With so many places to enjoy and things to do in South Carolina, the year ahead is poised to be the best ever. If you’re like us, then you appreciate a little planning in advance when it comes to day-trip excursions. So we’ve put together a list of the best day trips in South Carolina that, with a short 3.5-hour ride from one border to another, anyone should be able to pull off in a single day with an early start and some planning ahead.

1. January: Hunting Island State Park
Hunting Island, South Carolina 29920, USA
Google Local/Gebhard Maurer
Pick an unseasonably warm weekend and make the journey over to Hunting Island State Park, South Carolina's most visited state park. Even on the busiest day in the summer, the beach here never feels crowded. Maybe that's because it's more than four miles long. Hunting Island is located a mere 17 miles east of Beaufort and is well worth the journey from even the farthest corner of the state.
2. February: Ripley's Aquarium
Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, 1110 Celebrity Cir, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, USA
TTime_TTraveler/TripAdvisor
Travel under the deep blue sea on a 340-foot glide path and come within inches of sharks swimming over and all around you at the well known and loved Ripley's Aquarium. Winter is the perfect season for natives to enjoy all the aquarium has to offer without being elbow-to-elbow during the busy season in Myrtle Beach.
3. March: The Summit At Table Rock
Table Rock, South Carolina 29671, USA
alltrails/Brian Boru
Go tell it on a mountain from the summit of Table Rock. Slow and steady is the name of the game on this three-mile trail in South Carolina Find a warm day and get an early start so you'll have plenty of time to have a seat and admire your kingdom after you reach the top. This is definitely one of the best day trips in South Carolina!
4. April: Cape Romain Lighthouse Tour
Cape Romain Lighthouse, McClellanville, SC 29458, USA
Google Local/John Taylor
Journey by ferry over to tour the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge - this includes viewing two historic lighthouses. The light built in 1827 is the oldest remaining lighthouse of its kind in America!
5. May: Campbell's Covered Bridge
Campbells Covered Bridge, 171 Campbell Covered Bridge Rd, Landrum, SC 29356, USA
Google Local/Thomas Veach
If you're searching for great "getaway spots near me," pack a cooler and pop over to Campbell's Covered Bridge, the oldest remaining covered bridge in South Carolina. This 10-acre park is maintained by Greenville County Parks and is a wonderful place for a springtime picnic.
6. June: Pretty Place Chapel
Fred W. Symmes Chapel aka "Pretty Place", 100 YMCA Camp Rd, Cleveland, SC 29635, USA
Google Local/Gary Heaton
Whether you arrive in time to watch the sunrise or visit at any point during the day, a trip to Pretty Place Chapel (a.k.a. Fred W. Symmes Chapel) in Cleveland is sure to be an uplifting and treasured experience.

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7. Botany Bay
Botany Bay Island, Edisto Island, SC 29438, USA
Google Local/Jamie Roszel
Travel through one of the most beautiful tree tunnels in the state en route to the Botany Bay Heritage Preserve. Walk among the historic buildings in the preserve and then find the half-mile trail that leads to the most remote beach in the state and a beautiful boneyard of trees in the sand. Bring plenty of water for this July adventure, but the occasional ocean breeze should help with the heat.
8. August: Lake Jocassee
Lake Jocassee, United States
Google Local/Thomas Bosko
Cool off in the cool waters of the most pristine, crystal clear lake in the state - Lake Jocassee. If shooting for an extended stay, find a cozy airbnb rental, or reserve a cabin or campsite at Devil's Fork State Park. Day use at the park is permitted, but limited. You'll need to arrive very early in the morning to assure you get in, but rising early for this day trip is something you'll absolutely be glad you did.
9. September: Charleston Harbor
Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, USA
Google Local/Stuart Simmons
Board the underrated and little-known water taxi in Charleston to embark on the most affordable mode of transportation to explore Charleston Harbor, as well as some significant attractions in both Charleston and Mt. Pleasant. Once you hop aboard you can ride all day for one price. It's the most affordable harbor cruise in the market.
10. October: Glendale Shoals Heritage Preserve
Glendale Shoals Trail, Glendale, SC 29346, USA
Sburris65/TripAdvisor
Discover a bit of history hiding in plain view at Glendale Shoals Heritage Preserve, the site of a former textile mill town. The preserve includes some astounding ruins, a newly restored pedestrian bridge the workers once traveled upon to get to the mill, and a lovely park that includes a waterfall.
11. November: Falls Park On The Reedy
Falls Park on the Reedy, 601 S Main St, Greenville, SC 29601, USA
John Coletti/Photodisc via Getty Images
Chase waterfalls AND the splendors of autumn at Falls Park On The Reedy, featuring the best urban waterfall in the entire southeast. Afterward, pop a few hundred feet up the street to explore Greenville's busy Main Street.
12. December: The Christmas House
The Christmas House, 360 Foster Rd, Inman, SC 29349, USA
Brian Sanders/Google Maps
Craft a holiday-themed day trip to The Christmas House, a fantastic residential Christmas lights display near Inman. The family has been putting out lights since 1960 and each year the displays get better and better. The best time for taking photos without a special lens, though, is just before sunset... leaving plenty of time for you to get back home and snuggled into your own warm bed.

It’s going to be a busy – and fun – year. How many of these do you see your family embarking upon in the coming months? What other day trips are on your bucket list for the year? We’d love to know your answers to both questions, so join the discussion!

If you find you can’t get enough of all the amazingness North Carolina has to offer, you might want to check out our North Carolina travel guide!

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Best Day Trips Near Me

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | June 17, 2022

Are there any lighthouses in South Carolina?

Yes, there are. As a matter of fact, you can make an entire lighthouse road trip itinerary following along the coast to go and experience them. Each of them offers its own unique history and positioning along the South Carolina coast. For example, the Charleston Light on Sullivan's Island was regarded as the Western Hemisphere’s second most powerful lighthouse when it went into operation for the first time in 1962. Further down the coast on Hilton Head Island you can visit the Harbour Town Light House which has an observation tower where you can take in the spectacular views over the water.

Can you suggest one of the best day trips in the Charleston area for kids?

Absolutely but I warn you, the big kids (i.e. adults) will love it too! Located about 40 minutes north of Charleston via Interstate 26 in Moncks Corner, the Cypress Gardens Butterfly House is a magical place. It is huge, encompassing approximately 2,500 square feet, and where these beautiful winged creatures fly all around you. The setting is also unique in that it sits amidst a 170-acre preserve offering an array of outdoor recreational activities for the entire family.

I’m looking for a place for a romantic weekend in South Carolina.

How about in a treehouse! Definitely not your run-of-the-mill lodging experience, the Bella Luna Treehouse is a fantastic place for a romantic weekend. Located in the town of Mountain Rest in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a stay here is upscale yet rustic lodging at its finest. But keep in mind that once you arrive a weekend may not be enough! It might be the kind of place that calls you to stay for a week or longer.

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