North of Charleston, South Carolina sits Summerville, a town that's just as historic as the nearby metropolis. Summerville was first known as Pineland Village, a place that was settled soon after the American Revolutionary War in 1785. The majority of the village's first residents were plantation owners from Charleston who wanted to find land free of swamps and pests. It wasn't until 1847, though, that Summerville gained its town name and official town status.
Summerville is famous for being the first United States town to issue a law prohibiting the cutting of certain trees, specifically pine trees. These pines also helped Summerville become a place of thriving human health; in 1899, Summerville was named one of two best areas in the world to live while recovering from lung and throat diseases and disorders, thanks to the many pine trees.
Summerville considers itself to be the birthplace of sweet tea, too, and it hosts an annual Sweet Tea Festival in September to celebrate the historic drink's roots. At the festival, Summerville's downtown area is turned into an open house full of local arts and crafts vendors, food trucks, and live entertainers. There is also a contest for visitors to enter and vote for the "Tea of the Year."
Any time of year, Summerville's historic downtown area is open to the public, and there are plenty of local small businesses, boutiques, and restaurants for visitors to check out inside of classic buildings that date back to the 1800s. There are also blooming azaleas during the warmer months all around the city, and there are lots of parks and gardens inside of Summerville's city limits to keep visitors busy in the outdoors. Even during the cooler months, Summerville hosts a lot of citywide shopping events, so there's never a dull moment in the town.
Flowertown Festival - Annually in March or April, Summerville hosts the largest arts and crafts festival in South Carolina. It is called the Flowertown Festival because Summerville is considered a town of flowers in the midst of a swampy area.
Cooper River Bridge Run - Around the same time as Summerville's Flowertown Festival is the Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston, a 6.2-mile elite run.
Summerville Farmers Market - Every Saturday from April to November, Summerville hosts a farmers market downtown for shoppers who want to buy local fresh produce.
Congaree National Park in South Carolina is just 86 miles from Summerville and is the sole national park in South Carolina. The park itself is home to plenty of swamplands and tall trees that were not taken away by the lumber industry, and you can take one of many easy to difficult trails any day in the park. Just be sure to bring a jacket as rainfall is common during the warm season.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina is 273 miles from Summerville and is full of mountainous views and breathtaking sights. The park encompasses a whopping 500,000 acres of land and is home to lots of animals, including black bears, elk, bobcats, and beavers.
Shenandoah National Park in Virginia is 500 miles from Summerville, South Carolina, and is home to the famous Appalachian Trail. It's also home to over 300 square miles of parkland, and you can catch great views from the tops of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Givhans Ferry State Park in Ridgeville, South Carolina is the perfect destination for mountain biking and hiking. You can also attend various events at the entertainment venue, Riverfront Hall, on the park's grounds.
Located near Waterboro is Colleton State Park, a great destination for water sports and boating. This park is also located on the Edisto River and has a campground with full electrical and water hookups.
For those who love outdoor hiking, check out Edisto Beach State Park, home to the longest set of ADA-accessible trails in South Carolina. Located on the Edisto River and the oceanside, this state park also hosts a mile-long beachfront that everyone loves to visit in the summer.
South Carolina is home to tons of historic landmarks, some dating back to Colonial American times. One such landmark is Middleton Place in Charleston, a historic rice plantation with accompanying gardens. Another great monument to check out is Drayton Hall, also in Charleston, which is an antebellum plantation with a museum and cemetery dedicated to African American history.
Some of the top 10 campgrounds in Charleston, South Carolina, are just a couple of miles from Summersville. Charleston KOA is one option with full water and electric hookups, a pool, free WiFi for guests, and a dump station. Another great option for RVers is the Tanger Woods RV Campground, which is a more quiet place with laundry facilities and hiking, biking, and horse-riding trails.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Summerville, SC, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Summerville?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Summerville from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Summerville?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.