South Carolina destinations, parks and attractions
Are you going on a road trip to South Carolina, looking for tips about the destinations so you and your party can enjoy it, be comfortable and not spend a fortune?
Here are some of the top destinations in South Carolina and tips about visiting them
National parks and monuments in South Carolina
- Charles Pinckney National Historic Site,
Mt. Pleasant, SC.
Charles Pinckney was a principal author and signer of the United States Constitution. This remnant of his coastal plantation is preserved to tell the story of a "founding father," his life of public service, the lives of enslaved African Americans on South Carolina Lowcountry plantations and their influences on Charles Pinckney.
- Congaree National Park,
Hopkins, SC.
Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. Waters from the Congaree and Wateree Rivers sweep through the floodplain, carrying nutrients and sediments that nourish and rejuvenate this ecosystem and support the growth of national and state champion trees.
- Cowpens National Battlefield,
Chesnee, SC.
“…our success was complete…” -- Daniel Morgan to Nathanael Greene, January 19, 1781 A pasturing area at the time of the battle, this Revolutionary War site commemorates the place where Daniel Morgan and his army turned the flanks of Banastre Tarleton's British army. This classic military tactic, known as a double envelopment, was one of only a few in history.
- Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historic Park,
Charleston Harbor, SC.
Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to preserve slavery, construction on a new fort, Fort Sumter, proceeded. The Confederacy fired on the US garrison of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861 opening the Civil War, which redefined American freedom.
- Kings Mountain National Military Park,
Blacksburg, SC.
Thomas Jefferson called it "The turn of the tide of success." The battle of Kings Mountain, fought October 7th, 1780, was an important American victory during the Revolutionary War. The battle was the first major patriot victory to occur after the British invasion of Charleston, SC in May 1780. The park preserves the site of this important battle.
- Ninety Six National Historic Site,
Ninety Six, SC.
Settlers struggled against the harsh backcountry to survive. Cherokee Indians hunted and fought to keep their land. Two towns and a trading post were formed then abandoned to the elements. And two Revolutionary War battles claimed over 100 lives. Come discover the 18th century history of South Carolina.
- Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail,
NC,SC,TN,VA.
Stretching 330 miles through four states (Virginia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina) the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail traces the route used by patriot militia during the pivotal Kings Mountain campaign of 1780. Follow the campaign by utilizing a Commemorative Motor Route which uses existing state highways marked with the distinctive trail logo, or 87 miles of walkable pathways.
- Reconstruction Era National Historic Park,
SC.
The Reconstruction era,1861-1900 the historic period in which the United States grappled with the question of how to integrate millions of newly freed African Americans into social, political,economic, and labor systems, was a time of significant transformation. The people, places, and events in Beaufort County, South Carolina, reflect on the most important issues of this tumultuous time period.
South Carolina State parks and historic sites
- AIKEN - 1145 STATE PARK RD, WINDSOR, SC 29856.
Phone: 803.649.2857. Map and directions - ANDREW JACKSON -
196 ANDREW JACKSON PARK RD, LANCASTER, SC 29720
Phone: 803.285.3344. Map and directions - BAKER CREEK -
863 BAKER CREEK RD, MCCORMICK, SC 29835
Phone: 864.443.2457. Map and directions - BARNWELL -
223 STATE PARK RD, BLACKVILLE, SC 29817
Phone: 803.284.2212. Map and directions - BATTLE OF MUSGROVE MILL -
398 STATE PARK RD, CLINTON, SC 29325
Phone: 864.938.0100. Map and directions - BATTLE OF RIVERS BRIDGE -
325 STATE PARK RD, EHRHARDT, SC 29081
Phone: 803.267.3675. Map and directions - CAESARS HEAD -
8155 GEER HWY, CLEVELAND, SC 29635
Phone: 864.836.6115. Map and directions - CALHOUN FALLS -
46 MAINTENANCE SHOP RD, CALHOUN FALLS, SC 29628
Phone: 864.447.8267. Map and directions - CHARLES TOWNE LANDING -
1500 OLD TOWNE RD, CHARLESTON, SC 29407
Phone: 843.852.4200. Map and directions - CHERAW -
100 STATE PARK RD, CHERAW, SC 29520
Phone: 843.537.9656. Map and directions - CHESTER -
759 STATE PARK DR, CHESTER, SC 29706
