The best day trips from Edisto Island take you north to Charleston and the sea islands around it, or south and west into the ACE Basin and Beaufort County. Every route leaves the island the same way, on SC-174 over the Dawhoo River, so most trips begin with a drive up SC-174 through farmland and marsh to US-17.
This guide lists the best-known destinations with approximate drive times from Edisto Beach, what to see at each one, and how to combine stops into a full day. Hours and prices are as of 2026; confirm them with each site before you go.
Day Trips from Edisto Island at a Glance
Drive times below are approximate routing estimates from Palmetto Boulevard in Edisto Beach without traffic. Add time for Charleston rush hours and summer weekend traffic.
| Destination | Distance | Drive time | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caw Caw Interpretive Center, Ravenel | 33 mi | 55 min | Nature walks |
| Drayton Hall, Ashley River Road | 44 mi | 1 hr 10 min | Architecture, history |
| Magnolia Plantation & Gardens | 45 mi | 1 hr 15 min | Gardens, history |
| Walterboro | 46 mi | 1 hr 15 min | Small-town museums, crafts |
| Downtown Charleston | 48 mi | 1 hr 15 min | History, dining, shopping |
| Middleton Place | 48 mi | 1 hr 15 min | Gardens, history |
| Folly Beach | 55 mi | 1 hr 30 min | Surfing, beach town |
| Old Sheldon Church Ruins | 55 mi | 1 hr 25 min | History, photography |
| Kiawah Island (Freshfields Village) | 60 mi | 1 hr 45 min | Resort island, shopping |
| Beaufort (downtown) | 67 mi | 1 hr 35 min | Historic town, waterfront |
| Hunting Island State Park | 84 mi | 2 hr | Beach, lighthouse, camping |
The ACE Basin’s Grove Plantation and the islands south of Charleston, including Angel Oak on Johns Island and the Charleston Tea Garden on Wadmalaw Island, are covered below; use a mapping app for those routes.
Charleston
Downtown Charleston is about 48 miles from Edisto Beach, roughly an hour and a quarter by car. It is the obvious day trip: the historic district, the waterfront, museums, shopping and one of the South’s best-known restaurant scenes. Go early to find parking, plan to walk once you’re there, and leave before the evening commute if you can. On a wet day, Charleston’s museums make it the island’s go-to rainy day escape.
Ashley River Plantations
Three historic sites sit along Ashley River Road, 44 to 48 miles from Edisto, and pair well with a Charleston afternoon:
- Drayton Hall: open Wednesday–Monday 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with last entry at the gate at 3 p.m.; closed Tuesdays and major holidays. Adult tickets are $30 online or $35 on site, $15/$18 for ages 7–15, free under 7, and no cash at the gate (2026).
- Magnolia Plantation & Gardens: open daily 9 a.m.–4 p.m., closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Check its website for current admission.
- Middleton Place: gardens and historic grounds; confirm current hours and admission on its website before you go.
Caw Caw Interpretive Center
Charleston County’s Caw Caw Interpretive Center in Ravenel, about 33 miles away, is the closest of the Charleston-area stops and a good choice for a nature walk. Charleston County Parks lists it as open Tuesday–Sunday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. with a $2 per-person fee; pets and bikes are not allowed.
Johns Island, Wadmalaw and Kiawah
Angel Oak
Angel Oak Park, at 3688 Angel Oak Road on Johns Island, protects a live oak estimated at 300 to 400 years old, about 65 feet tall, with a canopy that shades roughly 17,000 square feet. In May 2026 it became the first tree in South Carolina listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The City of Charleston runs the park; admission is free (donations welcome), and it is open seven days a week except holidays. Confirm the day’s hours before you go.
Charleston Tea Garden
The Charleston Tea Garden at 6617 Maybank Highway on Wadmalaw Island is a working tea plantation with a trolley tour of about 35–45 minutes through the fields. It is open Monday–Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sunday noon–4 p.m., and closed on major holidays. Check its website for current trolley prices.
Kiawah Island
Kiawah, about 60 miles and an hour and 45 minutes away, is largely a resort island. Freshfields Village at its entrance has shops and restaurants. Pair it with Angel Oak or the Tea Garden on the way.
