# Rainbow Row

> Rainbow Row consists of thirteen colorful houses on East Bay Street (Nos. 79 to 107) between Tradd Street and Elliott Street.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/places/rainbow-row-charleston/

A line of pastel-painted townhouses on East Bay Street in the old part of Charleston, a popular photo stop. Come early for a quiet street, then continue on foot to the nearby waterfront.

Rainbow Row consists of thirteen colorful houses on East Bay Street (Nos. 79 to 107) between Tradd Street and Elliott Street. Most date from the 18th century; only Nos. 95 to 101 survived the fire of 1778, and the newest house, on the corner, dates from around 1845. The row originally stood right on the Cooper River before the land was filled in, and served as merchants' buildings with a shop on the ground floor and living quarters above.

The colors date back to 1931, when Dorothy Haskell Porcher Legge began renovating her house and painted it pink, inspired by a colonial Caribbean color scheme. Other owners followed, and by 1945 most of the houses had been restored. You can walk the row in a few minutes; it tends to be quietest early in the day. Combine it with a stroll through the historic district.

- **Nearest town:** Charleston, SC
- **Category:** History & culture
- **GPS:** 32.7710, -79.9250

## Good to know

**Best time to go:** The most pleasant months are usually March–April and October–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in May, September and December–February. Hot in June–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

## Sources

- [Rainbow Row (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Row)
- [Rainbow Row (South Carolina Encyclopedia)](https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/?p=10347)

## Nearby

- [Fort Moultrie](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b20-fort-moultrie/) – 4 mi
- [Angel Oak](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b20-angel-oak/) – 10 mi
- [Drayton Hall](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b20-drayton-hall/) – 11 mi
- [Middleton Place](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b20-middleton-place/) – 15 mi

## FAQs

### Where is Rainbow Row?

Rainbow Row is in Charleston, SC, at GPS 32.7710, -79.9250. It is about 49 mi from Beaufort.

### Can you camp near Rainbow Row?

Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Camping at James Island County Park, about 5 mi away; within 25 mi there are 11 campsites and motorhome stopovers.

### What is there to see near Rainbow Row?

Places worth a stop nearby: Fort Moultrie (4 mi), Angel Oak (10 mi), Drayton Hall (11 mi) and Middleton Place (15 mi).

### When is the best time to visit Rainbow Row?

The most pleasant months are usually March–April and October–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in May, September and December–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)