7 Best Plantations in Charleston to Visit in 2025
When I think of the South, plantations always come to my mind. Rows of trees with Spanish Moss hanging from them. Open fields with no one around for miles. Horses and crops as far as the eye can see. Closing your eyes and remembering the past that was here. It all takes you back in time. The best plantations in Charleston have a strong history in the low country.
Of course, that history does come with a dark past. There is no way to separate plantations and slavery. Charleston plantations have attacked it head-on. They all take a strong step in the education about the history of slavery and plantations. Never forget the ones who actually used their hands to make the plantations work and grow.
I personally love walking around these plantations and getting lost in history. No trip is complete to Charleston without visiting one or more plantations.
Short on time? Get tickets for the best Plantation tours here:
Most Complete Plantation: Boone Hall Platation
Best Garden Plantation: Magnolia Gardens
Best Plantations in Charleston
Plantations in Charleston and the Low Country have always been intertwined with history and getting lost in the imagination. The great thing about Charleston is that there are 7 plantations that you can visit and enjoy. These plantations are some of the most amazing places you will see and enjoy during your stay.
1. McLeod Plantation
Location: 325 Country Club Dr. Charleston, SC 29412
Hours of operation: Tuesday – Sunday 9 am to 4 pm
Admission:
- $20 – ages 13 and up
- $15 – ages 60+
- $6 – ages 3 – 12
- Free – under 2
Rideshare recommendation: Yes
McLeod Plantation is an important Gullah/Geechee heritage site and is part of the Gullah/Geechee Heritage Corridor in South Carolina. Located on James Island, McLeod Plantation is a former slave plantation. It sits on Wappoo Creek which flows into the Ashley River.
The early days of the plantation until The Revolutionary War was standard. It was a working plantation. When Charleston fell to the British in 1780, the plantation was used as the headquarters for General Sir Henry Clinton. After the war, the plantation went back into the hands of the owners.
In 1851, William W. McLeod purchased the plantation and grounds. The current house that stands on the ground was built by McLeod in 1858. By 1860, the plantation held 74 slaves and 23 slave cabins.
From 1861 to 1865, the house and grounds were held by the Confederates. The house was used as a hospital, headquarters, and commissary. After Charleston was lost to the Union, it was occupied by the 54 New York and 55 Massachusetts (an all-African American Regiment). After the Civil War, it was held by the Freedmen’s Bureau.
In 1878 the plantation goes back into McLeod’s ownership. It would remain this way until 1990 when it was left to the Historic Charleston Foundation. In 2011, it was sold to Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission. The house and grounds were restored and opened to the public in 2015.
2. Magnolia Gardens
Location: 3550 Ashley River Rd. Charleston, SC 29414
Hours of operation: Open every day 9 am – 5 pm
Admission:
- Adults – $32
- Youth (12 – 17) – $18
- Kids (5 – 11) – $14
- Kids 4 and under – Free
Rideshare recommendation: Yes
Arriving from Barbados to Charles Towne, Thomas Drayton, and his wife, Ann established Magnolia Plantation in 1676. Thomas and Ann were the first owners of the plantation. This would lead to 15 generations and 300 years later to still having the plantation in the family.
Magnolia Plantation was originally a rice plantation. It used African American slaves to work the rice fields. These African American slaves helped start and spread the Gullah culture in The Low Country.
In the 1840s, Reverend John Grimke-Drayton inherited the plantation and transformed it into the gardens that it is famous for today. He wanted to create romantic gardens for his wife, Julia. It’s said that John was the first to introduce Azaleas to America.
The plantation house burned down during The Civil War. The gardens opened to the public in 1870. They included many parts to see such as Barbados Tropical Garden, Camellia Collection, Cypress Lake, Flowerdale, The Long Bridge, Swamp Garden, and many more!
The slave cabins that are on the grounds are used in The Slavery to Freedom tour. They have been restored and preserved. Each cabin represents a different time period in history from slavery to freedom.