Phone: 803.385.2680. Map and directions - COLLETON -
147 WAYSIDE LN, WALTERBORO, SC 29488
Phone: 843.538.8206. Map and directions - COLONIAL DORCHESTER -
300 STATE PARK RD, SUMMERVILLE, SC 29485
Phone: 843.873.1740. Map and directions - CROFT -
450 CROFT STATE PARK RD, SPARTANBURG, SC 29302
Phone: 864.585.1283. Map and directions - DEVILS FORK -
161 HOLCOMBE CIR, SALEM, SC 29676
Phone: 864.944.2639. Map and directions - DREHER ISLAND -
3677 STATE PARK RD, PROSPERITY, SC 29127
Phone: 803.364.4152. Map and directions - EDISTO BEACH -
8377 STATE CABIN RD, EDISTO ISLAND, SC 29438
Phone: 843.869.2156. Map and directions - GIVHANS FERRY -
746 GIVHANS FERRY RD, RIDGEVILLE, SC 29472
Phone: 843.873.0692. Map and directions - GOODALE -
650 PARK RD, CAMDEN, SC 29020
Phone: 803.432.2772. Map and directions - H. COOPER BLACK -
279 SPORTING DOG TRL, CHERAW, SC 29520
Phone: 843.378.1555. Map and directions - HAMILTON BRANCH -
111 CAMPGROUND RD, PLUM BRANCH, SC 29845
Phone: 864.333.2223. Map and directions - HAMPTON PLANTATION -
1950 RUTLEDGE RD, MCCLELLANVILLE, SC 29458
Phone: 843.546.9361. Map and directions - HICKORY KNOB -
1591 RESORT DR, MCCORMICK, SC 29835
Phone: 864.391.2450. Map and directions - HUNTING ISLAND -
2555 SEA ISLAND PKWY, HUNTING ISLAND, SC 29920
Phone: 843.838.2011. Map and directions - HUNTINGTON BEACH -
16148 OCEAN HWY, MURRELLS INLET, SC 29576
Phone: 843.237.4440. Map and directions - JONES GAP -
303 JONES GAP RD, MARIETTA, SC 29661
Phone: 864.836.3647. Map and directions - KEOWEE-TOXAWAY -
108 RESIDENCE DR, SUNSET, SC 29685
Phone: 864.868.2605. Map and directions - KINGS MOUNTAIN -
1277 PARK RD, BLACKSBURG, SC 29702
Phone: 803.222.3209. Map and directions - LAKE GREENWOOD -
302 STATE PARK RD, NINETY SIX, SC 29666
Phone: 864.543.3535. Map and directions - LAKE HARTWELL -
19138-A HWY 11 S, FAIR PLAY, SC 29643
Phone: 864.972.3352. Map and directions - LAKE WARREN -
1079 LAKE WARREN RD, HAMPTON, SC 29924
Phone: 803.943.5051. Map and directions - LAKE WATEREE -
881 STATE PARK RD, WINNSBORO, SC 29180
Phone: 803.482.6401. Map and directions - LANDSFORD CANAL -
2051 PARK DR, CATAWBA, SC 29704
Phone: 803.789.5800. Map and directions - LEE -
487 LOOP RD, BISHOPVILLE, SC 29010
Phone: 803.428.5307. Map and directions - LITTLE PEE DEE -
1298 STATE PARK RD, DILLON, SC 29536
Phone: 843.774.8872. Map and directions - MYRTLE BEACH -
4401 SOUTH KINGS HWY, MYRTLE BEACH, SC 29575
Phone: 843.238.5325. Map and directions - OCONEE -
624 STATE PARK RD, MOUNTAIN REST, SC 29664
Phone: 864.638.5353. Map and directions - OCONEE STATION -
500 OCONEE STATION RD, WALHALLA, SC 29691
Phone: 864.638.0079. Map and directions - PARIS MOUNTAIN -
2401 STATE PARK RD, GREENVILLE, SC 29609
Phone: 864.244.5565. Map and directions - POINSETT -
6660 POINSETT PARK RD, WEDGEFIELD, SC 29168
Phone: 803.494.8177. Map and directions - REDCLIFFE PLANTATION -
181 REDCLIFFE RD, BEECH ISLAND, SC 29842
Phone: 803.827.1473. Map and directions - ROSE HILL PLANTATION -
2677 SARDIS RD, UNION, SC 29379
Phone: 864.427.5966. Map and directions - SADLERS CREEK -
940 SADLERS CREEK RD, ANDERSON, SC 29626
Phone: 864.226.8950. Map and directions - SANTEE -
251 STATE PARK RD, SANTEE, SC 29142
Phone: 803.854.2408. Map and directions - SESQUICENTENNIAL -
9564 TWO NOTCH RD, COLUMBIA, SC 29223
Phone: 803.788.2706. Map and directions - TABLE ROCK -
158 ELLISON LN, PICKENS, SC 29671
Phone: 864.878.9813. Map and directions - WOODS BAY -
11020 WOODS BAY RD, OLANTA, SC 29114
Phone: 843.659.4445. Map and directions
South Carolina Seasons, bugs, topography and climate
South Carolina's tends to be hot, humid and subtropical in the summers, but winters are very mild. Palm trees grow along the coast. There is little (if any, snow) but loads of rain, mostly during the Spring and Summer. Snow when it happens is just in the mountains and upper Piedmont. Just be sure to bring DEET from April to first hard freeze (November)!
| Climate data for South Carolina | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 88 (31) |
89 (32) |
99 (37) |
99 (37) |
106 (41) |
113 (45) |
110 (43) |
110 (43) |
111 (44) |
103 (39) |
93 (34) |
89 (32) |
113 (45) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −19 (−28) |
−11 (−24) |
−8 (−22) |
17 (−8) |
28 (−2) |
37 (3) |
45 (7) |
45 (7) |
28 (−2) |
16 (−9) |
−1 (−18) |
−6 (−21) |
−19 (−28) |
South Carolina Camping tips
South Carolina’s state parks have more than 3,000 campsites and 220 cabins and lodging facilities from the mountains to the sea.
- South Carolina State Parks Camping reservations.
- SC Lodge rooms
- SC Cabins and Villas
- There are both state parks and private campgrounds in South Carolina .