Best Day Trips from Charleston SC: Beaches, Plantations and Savannah

Charleston already packs a great deal into its peninsula — antebellum streets, Fort Sumter in the harbour, James Beard-recognized restaurants on every block. But the surrounding Lowcountry rewards exploration, and within two hours in any direction you can reach Georgia’s prettiest city, plantations in working form, and wide Atlantic beaches that feel nothing like the island resort strips further up the coast.

For the city itself, see our Charleston travel guide and Things To Do In Charleston.

Folly Beach — the closest sand

Approximately 12 miles southwest of the peninsula (20–25 minutes by car), Folly Beach is Charleston’s most accessible ocean beach and the least polished of the three nearby barrier islands — which is part of the appeal. The Folly Beach Pier extends 1,045 feet into the Atlantic with a fishing deck at the end (day-use fee approximately $6 for non-anglers as of 2026). The town’s main drag, Center Street, has surf shops, beach bars, and a well-regarded breakfast scene. On the western end, Folly Beach County Park (parking approximately $10–15 in season) offers uncrowded strand, restrooms, and beach chair rentals. Sunrise over the Sullivan’s Island lighthouse from the pier’s east end is worth the early start. Parking downtown fills fast in summer — arrive before 9 am or plan around the shoulder of the tide.

Middleton Place — the plantation question answered well

Approximately 14 miles northwest along the Ashley River (20–25 minutes by car), Middleton Place is the most intellectually serious of the Ashley River plantations. The terraced gardens, the oldest landscaped grounds in the United States, were designed in 1741 and now frame a pair of ornamental lakes with a backdrop of live oaks and Spanish moss. The estate tells the full history including the lives of the enslaved people who built and worked it — the Eliza’s House interpretive area is among the most direct and thoughtful Lowcountry sites on this topic. Entry approximately $29 (gardens only) or $39–49 (house museum included) as of 2026. The Middleton Place Restaurant serves an excellent Lowcountry lunch on-site; book ahead on weekends.

Beaufort — the quiet colonial town

Approximately 70 miles south via US-17 and US-21 (around 1 hour 20 minutes by car), Beaufort (pronounced BYOO-fort — not like the North Carolina town) is a small colonial port town that has appeared in more films than most people know: Forrest Gump, The Big Chill, The Prince of Tides all filmed here. The historic district sits on a bluff above the Beaufort River; a 1.5-mile waterfront walk connects the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park with antebellum homes on Bay Street. The Pat Conroy Literary Center (free entry) honours the Beaufort novelist whose books are inseparable from the Lowcountry. Lunch at the Beaufort Inn bistro or a shrimp and grits plate anywhere on Bay Street. Combine with a drive through the marshes of the Sea Islands south of town.

Savannah — the obvious choice, and worth it

Approximately 108 miles south via I-95 (around 2 hours by car), Savannah is the most popular day trip from Charleston and genuinely justifies the distance. The 22 historic squares are shaded and walkable; Forsyth Park’s fountain is the Instagram centrepiece but the squares north of it — Monterey, Calhoun, Whitefield — are quieter. Walk the Savannah Historic District for 2–3 hours, cross the Savannah River on the free ferry to the Westin for a view back at the bluff, and have lunch in the City Market area. Bonaventure Cemetery (free, a 15-minute Uber from downtown) is one of the most atmospheric places in the American South — old-growth live oaks, Spanish moss, ornate Victorian monuments. Leave by 4 pm to clear Savannah traffic before the I-95 interchange backs up.

Angel Oak — the singular tree

Approximately 20 miles south of downtown Charleston on Johns Island (30–35 minutes by car), the Angel Oak Tree is estimated to be 300–500 years old, with a trunk circumference of nearly 28 feet and a canopy covering 17,200 square feet. Entry is free; parking is free. It is a short stop but nothing fully prepares you for the scale. Combine it with a meal at one of the Johns Island farm-to-table spots nearby — Wild Olive is the landmark option.

Sullivan’s Island and Fort Moultrie

Approximately 15 miles northeast (25–30 minutes via the Ben Sawyer Bridge), Sullivan’s Island is quieter than Folly Beach and markedly more residential. The beach on the Atlantic side is long and wide; on a clear day you can see Fort Sumter offshore. Fort Moultrie (part of the Fort Sumter National Monument; approximately $15 per adult as of 2026) on the island’s inland edge tells three centuries of American coastal defence history from the Revolutionary War through World War II — it is more interesting than most visitors expect. The Sullivan’s Island restaurant scene is small but good; Poe’s Tavern is named after Edgar Allan Poe, who was briefly stationed at the fort.

Myrtle Beach — the full-resort alternative

Approximately 95 miles north via US-17 (around 1 hour 40 minutes by car), Myrtle Beach is the opposite of Charleston’s restraint — it is unabashedly commercial, with mini-golf empires, souvenir strip after souvenir strip, and a beachfront that never pretends to be anything other than what it is. If you want a proper resort beach experience with amenities, the Grand Strand’s 60 miles of sand deliver. The calmer Myrtle Beach State Park (approximately $8 per adult as of 2026) offers a more protected natural stretch south of the main strip.

Practical tips

• Drive times above assume no traffic — US-17 between Charleston and Beaufort can slow on summer Fridays; leave by 9 am or after 10 am to avoid the Friday exodus
• Beaufort and Savannah both warrant more than one day — treat day-trip visits as reconnaissance
• The Angel Oak and Middleton Place pair naturally — both are south and west of the peninsula, roughly 30–40 minutes apart
• Savannah parking: the Bryan Street Garage near the City Market is reliable and reasonably priced; expect to pay approximately $10–15 for a full day
• Prices as of 2026 — verify at venue sites before travelling

For guided day excursions from Charleston, check GetYourGuide’s Charleston selection — plantation tours, boat trips, and guided Savannah day trips all run from the historic district.

More Charleston Guides

• Full Charleston travel guide
• Things to do in Charleston
• Best hotels in Charleston