Magnolia Plantation is famously used as the background to many weddings today. It is the most visited plantation in Charleston.
3. Charleston Tea Plantation
Location: 6617 Maybank Hwy. Wadmalaw Island, SC 29487
Hours of operation: Monday – Saturday – 10 am – 4 pm and Sunday 12 pm – 4 pm
Admission: Free
Rideshare recommendation: No
Charleston Tea Plantation now known as Charleston Tea Garden is located about 20 minutes south of Charleston. This is not a standard historical plantation, but a newer one. No slaves ever worked at this plantation.
The Tea bushes were first brought to the United States in the late 1700s from China. It took many attempts for the tea to take hold in South Carolina. Roughly around 150 years.
It wasn’t until 1888 when Dr. Charles Shepard founded the Pinehurst Tea Plantation in Summerville, South Carolina that the reality of growing and producing tea in America came true. After his death in 1915, the plantation closed and his tea plants grew wild for 45 years.
A 127-acre potato farm was purchased on Wadmalaw Island in 1963. The tea plants were transferred to this new location for growing and research for the next 24 years. In 1987, William Barclay Hall purchased the land. He decided to change the ground from research to a commercial operation for the tea.
It was at this point, The Charleston Tea Plantation was founded. During this time, his original “American Classic” tea became the first true tea to be grown in The United States.
In 2003, there was a partnership between William Barclay Hall and The Bigelow Family. The Bigelow Family purchased the garden and brought years of experience to the plantation. In 2020, The Charleston Tea Plantation changed its name to The Charleston Tea Garden.
Enjoy wandering around the grounds, taking in the sights of the garden, photos of all you want, and learning all about tea. This is a perfect, relaxing afternoon that is a must-see.
4. Drayton Hall
Location: 3380 Ashley River Rd. Charleston, SC 29414
Hours of operation: Every day from 9 am – 5 pm (Gate closes at 3:30 pm)
Admission:
- Adults: $29
- Youth (ages 7 – 15): $15
- Children under 7: Free
Rideshare recommendation: Yes
Drayton Hall is a bit unique. Unlike many others on this list, it is mainly about the house. The grounds are beautiful, but the centerpiece of Drayton Hall is Drayton Hall itself.
Drayton Hall was built between the years 1747 and 1752. It was built for John Drayton Sr by his grandson, John Drayton. Knowing that his grandfather would not inherit his birthplace, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, he built this hall on this property. Magnolia Plantation is next door to Drayton Hall.
The seven-bay, double-pile plantation house sits on 630 acres. The plantation was used to produce indigo and rice. It is believed that the grounds consistently housed 78 slaves in 13 cabins during the era of slavery.
The house has endured plenty through time. The laundry room was destroyed in 1886 during the famous earthquake. In 1893, the kitchen was destroyed by a hurricane. Though, it was preserved and prospered through seven generations of Draytons. Today, The National Trust for Historic Preservation owns the property and The Drayton Hall Preservations Trust manages it.
5. Middleton Place
Location: 4300 Ashley River Rd. Charleston, SC 29414
Hours of operation: Open every day – 9 am – 5 pm
Admission:
- Adult (14 and up) – $29
- Child (ages 6 – 13) – $10
- Children under 5 – Free
Rideshare recommendation: Yes
John Williams, a South Carolina planter, established Middleton Place in the 1730s. Williams selected the site where the house would sit along the Ashley River. When he died, the grounds were put in a dowry for his daughter, Mary Williams. Mary Williams married Henry Middleton in 1741.
The original house was completed around 1741 and was three stories tall. In the same year, work started on the gardens. Middleton employed an English gardener and with their combined effort, made the famous waterfall lawn look. They made it work to the Ashley River and created a stream, so they could flood the rice fields.
