Congaree National Park & Charleston

A national park on the way in and two nights in Charleston, all driven from Atlanta.

The pastel houses of Rainbow Row in Charleston under palm trees
How long
2 nights
When
May 15 to 17
Who
Me and my boyfriend
Stayed at
Sleep Inn Charleston, out in West Ashley
Good for
A national park and a city in the same weekend

The itinerary

  1. Friday

    Congaree, then Charleston

    Morning
    Left Atlanta at 8am for the three and a half hour drive to Congaree National Park. We picked up subs on the way and had a picnic at the park before starting our walk.
    Afternoon
    We got to Congaree around noon. Make sure to put lots of bug spray on as soon as you get out of the car. We did the Boardwalk Loop, 2.6 miles, which is a genuinely relaxing walk and takes you in under some enormous trees. From there it is two hours on to Charleston, and we checked into the Sleep Inn about ten minutes outside the city.
    Evening
    Showered, got ready and ubered into town for a drink and oysters at Raw 167, then a 7pm reservation at Frannie and the Fox. Bar hopped after that.

    StayedSleep Inn Charleston, West Ashley

    • Cypress trees standing in the flooded forest at Congaree National Park
    • Still water and cypress trees seen from the boardwalk at Congaree
    • Dinner in a courtyard under string lights in Charleston
    • Two cocktails on a lit agate bar top

  2. Saturday

    Charleston

    Morning
    Drove to the Charleston farmers market. Make sure to get a coffee from the Coastal Cowgirl truck while you are there. It was so good, and the truck itself is adorable.
    Afternoon
    We drove to Palmira BBQ for lunch right at 11am when they open, because there is usually a line out the door. It is famous barbecue and it absolutely lived up to it. After that we drove out to Shem Creek, wandered around and had a drink at Saltwater Cowboys, where you can sit on the deck and watch for dolphins.
    Evening
    Back to the hotel to change, then an Uber over to King Street for the shops. From there we walked down to Rainbow Row and the Pineapple Fountain and just explored, and finished with dinner.

    StayedSleep Inn Charleston, West Ashley

    • Walking through the stalls at the Charleston farmers market
    • The pale blue Coastal Cowgirl coffee truck parked under the trees
    • A barbecue tray from Palmira with brisket, sausage, pickles, mac and cheese and slaw
    • Lunch outside on a weathered wooden table with a cocktail and a glass of wine
    • Standing at an ornate iron gate in Charleston
    • A pink Charleston house with black lanterns either side of the door
    • The pastel houses of Rainbow Row under the palms
    • The two of us in the park near the Pineapple Fountain
    • A selfie of the two of us in the sun

  3. Sunday

    Home

    Morning
    Breakfast, then the four and a half hour drive back to Atlanta.

Bug spray at Congaree is not optional. It is a floodplain forest, the mosquitoes are serious, and the boardwalk keeps you out there for a couple of miles.

Congaree works well as a stop on the way rather than a destination. It is roughly three and a half hours from Atlanta and two more on to Charleston, so you can walk the boardwalk and still be showered and out for dinner the same evening.

Staying outside of Charleston was a lot more budget friendly and it worked out great for us. The Sleep Inn is about ten minutes out in West Ashley and we just ubered in.

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