From Mountain Peaks to Palm Trees: An RV Trip Through the Palmetto State

Blue Ridge Mountains and the Piedmont

This region blends scenic drives with small towns, historic sites, and easy access to outdoor recreation—all well suited to RV travel and state park camping. And if you brought your bicycle, check out the 28-mile Swamp Rabbit Trail to stretch your legs–there is plenty of RV parking along the route

Gaffney Peachoid

Despite being overshadowed by the neighboring “Peach Tree State,” South Carolina actually produces three times more peaches than Georgia in a typical growing season, according to the state’s department of agriculture. Residents of Gaffney—and fans of Netflix’s House of Cards—will recognize the town by its suggestive, peach-shaped water tower. Built in 1981, the 135-foot-tall Peachoid sits just off the highway on Peachoid Road and makes for a classic RV road-trip stop that’s easy to pull off for photos without disrupting your travel day

Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum

Located in Greenville, the former home of baseball legend “Shoeless” Joe Jackson now houses a museum dedicated to his life and career. RV travelers can park once and explore downtown Greenville on foot, making this a convenient cultural stop between longer drives.

Rock Hill Baptist Church Cemetery

On September 8, 2009, Rock Hill Baptist Church Cemetery got an unusual new resident. Lonnie Holloway, who died at the age of 90, was buried in a large plot by the road—but he wasn’t alone. Holloway was lowered into his eternal resting place strapped into the driver’s seat of his 1973 Pontiac Catalina with his collection of handguns and hunting rifles beside him. Visitors wishing to pay their respects can’t miss the extra-long plot, within which Holloway’s wife (who passed away in 2007) is also interred. These unexpected discoveries are part of what makes RV travel special, allowing travelers to stop when curiosity strikes rather than rushing to the next reservation.

Sumter National Forest

Designated as a national forest by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1936 and named for Revolutionary War patriot Thomas Sumter, the more than 350,000 acres of the Sumter National Forest are managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Divided into three different ranger districts, the protected lands provide myriad opportunities for outdoor recreation in every season, including hiking, canoeing, horseback riding, and target shooting. RV camping nearby allows travelers to stay close to trailheads and waterways, making early mornings and quiet evenings in nature easy to enjoy.

Oconee Station State Historic Site

Travel back in time to see what the northwest corner of South Carolina was like in the 18th and 19th centuries at the Oconee Station State Historic Site. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, the site comprises a fishing pond, nature trail, the Oconee Station blockhouse (used as a lookout for the South Carolina militia and trading post), and the William Richards House. RVers can pair historic exploration with nearby state park camping, creating a relaxed pace that blends education and outdoor recreation.

Sandhills and the Inner Coastal Plain

As the landscape flattens and the forests open up, RV travelers transition into South Carolina’s historic heartland—an area rich in Revolutionary War history and folk art, with easy driving between stops for breaks.

Historic Camden

For an immersive look into the region’s Revolutionary War-era history, visit Historic Camden, the site of one of the most devastating patriot losses in the entire war. See history—and molten metal—come to life at the site’s forge, learn how weavers and potters create functional masterpieces from natural materials, or visit the Artisan market to take home something unique that was grown or made on site. RVing through this region allows visitors to connect multiple historic sites in a single trip without changing accommodations.

South of the Border

It’s impossible to drive on I-95 for any length of time without seeing one of South of the Border’s iconic billboards. If you’ve never stopped at this sprawling roadside attraction, you may not know just how much there is to do here, which is—as the name suggests—located just over the North Carolina/South Carolina border in Hamer. Stock up on fireworks at Fort Pedro, grab a souvenir (or several) from one of multiple on-site gift shops, stay overnight at the campground, take in a 360-degree view from the sombrero-topped observation tower, or fortify yourself with a steak from the Peddler Steakhouse (if you need a break from cooking in your RV), housed in a building shaped like—you guessed it—a sombrero.

South Carolina State Museum

Dedicated to the history and culture of the Palmetto State, the South Carolina State Museum offers visitors myriad ways to interact with and learn about more than one million artifacts. Divided into four categories: art, natural history, cultural history, and science and technology, the museum’s collection spans from 70-million-year-old dinosaur bones, to early Native American textiles, and vintage televisions. There are plenty of nearby campgrounds that offer you the chance to explore the capital city without navigating downtown hotels.

