Palmetto Trail is a long-distance trail in Awendaw, Charleston County, in South Carolina's Lowcountry. Admission is free. Hours: not published on the official site. Facts read from the official site on October 25, 2026.
- HoursNot publishedofficial hours below
- AdmissionFree
- WhereAwendawCharleston County, Lowcountry
- Length500 milesper the official site
About Palmetto Trail
The Palmetto Trail is a mountains-to-the-sea trail across South Carolina built in passages by the nonprofit Palmetto Conservation Foundation, starting in 1994. Passages cross state and county parks, national forests, battlefields, a U.S. Army post and the State Capitol grounds.
- Will span 500 miles when complete
- Passages range from 1.1 to 47 miles
- First passage (Lake Moultrie) broke ground in 1994
- Federal Millennium Legacy Trail
- Southern terminus near Buck Hall Recreation Area on the Intracoastal Waterway (Awendaw Passage, 7.1 miles, easy)
Size and length: Planned 500 miles total; passages 1.1-47 miles; terrain from mountains to swamp; surface varies by passage
Plan It In Three Lines
Getting In
Admission: free. Parking: Parking GPS points listed per passage on the trail's site (Awendaw Passage has three)..
Not publishedBring The Dog?
Awendaw Passage: Pets – Yes (rules vary by passage and land
Full rule belowMake It A Day
Hampton Plantation State Historic Site is about 15 miles away (straight line).
6 places within 30 miles
Palmetto Trail Hours
- Hours are not published on the official site; check before you go.
Admission And Parking
- The Trail is a free public resource
Parking: Parking GPS points listed per passage on the trail's site (Awendaw Passage has three).
Directions And Contact
- Address: Awendaw Passage trailhead, Awendaw, SC (southern end of the trail)
- Phone: 803-771-0870
- Map point: 33.03748,-79.61761, from OpenStreetMap. Directions in Google Maps
- Official site: palmettotrail.org
Dogs And Accessibility
- Dogs: Awendaw Passage: Pets – Yes (rules vary by passage and land manager).
- Accessibility: not published on the pages we read.
Near Palmetto Trail
- 1Hampton Plantation State Historic SiteState Historic Siteabout 15 mi
- 2Charles Pinckney National Historic SiteNational Historic Siteabout 18 mi
- 3Boone Hall PlantationPlantation And Gardensabout 18 mi
- 4Cypress GardensSwamp Garden And County Parkabout 19 mi
- 5Patriots Point Naval and Maritime MuseumMaritime Museumabout 23 mi
- 6Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical ParkNational Historical Parkabout 24 mi
Straight-line distances between map points, not driving miles. Dots sit in their true compass direction; distance is stretched near the middle so close neighbors stay readable.
Coming Up Near Palmetto Trail
- Through Nov 21Charleston Farmers Market (Marion Square, Saturdays)On nowCharleston · about 25 mi
- Oct 30Halloween Night Climb (Palmetto Peaks Climbing, James Island County Park)Charleston · about 25 mi
- Oct 30McClellanville Fall FestivalMcClellanville · about 9 mi
- Oct 31Charleston Southern football vs. Western Illinois (Homecoming)Charleston · about 25 mi
- Nov 1Scooby Doo Day / Family Sunday (SC Stingrays vs. Savannah)North Charleston · about 27 mi
- Nov 7Airing of the Quilts at MagnoliaCharleston · about 25 mi
62 more on the full events calendar.
Events within 40 miles, measured in a straight line to the centre of the event's town. Dates come from our checked events list; confirm with the organizer.
FAQ
How much does Palmetto Trail cost?
Free. The Trail is a free public resource
What are the hours at Palmetto Trail?
Hours are not published on the official site..
Can I bring a dog to Palmetto Trail?
Awendaw Passage: Pets – Yes (rules vary by passage and land manager).
What We Could Not Verify
- Total miles currently open not stated
- Hours vary by land manager; not published trail-wide
- Hours and prices change; check the official site the day you go.
Sources
- Palmetto Trail: admission (read 2026-10-25)
- Palmetto Trail: official site (read 2026-10-25)
- OpenStreetMap (map point)
Last checked October 25, 2026 by the It’s South Carolina editor. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Cite this page: It's South Carolina, “Palmetto Trail”, itssouthcarolina.com/places-to-go-in-south-carolina/palmetto-trail/ (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.