hotel sits on campus next to the Madren Conference Center and the Walker Golf Course, about a mile from the stadium. The inn has 62 guest rooms and 27 suites, with views of either the golf course or Lake Hartwell, according to Clemson University.
It is a good fit for families, alumni, and anyone who wants southern hospitality with a campus feel. Golfers can play Walker Golf Course, home of the signature Tiger Paw green, and dining options on site include Solé on the Green and the Clubhouse Grill.
Chain Hotels in Clemson
A cluster of familiar brands sits 1 to 2 miles from the stadium, including the Hampton Inn, Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Days Inn, and Courtyard by Marriott. Expect standard amenities like free Wi-Fi, a fitness center, and breakfast at many of them. Inn @ Clemson sits about a mile from campus with a breakfast bar, and the Best Western Plus University Inn is another familiar option. The Hampton Inn is a practical choice for budget-conscious travelers.
These hotels are close enough for a short drive or rideshare to campus, but parking on game day is still something you will need to plan for.
Inn at Patrick Square
About 3.3 miles from the stadium, the Inn at Patrick Square is a newer boutique hotel with 36 guest rooms and nine suites, according to Discover South Carolina. It sits in the Patrick Square neighborhood just outside downtown. It offers a quieter base with shops and restaurants nearby, while still keeping campus a short drive away.
Hotels in Seneca and Anderson
Seneca
Seneca sits 6 to 9 miles from the stadium and has several newer hotels, including Tru by Hilton, Hampton Inn & Suites, Best Western, and Fairfield Inn & Suites. It is also close to Lake Keowee and Lake Hartwell, which makes it a good choice if you want a lake day before or after the game.
Anderson and I-85 Exit 19
The largest group of hotels near Clemson is in Anderson, about 10 to 14 miles away, with many clustered around I-85 Exit 19. Options include the Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, Country Inn & Suites, and Holiday Inn Express.
When hotels in Clemson are full, this is usually where you will still find rooms. The tradeoff is game day traffic coming back into town on US-76 and SC-28.
Greenville
Greenville is about 45 minutes from Clemson and has the widest range of hotels in the Upstate, along with a walkable downtown and plenty of restaurants. It works well if you want to make a long weekend of it, but plan for a longer drive and earlier departure on game day.
Vacation Rentals and Lake Hartwell Cabins
Groups often rent houses or lake cabins for football weekends. Lake Hartwell has nearly 1,000 miles of shoreline, and rentals around the lake, in Seneca, and in Pendleton can sleep a whole crew under one roof.
A rental can make sense for a long weekend, a family reunion around the game, or a group that wants to cook and hang out together instead of splitting across several hotel rooms. Pendleton and the lake side of Anderson County are especially convenient, since you can reach campus without driving through downtown Clemson.
Lakefront properties offer scenic views and a relaxed atmosphere, and if you prefer a more intimate stay, look at bed and breakfasts and historic inns in nearby towns.
Read the fine print before you book. Football weekend rentals often come with multi-night minimums, cleaning fees, and strict cancellation policies.
RV Parks and Campgrounds Near Clemson
If you travel by RV, you have a different set of choices. Campus RV and camper spaces at Clemson are an IPTAY donor benefit, assigned by giving level, so most RVers look for a private park or campground nearby.
Lake Hartwell State Park and several Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds around the lake are great for weekend camping, but many have limited hook-ups, shorter site lengths, and no shuttle to the game. For football weekends, a park built around game day makes things a lot easier.
Why RVers Choose Clemson RV Park on Football Weekends
Clemson RV Park at The Grove sits in historic Pendleton, a few miles from Clemson University and close to I-85. It was built with Clemson Tigers football in mind, and it shows on home weekends.
- Full hook-ups at every site: water, sewer, and 30/50 amp power, so you can run the AC in September and the heat in November.
- Room to spread out: flat, level, 65-foot sites for RVs up to 45 feet plus a tow vehicle.
- A gameday shuttle: ride to Memorial Stadium and back without hunting for parking.
- Friday night on home weekends: a catered dinner with live bands, with two meal tickets included in every football reservation.
- Bath house, laundry, and pool: the comforts that make a three-night stay easy.
- Season passes: leave your RV on a guaranteed site all season and drive home between games.
Football check-in starts at 1 PM, and checkout is at 11 AM. Current pricing and full terms are on our Football Rates page, and everything else you need to know is on our Info page.
Getting to Campus on Game Day
Where you stay decides how you get to the game, so think about it before you book.
- Walking: only practical from downtown Clemson and the closest campus hotels.
- Driving and parking: season parking is assigned to IPTAY members, and the city decks that are normally free on Saturdays are not free on home game days. Check single-game parking options on ClemsonTigers.com before you go.
- Rideshare: available, but expect surge pricing and long waits after the game.
- Shuttles: some lodging options run their own. Clemson RV Park guests ride a gameday shuttle to and from the stadium.
