For many, getting away for the day or a weekend often means staying within the boundaries of our own state and exploring perfectly awesome places right here in our own backyard. Fortunately, South Carolina is home to a world of mostly undiscovered places that are worthy of a road trip or two. The road trip we feature below is actually 10 hours of driving, but there are countless hours of exploration to add to the trip. You could spend a weekend exploring the Palmetto State and these 10 hidden gems in South Carolina.

Here's a link to the hidden gems road trip that should open up on your phone when you tap it. Let's get going, shall we?
Google Maps
1. Big Bend Falls - Walhalla
Big Bend Falls, South Carolina 29664, USA
AllTrails/Trisha Proctor
Hike this 5.5-mile trail to a remote waterfall deep within the Cherry Hill Recreation Area near Walhalla. The falls are spectacular and generally accessible all year round. Get the deets from our previous article about Big Bend Falls.
2. Sassafras Mountain Tower - Sunset
Sassafras Mountain Tower, Sassafras Mountain Rd, Sunset, SC 29685, USA
Google Maps/nithish reddy
The tallest mountain peak in the state got a brand new observation tower in 2019 and if you haven't discovered this new attraction yet, then you're sure to be pleasantly pleased. From high atop Sassafras Mountain, you can see three states. And while visiting the tower, you can plant your feet in both North Carolina and South Carolina at the same time. Get more information by reading this previous article about the Sassafras Mountain Tower!
3. Jones Gap State Park - Marietta
Jones Gap State Park, 303 Jones Gap Rd, Marietta, SC 29661, USA
Google Maps/David Spaulding
Found in the heart of the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area, Jones Gap State Park features more than 3,900 acres to explore. Its unique positioning nestled down into a deep mountain cove makes this park even more thrilling to navigate through. The Middle Saluda River runs right through the park and is like something out of a fairy tale.
4. Pretty Place - Cleveland
Fred W. Symmes Chapel aka "Pretty Place", 100 YMCA Camp Rd, Cleveland, SC 29635, USA
Flickr/Jeremy Taylor
Hands down, this is one of the prettiest spots in the state to view a sunrise! Situated on the tippy edge of a mountain cliff, Pretty Place (a.k.a. Fred W Symmes Chapel) is an open-air chapel for the YMCA camp in the upstate. But, it's open to the public on many days of the year, and there is usually an Easter Sunday sunrise service broadcast live at dawn on its Facebook page. Learn all about it in this previous article.

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5. Wildcat Wayside Falls - Cleveland
Wildcat Wayside Falls, 5500 Geer Hwy, Cleveland, SC 29635, USA
Google Maps/Hossan Jason
Hike a trail straight up a hill to discover a series of three roadside waterfalls and an abundance of wildlife at Wildcat Wayside Falls found right on the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Byway in South Carolina. Most people think there is only one waterfall here (the one visible from the road), but there are two more found along the trail!
6. Kings Mountain National Military Park - Blacksburg
Kings Mountain National Military Park, 2625 Park Rd, Blacksburg, SC 29702, USA
Kings Mountain National Military Park/Facebook
Roam through this park where, millions of years ago, an arc of massive volcanoes once loomed high overhead on the landscape. Fast forward millions of years to when this site was instrumental during the American Revolution. Learn more about this historic locale by reading this previous article!
7. Forty Acre Rock - Kershaw
40 Acre Rock Heritage Preserve, 2207 Conservancy Rd, Kershaw, SC 29067, USA
Google Maps/Shawn S
Hike the 1.7-mile loop trail at this heritage preserve near Kershaw to discover brilliantly colored natural pools carved over millions of years into a giant bed of rock that's roughly 14 acres in size. There are plants growing here that can't be found growing naturally anywhere else in the state. Find out more about Forty Acre Rock and this trail by reading this previous article!
8. Bee City Zoo - Cottageville
Bee City Zoo, 1066 Holly Ridge Ln, Cottageville, SC 29435, USA
Google Maps/Zack 1
Take a little family road trip over to Cottageville to spend the day at this South Carolina zoo and honeybee farm. You'll be surprised at just how much fun you can have at this zoo that's hiding in plain sight out in the countryside!
9. Cypress Gardens - Moncks Corner
Cypress Gardens, 3030 Cypress Gardens Rd, Moncks Corner, SC 29461, USA
Google Maps/Carla Taylor
You'll feel right at home and instantly at peace at this 160-acre preserve in Moncks Corner. From the beautiful swamp to the largest butterfly house in the state and the swamparium (not to mention the boat rides!), there's a lot to discover here and so very much to see. Learn more about this preserve that sits on the site of a centuries-old rice plantation by reading this previous article!
10. Audubon Swamp Garden - Charleston
Audubon Swamp Garden, 3550 Magnolia Plantation Rd, Charleston, SC 29414, USA
Tom D/TripAdvisor
Discover the beauty of this cultured swamp garden, complete with cypress knees and trees, tupelo trees, and more alligators than you probably care to count. Don't worry, though. As long as you stay on the trail, you should be fine! Learn more about the Audubon Swamp Garden in Charleston here. Then be sure to add this to your South Carolina bucket list.

How many of these hidden gems in South Carolina have you already discovered? There are so many cool places to visit in South Carolina that we can’t cover them all in one road trip. So we need your help. Do you have more awesome places to suggest we write about? Let us know by filling out a nomination form.

For even more driving adventures gas up the car and head out to discover some of the most beautiful places in South Carolina on this 106-mile scenic road trip.

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More to Explore

More hidden gems in South Carolina

Chris Muras | November 22, 2022

Where are some little-known areas of SC worth visiting?

There are some wonderful hidden gems and little-known areas of South Carolina worth visiting. From local farms, you can explore, botanical gardens, historic places, and beautiful natural parks. Here are a few you may not have heard about yet:

Reedy River Falls: Oconee Country, SC
ACE River Basin
Abingdon Manor, Latta, SC
Ovis Hill Farm, Timmonsville, SC
Moore Farms Botanical Gardens, Lake City, SC
Thieves Market, Florence, SC
Top Hat Special-Teas, Florence, SC
Jim Harrison Art Gallery, Denmark, SC

What is the prettiest part of South Carolina?

From its misty Lowcountry marshes to its near-endless stretch of white sand beaches, it's hard to pick just one area as the prettiest part of South Carolina. South Carolina is full of breathtaking scenes and locations, but some stand out as particularly gorgeous. Here are a few of the prettiest parts of South Carolina:

Angel Oak: St. John's Island, SC
Caesar's Head State Park: Northern Greenville County, SC
Low Country marshes: Kiawah Island
Magnolia Plantation: Charleston, SC
Swan Lake: Sumter, SC
Yellow Branch Falls: Oconee, SC

All along the coast, South Carolina offers stunning views of crashing ocean surf and tall palms swaying in the breeze. Inland, visitors can find plenty of rolling hills, mountain vistas, and country fields full of wildflowers. Perhaps one of the prettiest spots can be found in Oconee County: Lake Jocassee. Surrounded by soaring mountains, this glacial lake features aquamarine water and pockets of hidden coves - a playground for fishing, kayaking, and swimming that's truly like no other place on earth. Whether you're looking for seascapes or mountain vistas, South Carolina has a stunning beauty that beckons visitors from around the world. It truly is one of the loveliest places on Earth!

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