South Carolina State Capitol

This classical revival building was completed in the late 1800s after the original state capitol was destroyed during the Civil War. Designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1976, the capitol is open for free tours on most afternoons (call to verify). The surrounding grounds are dotted with monuments and memorials, including ones dedicated to prominent South Carolina politicians, the state’s African American history, and more. There is nearby RV parking to make this stop even easier.

Button King Museum

Dalton Stevens, known as the “Button King,” died in 2016, but his legacy lives on thanks to his son at the Button King Museum in Bishopville. Stevens more than lived up to his moniker by affixing buttons to everything he could, including guitars, cars, coffins, pianos, and suits. He was interviewed by Johnny Carson and David Letterman, and eventually earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as the owner of the world’s largest button collection (comprising more than one million buttons). More of a folk art warehouse than a formal museum, the Button King Museum is free to visit but donations keep the lights on.

Congaree National Park

One of the top 15 least-visited national parks in 2024, Congaree is truly an underrated gem located right in the middle of the Palmetto State. The park’s 26,000 acres comprise the largest tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the U.S. (including some of the tallest trees along the East Coast). The designated wilderness area is a great place for catching a glimpse of several species of birds and fireflies and staying nearby in an RV allows travelers to experience the park at different times of day, when wildlife is most active and boardwalk trails are quieter.

Outer Coastal Plain and Coast

South Carolina’s coast delivers classic beach towns, historic forts, and iconic Southern landmarks. RV travel makes it possible to enjoy coastal attractions while staying outside dense city centers, offering more space and flexibility. It’s important to note that all these attractions are accessible by RV. The campgrounds in this region offer unique amenities like goat yoga and a petting zoo!

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park comprises two forts in Charleston Harbor that were instrumental in the late 1700s through to the Civil War. Fort Moultrie, located on Sullivan’s Island, offers opportunities for birding, hiking, and fishing (by permit only). RV travelers can base themselves on the mainland and explore Charleston Harbor and the Fort Sumter Visitor Center and historic fort by boat, then return to quieter campgrounds outside the city.

World's Largest Sweet Tea

Summerville is known as the birthplace of sweet tea and they have the world record to prove it: The World’s Largest Iced Tea, according to the Guiness Book of World Records, was brewed by the town in 2016. The 15-foot-tall, 2,524 gallon “mason jar” was filled using 210 pounds of loose leaf tea, 1,700 pounds of sugar, and hundreds of pounds of ice to achieve the 45-degree F temperature required to break the record. 

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

Located about 30 minutes from downtown Charleston, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens claims to be "Charleston's most visited plantation." The oldest public tourist site in the Lowcountry—as well as the oldest public gardens in the U.S.—opened to visitors in 1870. The plantation was founded nearly 200 years prior (in 1676) by the Drayton family and is still owned by descendants today. Magnolia is home to the country’s oldest and largest collection of camellias and azaleas, in addition to a swamp, ponds, several bridges and a petting zoo. There’s plenty of free RV parking onsite, too.

Angel Oak

The Angel Oak, an iconic Southern live oak estimated to be between 400 and 500 years old, is located on John's Island outside of Charleston The sprawling tree, now owned by the city, measures 66.5 feet tall, 28 feet in circumference, and throws shade for 17,200 square feet. The tree sustained damage in 1989 from Hurricane Hugo and some of its branches have been secured by posts or cables over the years to help with stability. When the 17 acres surrounding the tree were threatened with development in 2012, the area was successfully saved due to concerns that the tree's groundwater and nutrient supply would be in danger.

Myrtle Beach

Charleston may have the history, but for a classic and timeless beach vacation, travel up the coast to Myrtle Beach. The miniature golf capital of the world is home to more than 50 courses, each seeking to outdo the other with obstacles that far surpass your standard bridges and windmills. When you get tired of putting, head to one of the many attractions located along the coast, including the Hollywood Wax Museum, Ocean Boulevard’s Trinket Wall, WonderWorks (an indoor amusement park housed inside of a mindbending upside down building), and Jaws Resort Wear, a souvenir store that you enter through a giant shark mouth. This is a great place to leave your RV and walk, bike, board, or scooter around!

Atalaya Castle

Atalaya Castle was built as a winter home for Archer M. Huntington (a scholar and philanthropist) and his wife, Anna (a sculptor) along the Atlantic Coast in Huntington Beach State Park. This Moorish-style castle was named after the original in Spain, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. With 30 rooms, a 40-foot-tall water tower, and wrought iron details designed by Anna herself, the house is open for guided tours and hosts the annual Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival in September.