Scenic Drives in South Carolina

The four national scenic byways

• Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway (SC 11). Between 112 and 118 miles, depending on who’s measuring, along the base of the Blue Ridge, past Table Rock and a string of state parks, lakes and orchards. The mountain drive, and the famous one in fall.
• Savannah River Scenic Byway. About 110 miles down the state’s western edge, past three big lakes, rolling farmland and the Sumter National Forest. Bring a fishing rod or a picnic.
• Ashley River Road (SC 61). A short, slow drive under live oaks outside Charleston, past Drayton Hall, Magnolia and Middleton Place. The history drive, and not an easy history.
• Edisto Island Scenic Byway (SC 174). The last 17 miles of SC 174, from the Intracoastal Waterway to the Atlantic, through salt marsh, maritime forest, farm stands and old churches. It ends at the beach, which is the correct way for a road to end.

Each guide gives you the start and end, the stops in driving order, and what to know before you go.

Slow drives worth a detour

Not every good drive is a highway. At the Santee NWR Wildlife Drive, your car is the bird blind. Angel Oak to Botany Bay makes a full Lowcountry day out of one old tree and one wild beach. And in the mountains, SCDOT’s Falling Waters Scenic Byway runs SC 107 north from Walhalla toward the North Carolina line, past Issaqueena Falls and Stumphouse Tunnel and Oconee State Park.

When to go

Fall is the headliner in the mountains. Discover South Carolina, the state’s official tourism site, sends leaf peepers to SC 11 and the Upstate overlooks, so go on a weekday if you can. Spring brings blooms and farm stands, and winter strips the leaves so you can see the long views.

On the coast, spring and fall are the comfortable seasons. Summer brings heat, bugs and beach traffic, so start early and keep an eye on the afternoon sky.

Know before you go

• Check the road. SCDOT’s 511SC shows live traffic, incidents, construction and cameras, and its road conditions map lists work and emergency closures.
• Pull over properly. Use overlooks, parking lots and park entrances. Never stop in a travel lane or on a narrow shoulder for a photo.
• Share the road. Two-lane byways carry cyclists, motorcycles, tractors and log trucks. Pass only where it’s legal and you can see.
• Fill up first. Some stretches run a long way between gas stations, and cell service in the mountains comes and goes. Download your map before you lose the signal.
• Budget for stops. State parks, gardens and historic sites charge admission. Each guide says where to check the current rate.

Drive for every body

A scenic drive may be the most accessible adventure we cover. The view comes to you, the seat is already comfortable, and you decide when to stop. Discover South Carolina’s list of easy-access Upstate overlooks, including Caesars Head and Bald Rock on US 276, needs nothing more than a short walk over flat ground.

Every guide notes the stops with the easiest access we could confirm, and flags what we couldn’t. For more easy-access trips, see our Accessibility Guide.

Refuel like a local

The best part of a back road is the stop you didn’t plan: a produce stand, a meat-and-three, a general store with a porch. Our free Mom & Pop Trail Map covers family-owned stops in the mountains, several right along SC 11. Buy the peaches. Ask about the road ahead.

More road trips

Going the whole length of the state? Try The Ultimate SC Road Trip: Mountains to Coast in 5 Days or, if you’re sleeping in the car, The Mountains-to-Coast Van Route. Want to see everything at once? Open Explore the Map.

Now go outside and play. Windows down.