Folly Beach
Folly Beach, about 55 miles away, is everything Edisto is not: busy, lively and built up. It is also home to the Washout, often called South Carolina’s top surf break, which works best on northeast to southeast swells. If Edisto’s small waves leave you wanting more, this is the trip. Read our Folly Beach guide and our Edisto surfing page.
The ACE Basin
The ACE Basin, named for the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto rivers that meet at St. Helena Sound, is the vast estuary on Edisto’s doorstep. Its national estuarine research reserve covers nearly 100,000 acres. Our ACE Basin guide covers paddling, boat tours and wildlife areas.
Grove Plantation and the ACE Basin Refuge
The Edisto Unit of the Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge is headquartered at Grove Plantation, an 1828 rice plantation house that survived the Civil War. It is at 8675 Willtown Road in Hollywood: take SC-174 to Adams Run (about 20 miles), then Willtown Road, with the last stretch about 2 miles of gravel. The office is open weekdays 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m., while the grounds and trails are open to walkers until sunset; after 4 p.m. and on weekends, park outside the front gate. There is no entrance fee. Trails circle Goose Pond, Alexander Pond and Perimeter Pond, and miles of dikes are open for hiking and biking, except during scheduled deer hunts. Call (843) 889-3084 before you go.
Beaufort, Old Sheldon and Hunting Island
Edisto and Hunting Island face each other across St. Helena Sound, but there is no crossing; the drive goes inland around the ACE Basin through Beaufort.
Old Sheldon Church Ruins
The brick shell of Prince William’s Parish Church stands in the woods off Old Sheldon Church Road in Beaufort County, about 55 miles away. Built between 1745 and 1753, it was burned by the British in 1779, rebuilt in 1826 and ruined again in 1865. It is a quiet, atmospheric stop on the way to Beaufort; treat it as the historic site it is.
Beaufort
Downtown Beaufort, about 67 miles away, is a historic river town with a walkable downtown, a waterfront, shops and restaurants. It makes a good lunch stop on the way to Hunting Island.
Hunting Island State Park
Hunting Island State Park, about 84 miles and 2 hours away, has about 5 miles of beach and some 5,000 acres of maritime forest and marsh, plus a lighthouse with 167 steps. Hours are 6 a.m.–6 p.m., extended to 9 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for SC seniors, $4 for ages 6–15 and free for 5 and under (2026). Call the park at 843-838-2011 to ask whether the lighthouse is open for climbing.
Walterboro
Walterboro, the Colleton County seat about 46 miles inland, is a low-key small-town trip. The Colleton Museum & Farmers Market and the South Carolina Artisans Center are the main draws; listings for both disagree on hours, so call ahead.
Sample Day Trip Plans
- Charleston history day: Leave Edisto by 8 a.m., spend the morning at Drayton Hall (not on Tuesday) or Magnolia, and the afternoon and dinner downtown.
- Island-hopper day: Angel Oak in the morning, the Charleston Tea Garden at midday, and lunch or shopping at Kiawah’s Freshfields Village.
- Beaufort and Hunting Island: Old Sheldon Church on the way down, lunch in Beaufort, and an afternoon on Hunting Island’s beach. It’s a long day, so leave early.
- ACE Basin half day: A morning walk at Grove Plantation’s ponds with binoculars, back on Edisto for a late lunch.
Day Trips FAQ
How far is Edisto Island from Charleston?
Downtown Charleston is about 48 miles from Edisto Beach, roughly an hour and 15 minutes without traffic, via SC-174 and US-17.
Can you get from Edisto to Hunting Island by boat or bridge?
There is no bridge or ferry across St. Helena Sound. By car, the trip goes inland through Beaufort and takes about 2 hours.
What is the closest day trip from Edisto?
Off the island, the ACE Basin refuge at Grove Plantation and Caw Caw Interpretive Center are the closest. On Edisto itself, Botany Bay and the state park make easy half days; see our Botany Bay guide.
Which day trips are free?
Angel Oak and the ACE Basin refuge charge no admission. Caw Caw charges $2 per person (2026).
Plan Your Trip
Before you head out, check the weather, and when you get back, browse our Edisto restaurant guide for dinner. For days you stay on the island, see the full list of things to do on Edisto Island and our Edisto Island attractions.