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Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, Charleston, SC

Photo: Juliancolton, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingFreeOutdoor Adventure

Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge

US-17 over the Cooper River; Wonders' Way path from Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park · Charleston, SC

Why you should go…

The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, opened in 2005, is a cable-stayed span carrying traffic over the Cooper River between Charleston and Mount Pleasant. Its two diamond-shaped towers rise 575 feet. Wonders' Way, a 12-foot path for walkers and cyclists, runs along the south edge and looks out over Charleston Harbor. You can reach the path from Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park, and overlooks on both sides give a panoramic view of the harbor.

  • #cable-stayed bridge
  • #bridge walk
  • #harbor views
  • #bike path

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum

    $25–$50

    Board the WWII aircraft carrier USS Yorktown and the destroyer USS Laffey on Charleston Harbor.

    1.0 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    South Carolina Aquarium

    $25–$50

    Walk from mountain streams to the open ocean through South Carolina habitats, then touch rays and watch sea turtles in recovery.

    1.0 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Museums
    History Buff

    International African American Museum

    Under $25

    Explore African American history on Gadsden's Wharf, where a large share of enslaved Africans arrived in North America.

    1.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Rainbow Row

    Free

    See 13 pastel-painted historic row houses lining East Bay Street between Tradd and Elliott Streets.

    2.0 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    The Battery

    Free

    Stroll the harbor seawall promenade past antebellum mansions to the oaks and cannons of White Point Garden.

    2.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Fort Sumter

    $25–$50

    Ride a ferry across Charleston Harbor to walk the island fort where the first battle of the Civil War took place.

    4.2 mi awayMore like this