Starlight
Whether you are traveling as a family, a couple, or enjoying a solo trip, South Carolina is a perfect road trip destination. Low-country comfort food, charming Southern hospitality, gorgeous beaches, and breathtaking sunsets, the list of reasons to visit is never-ending! While this trip takes you through Greenville, Columbia, Hilton Head Island, Charleston, and Myrtle Beach, I strongly encourage you to veer off on your own path if you have time and check out some of the smaller hidden gems. We only had a week actually within South Carolina (the other two days were travel days), so although this itinerary will definitely make sure you hit the highlights, there was no way I could cover all beauty and history that lies within this state.
Also, please remember that every traveler is different. Although the pace at which we traveled and the number of attractions we saw in each location worked for us, it may not work for everyone. Please make adjustments that fit your own preferences, health concerns, ages of family members, etc.
We chose to travel in August because it worked best for our schedule, but the prime time to visit the South is either March – May or September – November. All the beauty, not as much of the heat. We got married in Georgia in October and it was PERFECT. This was actually my first time in the South during the summer months and while I loved it, I definitely prefer the fall.
Day 1: New York to Virginia
This is a South Carolina road trip, so I won’t really get into places to see in Virginia, but I will highly encourage you to check out Shenandoah National Park in Luray, VA when you have a chance. We took Skyline Drive through the park and it was gorgeous. This is a 110-mile scenic drive with numerous overlooks and waterfalls, as well as hiking opportunities. This post from Tales of a Mountain Mama is perfect if you’d like to try to do some hiking in Shenandoah with kiddos. Honestly, it’s got great ideas for anyone – even if you are traveling sans children. There is a $30 fee to enter the park, so be prepared for that. However, this is good for a week, so if you’re going to be in the area longer or will be returning on the same route within the week, it’s not such a bad deal. It was worth it to me, as I really wanted to see the views from Skyline Drive.
We started at 6 a.m. from the Finger Lakes region of New York, so we got to the park in time for a late lunch. We chose to try Skyland Dining, as it was located within the park. No complaints, but not necessarily a recommendation, either. It was good, but it wasn’t memorable. Just depends on what you’re looking for.
We then drove on to Roanoke. Again, this isn’t a Virginia post, but downtown Roanoke is definitely worth a visit. I did not allot the amount of time necessary to enjoy this area, but will certainly do so on an upcoming VA trip. We had an excellent dinner at Three Notch’d Brewing Company. I had the Brussel Caesar and it did not disappoint.
After nightfall, we also enjoyed viewing the Roanoke Star in Mill Mountain Park.
We also chose to stay in Roanoke for the night. While there are many good hotels to choose from, I recommend The Hotel Roanoke.
Day 2: Roanoke to Greenville
For breakfast in Roanoke, I would suggest stopping by Scratch Biscuit Company. There’s NOTHING bad on this menu. Eat it all. Every bit.
My husband and I really enjoy history and nature, so we always fit National Parks into all our trips. We enjoy getting our National Park Passport stamps, as well as learning more about historical events and seeing the diverse natural habitats throughout the US. About three and a half hours from Roanoke, you can visit Kings Mountain National Military Park in Blacksburg, SC. This park preserves the site of the Kings Mountain Battle during the Revolutionary War. They have different events that you can check out, but none on the day we visited. Also, due to COVID and staffing issues, the visitor’s centers at many of the smaller national parks we visited were closed despite online information saying they were open. The parks themselves were still open, though, so it just depends on what you prefer to do when you visit. Many of them still had the cancellation stamps for the Passport available!
We then traveled 40 minutes to Cowpens National Battlefield in Chesney, SC, which is another important location in Revolutionary War history.
For lunch, we popped into Town Grill & Pizza, which was absolutely adorable and I cannot recommend it enough. The food was good, not spectacular and certainly not fancy. It’s not going to be a place you find trending on the ‘Gram any time soon, pretty sure it hasn’t been updated since I’ve been born, but it is charming as all get out and I just loved it.
