Lowcountry: Charleston to Savannah

Route description

Start in Charleston, whose historic district of pastel houses, church steeples and the waterfront Battery is best explored on foot. Parking in the old town is limited and difficult with a large vehicle, so use a campground outside the city and take a shuttle or bike. Then head south on US-17 through the marshes and rivers of the ACE Basin.

Turn onto US-21 for Beaufort, a quiet town of antebellum houses, live oaks draped with Spanish moss and a waterfront park on the river. Continue across St. Helena Island to Hunting Island State Park, where the black-and-white lighthouse can be climbed when it is open. Below it, the beach is lined with bleached, fallen trees, and the park has a campground in the maritime forest.

Return to US-17 or I-95 and cross into Georgia to Savannah, known for its grid of shaded squares, Forsyth Park and cobbled River Street. US-80 then leads east across the marshes, past Fort Pulaski, to Tybee Island, a beach town with its own lighthouse. Here the Lowcountry meets the Atlantic.

Spring and fall are the best seasons; summers are hot and humid, and hurricane season runs from June to November. Bring insect repellent for the tiny biting midges in the marshes. Campgrounds on the islands fill up quickly in spring, so book ahead.