15 South Carolina Stops That Make Every Mile Worth It

You don’t need a packed itinerary here. In South Carolina, something always catches your eye—a flash of water through the trees or a sign pointing toward a place that sounds like it matters. The state has a rhythm built for pulling over. This list lines up 15 places that feel just right whenever you stumble into them.

Issaqueena Falls

A steep forest trail leads to this 100-foot cascade cradled inside Stumphouse Park, near the historic tunnel of the same name. The site also has shaded picnic areas and a charming creekside gazebo. According to legend, a Native American woman named Issaqueena leaped from the falls to escape capture.

Brookgreen Gardens

Sculpture lovers will find more than 2,000 works displayed throughout 9,100 acres here. They form the most extensive outdoor collection of American figurative sculpture in the U.S. Founded in 1931 on four former plantations, the gardens also include a Lowcountry Zoo and rice field views and hold dual museum and zoo accreditations.

Myrtle Beach

Big crowds come for the 60-mile Grand Strand, but the details keep them returning. Think panoramic ocean views from the 187-foot SkyWheel, quirky-themed mini-golf galore, and the world’s largest amateur golf tournament. Over 19 million visitors head here annually, and Myrtle Beach handles the fun like a pro.

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

First planted in 1676, Magnolia Plantation & Gardens stands as one of the oldest publicly accessible plantations in the South. Open to visitors since 1870, it helped introduce outdoor azaleas and camellias to American gardens. Blooming year-round, the grounds also include preserved slave cabins and reflect a classic Romantic style.

Hilton Head Island

Bike trails crisscross this 12-mile barrier island, where development stays deliberately low-key, and neon signs are strictly prohibited. Mitchelville made history as the first self-governed town for formerly enslaved people in the U.S., and the Harbour Town Lighthouse, built between 1969 and 1970, remains one of Hilton Head’s most iconic landmarks.

Congaree National Park

Synchronous fireflies create a rare, glittering display that draws nature lovers to this forest each spring. Towering above, massive loblolly pines stretch more than 160 feet into the air—some of the tallest in the eastern U.S. A 2.4-mile boardwalk loop runs through the cypress swamps below, letting visitors explore the forest floor easily.

South Carolina State Museum

Inside the historic Columbia Mills Building—the world’s first fully electric textile mill—four floors now explore science, art, history, and culture. A life-size H.L. Hunley submarine replica anchors the experience. Visitors can also enjoy immersive shows inside a 55-foot digital dome planetarium and interactive features at the on-site 4D theater.

Caesars Head State Park

At 3,208 feet above sea level, the overlook reveals the full sweep of the Blue Ridge Escarpment and draws hawk watchers in fall. That view alone is reason to stop—but there’s more. The park sits within the 17,000-acre Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area and features a 420-foot Raven Cliff Falls trail.

Boone Hall Plantation

Nearly a mile of oaks line the drive toward this historic site, first planted in 1743. After 320 years, it’s still a working farm, with strawberries in spring, pumpkins in fall, and other crops grown year-round. Guided tours include original brick slave cabins and a 1936 Colonial Revival-style mansion featured in several well-known films.

Falls Park On The Reedy

Greenville traces its roots to this downtown green space. It’s home to the curved, 345-foot Liberty Bridge and remnants of a 1776 grist mill. The Reedy River flows alongside flowerbeds and walkways, while festivals like the Upstate Shakespeare series add a cultural layer to this revitalized urban hub.

Huntington Beach State Park

Beachgoers and history buffs all find something in this park. This 2,500-acre coastal spot includes salt marshes and Atalaya Castle—a Depression-era Moorish-style mansion. With around 300 bird species spotted and seasonal loggerhead nesting programs, it’s also a favorite for wildlife enthusiasts and conservation-minded travelers.

Fort Sumter National Monument

Fort Sumter, built in 1829 on an artificial island in Charleston Harbor, was where the Civil War began on April 12, 1861. Today, the site is only reachable by boat and features a harborfront museum with 19th-century artifacts and regular ferry service from Liberty Square.

Table Rock State Park

Trails wind through 3,083 acres near the Blue Ridge Mountains, where Pinnacle Mountain rises as South Carolina’s tallest peak entirely within state borders. During the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed the lodge and trails, incorporating hands-on craftsmanship that defined the era’s building style.

Riverbanks Zoo And Garden

Home to over 2,000 animals and more than 350 species, this 170-acre destination blends wildlife with lush landscapes. Guests can stroll through 70 acres of themed botanical gardens, perfect for families. A highlight is Sea Lion Landing, modeled after San Francisco’s Pier 39, drawing over a million visitors annually.

Myrtle Beach Pinball Museum

This nonprofit museum keeps nostalgia alive with over two dozen vintage machines from the 1970s through the 1990s—all playable. Volunteers run the show, and proceeds go to children’s charities. It’s four blocks from the ocean, near the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, and filled with themed classics worth flipping for.