One of the best things about spring and fall in South Carolina is the ability to roll down the windows and take a nice, long drive out in the country. Get away from it all for a morning or an afternoon when you head to the westernmost part of the Palmetto State for this 100-mile relaxing adventure on an underrated (and therefore, little-known) national scenic byway.
As the name suggests, the Savannah River National Scenic Byway follows the Savannah River, the natural border that separates much of South Carolina and Georgia.
When designating this national scenic byway, though, the Federal Highway Administration designated a route that passes through South Carolina (sorry, Georgia, maybe next time...).
Be sure to carve out enough time to check out some of the highlights along the way. Many are located right on the route, like Sadler's Creek State Park (shown).
Enjoy the fresh air and the wide open views this drive doles out. You'll see anything and everything from pastoral landscape to roads lined with trees and a canopy of shade overhead.
Calhoun Falls State Park is a must-visit when you make this drive. The otherwise underrated state park sees fewer visitors than many other parks in the system — so don't be surprised if it feels like you have it all to yourself.
Then, it's back on the road for more breezes blowing in through your open windows and even more places to stop as you continue this 100-mile adventure.
You can also visit its town park that has an old gold mine where you can still pan for gold! Learn more about that here.
After lunch and possibly landing yourself some gold nuggets, it's back on the road for a few minutes before arriving at Baker Creek State Park. Located only a few minutes outside of McCormick, the park features a pavilion overlooking Lake Thurmond, a reservoir on the Savannah River and a campground you should check out for a future weekend or overnight trip.
Also known as Clarks Hill, this section of the Savannah River National Scenic Byway is the final point for this scenic drive — and what a view for the final destination!
You can, of course, reverse the order and head in the opposite direction. Regardless of your starting point in South Carolina, it’s worth the journey to get to this relatively undiscovered scenic highway for a peaceful adventure that’s ideal for cooler weather seasons. For a map of the scenic route, see this link. (Of note: some of the parks mentioned here charge a nominal admission fee. Learn more, including fees and park hours, on the official website for South Carolina State Parks.)
Have you taken a drive on the Savannah River National Scenic Byway yet? We’d love to see your photos in our Facebook comments, so post ’em up!
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