Another 45 minutes down the road in Landrum, SC is Campbell’s Covered Bridge, which is the only covered bridge left in the entire state of South Carolina. Obviously, if you’re not as into history as I am, you can go ahead and take a direct route to Greenville, but to me, these stops are what make the roadtrip worth the drive!
Jones Gap State Park in Marietta, SC is another well-loved local spot and only 35 minutes from Landrum. While we were only able to get a glimpse of all this park has to offer, it’s definitely worth a couple days on its own! Waterfalls, camping, fishing, hiking and the state’s first designated scenic river make this park a must-see for any nature lover!
At this point, you’re almost to Greenville, so most people would just go ahead and drive on in. However, we aren’t most people, so we went an hour out of the way to see Issaqueena Falls. My husband loves waterfalls, so I try to find a few on each of our trips. At this waterfall, there is a lookout point and then there is the option to hike further to get a much better view of the falls. I was a little nervous about snakes….so we didn’t venture all the way down. However, it’s a beautiful waterfall and if you have more appropriate hiking footwear than I did at the time (or you aren’t afraid of snakes), it’s definitely worth the jaunt.
By this time, we were pretty hungry, so we wandered back to Greenville and hit their Pettigru Historic District for some dinner. This area has some excellent local restaurants and shops. While not unique to Greenville, we settled on Tupelo Honey because their availability fit with our schedule.
After dinner, we wanted to try out some local craft beer. We hit the jackpot with the Birds Fly South Ale Project! Friendly staff, great beer, and a fun atmosphere. Definitely recommend. And then, we went out to Traveler’s Rest to get ice cream at Pink Mama’s!
Travelers Rest is an adorable little town. I really wanted to ride bikes on the Swamp Rabbit Trail, but we just didn’t have the time. However, if you are able, it’s an activity that many locals and tourists alike really seem to enjoy.
For accommodations in Greenville, I recommend Pettigru Place Bed & Breakfast, but there are also a lot of other nice hotels in the area.
Day 3: Greenville to Hilton Head
When traveling, I like to find local coffee shops to enjoy before sitting down to breakfast. We absolutely loved Spill the Beans Coffee in Greenville.
First of all, the coffee was really good. Like, really good. Also, they have ice cream! YEAH! But, mostly, I loved the view.
Falls Park is one of the most popular spots in Greenville, and it’s easy to see why! Beautiful views, the sound of the falls, and plenty of seating to enjoy it all. Because of its popularity, even at 6:30 a.m., we were not alone. There were kiddos there conditioning for fall sports, people reading books, and many people just walking on the bridge and enjoying their coffee, just like us!
For breakfast, we went to Biscuit Head and this was another excellent decision! First of all, the biscuits, appropriately named cat head biscuits, are seriously HUGE. Every bit as big as a cat’s head. And so fluffy! Absolutely worth every penny and then some. Because we were in South Carolina, you better believe we also got some pimento grits. Pimento cheese is THE thing in South Carolina. Do not leave without trying this delightful dish. (Or you can be like me and “try” it for days on end with every meal possible.) We also HAD to get some fried green tomatoes. I was raised on fried green tomatoes and when I tell you that South Carolina provided me with some tomatoes pretty close to as good as Grandma’s, I’m giving the ultimate compliment!
After we said our goodbyes to Greenville, we drove on to Ninety-Six, SC, home of the Ninety-Six National Historic Site.
Another hour and a half down the road, we pulled into Columbia, SC.
If you’re following our itinerary, it should be about lunch time, but regardless of whether you’re looking for lunch or supper, I recommend The Blue Marlin for authentic low-county dishes and a clean, up-scale ambience.
After lunch, you’re in the perfect spot to check out the South Carolina State House. There are guided tours, if you have the time, but the staff was really informative and friendly even while we were just looking around.
While you are there, make time to see the African American History Monument, which is also located on the state grounds and illustrates the history of Black South Carolinians.
