Roadtrip with RVshare Charleston to Savannah

Southern hospitality, unique natural attractions, and a glimpse into American history await you on a Charleston to Savannah road trip. You can stop at Congaree National Park to go hiking, fishing, and more. There are also fantastic state parks to visit along the way, including Edisto Beach State Park in South Carolina and Hunting Island State Park along with Fort McAllister State Park in Georgia. As you travel through the Lowland region, you will find fascinating small towns to explore, like Ravenel, South Carolina, and larger communities, like Salkehatchie and Switzerland, South Carolina. While they are a little off your Charleston to Savannah RV road trip route, you can easily stop in Beaufort, Hilton Head, and Tybee Island, South Carolina. 

Nearby National Parks

Congaree National Park  

The Congaree and Wateree rivers run through Congaree National Park. They feed and water the large old-growth hardwood forest in this location. Explore the forest and oxbow lakes by hiking along the miles of trails. Learn more by going on a guided hike with a park ranger. This park near Hopkins, South Carolina, is also a fantastic place to go fishing. Many people love to come to this park to go kayaking and canoeing on the Salt Cedar Creek. Large cypress trees found on either side of the Congaree River form a natural canopy. Look closely and you may see otters building their homes along the shore.

Nearby State Parks

Edisto Beach State Park  

Start your Charleston to Savannah RV road trip by heading a little south along the coastline to arrive at Edisto Beach State Park. This 1,255-acre park near Edisto Beach, South Carolina, is in the basin created by the Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto Rivers, which is one of the Atlantic Coast’s longest undisturbed estuaries. You may want to arrive early as the sunrises viewed from the 1.5-mile-long beach are stunning. Additionally, you will want to explore the beach during low tide to look for seashells and examine the tidal pools. Learn more about the estuary by talking to the staff at the environmental education center. This park is a fantastic place to go hiking. The 4-mile-long boardwalk is ADA accessible. Take a bike ride to see some of South Carolina’s tallest pimento trees. Scott Creek Inlet is a terrific spot to go fishing or enjoy paddling fun on Big Bay Creek. 

Hunting Island State Park  

When you get to Ridgeland, South Carolina, you may want to get off your road trip from Charleston to Savannah route and go east about an hour to Hunting Island State Park. This park is the most visited in the state, and it contains the only publicly accessible lighthouse in the state. Climb the 167 steps to the observation deck to see amazing views of the entire area. This unique cast-iron lighthouse was built in sections so that it could be easily moved and has stood at its present location since 1889. You may also want to go on a sunrise walk on the beach because you can often find shark’s teeth, and the sun coming up over the ocean creates a stunning landscape. Stop at the visitor’s center to see the alligators and learn more about wildlife at this park. Then, head out on the Marsh Boardwalk to see how many animals you can spot. Vendors at this park will take you on a ferry to explore St. Philip’s island or on a short whale-watching cruise. 

Fort McAllister Historic State Park  

Fort McAllister State Park is located about 22 miles southwest of Savannah, Georgia. You will want to explore the earthworks built during the Civil War that did not fall until Sherman’s March of the Seas. There are also cannons, a hotshot furnace, and other Civil War items to see around the grounds and at the museum. You can rent canoes and paddleboards at this 30-acre park on the Ogeechee River. The river is an excellent place to go fishing. It is a terrific place to go birdwatching as well because it is located on the Colonial Coast Birding Trail. Explore this park's 4.5 miles of trails that wind their way under tall shade trees and along the river’s banks. You may also want to consider visiting other Georgia state parks. 

Along the Way

Audubon’s Francis Biedler Forest Sanctuary  

You will want to drive about 45 miles northwest of Charleston to visit the 18,000-acre Audubon’s Francis Biedler Forest Sanctuary. Stroll along the fully accessible 1.75-mile boardwalk running through a swamp to see pristine trees that are over 100 years old. Watch as you walk to see a variety of birds and wildlife that live in the swamp. Head on to the Grassland-Woodland Biedler Trails at this facility near Harleyville, South Carolina, to see the birds and animals that live in the grasslands and long-leaf pine forest. You can go on kayak and canoe tours from March to May. Special walks with park staff, including nighttime walks, occur regularly throughout the year. 

South Carolina Artisian Center  

Travel a short way north off your Charleston to Savannah road trip route to arrive at the South Carolina Artisan Center. This center in Walterboro, South Carolina, sells homemade crafts from around the state. Even if you are not interested in buying anything, it is a great place to window shop as many of the items are made using techniques passed from one generation to the next. Each vendor allowed to show their work here is carefully vetted, so you see the best work from artists across the state. 

Charleston Tea Garden  

Travel southwest from Charleston about 21 miles to visit the Charleston Tea Garden on Wadmalaw Island. It is the only place that tea leaves are grown commercially in the United States. Take a seat on the trolley to see the miles of tea plants. The trolley stops at the greenhouse, where you can learn how new tea plant varieties are developed. The final stop is the tea factory, where you can walk along the production area and see how tea is prepared for your supermarket shelf. They also operate a gift shop with tea-related items. 

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge  

The Savannah River runs through the middle of the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge covers 81,500 acres near Hardeeville, South Carolina. Drive the 8.4-mile down Wildlife Drive, and you will often see alligators sunning themselves. This refuge is also a great place to go on a hike or a bike ride. This is especially true during the spring and fall when the impoundment at this refuge becomes a migratory stopover point for hundreds of wading birds. Many of the trails lay near ponds and wetlands created in the 1700s when this area was used to grow rice. Depending on the season, you may be able to go hunting or fishing here.

Main Cities You Will Pass Through

Ravenel  

You may want to stop at the Caw Caw Interpretive Center when going through Ravenel. Since this community is only 26 miles from Charleston, you can spend the night in a Charleston campground, like James Island County Park, or head to Johns Island to camp at Oak Plantation Campground. You can find nearby Ravenel RV dump stations at Edisto Beach State Park and James Island County Park. 

Yemassee  

Yemassee is near many plantation homes, like the Auldbrass Plantation and the Frampton Plantation House. You can find Yemassee campgrounds at Point South/I-95/Yemassee KOA Holiday or The Oaks at Point South. You may also want to consider Hilton Head campgrounds as they are only about 45 miles away. Yemassee RV dump stations are available at either of the campgrounds as well as at Love’s Truck Stop. 

Hardeeville  

Sargent Jasper Park is a fantastic place to explore in Hardeeville as it offers fishing, biking and hiking trails, disc golf, and more. Hardeeville campgrounds include Camp Lake Jasper RV Resort and Len Thomas RV Park and Campground. Hardeeville is only 17 miles from Savannah, so you may want to consider Savannah campgrounds. Hardeeville RV dump stations can be found at Stoney Creek Plantation Campground and Camping World. This city serves as the main entrance to Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.

Find Adventure from Charleston to Savannah

Find your One-Way Rental

When you follow this road trip itinerary from Charleston to Savannah, you will enjoy historic locations and beautiful scenery along the way. If you want to travel in comfort and style, consider an RV rental from RVshare. From large motorhomes to compact campervans, there is a rig that will meet your travel and budget needs. Once you hit the road, you are protected by our renter guarantee and 24/7 roadside assistance. Find the perfect vehicle for your travel needs in Charleston or Savannah.