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Events and things to do in South Carolina, with prices, dates and drive times checked at the source.

Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site

Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site is a state historic site in Summerville, Dorchester County, in South Carolina's Lowcountry. Admission is $3 for adults, less for SC seniors and children 6 to 15. Daylight saving time hours 9 a.m.–6 p.m. daily. Facts read from the official page on October 25, 2026.

  • Hours9 a.m.–6 p.m.official hours below
  • Admission$3 adultsper person
  • WhereSummervilleDorchester County, Lowcountry
  • DogsLeashed, 6 ftrules below

About Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site

Colonial Dorchester preserves what is left of a trading town that thrived on the Ashley River from 1697 until the Revolutionary War. The bell tower of St. George's Anglican Church and a fort built of tabby, an oyster-shell concrete, still stand.

Plan It In Three Lines

  1. Getting In

    Adults pay $3; SC seniors and children 6 to 15 pay less, and children 5 and under are free. The $99 All Park Passport covers your whole vehicle for a year.

    9 a.m.–6 p.m.

  2. Bring The Dog?

    Pets are allowed in most outdoor areas provided they are kept under physical restraint or on a leash not longer than six feet.

    Full rules below

  3. Make It A Day

    Givhans Ferry State Park is about 13 miles away (straight line).

    6 places within 30 miles

Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site Hours

Hours At A Glance

Hours in a day

  • Daylight saving timeEvery day9 a.m.–6 p.m.

Bars that fade start at sunrise or end at sunset or dark, which move with the season. The full hours, word for word, are in the list below.

  • 9am-6pm, daily, during Daylight Saving Time. 9am-5pm, daily, the remainder of the year.
  • Park office: 11 a.m. – noon, daily

Admission And Passes

Admission, Side By Side
  • Adults$3.00
  • SC seniors$1.50
  • Children age 6-15$1.00
  • Age 5 & youngerFree

As listed on the official page, read October 25, 2026. SC senior rates need proof of age and residency.

Two adults, visit by visit, against the $99 All Park Passport

$99 All Park Passport

Two adults pay $6.00 a visit here. By visit 17 the day fees pass the $99 passport, which covers everyone in the pass holder’s vehicle at every state park for a year. Bars show the running total of day fees.

  • $3 adults; $1.50 SC seniors; $1 children age 6-15; age 5 & younger free

Passes: the All Park Passport is $99 and gives unlimited entry to every South Carolina state park for everyone in the pass holder’s vehicle for one year; a seven-day passport is $65 (sold at the parks, not online). Half-price passports exist for SC seniors 65 and older and some other residents. Source: southcarolinaparks.com Park Passports, read October 25, 2026. Compare every park on our State Parks Passport page.

Directions And Contact

Dogs And Strollers

  • Pets are allowed in most outdoor areas provided they are kept under physical restraint or on a leash not longer than six feet. Owners will be asked to remove noisy or dangerous pets or pets that threaten or harass wildlife. Pets are not allowed in or around lodging facilities.

Not confirmed: stroller rules. The official page we read does not mention strollers; boardwalks and paved paths may suit them, but call ahead.

Near Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site

Around Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site within 30 miles
10 mi20 mi30 miNSEW123456
  1. 1Givhans Ferry State ParkState Parkabout 13 mi
  2. 2Charles Towne Landing State Historic SiteState Historic Siteabout 15 mi
  3. 3May Forest State ParkState Parkabout 21 mi
  4. 4Charles Pinckney National Historic SiteNational Historic Siteabout 21 mi
  5. 5Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical ParkNational Historical Parkabout 22 mi
  6. 6Colleton State ParkState Parkabout 27 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 Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site

61 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 it cost to visit Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site?

Admission is $3 for adults, less for SC seniors and children 6 to 15.

Are dogs allowed at Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site?

Pets are allowed in most outdoor areas provided they are kept under physical restraint or on a leash not longer than six feet. Owners will be asked to remove noisy or dangerous pets or pets that threaten or harass wildlife. Pets are not allowed in or around lodging facilities.

Does the All Park Passport cover this park?

Yes. The $99 All Park Passport gives a year of unlimited entry to every South Carolina state park for everyone in the pass holder’s vehicle, per southcarolinaparks.com.

What are the hours at Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site?

9am-6pm, daily, during Daylight Saving Time. 9am-5pm, daily, the remainder of the year..

What We Could Not Verify

  • Holiday and storm closures change at short notice; check the official page the day you go.
  • Stroller rules are not stated on the official page.

Sources

  1. Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site official page (read 2026-10-25)
  2. South Carolina State Parks: Park Passports (read 2026-10-25)
  3. 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, “Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site”, itssouthcarolina.com/places/colonial-dorchester-state-historic-site/ (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.