Best Plantations in Charleston
The many plantations in Charleston are known for their unique histories, beautiful grounds, elegant homes, and colorful gardens. This page provides a comprehensive list of plantations you can visit in the Charleston area. Simply click on any of the links to find a plantation near me. Remember that the tour schedules, hours of operation, and fees differ for each plantation.
Use the list below to find the best plantations to visit in Charleston. Each plantation provides something different for visitors to enjoy. These plantations are located in the City of Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, and McClellanville, SC.
Plantations Near Me – Mount Pleasant, SC
Boone Hall Plantation
Historic Boone Hall Plantation is located in Mt. Pleasant, SC. Boone Hall is known as the “Most Photographed Plantation in America,” and for a good reason. When you first arrive at Boone Hall, you travel down its famous “Avenue of Oaks” that leads to the mansion.
Along the side of the Avenue of Oaks are the Slave Quarters. There are nine of these original slave cabins still on the plantation. Learn about Gullah Culture, take a Tractor Tour of the grounds, tour the mansion, visit the Butterfly Pavilion, and much more. Boone Hall Plantation is a must-see attraction! Also, The Cotton Dock at Boone Hall is a popular wedding venue.
Snee Farm Plantation
Also located in Mt. Pleasant and just across Long Point Rd from Boone Hall is Snee Farm Plantation. Snee Farm came into the possession of Colonel Charles Pinckney. Colonel Charles Pinckney is the father of Charles Pinckney, who helped write and then signed the Declaration of Independence. Also, President George Washington visited Snee Farm in 1791.
A visit to Snee Farm and Boone Hall makes for an excellent half-day tour. They are conveniently located near each other. Snee Farm Plantation is a National Historic Site with rich history and scenic grounds.
Plantations in Charleston, SC
Middleton Place
Rich in the history of the Low Country, Middleton Place, located in Charleston, SC, is another plantation that you need to see. The Butterfly Pond and incredible gardens there are a must-see. Middleton Place is located along the beautiful Ashley River.
House and Garden Tours are available. Also, Middleton Place was featured in the movie “The Patriot.” The plantation is a National Historic Landmark. Along with its incredible history, this plantation also features an Inn and a Restaurant on the grounds. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. Reservations for dinner are required. The plantation is open every day but Christmas.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
Magnolia Plantation, known as the “Most Visited Plantation in America,” amazes visitors worldwide with its incredible gardens. Travel and Leisure Magazine even named their gardens “One of the Most Beautiful in America.” A visit to the Charleston area would only be complete, including Magnolia Plantation’s stunning grounds and gardens in your trip.
There is a rich history at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens too. The plantation was founded in 1676 by the Drayton family, whose history runs deep in South Carolina and the United States. Visit this beautiful plantation on the Ashley River, located near Middleton Place in the Plantation District on scenic Ashley River Road.
The main house currently has some repair work being done but is still open to visitors.
Drayton Hall
While on a trip to either Magnolia Plantation and Gardens or Middleton Place, you can also visit the nearby historic Drayton Hall. The main house at Drayton Hall is one of the oldest in the United States and is painstakingly preserved, not restored. By contrast, other plantations have had some buildings restored at some point.
Drayton Hall also features beautiful gardens situated along the Ashley River. Visit the plantation Wednesday through Monday. On the same day trip, it is easy to visit Middleton Place, Magnolia Plantation, and Drayton Hall.
McLeod Plantation
The Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission operates McLeod Plantation on James Island. Despite being a newer plantation in Charleston, it holds great historical importance in Gullah/Geechee culture. It is considered a heritage site for the Gullah/Geechee community.
Enjoy the Riverside Pavilion, and the McLeod Oak is thought to be over 600 years old. Learn about the Gullah Culture that developed in the Low Country. McLeod Plantation is a must-see for anyone interested in Gullah Culture. The grounds are full of surprises. Also, be sure to take an interpretive tour of the plantation.
McLeod is open from 9 until 4 pm, Tuesday through Sunday.
Plantations In McClellanville, SC
Hampton Plantation
Beautiful Hampton Plantation, located about forty minutes from the Isle of Palms and thirty minutes from Mt. Pleasant, is a true hidden gem in the Francis Marion National Forest on Wambaw Creek off the Santee River. Visiting this historic plantation feels like stepping back in time due to its remote location. By comparison, the plantation sees fewer visitors than other plantations in Charleston, making it a peaceful and relaxing experience.
Tour the mansion that features a Ball Room with floors made of forty-foot planks of Yellow Heart Pine. Guided mansion tours are available Friday through Tuesday.
The Pinckney Family previously owned Hampton Plantation and their family’s history in South Carolina and the United States is widely recognized. This beautiful plantation also motivated the poet Laureate of South Carolina, Archibald Rutledge, who owned it and drew inspiration from it for many of his poems and other writings.
George Washington visited Hampton Plantation, which is now part of the South Carolina State Parks system.
St. James-Santee Church
Finally, near Hampton is St. James-Santee Church. Although not a plantation, St. James-Santee Church was one of the original Parish Churches, and the building is original. The road that leads to the church, now called Old Georgetown Road, has historical significance. Old Georgetown Road is part of the original King’s Highway that ran from Charleston to Georgetown. The road is still made of dirt, while all the other roads in the Francis Marion National Forest were built using rock.
Historic McClellanville, SC
Take a ride down Pinckney St. in McClellanville, SC, and step back in time to experience the lovely, historic village near Hampton and St. James Santee Church in the Francis Marion Forest.
Explore the hidden gem of McClellanville, a picturesque village on Jeremy Creek where historic homes and churches built by plantation owners await your discovery. Consider visiting The Deer Head Oak, a village landmark that has survived for over 1000 years and is likely the oldest Live Oak Tree in South Carolina. The Deer Head Oak is located at the corner of Pinckney and Oak Streets and features a small park.
Also, Plantations in Charleston are popular wedding destinations. Boone Hall and Magnolia Plantation and Gardens are especially popular for weddings and other events.
Get the best rates on Charleston area attractions. Find Isle of Palms restaurants on the water, beach parking, IOP souvenir shops, fishing charters on Isle of Palms, and more.
Also, find other beaches in the Charleston area including Folly Beach SC and beautiful Edisto Beach SC. Find out more about Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, where the Civil War began.