Outdoors · Charleston · United States
8 best outdoor things to do in Charleston
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
Start with The Battery and White Point Garden, Joe Riley Waterfront Park and South Carolina Aquarium. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 13–16 hours across 6 areas; 5 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 5
- Time to see them all
- 13–16 hours
- Areas
- South of Broad, French Quarter and Market area and Ansonborough
Outdoors in Charleston
Waterfront · South of Broad
1.The Battery and White Point Garden
Walk the High Battery at sunset, then head up Church Street past St. Michael's for the gas-lit evening walk back.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes–1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Park · French Quarter and Market area
2.Joe Riley Waterfront Park
Claim one of the bench swings at the end of the pier early in the evening to watch ships and dolphins in the harbour.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- Views
- Outdoors
Aquarium · Ansonborough
3.South Carolina Aquarium
Combine it with a Fort Sumter ferry from the same dock for an easy family half-day.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Viewpoint · Mount Pleasant
4.Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge walk
Park at Memorial Waterfront Park in Mount Pleasant and walk to the top and back; go early or near sunset in summer.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Active
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Garden · Ashley River Road
5.Middleton Place
Combine it with Drayton Hall, a few minutes away on Ashley River Road, for a full day of plantation history.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- History
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Photo spot
Garden · Ashley River Road
6.Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
Take the nature train or boat tour around the former rice fields to see wading birds and alligators.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Nature
- Outdoors
- History
- Kids
- Photo spot
Nature · Johns Island
7.Angel Oak
Do not climb or lean on the branches; the tree is protected and staff will ask you to step back.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Kids
Waterfront · Mount Pleasant
8.Shem Creek
Walk the boardwalk into the marsh at sunset, then eat at a deck table overlooking the shrimp boats.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Nature
- Couples
- Active
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| South of Broad | The Battery and White Point Garden | 45 minutes–1 hour |
| French Quarter and Market area | Joe Riley Waterfront Park | 30–45 minutes |
| Ansonborough | South Carolina Aquarium | 2 hours |
| Mount Pleasant | Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge walk and Shem Creek | 1–1.5 hours + 2 hours |
| Ashley River Road | Middleton Place and Magnolia Plantation and Gardens | Half a day + Half a day |
| Johns Island | Angel Oak | 30 minutes |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 5 free, 1 mid-priced, 2 expensive. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Middleton Place; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (South of Broad, French Quarter and Market area and Ansonborough): The Battery and White Point Garden → Joe Riley Waterfront Park → South Carolina Aquarium, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Mount Pleasant): Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge walk → Shem Creek, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Ashley River Road): Middleton Place, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Ashley River Road and Johns Island): Magnolia Plantation and Gardens → Angel Oak, at least 4 hours.
The best months to be outside
- October: highs of 25°C (77°F), about 6 rainy days, busy crowds. Humidity breaks and the sea is still warm; one of the best months, popular for weddings and festivals.
- November: highs of 21°C (70°F), about 6 rainy days, moderate crowds. Crisp, sunny and comfortable; oyster season is in full swing and the holiday lights go up.
- April: highs of 25°C (77°F), about 7 rainy days, very busy crowds. Warm, dry and gorgeous, one of the busiest months; book hotels and Fort Sumter ferries early.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- South of Broad — Grand single houses, walled gardens and the Battery promenade at the tip of the peninsula
- French Quarter and Market area — Cobbled lanes, the City Market and harbour-front Waterfront Park
- Ansonborough — Restored 19th-century houses between the Market and the harbour aquarium
- Mount Pleasant — Suburb across the Ravenel Bridge with Shem Creek docks and Patriots Point
- Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island — Quiet barrier islands with wide beaches and resort golf at Wild Dunes
More of Charleston
All things to do in Charleston · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Charleston?
The Battery and White Point Garden. The raised sea-wall promenade at the tip of the peninsula looks across the harbour to Fort Sumter, with mansions such as the Edmondston-Alston House lining East Battery.
+Which of these are free in Charleston?
The Battery and White Point Garden, Joe Riley Waterfront Park, Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge walk, Angel Oak and Shem Creek.