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Drayton Hall, Charleston, SC

Photo: Goingstuckey, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory Buff

Drayton Hall

3380 Ashley River Rd · Charleston, SC

Why you should go…

Drayton Hall is a Palladian plantation house on the Ashley River, finished by the early 1750s, and the only plantation house on the river to survive both the Revolutionary and Civil wars intact. Your ticket covers the main house and landscape, the Gates Gallery, the Caretaker's House, the conservation laboratory and the African American Cemetery, plus a landscape audio tour. The west front has a double projecting portico. The gate takes cards only, no cash.

  • #historic house
  • #plantation
  • #palladian architecture
  • #national historic landmark

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 Drayton Hall, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

    $25–$50

    Walk centuries-old gardens of azaleas, camellias and live oaks along the Ashley River, then tour the house.

    0.6 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Middleton Place

    $25–$50

    Stroll the oldest landscaped gardens in the United States, tour the house museum and visit the stableyards on the Ashley River.

    4.0 mi awayMore like this

  • 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.

    10 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.

    10 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Free

    Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge

    Free

    Walk or bike Wonders' Way across a cable-stayed bridge with two 575-foot diamond towers and wide views of Charleston Harbor.

    10 mi awayMore like this

  • Shopping
    Iconic

    Charleston City Market

    Free

    Browse four blocks of open-air sheds and the Great Hall for sweetgrass baskets, local crafts and souvenirs.

    10 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping