Ashley River Road
State: South Carolina
Length: 11 miles / 17.6 km
Time to Allow: Allow 25 minutes without stopping, or as much as two days to experience all the National Historic Landmarks.
As the name Ashley River Road states, this byway follows the Ashley River in South Carolina by Charleston on the coast. The River flows right into the Atlantic ocean and merges with a few other rivers surrounding Charleston and North Charleston. The route has easy access to an Air Force base and the Charleston International Airport. As the byway only travels 11 miles, you can take a short 25-minute drive or stay in the nearby city and turn this byway into an adventure.
What makes this byway so beautiful are large oak trees draped in Spanish moss with flowers surrounding the trees thanks to expansive gardens. Along the way, you can find significant Revolutionary and Civil War sites with pastoral scenes. Start in the north near the Air Force base close to wear 165 and 61 meet. The water breaks off from the river into dozens of tiny little rivulets. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and stop at the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens.
Inside the gardens, you will find the Audubon Swamp Garden, where you can find pink swamps. The park is the main attraction on this byway, with tons of options to make for a beautiful stop. You will need to pay to visit the gardens, but children under five are free. With the cost, you get admission to the historic house, nature tram, nature boat, slavery to freedom tour, and the Audubon Swamp.
Once inside, you can visit the gift shop, Peacock Cafe, or try out various attractions. Go on a bird walk or visit the swamp gardens. From there you can take the kids to the zoo and nature center or the children’s garden. A 45-minute tour will take you around the slave dwellings off the main house. Another tour will take you on a tram through the area for views of the wildlife and scenery. Make sure to take a tour of the plantation house and the gardens owned by the Drayton family with historical relevance and ten rooms open to the public.
After, take the byway through to the Live Oak Memorial Garden, a large historical cemetery. Enjoy views of local architecture and the river on the way to Charleston. Nearby you can visit the McLeod Plantation Historic Site with tours to learn about the daily life of slavery. Learn also about the importance of sea island cotton, along with information about the wars.
Take your RV or camp at the James Island County Park with options for everyone and cottages too. Spend a night or two in Charleston and visit the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon for military history. Visit more war sites or take the kids to the aquarium to see sharks and sea turtles. After, visit another plantation and garden at Boone Hall. Take a break after near the water to relax on the beach during the summer or go fishing. Find activities for the entire family in town and spend a night in luxury at the Wentworth Mansion for spectacular accommodations.
More South Carolina Byways
You can check out additional Byways in South Carolina by clicking on the list of byways below, or by going to the South Carolina Byways home section. To find even more of scenic byways in the United States, visit our scenic byways map.