Tripadvisor
1 / 30#30. Shelter Cove Towne Centre
- Rating: 4.4/5 (461 reviews)
- City: Hilton Head South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Highest-rated free things to do in South Carolina by visitors
Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.
Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.
That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were cost-burdened, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.
It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in South Carolina.
From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.
To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in South Carolina using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.
Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!
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Tripadvisor
2 / 30#29. GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail
- Rating: 4.7/5 (748 reviews)
- City: Greenville South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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3 / 30#28. Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
- Rating: 4.5/5 (447 reviews)
- City: Hardeeville South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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4 / 30#27. MarshWalk
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,251 reviews)
- City: Murrells Inlet South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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5 / 30#26. Tanger Outlets Myrtle Beach Hwy 17
- Rating: 4.2/5 (937 reviews)
- City: Myrtle Beach South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Tripadvisor
6 / 30#25. Shem Creek Park
- Rating: 4.7/5 (814 reviews)
- City: Mount Pleasant South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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7 / 30#24. Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
- Rating: 4.5/5 (982 reviews)
- City: Hilton Head South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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8 / 30#23. Botany Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve/ Wildlife Management Area
- Rating: 4.7/5 (680 reviews)
- City: Edisto Island Sou
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
9 / 30#22. Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,036 reviews)
- City: Charleston South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
10 / 30#21. Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,297 reviews)
- City: Hilton Head South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Tripadvisor
11 / 30#20. Pineapple Fountain
- Rating: 4.5/5 (696 reviews)
- City: Charleston South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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12 / 30#19. Congaree National Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (654 reviews)
- City: Hopkins South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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13 / 30#18. Battery & White Point Gardens
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,470 reviews)
- City: Charleston South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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14 / 30#17. Sullivan's Island Beach
- Rating: 4.3/5 (452 reviews)
- City: Sullivan s Island South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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15 / 30#16. The Market Common
- Rating: 4.5/5 (580 reviews)
- City: Myrtle Beach South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Tripadvisor
16 / 30#15. Rainbow Row
- Rating: 4.1/5 (1,554 reviews)
- City: Charleston South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
17 / 30#14. Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
- Rating: 4.6/5 (4,932 reviews)
- City: Charleston South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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18 / 30#13. Folly Beach Public Beach
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1,662 reviews)
- City: Folly Beach South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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19 / 30#12. Fred W. Symmes Chapel
- Rating: 4.7/5 (188 reviews)
- City: Cleveland South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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20 / 30#11. Cherry Grove Beach
- Rating: 4.7/5 (920 reviews)
- City: North Myrtle Beach South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Tripadvisor
21 / 30#10. Myrtle Beach
- Rating: 4.4/5 (5,016 reviews)
- City: Myrtle Beach South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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22 / 30#9. Hilton Head Island Bike Trails
- Rating: 4.8/5 (3,200 reviews)
- City: Hilton Head South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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23 / 30#8. Myrtle Beach Boardwalk & Promenade
- Rating: 4.1/5 (4,350 reviews)
- City: Myrtle Beach South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
24 / 30#7. Barefoot Landing
- Rating: 4.3/5 (4,036 reviews)
- City: North Myrtle Beach South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
25 / 30#6. Angel Oak Tree
- Rating: 4.6/5 (2,482 reviews)
- City: Johns Island South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Tripadvisor
26 / 30#5. Coligny Beach
- Rating: 4.6/5 (4,323 reviews)
- City: Hilton Head South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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27 / 30#4. Charleston Waterfront Park
- Rating: 4.6/5 (5,668 reviews)
- City: Charleston South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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28 / 30#3. Falls Park on the Reedy
- Rating: 4.9/5 (4,460 reviews)
- City: Greenville South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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29 / 30#2. Charleston City Market
- Rating: 4.1/5 (8,271 reviews)
- City: Charleston South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
30 / 30#1. Broadway at the Beach
- Rating: 4.5/5 (9,142 reviews)
- City: Myrtle Beach South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.
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