12 Reasons South Carolina Has the Best Summers in the United States

What do you like to do in the summertime? Go camping? Hit the beach? Indulge in some mouthwatering barbecue, or explore the wilderness in a kayak? You can do all those things in the Palmetto State. And that’s why many consider South Carolina to have the best summers. Check out our list of the state’s best summer qualities and you’ll probably agree.

1. Summer Weather

For a summer that feels like summer, South Carolina is hard to beat. Temperatures peak into the 90s in July and August, with high humidity that makes it a perfect time for swimming and other forms of aquatic recreation. For a more comfortable climate, plan a visit in May or June, or an autumn trip in September or October. One caution: keep an eye on hurricane forecasts, especially during August and September.

2. Beautiful Beaches

With nearly 3,000 miles of coastline, the Palmetto State includes some of the best beaches on the east coast. Examples include Kiawah Island, voted the best SC beach for 2023 by U.S. News and World Report; lively Myrtle Beach,;and Hilton Head, famous for its golfing, tennis, and spas as well as its beaches.

3. Coastal Seafood

Seafood lovers will find plenty to satisfy their appetites, from fresh ocean-caught fare to inshore delicacies and channel-harvested favorites like redfish, blue crabs, oysters, and shrimp. You can take a boat charter or an eco-tour to see how shellfish are managed and farmed, and even catch your own for the freshest dining possible.

4. Down Home Dining

South Carolina’s informal, rural culinary culture offers southern cooking at its most mouth-wateringly delicious. Start your day with fresh catfish paired with grits and eggs. Dig into some fried quail or a pulled pork sandwich. From slow-and-low barbecue to fried chicken to homemade biscuits to tomato pie, you’ll find unforgettable American fare for every meal. And save room for dessert: the pralines, homemade fudge, and buttermilk pie isn’t going to eat itself.

5. Equestrian Activity

If you agree that the world looks better from horseback, you’ll find plenty that South Carolina offers plenty of reasons to saddle up. For racing fans, the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum hosts memorabilia relating to champion thoroughbreds that trained at the Aiken Training Track. Take a historic horseback ride with a guided tour from Charleston’s Middleton Equestrian Center. Bring the kids for a trail ride. Or meet some heritage horses at Hilton Head’s Coastal Discovery Museum.

6. Festive Festivals

South Carolina hosts more than 300 festivals across the state and throughout the year. Some of the don’t-miss summer events include Mount Pleasant’s annual Sweetgrass Festival, the South Carolina Peach Festival, and Greenville’s New Play Festival. Be sure to download the full festival schedule so you won’t miss a thing.

7. Spectacular State Parks

The great outdoors doesn’t get any greater than the 90,000 acres of protected lands that make up SC’s state park system. The Palmetto State’s geography allows for a wide variety of outdoor experiences, with mountains and beaches just a few hours’ drive away. The state’s eight mountain parks are full of campsites, trails, cabins, waterfalls, and picnic areas in the shadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Seven state parks provide river access, and most of the state’s reservoir lakes overlap with state park areas. Four coastal state parks offer beach access.

8. Immersive History

American history is alive in South Carolina, where you can visit several locations relevant to the civil rights movement. This includes the site in Rock Hill where Black students denied service at a lunch counter were arrested, starting the “Jail. No Bail.” protest movement, and the home of Morehouse College president Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, a mentor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor celebrates the history and traditions of Gullah culture, a blend of West African and European languages and customs by the enslaved and free Black population of the area.

Famous battlefields and historic sites relating to the American Revolution include Fort Sumter National Monument, the Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site, and Kings Mountain National Military Park. Take a deeper dive at the Revolutionary War Visitor Center, the Lexington Country Museum, and the Charleston Museum. And for the closest thing to a time machine, visit the Living History Park in North Augusta, where you can watch colonial life firsthand.

9. Water Trails and Paddling Trips

Keep cool and get to know SC from a different point of view by traveling along the state’s water trails. A guided kayak tour through blackwater cypress swamp will take you through an amazing ecosystem full of unique flora and fauna. Or try a tour down the Lynches River and see for yourself how Revolutionary War hero General Francis Marion, aka the “Swamp Fox,” was able to evade the British. And if you’re up for something more pulse-pounding, how about whitewater rafting on the Chattooga River?

10. Kazoo!

What, you’re going to pass up a chance to tour America’s only plastic kazoo factory? We didn’t think so. Located in Beaufort, the Kazoobie Kazoos factory offers a unique behind-the-scenes view of how kazoos are made, from start to finish. You even get to make a kazoo of your own! The on-site Kazoo Museum will deepen your knowledge of kazoo history. And why not stop in the gift shop to pick up an extra kazoo for the road?

11. Tea Garden

There are very few places in North America where tea plants can grow, and one of them is the Charleston Tea Garden in South Carolina. Visit the site and you’ll see hundreds of thousands of tea bushes, descended from plants first brought to South Carolina more than 100 years ago. A guided trolly tour will take you through the tea farm’s beautiful acres, and you can opt for a free tour of America’s only tea factory. Don’t forget to take a selfie with Waddy the frog, who can be found lounging on the front porch with a mug of tasty tea.

12. Brilliant Birding

If bird-watching is on your agenda, you’ll want to check out Huntington Beach State Park, known for its wide variety of feathered residents. Bring your life list, because the park is said to have a 300-species avian roster, including rarities like the roseate spoonbill, burrowing owl, and western kingbird. A trip to the Santee National Wildlife Refuge offers a few hundred more species to look for as you explore miles of hiking and biking trails. At Ceasers Head State Park you can spot spectacular raptors, though you’ll want to wait till September to see migrating birds of prey.

Summary of 12 Reasons South Carolina Has the Best Summers in the United States

Here’s a recap of why South Carolina can be considered a top summer destination.

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