Day trips · Charleston · United States
5 best day trips from Charleston
Where to go when you want a day away from Charleston, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mark Cowell, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Charleston is Kiawah Island (About 45 minutes by car). The closest option is Kiawah Island, about 40 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 5
- Closest
- Kiawah Island (40 km)
- Most popular
- Kiawah Island
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiawah Island | 40 km | About 45 minutes by car | Car via Johns Island and Angel Oak | Beach, Families, Luxury |
| Beaufort | 115 km | About 1 hour 30 minutes by car | Car via US-17 and US-21 | Couples, Culture, Quiet stays |
| Savannah | 175 km | About 2 hours by car | Car via I-95, or Amtrak train | First-timers, Couples, Culture |
| Edisto Island | 75 km | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car via US-17 and SC-174 | Quiet stays, Families, Beach |
| Congaree National Park | 170 km | About 2 hours by car | Car via I-26 | Quiet stays, Families |
The day trips
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40 km · About 45 minutes by car
1.Kiawah Island
A largely private resort island with about 16 km of wide beach, maritime forest and golf courses that have hosted the PGA Championship. Day visitors reach the sand at Beachwalker Park, a county park at the island's west end.
- Getting there
- Car via Johns Island and Angel Oak
- Best for
- Beach, Families, Luxury
115 km · About 1 hour 30 minutes by car
2.Beaufort
A small antebellum town on the Beaufort River with white-columned houses, a waterfront park and a quieter pace than Charleston. Nearby Hunting Island State Park has a climbable lighthouse and wild beach, and St. Helena Island is a centre of Gullah culture.
- Getting there
- Car via US-17 and US-21
- Best for
- Couples, Culture, Quiet stays
175 km · About 2 hours by car
3.Savannah
Georgia's oldest city is laid out around 22 garden squares shaded by live oaks and Spanish moss. A long day covers the historic district, Forsyth Park and River Street, though an overnight stay is more relaxed.
- Getting there
- Car via I-95, or Amtrak train
- Best for
- First-timers, Couples, Culture
75 km · About 1 hour 15 minutes by car
4.Edisto Island
A low-key Sea Island with oak-canopied roads, a state park beach known for fossil and shark-tooth hunting, and no high-rise development. The drive passes the ACE Basin marshes, one of the largest undeveloped estuaries on the East Coast.
- Getting there
- Car via US-17 and SC-174
- Best for
- Quiet stays, Families, Beach
170 km · About 2 hours by car
5.Congaree National Park
A floodplain forest of some of the tallest trees in eastern North America, explored on a raised boardwalk loop or by canoe along Cedar Creek. Late spring brings synchronous firefly displays, which draw large crowds.
- Getting there
- Car via I-26
- Best for
- Quiet stays, Families
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Check DASH routes at the visitor centre on Meeting Street, where many routes start.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Charleston?
Kiawah Island. A largely private resort island with about 16 km of wide beach, maritime forest and golf courses that have hosted the PGA Championship.
+How long does it take to get from Charleston to Kiawah Island?
About 45 minutes by car — Car via Johns Island and Angel Oak, about 40 km.
+How long does it take to get from Charleston to Beaufort?
About 1 hour 30 minutes by car — Car via US-17 and US-21, about 115 km.