Florence, South Carolina travel guide: things to do, food & where to stay

Overview

Florence is a city in the Pee Dee Country Region of South Carolina. It was the site of the Florence Stockade, a Confederate POW camp, notably bad but still maybe not as bad as Andersonville, then a railroad hub, and nowadays a regional center for medical care and manufacturing, including as it sits at the terminus for I-20. Even though it got started rather late, in 1871, it's more or less the hub for northeastern South Carolina, aka Pee Dee Country.

3 sights · 3 places to eat · 2 places to stay

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about Florence

Florence Stockade Visitor Center

Between 1864 and 1865, about 16,000 Union soldiers were held captive here, in abysmal conditions that consummated in the deaths of about 2,800 of these men. The site is not as developed as Andersonville State Historic Pa…

Florence National Cemetery

Next to the stockade, this is where a lot of the POW camp casualties ended up.

Florence County Museum

Art and local history. Antiques, paintings, Civil War, South West American Indian exhibits and more.

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: Feb–May, Oct–Nov. Summer highs reach about 93°F; winter lows dip to about 37°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jul and Jun. (climate data from nearby Santee Cooper Country)

Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).

Getting there

From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
FLO Florence Regional Airport, Florence — 2 mi away. Directions
MYR Myrtle Beach International Airport, Myrtle Beach — 60 mi away (major hub). Directions

Florence Regional Airport has nonstop service to Charlotte on American Airlines.

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Budget & where to stay

Places to stay listed here: about $56–$56 a night (typical $133), from 2 listed prices.
Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$100, mid-range ~$210, comfortable ~$220.

See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.

Sample 1-day itinerary

Day 1

Morning Florence County Museum, Florence National Cemetery
Lunch Red Bone Alley Restaurant and Bar
Afternoon Florence Stockade Visitor Center
Dinner Quincy's Family SteakHouse

Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.

Food for you

Cuisine (tap to filter)

What to ask about, for your diet

Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder