One Tank Trip for South Carolina Camping

Sponsored By:
Myrtle Beach Campground Association www.campmyrtlebeach.com [email protected]
South Carolina’s natural beauty should be considered one of the great wonders of our country, making it a must-see destination for the outdoors enthusiast. In fact, some of the best bird watching on the entire Atlantic coast can be found right here in South Carolina. One of America’s original thirteen colonies, South Carolina is chock full of attractions and historic monuments that draw attention to pivotal points in our nation’s history, such as Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began. If you are looking to take a quick weekend getaway, you might want to stop along these historic locations & attractions on your one tank trips journey through South Carolina and enjoy the beautiful outdoors.
Our starting point of Florence is one of the oldest cities in South Carolina, having been founded in the early 1700s by the British. Take a stroll around the town and enjoy the various waterways and parks, or maybe step inside the local history museum and see if you’ve got any ancestral ties to the region. Pick some of the wildflowers that grow in abundance by the roadside, or investigate the various arts and crafts shops in town.
Darlington Raceway is another popular hotspot, and is considered by pro racing drivers as one of the toughest tracks in the world. This 1.4-mile egg-shaped track has been nicknamed “The Lady in Black” and is distinctive in that it laps around the original landowner’s favorite fishing hole (apparently he had no problem with the building of the track as long as it didn’t get in the way of his fishing). Darlington is the host site of the Southern 500, which is considered by race fans as the Super Bowl of the sport. Professional drivers have nothing but respect for this track, which has been called “the track too tough to tame.”
Next stop, Myrtle Beach. Take the eastbound US-76 for 20 miles, and then merge with the US-501-S for the remaining 44 miles into Myrtle Beach. This area is considered the #1 family beach in America, and makes the perfect place to stop and set up camp at one of the many RV Parks to enjoy South Carolina Camping. Myrtle Beach has a wealth of things to do to fit any size budget. There are more golf courses than you can shake a nine-iron at, water parks and amusement parks, and entertainment venues featuring amazing productions of music, magic, and theater. One place you’ll definitely want to check out is the Brookgreen Gardens, which stretches across nearly 10,000 acres and features an awe-inspiring collection of flora, including a garden of 250 Live Oak trees. Several other gardens and an Arboretum put nature on display, and here you’ll find the largest collection of outdoor-displayed figure sculptures in the world. Come see this fantastic oasis of peace and beauty, where the masterworks of Mother Nature and the human race combine.
From here, it’s on to Charleston. Travel south on the US-17 for a little over 90 miles and you’ll soon find yourself in one of the most romantic and historic cities in the world. Take a stroll hand-in-hand through the Magnolia Plantation Gardens, which was founded in the late 1600s, and has the distinction of being the oldest public gardens in the nation. Thousands of the most beautiful plants in the world take center stage right here. You can explore by foot, or take the train around the surrounding grounds and catch glimpses of the local wildlife such as herons, turtles, and even the occasional alligator cruising along the banks.
The lovely Battery Park calls to nature lovers, who travel to see the park’s White Point Gardens, and also historians due to Battery Park’s contribution to the Civil War. The park was used as an artillery post during that time, and the aforementioned mentioned Fort Sumter is visible from the Cooper River side of the park.
A quick ferry ride across Charleston Harbor takes you to Sullivan Island, where you’ll find the Charles Pinckney Home, which has been designated a National Historic Site. Pinckney was one of the chief authors and signers of the Constitution, and in addition to taking a tour through his fantastic plantation-style house, you can travel down a half-mile walking trail through the surrounding grounds, which features exhibits describing the local agriculture, as well as archaeological findings.
From Charleston, your journey back to Florence takes you 51 miles on the westbound I-26, until you come to the northbound I-95, which takes you the remaining 75 miles to Florence. A lot of the fun of these road trips lies in the journey as well as the arrival, so take some time along the return trip and see the undiscovered wonders waiting for you in the beautiful state of South Carolina.
This article was only one of many other exciting one tank trips also found in Woodall's 2010 North American Campground Directory. Enjoy an eventful weekend getaway of South Carolina camping and experience it all on just one tank of gas. Woodall's Recommended South Carolina RV Campgrounds