After this, I had planned to spend the rest of the day at Congaree National Park in Hopkins, SC. I wanted to walk their boardwalk and go kayaking. It was actually one of the days I was looking forward to the most on this trip….until I realized that we were going kayaking in a swamp. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this and for more outdoorsy, adventurous friends who don’t mind huge spiders, water snakes, and the occasional gator sighting, this would be the outing for you! Not so much for me.
We still wanted to see the park, so we went ahead and made the 30 minute drive from downtown Columbia to Congaree, but we weren’t there long. I can’t stress enough that this was our choice! There is a lot to see and do at this park, but it just isn’t what we were looking for.
After Congaree, head on down to Hilton Head to get your first glimpse of the beach! Oh my goodness, did we love Hilton Head. If you are looking for relaxation, spas, and tons of beach time, I would definitely stay at one of the resorts on the island. However, as the goal of our trip was to see as much of South Carolina as we could, we were only staying two nights on the island and the resorts usually (but not always!) require at least a three or four night stay.
Our first stop once we got to town (about a three-hour drive from Congaree) was the Harbortown Lighthouse Museum. This is located on the Sea Pines Resort, which I highly recommend if you are staying longer than a few nights. They have beautiful vacation homes that you can rent for pretty decent prices. If you aren’t staying at the resort, you do have to pay an entrance of $9. Personally, we felt this was well worth it, as there are golf courses, shopping, kayaking and more inside those gates.
We then grabbed dinner at Bullies BBQ, which is known to be the best on the island. It was pretty good, I will say. You don’t want to take BBQ advice from us because we are die hard KCMO and Texas BBQ fans. I’m not sure much of anything could change our mind on this, so please check out Bullies based on everyone else’s rave reviews. Again, not saying it wasn’t good. It was! We’re just biased.
If you like to grab a beer after dinner and/or are interested in local breweries, I also recommend checking out Hilton Head Brewing Company.
After this, we enjoyed an evening stroll on Coligny Beach.
There are soooo many beautiful places to stay on Hilton Head. If you’re only staying a night or two, like we were, I would also suggest staying at the Courtyard Marriott. While it’s not super unique or trendy, it was very nice, very clean, and very well decorated. Staff was excellent, as well.
Day 4: Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head has amazing bakeries and I had the hardest time selecting which ones to enjoy, as I didn’t want to miss out on anything! (I may have a fondness for baked goods….)
For our first morning on the island, we chose the French Bakery. Great little location on the water, friendly service, and excellent food.
After breakfast, grab some bikes! This is a big thing on the island. EVERYONE rides bikes everywhere. Insider tip: I know the tandem bike looks cute and sure, it makes fun pics, but unless this is something you’re used to, I’m not sure I’d recommend it…….yes, this is based on my cool decision to rent a tandem pike for “cute pictures.” I got the worst bruises I’ve ever had, but honestly, as awful as it was, I’d do it again because we laughed so hard. Anyway, we rented bikes from Hilton Head Outfitters. Great prices and excellent customer service. I did notice that some people had some cuter bikes, so if that’s important to you, you may want to look around. All the places looked pretty comparable in price.
Hilton Head has great biking trails. I recommend Mitchelville Freedom Park and Greens Shell Park.
For lunch, you cannot miss Salty Dog Cafe. It’s the most visited restaurant on the island and for good reason! We had a traditional low country boil, which was excellent. We also tried out the gator bites in honor of the new friend we passed on the way to lunch….
After lunch, take some time to relax on the beach or do some shopping! There are so many fun shops!
For dinner, head to Skullcreek Boathouse for more top-notch sea food.
After dinner, I recommend enjoying a sunset dolphin tour. These do need to be booked in advance and fill up fairly quickly, so plan ahead. This was a nice relaxing way to end the evening. Our tour guide was really knowledgeable about the area, we saw many dolphins, and our daughter even got to drive the boat!
After the tour, you can check out all the nightlife options the island offers or, if you’re more like us, you can get some rest so you’re ready for the next day’s destination: Charleston!