Clemson vs. South Carolina 2026: Rivalry Weekend
No weekend tests Clemson lodging like the South Carolina game. The 2026 matchup is the last home game of the regular season, it is the in-state rivalry, and it lands two days after Thanksgiving, when families are already on the road.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026 |
| Location | Memorial Stadium, Clemson, SC |
| Kickoff | Set closer to game day. Check ClemsonTigers.com |
| Thanksgiving | Thursday, Nov. 26 |
Make It a Thanksgiving Weekend
An RV site turns the holiday into part of the trip. Cook at your site with full hook-ups, bring leftovers for a Saturday tailgate, and keep the whole family together. If you want to arrive earlier in the week for Thanksgiving, call the office about adding nights.
Rivalry Weekend Game Plan
Check in Friday, enjoy dinner and live music at the park, tailgate at your site Saturday morning, and ride the shuttle to Death Valley. On Sunday, pack up at your own pace and let the traffic clear. For a full game day breakdown, see our Clemson Football RV Guide.
2026 Clemson Football Home Schedule
- Sat., Sept. 12: Georgia Southern
- Sat., Sept. 19: North Carolina
- Sat., Oct. 3: Miami
- Sat., Oct. 17: Charleston Southern
- Sat., Oct. 24: Virginia Tech
- Sat., Nov. 14: Georgia Tech
- Sat., Nov. 28: South Carolina
Big games like Miami and South Carolina tend to fill lodging first, so book those weekends earliest.
Staying Near Clemson for Graduation, Move-In and Campus Visits
Football is not the only time Clemson fills up. Commencement weekends in December and May, freshman move-in in August, and big campus events like the Spring Game all put pressure on local lodging.
For graduation, book as soon as the dates are announced, since families often reserve a year out. For move-in, a hotel in Anderson or Seneca can be easier than fighting for a downtown room. For campus tours and orientation, weekday stays are usually simple and quiet.
Families who visit often, or who want to stay a while, sometimes find that an RV or a monthly stay near campus works better than repeated hotel trips. It gives you your own kitchen, your own space, and an easy drive to the university.
Tips for Booking a Stay Near Clemson
- Book early for home games. The closer you want to be to campus, the sooner you should reserve.
- Read the cancellation policy. Game weekend reservations often have stricter rules than a normal stay.
- Plan for game day parking. City decks and campus lots fill quickly, so factor parking or a shuttle into your choice.
- Check minimum stays. Some hotels and rentals require two nights on football weekends.
- Think about your group. Families and big groups often get more space and a better value from a rental or RV site than from several hotel rooms.
- Compare total costs. Factor in taxes, fees, and parking, not just the nightly rate.
- Match the stay to your trip. Game day, graduation, and a lake weekend each point to a different part of town.
- Look beyond Clemson. Seneca, Anderson, and Pendleton can save you money and stress if you do not mind a short drive.
Things to Do Near Clemson Between Games
Once you are settled, there is plenty to do when you visit Clemson:
- South Carolina Botanical Garden: walking trails, gardens, and a nature-based sculpture collection on campus.
- Downtown Clemson: restaurants, Tiger gear, and the energy of a true college town.
- Walker Golf Course: 18 holes on campus, with the Tiger Paw green on the 17th.
- Lake Hartwell: boating, fishing, and some of the best sunsets in the Upstate.
- Fants Grove trails: part of the Clemson Experimental Forest, with scenic trails for mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding right behind the park.
- Historic Pendleton: a charming town square with local shops and restaurants.
See more ideas on our Attractions page, and if you are visiting in October, our guide to fall foliage near Clemson covers the best scenic drives.
Book Your Clemson Weekend
If you are bringing an RV, Clemson RV Park at The Grove gives you full hook-ups, a shuttle to the game, and a welcoming atmosphere that feels like a tailgate all weekend. Check availability for your game before the sites are gone.
Planning a longer stay? See our guide to monthly RV parks near Clemson.
Places to Stay Near Clemson FAQs
What is the closest hotel to Clemson’s Memorial Stadium?
Downtown hotels like the Abernathy Hotel are within walking distance, about 0.3 miles from the stadium. The James F. Martin Inn on campus is about a mile away.
Where can I stay if Clemson hotels are sold out?
Seneca, Anderson, and Pendleton are the most common backups. Anderson’s I-85 Exit 19 area has the largest cluster of hotels, about 10 to 14 miles from the stadium.
Where can I park an RV for a Clemson football game?
Campus RV spaces go to IPTAY donors. Most RVers stay at a nearby park like Clemson RV Park at The Grove, which offers full hook-up sites and a gameday shuttle.
When is the 2026 Clemson vs. South Carolina game?
Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, at Memorial Stadium in Clemson. Kickoff time is announced closer to the game.
Do I need to book far ahead for Clemson football weekends?
Yes, especially for marquee games and rivalry weekend. The closer you want to be to campus, the earlier you should book.
How far is Greenville from Clemson?
About 45 minutes by car, which makes it a workable base if you want a bigger city weekend around the game.