South Carolina

Understand

South Carolina, together with North Carolina forms a region historically known as Carolina. The two were governed as one colony until the early 18th century. Both were among the Thirteen Colonies that formed the United States. South Carolina has a long tradition of suspicion of national authority, from the slavery crises of the 19th century to the Civil Rights Movement in the 20th. It suffered heavy fighting during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. After the American Civil War, South Carolina lost most of its wealth, which was tied up in slaves and the plantation economy. This rough history has produced a uniquely strong sense of state identity and pride.

Though the famous "Southern accent" is definitely in evidence here, if you listen closely, you'll hear all its regional variations, from the deeper drawl of the Lowcountry to the more clipped speech of the Upstate.

South Carolina is generally characterized as having a humid subtropical climate. In the summer months, afternoon thunderstorms are common throughout the state with temperatures around 90°F (32°C) towards the coast and 80°F (27°C) along the Blue Ridge. In the winter months, the temperatures are much more drastic. Along the Blue Ridge, temperatures remain below 40°F (4°C). Towards the coast, temperatures average around 60°F (16°C). Snow is rare across much of the state. However, it is very common in the months of December–February along the Blue Ridge.

South Carolina is the 8th oldest state in the United States, being formed on May 23, 1788.

Tourist information

• Discover South Carolina website

Regions

Cities

• Columbia – the state capital with a large zoo and riverfront trails.
• Aiken – located in thoroughbred country adjacent to Augusta
• Charleston – oldest and largest city in the state, home to historic architecture and coastal views with numerous shopping and dining options.
• Clemson – college town home to Clemson University.
• Florence – located in the Pee Dee region, this town is home to a charming downtown and minutes from the Grand Strand.
• Georgetown – historic port city with small shops and restaurants.
• Greenville – foothills town consisting of numerous hiking trails, restaurants and shops.
• Myrtle Beach – coastal resort town with golden-sand beaches and numerous hotel options.
• Spartanburg – college town featuring numerous colleges as well as restaurants and shops.

Other destinations

• Hilton Head Island
• Congaree National Park
• Seabrook Island
• Isle of Palms
• Table Rock State Park
• Pawleys Island
• Beaufort - The Queen of the Sea Islands is 300 years old, as of 2011
• Blue Ridge Mountains

Get in

By car

South Carolina is served by five interstate highways.

• Interstate 85 traverses the northwest corner of the state, near Anderson, and connects Greenville and Spartanburg with Charlotte, North Carolina.
• Interstate 26 stretches southeast across the state, from Landrum to its terminus in Charleston. It intersects with Interstate 85 near Spartanburg, Interstate 20 near Columbia and Interstate 95 near Orangeburg. I-26 also connects with I-85 via I-385, which goes directly into downtown Greenville.
• Interstate 77 begins in Fort Mill, at the North Carolina border from Charlotte, N.C. and continues south to its terminus at *Interstate 26, just south of Columbia.
• Interstate 20 starts in North Augusta, at the Georgia border from Augusta, GA. It continues east to interchanges with Interstates 26 and 77 near Columbia to its terminus at Interstate 95 in Florence.
• Interstate 95, the most major highway in the state, crosses the border near Dillon and continues south-west through Florence to Savannah.

By plane

South Carolina has multiple airports servicing the state.

• Charleston International is the largest in the state, and features flights all around the east coast and Europe.
• Myrtle Beach International, Columbia Metropolitan and Greenville-Spartanburg International are decent sized airports with a variety of destinations.
• Smaller regional airports are located in Hilton Head and Florence. These airports primarily service regional hubs. The Atlanta and Charlotte airports are easily accessible from western South Carolina by I-85 or I-77.

By train

Amtrak has multiple routes that pass through South Carolina. The Silver Service and Palmetto trains call in Florence, Columbia, and Charleston in addition to smaller towns along the route from New York City to Florida. The Crescent train calls in Spartanburg, Greenville, and Clemson en route from New York City to New Orleans.

By bus

Greyhound serves several cities, and Megabus serves Columbia.

Get around

By car

The roads in South Carolina (like most places in the United States) are in good condition for travel. Interstate 95 in much of the southern part of the state is highly traveled and only a four-lane highway. One should keep a very close eye out for sudden traffic back ups, especially close to Charleston, Hilton Head and south of Charlotte in Fort Mill and Rock Hill. Generally, the other interstates do not suffer serious traffic except in the case of major wrecks.

The US-17, or Coastal Highway, also runs north-south through South Carolina. Despite the nickname, however, the coast is not visible from the US-17 in South Carolina. An interstate will usually get you where you want to go faster.

Gas prices are typically lower in South Carolina than most of the U.S. because of the much lower gas tax.

By bus

Information on transit can be found here.

Stay safe

It is illegal in South Carolina to be 'grossly intoxicated' in public. The police can arrest you and charge you with public disorderly conduct if they believe this is the case, and there seems to be no legal definition of grossly intoxicated for a pedestrian. This is a misdemeanor offence, resulting in a court hearing. You can get your charge expunged within the state by entering a Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) program. This involves fines, community service, drug tests, attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and homework assignments and typically takes about 2 months to complete. However, the PTI program is not recognized by the Federal Government.

Most of the areas visitors would normally visit in South Carolina are relatively crime-free. However, some residential areas in large cities like northern Charleston and Columbia may be somewhat dangerous after dark for non-locals.

While not as ubiquitous as in Florida, alligators do live in some water bodies in the state.

Respect

South Carolina, like almost all states in the South, is a conservative state, although it's a bit more progressive than, say, Mississippi. The various tips found in the respect section of the South article apply here.

Go next

• North Carolina - The state's northern neighbor is home to the Appalachian culture and incredible scenery of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as the stunning beaches of the Outer Banks and Cape Hatteras.
• Georgia - Located on South Carolina's southern and eastern border, Georgia has the major metropolis of Atlanta, with many attractions, and the charming cities of Macon and Savannah.