9 Best Road Trips to Take in South Carolina
The state of South Carolina, known by some as the Palmetto State, is also known for having some of the most scenic road trips in all of America. From Edisto Island National Scenic Byway and its majestic Live Oak canopies to the coastal trip from Myrtle Beach to Georgetown, many attributes along these picturesque drives appeal to that sense of adventure hiding within even the most critical traveler. Though there might be as nearly as many road trips on the eastern seaboard as there are beaches along the southern California coast, here are nine of the best road trips to take if you find yourself in South Carolina.
The Edisto Island National Scenic Byway Road Trip
Beginning at Dawhoo River Bridge, the Edisto Island National Scenic Byway has a plethora of nature and history crammed into just seventeen miles of two-lane road. The Russell Creek Overlook, just a mile or so into the trip, offers stunning views of the Windsor Plantation house, first constructed in 1857. About halfway through the journey, enjoy cruising beneath a Spanish Moss-enveloped Live Oak canopy, this one at least two hundred years old. There are many other attractions along the way before you reach the Atlantic Ocean, like checking out Bailey’s Store, built in the 1880s. At the journey’s end, Edisto Beach State Park awaits, with opportunities for fishing, boating, hiking, swimming, and even camping.
The Cherokee Foothills National Scenic Byway Road Trip
Just over a hundred miles in length, this scenic road trip along SR 11 is a great way to enjoy the outdoors while also experiencing some of the culture and heritage incorporated into the upper half of South Carolina. Starting in the town of Gaffney and traveling west and then south, this passage through the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountain Range is a wonder to behold for all ages. Some of the more popular stops along the way are Cambell’s Covered Bridge in Landrum, built in 1909, Poinsett Bridge at Travelers Rest, built in 1820, and Table Rock State Park, located in Pickens. At the end of the journey in the town of Fair Play, remember to stop by Lake Hartwell and Oconee State Park for some great family fun.
The Charleston to Hilton Head Island Road Trip
This road trip of a hundred miles is an excellent way to enjoy a scenic drive from one of the most populated cities in South Carolina to one of the most popular attractions along the coast. Starting with some amenities just south of Charleston, the quaint town of Hollywood is known for the Ernest Hollings Ace Basin National Wildlife Refuge and Old Wide Awake Plantation, which showcases several relics from the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Further down the road, Bluffton is perhaps most famous for the Church of the Cross, built in the 1850s and one of only a few buildings to survive a fire that burned most of Bluffton in 1863. Once on Hilton Head Island, various attractions await, including whale-watching tours, Coligny Beach, and Hilton Head Plantation, home to the Dolphin Head Recreation Area.
The Oscar Wigington Scenic Byway Road Trip
Only fifteen miles in length, the Oscar Wigington Scenic Byway is an excellent single-day road trip to plan with friends or even family members. While driving through the Nantahala National Forest, several waterfalls and scenic overlooks can be spotted right from the road, as well as a plethora of hiking trails just off the road, with easy pull-off spots. A more popular attraction to this particular road trip is a breathtaking view of Upper Whitewater Falls, which actually sits across the border in North Carolina. Other attributes of this drive are the Oconee State Park, where there are options for fishing, hiking, picnicking, and camping, and Moody Springs, one of the more famous natural springs in all of South Carolina.
The Savannah River Scenic Byway Road Trip
The Savannah River Scenic Byway is another ideal road trip that is worth the time spent. After leaving the town of Clarks Hill, there are several attractions, natural as well as historical, that await on this picturesque drive north to Westminster. The quaint town of Parksville is home to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park, which is great for stretching the legs. Further north, McCormick offers a scenic walk along the Savannah Valley Railroad Trail, while its neighboring town, Lincolnton, is home to the Elijah Clark State Park. Then, stop by Lake Hartwell and enjoy fishing, kayaking, hiking, boating, and bird-watching. Finally, after traveling in and out of Sumter National Forest for about a hundred miles, grab something to eat at Yousef’s Kitchen, located in downtown Westminster, where they serve a tasty buffet.
The Kings Mountain National Military Park Road Trip
Chocked full of historical, natural, and cultural attractions, this road trip begins in Blacksburg, a few miles outside Kings Mountain National Military Park. Traveling southwest toward Gaffney on SR-29, several attractions, including Cowpens National Battlefield and Cherokee County History & Arts Museum, are well worth checking out along the way. Further along the trip, in Cowpens, stop for lunch and taste some of the local fare at Crawford’s Barnyard Restaurant. Down the road, Greenville awaits a famous suspension bridge called Liberty Bridge. At the end of the drive, after checking out the peaceful ambiance of Centerville, grab a well-earned dinner with the family at the Texas Roadhouse or the Chicken Basket in nearby Anderson.
The Lighthouses of South Carolina Road Trip
Beginning in Georgetown, the 3rd oldest city in South Carolina and home to Georgetown Light, constructed on North Island in the 19th century, this coastal drive travels down the Atlantic coast to Haig Point Rear Range, constructed on Daufuskie Island in 1872. In between these two eighty-foot-tall lighthouses, several others await the intrepid traveler. The two Cape Romain lighthouses are located six miles off the coast on the Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge and provide some breathtaking views of the Atlantic. The Morris Island Lighthouse, off the coast of Charleston, is a hundred and sixty feet tall and was built in 1876. Along with several others, Hilton Head Rear, built in the late eighteen hundreds on Hilton Head Island, still guides ships along Port Royal Sound.
The Spartanburg to Charleston Road Trip
If the interstate is better than a two-lane highway, possibly due to having an extra wide motorhome, the Spartanburg to Charleston road trip may be more to your liking. Consisting of a little over two hundred miles on I-26, this trip passes by many natural and historical attributes. After beginning in Spartanburg, home of Croft State Park, stop in Newberry and visit Wells Japanese Garden, created in 1930 by W. Fulmer Wells. Then, in Columbia, stop by Saluda Shoals Park and take a kayak out on Rawls Creek. After that, check out Orangeburg and the Chestnut Grill, serving a delicious ribeye or porterhouse. Then, after going around Summerville, pull into Charleston and relax at the Barksdale House Inn, built in 1778 and offering a tasty breakfast to guests every morning.
The Myrtle Beach to Georgetown Road Trip
While Myrtle Beach may have its own amenities, like the boardwalk and promenade, Ripley’s Aquarium, and, of course, Myrtle Beach, the scenic drive along SR 17 to Georgetown also has quite a few attributes. The Safari Lodge showcases a cheetah named King Tut, an African elephant named Bubbles, and a liger (half lion - half tiger) named Hercules. There is the MarshWalk in Murrells Inlet, with several seafood restaurants and local shops nearby, like the Inlet Crab House. Litchfield Beach and Pawleys Island await further south, with Atalaya Castle and several famous golf courses. At the end of this scenic drive down the coast, check out Hopsewee Plantation and Hobcaw Barony, two Revolutionary War plantations located in Georgetown.
Whether you have an interest in natural attractions like stunning waterfalls and picturesque vistas on the Oscar Wigington Scenic Byway, or crave the historical background within the battle of Kings Mountain on the Kings Mountain National Military Park road trip, South Carolina has you covered. Whether it is plantations or premier golf courses, antiquated aquariums or sunny beaches, one hundred sixty foot tall lighthouses or restaurants that serve up a tasty local fare, here are nine of the best road trips to take in South Carolina.
