One of the best things about South Carolina is the incredible amount of beauty and history throughout the state. Fortunately, there are plenty of opportunities for affordable getaways in South Carolina that don’t take up too much of your calendar or your bank account. We are going to explore one option today for a sunrise-to-sunset trip that takes you from the coastal waters up to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Along the way of this cheap day trip in South Carolina, you’ll want to get out and experience first-hand some of the most stunning sites in the state while spending very little of your hard-earned cash. In fact, given that most of the attractions on this itinerary are free, it's an excellent way to enjoy one of the best affordable getaways in South Carolina!

For this road trip, we suggest starting at sunrise and ending at sunset, with the possibility of seven stops in between. If you were to drive the trip straight through, it would only take you about five and a half hours. You can, of course, pick and choose which sites you'd like to visit if you do not necessarily want to include all of them. This itinerary is flexible enough to be a one-day mini vacation or a cheap weekend getaway in South Carolina. It's entirely up to you. Now, let’s begin!

You can open the route map on Google Maps.

1. Morris Island Lighthouse - Folly Beach

The sunrise scenery doesn’t get much better than this. The lighthouse is the tallest one in the state, towering at 161 feet high and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is located on the southern side of the entrance to Charleston Harbor.

The easiest option for viewing the lighthouse is from the beaches off the northeastern end of Folly Island, where there are plenty of public access points. You can gauge the approximate time for sunrise on the date you are planning to visit using the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration’s Solar Calculator on their website.

Cost: $0 Check out this gorgeous drone footage to see the Morris Island Lighthouse from a new perspective!

2. World's Largest Sweet Tea - Summerville

You will drive for about an hour to the birthplace of sweet tea, the South’s favorite drink. The replica mason jar is over 15 feet tall and dispensed 2,524 gallons of sweet tea on its debut on June 10, 2016. It’s located downtown on Main Street in the courtyard of the Summerville Municipal Complex.

If seeing this monstrosity in person isn’t your "cup of tea" or idea of the stunning site it is for some, however, feel free to move along to the next stop instead. There are, of course, no hard and fast rules, per se, for this road trip. Fewer stops mean you could spend a little more time at those you would most enjoy or take a longer break to eat lunch! Learn more about why Summerville is considered to be the friendliest town in South Carolina.

Cost: $0

3. Edisto Memorial Gardens - Orangeburg

Next up on our affordable getaway in South Carolina is Edisto Memorial Gardens. Drive for about another hour to these beautiful gardens, which received a name change in 1950 to honor the brave individuals from the Orangeburg area who gave their lives in World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam Conflict. They may be the most stunning during May when all of the roses are in bloom.

The Rose Garden features award-winning roses of 187 varieties. The Angel of Hope Garden is home to the only angel sculpture in South Carolina, one of over 90 around the country and dedicated to the children who lost their lives through natural causes or accidents.

There’s no shade in the rose garden area, so you may want to bring along a sun parasol if you’re going during hotter seasons.

Cost: $0

4. Finlay Park - Columbia

Following your time at the Edisto Memorial Gardens, the next leg of this trip is less than an hour’s drive. This section of our cheap day trip in South Carolina offers three potential stops in Columbia, the state capital. The view of the downtown Columbia skyline from Finlay Park is spectacular. You can get different types of views from other vantage points at the park. Depending on the time of day and time of year, your view will vary as well.

There used to be a waterfall in the park and the fountain may not be working if you visit before the upcoming much-needed $18 million revamp is completed. It is estimated that the renovations will be complete in 2024, but there's still plenty of the park to enjoy at any time!

Cost: $0

5. Memorial Park - Columbia

Anyone who has served in our nation’s armed forces will be especially interested in Memorial Park, just a couple of minutes over to the corner of Gadsden and Hampton Streets.

There are monuments honoring the USS Columbia warship and those that served with her during WWII; the China-Burma-India Theater Veterans of WWII; causalities of the Pearl Harbor attack of December 7, 1941, who were from South Carolina; and the State Vietnam War Veterans. The Vietnam monument in the park is the largest of its type outside of Washington, D.C. 980 South Carolinians made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country in Vietnam.

Cost: $0

6. The Museum of Reconstructive Era at Woodrow Wilson Family Home - Columbia

Just down the street is our final site in Columbia, the site of the home Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States, lived in from 1871 to 1875 while he was a teenager. This might be a stop where you’d like to spend a little extra time if you enjoy history and want to go inside the home to experience some of the exhibits. The museum is South Carolina’s only remaining presidential site and has been the recipient of multiple awards through the years.

Cost: $0 to view from outside; Tour cost varies depending on age, please visit Historic Columbia's website for more details and pricing.

By now, you may be ready to grab some lunch. There are some excellent options in downtown Columbia we are happy to suggest, including Top Of Carolina, a rotating restaurant serving brunch on top of the Capstone Building, or Villa Tronco, the oldest Italian restaurant in the state.

7. Falls Park on the Reedy - Greenville

This leg of our cheap day trip in South Carolina is the longest of the day, about an hour and 45 minutes to the beautiful, iconic waterfall sight in downtown Greenville’s Historic West End. The park was designed in the mid-1980s to restore the beauty of the area and provide a safe and welcoming gathering spot for individuals and groups. It serves as an oasis within the city and is considered one of Greenville’s greatest treasures.

Cost: $0

8. Hagood Mill Historic Site - Pickens

Our next stop is about a 40-minute drive to a spot listed on the National Registry of Historic Sites. This is another place where you may wish to spend a little more time.

Situated on over 50 acres, you will find so much to explore, including an 1845 gristmill, restored log cabins, a blacksmith shop, cotton gin, moonshine still, nature trails, a gift shop featuring local crafters, musicians, authors, and the South Carolina Petroglyph Site, the state's only protected and most accessible collection of rock art.

Cost: Varies based on age and event at the site. Please check the Hagood Mill Historic Site website for details and more information.

9. Jumping Off Rock Overlook - Sunset

And at last, we reach our final destination for this trip after a drive of a little over an hour. Ideally, you will arrive to see this one around the time the sun is ready to set for the most gorgeous, picture-perfect views of Lake Jocassee, set against the Blue Ridge Mountains backdrop.

Jumping Off Rock is said to have gotten its name from a heartbreaking situation whereby a young Cherokee Indian maiden had gotten news that her young Indian Chief had been killed in battle, so she climbed to the edge of the rock and jumped off. Legend has it that on moonlit nights, the ghost of the maiden can be seen on Jumping Off Rock.

Cost: $0 Check out the spectacular footage of the area surrounding Jumping Off Rock Overlook in the YouTube video below:

What a way to end this day of sunrise to sunset sightseeing on one of the most affordable getaways in South Carolina, spending little more than gas expenses! Have you ever been to any of these amazing sites? Or, where are your favorite South Carolina destinations when you find yourself thinking, "I'm ready for a cheap mini-vacation near me." We'd love to hear all about your travels in the comments below.

For related content, check out this scenic road trip through South Carolina. Or, take your time and enjoy a Charleston weekend getaway. Whether it's a one-day trip or a weekend getaway, make sure you use our helpful ultimate road trip packing list. It will help make travel a breeze!