6 Best Day Trips to Plantations from Charleston

Among the things you must do in Charleston, don't miss a tour of its plantations. If you love nature, these places are ideal for you. Many of them have magical gardens that look like something out of a fairy tale, but they are steeped in history.

In addition to admiring the beauty of nature, your private guide will tell you the history of these iconic historical sites. Plantations were once the places where slaves lived and worked during the colonial era. Although it is a sad part of history, it is worth learning about the details.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is one of the most beautiful in Charleston. Its natural beauty has been preserved over time.

In fact, it was the only plantation on the Ashley River to survive the American Revolution and the Civil War. The tour to this plantation lasts approximately 5 hours and costs an average of £60.

This tour includes round-trip transportation from the meeting point to the plantation. When you arrive at the plantation, you can take a narrated tram ride through the Audubon swamp gardens, slave cabins, and rice fields.

This tour lasts approximately 40 minutes and provides an opportunity to reflect on the history of slavery in the southern United States.

Do you like romantic plans? Then this is the option for you, as the tour includes a guided walk through the large romantic garden. While you're there, I invite you to admire the wildlife, which includes alligators, herons, turtles, egrets and other animals that live throughout the plantation.

If you're interested in more plans for couples, I recommend visiting Charleston in February, as you'll find many romantic activities for Valentine's Day.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately £75
• Duration: approximately 5 hours.
• Transport: air-conditioned bus and a tram inside the plantation for part of the tour.

Middleton Place is one of the most popular plantations in Charleston. Despite being one of the best destinations, it is difficult to get there without a private vehicle. That's why the best option is to book a private tour.

These usually cost €100, including lunch. They also tend to last at least 5 hours.

On this guided tour, the meeting point is usually in the centre of Charleston. A comfortable, air-conditioned van will be waiting for you there. From there, you will begin your journey to Middleton Place, a National Historic Landmark. Upon arrival, you will watch an introductory video about the site before beginning the tour.

After the introduction, your guide will take you to see the old gardens and the House Museum, which houses the possessions of Henry Middleton, the original owner of the plantation and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. This part of the tour lasts at least 40 minutes.

The next part of the tour is a Low Country-style lunch. You will have several options to choose from at the restaurant located within the plantation.

When you finish eating, you will continue the tour through the gardens and grounds of the plantation. You can also stop by the chapel, the museum shop, and the courtyards where farm animals live.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately £85.
• Duration: approximately 5 hours.
• Transportation: private air-conditioned van.

Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens is one of the oldest plantations in the United States and was founded in 1681.

The tour to this plantation includes round-trip transportation on an air-conditioned bus. In addition, this excursion also includes a narration about the gardens and other sites within the plantation.

The tour lasts approximately 5 hours and costs an average of £60. When you enter this site, you will notice that the plantation still offers crops.

You can also take a tour of the mansions and even a ride on the plantation tractor. This service may not be included in the tour and lasts between 30 and 40 minutes.

In addition, on the tour you will have the opportunity to see the period costumes stored on the plantation. You will also pass through the slave quarters while listening to their history and learning about their current use.

You will also learn about the Gullah culture, an African-American ethnic group that even has its own language, through songs, dance and much more, performed by Gullah people who work on site.

These tours are usually conducted in small groups of up to 15 people. They can generally be taken at any time in the morning or afternoon. Choose the time that suits you best.

Details of interest

• Price: around £50
• Duration: approximately 4 hours.
• Transport: air-conditioned bus.

The Charleston Tea Plantation is a plantation on the outskirts of Charleston that is home to the best teas and wines in South Carolina.

The tour lasts approximately 5 hours and costs an average of £130 per person. It also includes private transport from a central point in the city of Charleston to the plantation.

You will be welcomed with a tasting of the plantation's exclusive tea, either hot or cold. The next stop will be at Deep Water Vineyard, where you can taste the best wines from this plantation. Please note that you must be over 21 years old to participate in this tour, otherwise you will not be able to enjoy the wine.

In addition to wine and tea, at this plantation you can interact with the farm animals. You can observe them in their habitat or get close and pet the animals that the guide indicates. I do not recommend approaching them by surprise or without prior instruction from the tour guides. Remember that not all animals like to interact with humans.

Finally, you will travel by tram for 40 minutes while touring and observing all the green hectares of this plantation. During this part of the tour, you will hear the history of tea and the founder of the plantation, Bill Hall.