Day 5: Charleston
Start your day with my other favorite Hilton Head Bakery, Hilton Head Social Bakery. This bakery has some of the most beautiful pastries I’ve ever seen. They don’t have indoor seating, so plan to eat outside and maybe plan for a bit of a line, depending on what time you get there.
Once you’ve had your fill, head on down the road toward Charleston, which is about a two and a half hour drive. By the time you get there, you’ll likely be ready for lunch, so I recommend pulling into Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ.
Then, head out to Mount Pleasant where you can start by seeing Charles Pinckney National Historic Site. After you’ve had a chance to look around there, please make time to visit Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens. This is a plantation that focuses on Gullah culture. It is the only plantation in the South Carolina low country to offer a full presentation on this unique culture, as well as offering a Black History in America exhibit. Absolutely can’t be missed. Plan on spending four to five hours at this location, as there are numerous exhibits, presentations, and tours that I highly encourage you to participate in. Tickets are $28 for adults and $12 for children, but well worth every penny.
It’s absolutely impossible to see Charleston in one visit, much less one day. We have been multiple times and still have so much to see. If you have time, I also recommend spending a day shopping on King street.
Whether you spent the day immersing yourself in Carolinian history or shopping ’til you drop, you’re going to be hungry. For dinner, I cannot stress this highly enough: GO TO TATTOOED MOOSE. GO. GO QUICKLY. RUN, DON’T WALK. When you get there, order the Thanksgiving Sammy with a side of duck fries. Some boiled peanuts if you’re really hungry. Eat the Thanksgiving Sammy slowly. Savor every bite. This will be the best moment of your life. You may try to recreate this sandwich every Thanksgiving. Your family may not appreciate these efforts or love the sandwich the way it deserves to be loved. If that happens, call me. I can empathize.
Tattooed Moose is my favorite place to eat – maybe in the country! But, it’s a bar. It’s casual and pretty loud. If you’re looking for something a little more upscale, I’d recommend Peninsula Grill. While you’re there, you absolutely must grab a piece of their Ultimate Coconut Cake. We ordered this for our daughter’s 16th birthday and it was perfect. As extra incentive, Peninsula Grill comes highly recommended by my aunt, who is probably the biggest foodie I’ve ever met.
After dinner, take some time to stroll along Rainbow Row. Enjoy the beautiful pastel colored homes, the nearby cobblestone roads, the lantern lit paths.
You can also enjoy the Joe Riley Waterfront Park, which features the famous pineapple fountain. As you can tell from my picture, this fountain is open to the public! Take a moment to cool off before grabbing a cold one from the Palmetto Brewing Company, another great South Carolina craft brewery!
By now you’re likely looking for a comfy bed and a cool pillow. I recommend the Wild Dunes resort in Isle of Palms. We stayed there while in the area and absolutely loved it. There’s direct access to the beach, friendly staff, adults only pools, beautiful rooms.
Day 6: Myrtle Beach
There are sooooo many excellent places to eat breakfast in Charleston. Personal recommendations include Millers All Day and Another Broken Egg Cafe, but there are really a ton to choose from. If you choose to stay in Isle of Palms, I’d also like to recommend Acme Lowcountry Kitchen. It’s nothing fancy, but that’s exactly what I liked about it. Super casual, plenty of tables, no rush. Authentic low country food, wonderful pimento cheese grits (again, you can’t get enough pimento cheese in SC), super sweet servers.
After breakfast, spend some time on the beach or check out the Charleston City Market. We also really enjoyed Blue Bicycle Books.
After saying goodbye to Charleston, head on to Myrtle Beach.
What follows is my opinion only. Plenty of people will have a different opinion and that’s okay!
Myrtle Beach Boardwalk can be a lot of fun – if you’re prepared for it. It’s got a fun, county fair atmosphere. Lots of little vendor-type shops, as well as souvenir shops, carnival games and food, even an amusement park. But….it’s also rundown and not super safe. I found it to be pretty dirty, which was sad because seems like with a little work, it could be a really great location. But what do I know?
