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Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC

Photo: Kellie Thorne of NSBO, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory BuffFamily Favorite

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is a sightseeing stop in Charleston, SC, part of the Lowcountry guide. Cost: $25 to $50.

3550 Ashley River Rd · Charleston, SC

Why you should go…

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens was founded in 1679 by Thomas and Ann Drayton on the Ashley River and has stayed in the same family since. You walk gardens known for azaleas, camellias and live oaks, cross to the Audubon Swamp Garden boardwalk, and stop at the Wildlife Center. Admission also covers a tour of the house and the From Slavery to Freedom cabin tour, which addresses the enslaved people who worked the rice fields. A nature train and a seasonal boat tour cost extra.

  • #historic gardens
  • #plantation
  • #house tour
  • #swamp garden
  • #azaleas

What's around here?

The closest stops to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

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    Drayton Hall

    $25–$50

    Tour an 18th-century Palladian plantation house on the Ashley River, then explore its grounds, gallery and cemetery.

    0.6 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
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    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.

    3.5 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.

    11 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.

    11 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.

    11 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Free

    Angel Oak

    Free

    Stand beneath a centuries-old Southern live oak whose massive limbs dip to the ground and rise again in a small city park.

    11 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

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