Mary Middleton passed away in 1761 and Henry gave Middleton Place to his son, Arthur. Arthur Middleton, in 1776, was one of the signers of the Declaration Of Independence. During the Siege of Charleston, Arthur was imprisoned until 1781. British troops ransacked the property and did distinctive damage to many items in the house. The surrendering terms of the British in the southern colonies were signed at Middleton Place in 1783.
In 1786, Arthur’s son, Henry Middleton was visited by his friend, André Michaux from France. He brought with him the first Camellias to be grown in an American garden. Henry went all out to bring in imported flowers from all over the world. When Henry passed away in 1846, Middleton Place was passed on to his son, Williams Middleton.
Williams Middleton signed the South Carolina Ordinance of Secession in 1860. This was the document that separated South Carolina from the union as the first state to secede. Middleton Place was captured by Union Troops towards the end of the war in February 1865. They set fire to the house and other parts of the buildings.
Then years after, generations kept working on restoring the house and grounds. By the 1930s, the house was restored to its 18th-century appearance.
So much history in one spot. Walk the grounds and feel all that has happened here. This is why you need to visit one of the best plantations in Charleston SC.
6. Cypress Gardens
Location: 3030 Cypress Gardens Rd. Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Hours of operation: Open every day – 9 am – 5 pm
Admission:
- Adult – $10
- 65+, 911, and Military – $6.50
- Children (ages 6 – 17) – $5
- Children (5 and under) – Free
Rideshare recommendation: No
The earliest known existence of Cypress Garden was in 1700. Alexander Nesbitt was given 3,100 acres of land while still living in England. He arrived in 1725 and began to build the house and named the plantation Dean Hall. Alexander married a lady named, Mary Rutherford, and they had 3 children.
In 1753, Alexander died leaving Mary at Deal Hall. The property was supposed to go to their oldest son, but he died as well. The property was divided up between the two remaining sons.
During the Revolutionary War, in 1782, the property was confiscated because of their allegiance to Britain. In 1783, Dean Hall was removed from the confiscated list. Alexander’s great-grandson, John Nesbitt, sold the plantation to William Carson in 1821.
In 1827, a new house was built at Dean Hall. William also improved the rice fields. After William and his wife passed, the plantation was passed on to their son, James Carson. James Carson sold the plantation to Benjamin Kittredge in 1909. He modernized the house and created Cypress Gardens.
In the early 1990s, Cypress Gardens was given to Berkley County. The county still runs and maintains it today.
More than likely, you have seen this plantation before in many movies. Cold Mountain, North and South, The Notebook, The Patriot, and many more were shot at this plantation.
7. Boone Hall Plantation
Location: 1235 Long Point Rd. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Hours of operation: Monday – Saturday – 9 am – 5 pm and Sunday 12 pm – 5 pm
Admission:
- Adults – $28
- Seniors, Military, and AAA – $25
- Children (ages 6 – 12) – $12
- Children 5 and under – Free
Rideshare recommendation: Yes
Arriving in 1672, Major John Boone was one of the first settlers in the Colony of South Carolina. He received the Boone Hall Plantation as a wedding gift in 1681 from his father-in-law. John Boone and his wife are ancestors of future Founding Fathers, Edward Rutledge, and John Rutledge.
The son of Major John Boone planted the iconic oak trees in 1742 in an evenly spaced layout. This created the famous look for the southern plantation. Boone Hall Plantation is one of America’s oldest plantations that is actually still in operation producing agriculture!
Sitting on an area of 738 acres, Boone Hall Plantation grounds have seasonal crop fields, as well as creeks, ponds, and wetlands to see. Among the beautiful nature here, make sure to check out the ground’s featured exhibits.
First, make sure you take a tour of the house, where the guide will explain the full architecture and history of the house. Secondly, head outside and experience Gullah culture by watching presentations about this amazing culture. The Gullah are African Americans that are descendants of slaves of The Low Country, with their unique language, stories, and culture.
