Greenville sits in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, and its highways connect it with Atlanta, Charlotte and Columbia. I-85 runs along the southeast side of the city toward Spartanburg and Atlanta, I-385 runs from I-85 straight into downtown and southeast toward Simpsonville and Laurens, and I-185, the Southern Connector, is a toll road linking I-85 with the south side. US 25 runs north toward Travelers Rest and the mountains, and US 29, Wade Hampton Boulevard, heads northeast toward Greer. Paris Mountain rises just north of the city, and the Blue Ridge is close enough for an afternoon drive.
Woodruff Road is one of the most congested roads in the state, lined with shopping centers between I-385 and Five Forks, and Haywood Road, Laurens Road and Pelham Road carry heavy traffic too. The interchanges of I-85 and I-385 back up at rush hour, and a breakdown on Woodruff Road or the I-385 merges is hard to escape. Pelham Road and the I-85 corridor are lined with office parks and plants that empty out at the same time every afternoon.
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport sits east of the city near Greer, surrounded by manufacturing plants, including a large auto plant. Greenlink buses serve the city, and the Swamp Rabbit Trail runs from downtown to Travelers Rest. Furman University, Bob Jones University, Greenville Technical College and the Clemson automotive research campus on I-85 draw daily traffic. Downtown, Main Street is lined with trees and restaurants, and the Reedy River runs through Falls Park.
For a mobile mechanic, Greenville is mostly driveways and garages. The mill villages and older streets near downtown have small lots under big trees, while Five Forks, Verdae and the suburbs have newer homes with attached garages and HOA rules. Mill villages along Pendleton Street have small houses set close to the street. The office parks along Pelham Road and the plants near the airport have big lots that suit a workday repair.
