Charleston · Day trips from Charleston
Day Trips from Charleston for Grown-Ups
The best of the Lowcountry sits within half an hour of the Charleston peninsula: two great gardens on the Ashley River, a live oak that's been growing for centuries, a beach with a lighthouse standing in the sea and the fort where the Civil War began. Here is how to choose, and how to combine them.
- Gardens
- Middleton Place and Magnolia, about 15 miles up the Ashley River
- Free
- Angel Oak Park, about 12 miles southwest
- Beach
- Folly Beach, about 12 miles south
- Further
- Savannah, about 108 miles (2 hours 20 minutes)
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The Ashley River gardens
Ashley River Road is the classic Charleston day out. Middleton Place, about 17 miles from downtown (roughly half an hour without traffic), has landscaped gardens, a house museum and stableyards, with free garden tours on the hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; it's open 9 to 5 daily. Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is a few minutes away, about 14 miles from downtown: romantic, informal gardens and swamp walks, open 9 to 5 with last admission at 4. One garden is a relaxed morning; both make a full day.
Middleton Place
4300 Ashley River Rd, about 25 minutes
Landscaped gardens, a house museum and stableyards on the Ashley River, with free garden tours on the hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Open 9 to 5 daily; adults $29.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
3550 Ashley River Rd
Romantic, informal gardens and swamp walks on the Ashley River, a few minutes from Middleton Place. Open 9 to 5 daily (last admission 4 p.m.).
The Angel Oak and the islands
On Johns Island, about 12 miles southwest, Angel Oak Park protects a live oak the city estimates at 300 to 400 years old, 65 feet tall and shading 17,000 square feet. Entry is free and it's open seven days a week except holidays. It takes half an hour, so pair it with Folly Beach, about 12 miles south of downtown: walk to the east end of the island for the best view of the Morris Island Lighthouse standing in the sea.
Angel Oak Park
3688 Angel Oak Rd, Johns Island, about 12 miles southwest
A live oak estimated at 300 to 400 years old, 65 feet tall and shading 17,000 square feet: the city calls it the largest live oak east of the Mississippi. Free (donations welcome), open seven days a week except holidays.
Tip: It takes half an hour at most; pair it with lunch and a beach walk on the islands.
Folly Beach and the Morris Island Lighthouse
Folly Beach, about 25 minutes south
A laid-back beach town; walk to the island's east end, the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve (small fee), for the best view of the Morris Island Lighthouse standing in the sea.
By boat, and to Sullivan's Island
No car? Take the 30-minute boat ride from Liberty Square to Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began; the whole trip takes about 2 hours 15 minutes with a ranger talk and museum. For an easy island afternoon, have a wood-fired lunch at The Obstinate Daughter on Sullivan's Island and walk it off on the beach.
Fort Sumter (ferry from Liberty Square)
Liberty Square, 340 Concord St
A 30-minute boat ride out to the fort where the Civil War began, with a National Park Service ranger talk and museum. The whole trip takes about 2 hours 15 minutes.
The Obstinate Daughter
2063 Middle St, Sullivan's Island
A wood-fired island kitchen (pizza, pasta, raw bar) a few blocks from the beach on Sullivan's Island, Michelin-listed. Pair it with a beach walk.
Savannah: a longer day, or two cities in one trip
Savannah is about 108 miles away, roughly 2 hours 20 minutes by car without traffic. That's a long day there and back, so it's better as an overnight: our Charleston and Savannah itinerary links the two cities in five days, and our Savannah guide has the squares, the dining rooms and a piano bar.
Which one to choose
- Half a day: Middleton Place, or the Angel Oak with lunch on the islands.
- A full day: Middleton Place in the morning, Magnolia after lunch.
- No car: the Fort Sumter boat from Liberty Square.
- Sunset: Folly Beach's east end for the lighthouse, then dinner back downtown.
Our advice
- Drive distances and times here are OpenStreetMap routes from downtown Charleston without traffic; the bridges to the islands back up on summer weekends.
- Start at the gardens at 9 a.m. opening, before the heat and the tour buses.
- Bring insect repellent for the swamp walks at Magnolia.
- Check current hours, prices and boat times before you go.
Everything here was checked in September 2026. Seasons, show dates and reservation rules change, so confirm before you go.
Questions people ask
What is the best day trip from Charleston, SC?
Middleton Place on the Ashley River, about 17 miles from downtown, with landscaped gardens, a house museum and free garden tours on the hour. Add Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, a few minutes away, for a full day.
Is the Angel Oak free to visit?
Yes. Angel Oak Park on Johns Island is free (donations are welcome) and open seven days a week except holidays. It's about 12 miles southwest of downtown.
Can you do a day trip from Charleston to Savannah?
You can, but it's about 108 miles each way, roughly 2 hours 20 minutes without traffic. An overnight is better; our Charleston and Savannah itinerary links the two.
What can you do near Charleston without a car?
Take the boat from Liberty Square to Fort Sumter, a trip of about 2 hours 15 minutes including the ranger talk and museum.