Drive Time
~2 hours
Distance
~100 miles
State
South Carolina
Ideal Time
Full day
Charleston is consistently ranked one of the best cities in the world to visit — and it's just two hours from Hilton Head. The historic peninsula is a living museum of American architecture, with antebellum mansions, cobblestone streets, and church steeples that have defined the city's skyline for centuries. The food scene is extraordinary, the shopping is excellent, and the history is everywhere you look. It's worth the drive.
Plan Ahead
Charleston is a full day — two hours each way plus time in the city. Leave Hilton Head by 8am to maximize your time. Book restaurant reservations before you go; the best spots fill up weeks in advance.
City Highlights
What To Do in Charleston
Rainbow Row & The Battery
Rainbow Row is one of the most photographed streets in America — 13 pastel-painted Georgian row houses along East Bay Street. A short walk away, The Battery is a seawall promenade lined with antebellum mansions and cannons, with views of Charleston Harbor and Fort Sumter.
King Street
Charleston's main commercial corridor is one of the best shopping streets in the South. The lower end (Lower King) has antique dealers and art galleries; the middle section has boutiques and national retailers; Upper King has the best restaurants and bars. Plan to spend a few hours here.
Charleston City Market
A historic four-block market operating since the 1790s. The market is famous for Gullah sweetgrass basket weavers, who practice a craft that has been passed down for generations. Also great for local food, crafts, and souvenirs.
Fort Sumter National Monument
The site where the first shots of the Civil War were fired in April 1861. Fort Sumter is accessible only by ferry from Liberty Square. The tour takes about 2.5 hours and is one of the most significant historic sites in America.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
One of the oldest public gardens in America, with 500 acres of formal gardens, a wildlife refuge, and a historic plantation house. The azalea gardens in spring are extraordinary.
Husk Restaurant
Chef Sean Brock's landmark restaurant celebrating Southern ingredients and Appalachian foodways. One of the most influential restaurants in America — book well in advance.
Where to Eat
Husk
Southern Fine DiningThe most celebrated restaurant in Charleston — Chef Sean Brock's ode to Southern ingredients. The menu changes daily based on what's available from local farms and producers. Book weeks in advance.
FIG
Contemporary AmericanFarm-to-table before it was a trend. FIG has been one of Charleston's best restaurants for over 20 years, with a menu that changes nightly based on local sourcing.
Chubby Fish
SeafoodA small, intimate seafood restaurant that has quickly become one of the most talked-about spots in Charleston. Creative preparations of ultra-fresh local fish.
Poogan's Porch
LowcountryA Charleston institution in a Victorian house serving classic Lowcountry cuisine. The biscuits are legendary and the fried chicken is outstanding.
Insider Tips
Leave Hilton Head by 8am to have a full day in Charleston before the drive back.
Park in the Visitor Center garage on Meeting Street — it's central and reasonably priced.
Book restaurant reservations before you leave Hilton Head. Husk, FIG, and Chubby Fish fill up weeks in advance.
The best neighborhoods to walk are South of Broad (historic mansions), Lower King Street (galleries), and the French Quarter.
A horse-drawn carriage tour is a great way to get oriented when you first arrive.