May Forest State Park is a state park in Charleston, Charleston County, in South Carolina's Lowcountry. Admission is free. It is open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon–Fri. Facts read from the official page on October 25, 2026.
- Hours8 a.m.–5 p.m. (Mon–Fri)official hours below
- AdmissionFree entry
- WhereCharlestonCharleston County, Lowcountry
- DogsLeashed, 6 ftrules below
About May Forest State Park
May Forest is a 23-acre park at the end of Fort Johnson Road on James Island, once owned by the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy. From its bluff you can see across Charleston Harbor to the Battery, the Cooper River bridge and Sullivan's Island.
Plan It in Three Lines
Getting In
Free to enter.
8 a.m.–5 p.m. (Mon–Fri)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 belowMake It a Day
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park is about 2 miles away (straight line).
5 places within 30 miles
May Forest State Park Hours
Hours in a day
- ParkMon–Fri8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Days of the week today is outlined
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.
- Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Grounds only.
Admission and Passes
- Free admission.
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
- Address: 424 Fort Johnson Rd Charleston, SC 29412
- Phone: 803.734.0156
- Map point: 32.74963,-79.90627, from OpenStreetMap, checked against the U.S. Census geocode of the street address. Directions in Google Maps
- Official page: southcarolinaparks.com/may-forest
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.
Not confirmed: stroller rules. The official page we read does not mention strollers; boardwalks and paved paths may suit them, but call ahead.
Near May Forest State Park
- 1Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical ParkNational Historical Parkabout 2 mi
- 2Charles Towne Landing State Historic SiteState Historic Siteabout 6 mi
- 3Charles Pinckney National Historic SiteNational Historic Siteabout 8 mi
- 4Colonial Dorchester State Historic SiteState Historic Siteabout 21 mi
- 5Edisto Beach State ParkState Parkabout 29 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 May Forest State Park
- Through Nov 21Charleston Farmers Market (Marion Square, Saturdays)On nowCharleston · about 7 mi
- Oct 30Halloween Night Climb (Palmetto Peaks Climbing, James Island County Park)Charleston · about 7 mi
- Oct 30McClellanville Fall FestivalMcClellanville · about 34 mi
- Oct 31Charleston Southern football vs. Western Illinois (Homecoming)Charleston · about 7 mi
- Nov 1Scooby Doo Day / Family Sunday (SC Stingrays vs. Savannah)North Charleston · about 15 mi
- Nov 7Airing of the Quilts at MagnoliaCharleston · about 7 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 it cost to visit May Forest State Park?
Admission is free.
Are dogs allowed at May Forest State Park?
Pets are allowed in most outdoor areas provided they are kept under physical restraint or on a leash not longer than six feet.
Does the All Park Passport cover this park?
Day admission here is free, so you do not need a passport for entry; it still covers the parks that charge.
What are the hours at May Forest State Park?
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Grounds only..
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
- May Forest State Park official page (read 2026-10-25)
- South Carolina State Parks: Park Passports (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, “May Forest State Park”, itssouthcarolina.com/places/may-forest-state-park/ (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.