This Scenic Drive Runs Straight Through South Carolina’s Hunting Island State Park, And It’s A Breathtaking Journey

Highway 21 is a designated scenic byway in South Carolina, one of 21 scenic byways that all together total over 450 miles. There’s something to add to your bucket list … drive all 450-plus miles of our scenic highways! And today, we’ll get you started with some inspiration from Highway 21, which runs through our most-visited state park, Hunting Island State Park, which sees over a million visitors each year.

Highway 21, a gorgeous scenic byway in South Carolina, enters the state at the North Carolina border in the Fort Mill area, and it travels all the way through the middle of the state, ending on Fripp Island. We'll begin our look at this scenic byway, though, as it leaves Saint Helena Island, crossing over the Harbor River Bridge. This portion of the highway is called Sea Island Parkway.

The current Harbor River Bridge structure was a $77-million replacement of a swing bridge that had begun malfunctioning, causing motorists to be stranded for hours. The project won a 2022 America’s Transportation Award, sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials for its innovative technology, which allowed the road to stay open throughout the construction of the new 3,353-foot span. Learn more about Saint Helena Island.

Along the route on the Harbor Island stretch, you will pass pretty little fun-colored beach houses and typical island scenery, such as palm trees and marshland. Talk about SC scenic routes!

You'll also see some restaurants and shops. It's a good place to stop for a bite to eat or to get out and stretch your legs along one of the best driving roads in SC.

Another Slice offers pizza and BBQ in a setting with a cool vibe and excellent service. Get more details on Another Slice.

Another great spot on this scenic drive near me in South Carolina is Barefoot Bubba's, a charming beach shop with a nice selection of T-shirts, flip-flops, swimsuits, beach toys, and ice cream!

Find out more about what Barefoot Bubba's has to offer.

As you leave Harbor Island, you'll be crossing over Johnson Creek and entering Hunting Island. Almost immediately, you'll notice Campground Road to the left of this scenic byway in South Carolina.

This road leads you to the campground area of the island. It's a wonderful place if you'd like to stay overnight off of one of the best scenic byways in South Carolina. There are tent and RV campsites and one cabin rental available. Get all the details about Hunting Island State Park.

Beyond Campground Road, you'll continue traveling along this SC scenic route, and you'll pass roads on your left that will lead you to the Hunting Island Lighthouse and gift shop. Learn more about the Hunting Island Lighthouse.

You'll also notice some state park signs that will provide directions for different areas of the park. Learn more about the amenities at Hunting Island State Park.

You'll want to plan for time to explore this gorgeous area of South Carolina while you're here. There are five miles of pristine beaches, thousands of acres of marsh and maritime forest, and a saltwater lagoon. Make a fun pit stop off one of the best driving roads in SC. Not convinced about how great this park is? Check out some more reasons why you need to make a stop at Hunting Island State Park.

Towards the end of this scenic drive near me in South Carolina, you'll see an entrance to the Marsh Boardwalk Trail on your right, one of a dozen trails on the island. Learn more about the Marsh Boardwalk Trail.

It's an easy half-mile out-and-back trail where you'll likely see birds and other wildlife. If you time it just right, this could be your sunset view!

And now, you've reached the end of this scenic byway in South Carolina trip through Hunting Island State Park on Highway 21. If you'd like to continue on, you can explore Fripp Island during this adventure, too! Get more details on Fripp Island.

Have you ever been on this SC scenic route? What are your favorite scenic byways in South Carolina? Tell us in the comments!

Need more space for your road trip? Check out what RVshare has to offer.

Don't forget one of the best parts of a good road trip, stopping to eat! Check out some of the best restaurants in South Carolina.