We list 36 places to go in South Carolina beyond the state parks: 10 attractions, 12 museums, 8 gardens and nature sites and 6 trails; 9 are free. Hours and prices come from each place’s own site, read October 25, 2026, and anything they do not publish is marked.
- Places To Go36attractions, museums, gardens, trails
- Free To Visit9no admission
- State And National Parks59on our places pages
- Regions5Upstate to the Grand Strand
Browse By Kind
- 10AttractionsZoos, aquariums, historic plantations, a naval museum ship and the state's best-known parks and landmarks.→
- 12MuseumsArt, history, children's and specialty museums, with hours and admission from each museum's own site.→
- 8Gardens And NaturePublic gardens and nature preserves, from Lowcountry plantation gardens to the Upstate's botanical garden.→
- 6TrailsLong-distance and city trails and greenways for walking, running and biking.→
State Parks And National Parks
All 59 state park units and National Park Service sites have their own pages with fees, hours and dog rules.
Map Of Places To Go
Upstate 9
Upstate events · Upstate state parks
- Falls Park on the ReedyCity park · GreenvilleFree
- Greenville ZooZoo · Greenville$15 adults
- South Carolina Botanical GardenUniversity botanical garden · ClemsonFree
- Greenville County Museum of ArtArt museum · GreenvilleFree
- The Children's Museum of the Upstate (Greenville)Children's museum · GreenvilleFrom $20
- Upcountry History MuseumHistory museum · Greenville$14 adults
- Foothills TrailLong-distance hiking trail · PickensTrailhead fees
- Mary Black Foundation Rail TrailRail trail · SpartanburgNot published
- Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit TrailPaved greenway · GreenvilleNot published
Midlands 7
Midlands events · Midlands state parks
- Riverbanks Zoo and GardenZoo and botanical garden · Columbia$27.95 adults
- Hopelands GardensCity estate garden · AikenNot published
- Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and MuseumSports history museum · AikenFree
- Columbia Museum of ArtArt museum · Columbia$15 adults
- EdVenture Children's MuseumChildren's museum · Columbia$15 adults
- South Carolina State MuseumHistory, science and art museum · Columbia$13 adults
- Three Rivers GreenwayRiverfront greenway · ColumbiaNot published
Lowcountry 14
Lowcountry events · Lowcountry state parks
- Angel Oak Tree (Angel Oak Park)Historic tree and city park · Johns IslandFree
- Boone Hall PlantationPlantation and gardens · Mount Pleasant$30 adults
- Drayton HallHistoric house · CharlestonFrom $30
- Patriots Point Naval and Maritime MuseumMaritime museum · Mount Pleasant$28 adults
- South Carolina AquariumAquarium · CharlestonVaries by date
- Cypress GardensSwamp garden and county park · Moncks Corner$10 adults
- Edisto Memorial GardensCity garden and wetland park · OrangeburgFree
- Magnolia Plantation and GardensPlantation and gardens · CharlestonNot published
- Middleton PlacePlantation and gardens · Charleston$35 adults
- Gibbes Museum of ArtArt museum · Charleston$20 adults
- International African American MuseumHistory museum · Charleston$22.5 adults
- The Charleston MuseumHistory museum · Charleston$15 adults
- Palmetto TrailLong-distance trail · AwendawFree
- West Ashley GreenwayRail trail · CharlestonNot published
Pee Dee 4
Grand Strand 2
FAQ
What are the most visited attractions in South Carolina?
We do not rank by visitor numbers because no single official source publishes them for every attraction. This list covers major attractions, museums, gardens and trails in all five regions, with facts from each official site.
Which South Carolina attractions are free?
Falls Park on the Reedy, Angel Oak Tree (Angel Oak Park), Greenville County Museum of Art, Florence County Museum, Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum, Swan Lake Iris Gardens, South Carolina Botanical Garden, Edisto Memorial Gardens, Palmetto Trail list no admission charge on their official sites.
Do these prices include tax and parking?
Not unless the official line says so. Parking is listed separately where the place publishes it.
How do I find events near an attraction?
Every page has a Coming Up Near list, rebuilt each day from our checked events calendar.
Sources
Cite this page: It's South Carolina, “Places To Go in South Carolina: Attractions, Museums, Gardens and Trails”, itssouthcarolina.com/places-to-go-in-south-carolina/ (updated ). By the It's South Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.