Finally, the history of the daily life of slaves that worked the land of the plantation including 9 slave houses. There are many more activities to see including plenty more tours on the grounds which makes this a gem for one of the best plantations in Charleston SC.
What movies and TV shows were shot at plantations in Charleston?
More than likely you have seen a Charleston plantation before. There has been plenty of movies and TV shows that have been shot on the best plantations in Charleston. Many of the plantations have been used for multiple locations in the same movies and tv shows.
Some of the more popular movies and tv shows are North Vs South, The Notebook, Dear John, The Patriot, and Army Wives.
Get your Charleston Tour Pass today to save money on visiting plantations
For visiting the best plantation in Charleston, I recommend purchasing a Charleston Tour Pass. With this pass, you will be able to visit some plantations and other amazing locations in Charleston while saving a lot of money. Keep in mind that the tour of most plantations will last about 2 hours.
Have Your Bags Picked Up While You Explore With Charleston Bag Valet
Don’t want to haul your luggage all around Charleston while waiting for your flight to leave or for your hotel to be ready? Good News! Charleston Bag Valet will help you out with that. As they say, you explore, they store.
Charleston Bag Valet will pick up your bags curbside anywhere in Charleston and secure each item with a customizable tamper-proof lock. They will store your bags in an insured and secured climate-controlled environment while you explore. When you are ready, they will deliver your bags to you where you want them and when you want them. You can even have them delivered to the airport for your ease.
Can you stay at any of the best plantations in Charleston?
There is one plantation that you can stay at, The Inn at Middleton Place. They created a plantation experience by staying at their location. You will be staying on the plantation grounds with everything walkable to each other.
They have amazing amenities at this Inn. You will receive complimentary admission while staying, a daily buffet breakfast, an evening cap, and much more. Stay here to get a truly different Charleston experience.
Where to stay in Charleston?
There are many places to stay in Charleston, being this is one of the most popular destinations, and hotels are all over the place. I have a couple of hotels that that will put you in the downtown area, but keep you in the center of all the best plantations in Charleston.
- Harbourview Inn
Harbourview Inn is located in the heart of historic downtown Charleston. You are in walking distance of just about everything. This hotel is across the street for Joe Riley Waterfront Park which is a great park on the water.
- The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel
The Mills House is in a historic building also in the heart of historic downtown Charleston on Meeting Street. You will be within walking distance of many amazing restaurants on Queen Street. You will be located around several historic landmarks that are not to be missed.
Which Plantations are near downtown Charleston?
There are no plantations located in downtown Charleston. All the plantations are on the outskirts of the downtown area. The closest one is McLeod Plantation followed by Boone Hall Plantation in Mt. Pleasant.
The next three, which are on Ashley River Rd, are Drayton Hall, Magnolia Gardens, and Middleton Place would be the next closest.
Followed by the 2 that are farthest away, Cypress Gardens and Charleston Tea Plantation.
How to get to the best plantations in Charleston?
Since we stated above that there are no plantations located in downtown Charleston, there are none that are within walking distance.
The best way that you should get to the plantations would be by renting a car. This will save you money in the end since the plantations are outside of downtown Charleston.
The second best way, use rideshares to get to and from the plantations. Because the plantations are a little bit distance from downtown, the price will vary and can become pricey. But it is nice because you don’t have to deal with parking.
Conclusion: Best Plantations in Charleston
As you see, you can easily spend an entire vacation just visiting the best historic plantations in Charleston. Seeing and visiting plantations have a unique experience and separates the South from the rest of the country. Walking the grounds and learning the history, the good and bad is an eye-opening life event.
Charleston did a really great job at tackling their history and making it a learning lesson and educating everyone that visits. The owners of the plantations have done an amazing job with their preservation of the grounds and bringing the history and stories alive for everyone to enjoy.
Check out my other posts about Charleston here. 11 Best Historic Sites in Charleston South Carolina, What 13 things should I not miss in Charleston SC, and 10 Best Places Off The Beaten Path In Charleston SC 2022.
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