This is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Charleston if you are travelling for four days.

Details of interest

• Price: around £130
• Duration: approximately 5 hours.
• Transportation: private air-conditioned van.

Although you can visit Middleton and Magnolia plantations separately, each of these tours lasts approximately 4 hours. If you are travelling to Charleston for just one day and want to see more than one plantation, a combined tour is the best option.

Please note that the average cost of a private tour like this is £450, as it includes lunch and a private vehicle.

Your tour will start at the meeting point agreed by the company. This is usually somewhere in the centre of Charleston.

From there, you will travel in an air-conditioned van to the first stop: Magnolia Plantation & Gardens. I encourage you to make the most of this site, as it is one of the most beautiful plantations in Charleston.

The next stop will be Middleton. Here you can tour the stables and learn about the history of rice cultivation and phosphate mining, which were the main economic activities during the colonial era. You will also have the opportunity to see the blacksmith, pottery and textile shops.

You can take a break between the two plantations to enjoy your lunch. This comes prepared in a lunch box that you can enjoy at either of the two plantations. Please note that this tour does not include admission to the plantations, but does include private transportation for two adults and lunch for both.

Details of interest

• Price: around £450.
• Duration: approximately 4 hours.
• Transport: private vehicle with air conditioning.

Drayton Hall is the oldest plantation in the United States that has been preserved in good condition and is still open to the public.

To give you an idea of how old it is, this site was founded in 1738. I invite you to travel back in time on a two-hour guided tour of this plantation. The price of the tour is around £35.

The tour guide will take you to explore the grounds of Drayton Hall and you will be able to visit the plantation's galleries. There you will find antique objects that have been very well preserved over the years. You will also be able to see the 18th-century African American cemetery.

This tour does not include round-trip transportation; you will meet the interpreter guide at the plantation. This person will be responsible for translating everything the plantation guides say.

The tour usually begins with an orientation video, followed by a walk through the plantation to admire the panoramic views of the Ashley River and the wildlife.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately £35.
• Duration: around 2 hours.
• Transport: you must arrange your own transport. You can hire an Uber to get to the plantation.

Traveller Tip

When visiting a plantation, wear comfortable clothing and sturdy, ergonomic shoes. Keep in mind that these tours are usually long and you will be on your feet for most of the time. Some companies include bottles of water and others do not, so it is best to bring your own supplies.

Plantations are open natural sites. This means that you will be in contact with nature, the sun and wild animals. My first tip is to wear comfortable clothing.

Do not wear dresses, skirts or jeans. It is best to wear clothing that allows you to move freely. Remember that the tours last up to 5 hours and you will generally be walking.

For this same reason, I recommend that you wear sturdy, ergonomic shoes. This is the only way you will be able to walk comfortably all day without worrying about sore feet.

In addition, I recommend that you bring sunscreen and an umbrella to protect yourself from the sun or rain in case it rains unexpectedly.

I am sure you will find beautiful places in these plantations. That's why it's best to bring a camera or have your smartphone camera ready.

Don't miss the opportunity to have a nice souvenir of this experience. If you travel to Charleston in autumn, you'll find beautiful landscapes in orange and yellow colours that you'll love to capture in your photographs.

One last tip is to always check the established schedule. Don't fall behind at the places you visit.

Remember that each activity has a limited time so that you can make the most of your day. If you want to continue exploring this city afterwards, I invite you to take a sightseeing bus tour of Charleston.

Plantations usually offer tours and excursions that they plan themselves. However, these do not generally include transport from a location near the hotel where you are staying. That is why it is better to hire a guided tour service that includes private transport.

If you are a tourist in Charleston, you should consider how much of your budget you are going to spend on transport to take you to the places you want to visit. Although you can hail a taxi or rent a car for £50 a day on sites such as KAYAK, this is an expense you can save if you find tours that include private transport.

In addition, some of these tours also include lunch. This is a great bonus as it allows you to recharge your batteries for the rest of the tour and sample the local cuisine.

Another important factor is that on these tours, the guides will tell you the history of all the places you visit. These excursions are great activities to do with children in Charleston.

On the other hand, travelling on an excursion will help you choose the ideal time of year to visit the plantation. My advice is that if you travel to Charleston in winter, don't go to the plantations unless you don't mind the cold.

There are other activities that are more worthwhile during the cold season, as the plantations are not green and lush at that time of year.