I recommend checking out the SkyWheel (make sure to get your coupon by clicking the link!) and Gay Dolphin Gift Cove. Gay Dolphin has every souvenir that could possibly exist, so if you go here, well, you probably won’t need to go anywhere else for souvenirs!
For dinner, grab a table at Maggi D’s and order the fried ravioli. It’s a local favorite and easy to see why!
After dinner, head out to Barefoot Landing! More shopping, a beautiful carousel, live music, tons of food! This was our favorite spot in Myrtle Beach!
Nightlife in Myrtle Beach is HOPPING. Tons to do if this is something you’re into. Bars, clubs, shows, you will not be bored!
When looking for hotel accommodations in Myrtle Beach, I recommend doing your research. My personal choice is SeaSide Resort in North Myrtle Beach, but there are also a lot of other nice places, as well.
Day 7: Myrtle Beach
For breakfast, check out Blueberry’s Grill. They offer a nice selection of hearty breakfasts, as well as lighter fare for those of us who like to eat on the healthier side (especially if the last week of southern comfort food is catching up with you!).
Yes, I totally had to buy one of those mugs.
After breakfast, head out to Brookgreen Gardens where you can enjoy art exhibits, a zoo, botanical gardens, and so much history. Just outside Myrtle Beach in Murrell’s Inlet, this is a must-see attraction while you’re in the area.
I also strongly suggest you swing by Loleo for a mid-morning smoothie. This juice bar is absolutely adorable and the smoothies are excellent!
For lunch, you can’t go wrong with Croissants Bistro & Bakery. This was one of my favorite restaurants on this trip, so don’t skip it! I had the power salad and it was delicious!
We then spent the afternoon at Broadway on the Beach. (I continuously got this confused with the Boardwalk, but they are quite different.)
Excellent shopping, yummy food, amusement rides, games, entertainment, beer, I could go on and on.
For dinner, make sure you have reservations for the Sea Captain’s House. After Croissants, this was the other place I absolutely had to try. I was not disappointed!
Knowing that it was my last meal in South Carolina, I had to get the fried green tomatoes, but they have excellent sea food options that I recommend you splurge on! Not everyone is obsessed with fried green tomatoes, I understand. The she-crab soup was the absolute best I’ve ever had, and it came highly recommended by local friends. Definitely give that a try.
At this point, we began our trek back to NY, so this was the end of our time in South Carolina. We went on to Fayetteville, NC for the evening. If you are headed back the same direction, read on for a couple more bonus days!
Day 8: Virginia
For breakfast, check out Maple Street Biscuit Company! This was a fun little restaurant that we really enjoyed!
Then, take a jaunt down the road about three hours and enjoy lunch at the Secret Sandwich Society in Richmond.
After that, take in a couple historic sites! We enjoyed the Maggie L Walker National Historic Site and the Richmond National Battlefield Park.
Next, drive into the Arlington/Washington, DC area where you can have a night out at the Washington Nationals baseball game! You can eat dinner at the game!
For accommodations in Arlington, I really liked the Westin Arlington Gateway. Super friendly staff and very clean rooms.
Day 9: Arlington
For breakfast, check out Bob & Edith’s Diner! It was a little crowded, but I completely understand why! Excellent food and such a cute little place!
Spend the day taking in the sights of Arlington! Arlington House, Arlington National Cemetery, and the George Washington Memorial Parkway are all in the area.
Before leaving town, we grabbed lunch at Kaldi’s Social House, which is a super cute little restaurant with excellent healthy options and super yum smoothies! One of my bestest friends, Eloise, recommended it and she’s definitely one of the coolest people I know, so I’d trust her. She always knows the good stuff.
After a week on the road, I was so tired that I’m pretty sure I slept the rest of the way home! What an amazing trip we had. I can’t recommend it enough!! Thanks for reading along! I’d love to know: Which South Carolina gem are you most excited to see?
