Crank the windows down and take a ride back in time. From the moss-draped coastlines to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, South Carolina’s small towns invite you to slow down and swap screen time for story time. Rediscover the joy of the roadside wander, and maybe even recall some sweet childhood memories at these nostalgic locales—where every stop feels like a postcard from the days of yesteryear.
A Road Trip Through South Carolina’s Nostalgic Small Towns
Pawleys Island
Start with one of the oldest summer resorts on the East Coast. Pawleys Island is delightfully unpretentious and unhurried, and the Pawleys Island General Store is the heart of its charm—a throwback to the days when flip-flops and a bag of Carolina Smacker Crackers defined vacation. For upscale Southern cuisine, navigate to Frank’s Restaurant & Bar, set in a former 1940s supermarket. Dine in the candle-lit bistro or beneath twinkling lights and live oaks out back.
Georgetown
Stroll the brick-lined streets of Downtown Historic Georgetown, where big chain stores are noticeably absent and history speaks through preserved buildings. Don’t miss the Kaminski House Museum, filled with 18th-century furnishings and tales, or The Rice Museum, which honors the region’s rice culture and cultivation.
Mount Pleasant
Grab a milkshake and grilled cheese at Pitt Street Pharmacy’s traditional soda fountain, where generations have grown up and movies have been filmed. Then see what the “original small town” felt like strolling through Mount Pleasant’s Old Village Historic District, with mom-and-pop merchants and antique shops.
Summerville
Known as the birthplace of sweet tea, Summerville delivers plenty of sugary charm. Follow the Sweet Tea Trail before stopping into Main Street Reads for your next beach book or browsing retro fabrics and quilting keepsakes at People, Places & Quilts. Along the way, quench your thirst at the soda fountain at Guerin’s Pharmacy (the oldest in South Carolina), and fill up for the next leg at the Icehouse with buttermilk fried chicken and a warm slice of bourbon pecan pie.
Walterboro
Immerse yourself in local heritage at The Colleton Museum & Farmers Market, then stroll to the South Carolina Artisans Center, an enchanting Victorian cottage filled with handcrafted treasures from over 300 local artists.
Bluffton
Perched on a bluff overlooking May River, Old Town Bluffton is all colonial shutters and porch swings among historic farmhouses. Admire local art at The Society of Bluffton Artists or find children’s storytime treasures at The Storybook Shoppe. Swing through Bluffton General Store for gourmet goodies, classic treats and artisan-made gifts before venturing inland.
Memories Through the Midlands
Salters
Cooper’s Country Store is a living time capsule from a way of life that’s long faded. Find everything from lumber and fuel to boiled peanuts to country-style ham. Be sure to try its authentic South Carolina barbecue, cooked the old-school way over wood embers, and snap a selfie in front of its storied gas pumps before hitting the road.
Manning
Admire the decorative cornices and red-brick architecture of the Manning Commercial Historic District, which features a collection of buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Then dig in at Gullah Gullah Fish, where the shrimp and flounder are fried golden and the stories are rich with cultural heritage.
Sumter
Catch the action at Sumter Speedway, a dirt-track racing venue that’s been thrilling locals since 1957. Pick up any forgotten essentials or cool off with an ice cream float at Cut Rate Pharmacy & Diner, where the interior is retro and the atmosphere is pure Americana.
Florence
Treasure hunters will lose track of time in Palmetto Peddlers antiques mall, an expansive space with quirky finds, including period furniture and vintage records. Then fill your cooler at Pee Dee State Farmers Market, situated on sprawling farmland right off the highway and overflowing with fresh produce, plants and pies.
Sellers
The scent of slow-cooked pork leads you to Shuler’s BBQ, where down-home barbecue is served buffet-style and sweet tea is poured with pride in a rustic wood-cabin setting. Browse the on-site general store to stock up on nostalgic sweets and quirky souvenirs like Peach Pie Moonshine Jelly.
Latta
Cap off your trip with a stay at the grand Greek Revival-style Abingdon Manor Inn & Restaurant, a AAA Four Diamond inn set amid lush, manicured grounds.
Time Travel from Midlands to Mountains
This road trip begins in the Midlands and winds into the rolling terrain of the Upstate—trading farmlands for foothills and highways for highlands.
Aiken
Browse rare, whimsical finds at A Fox’s Tale, where antiques and farmhouse decor meet well-loved books from decades past. Then take a tour through the Aiken County Historical Museum with a docent guiding you through the former Winter Colony mansion and grounds, including an 1890s schoolhouse and buttery.
Monetta
Stay overnight for a chance to experience a quintessential 1950s date night at the Monetta Drive-In Theatre, affectionately dubbed "The Big Mo," where double features light up the night sky. Before getting back on the road, make a morning pit stop at Watsonia Organics farm to stock up on organic plums, peaches and muscadine grapes for farm-fresh snacks.
Abbeville
Old-world charm gets a standing ovation at The Belmont Inn, initially a turn-of-the-century railroad hotel for the elite en route to New York or Miami. Today, you can glimpse into a bygone era and enjoy the now-modern amenities of this restored landmark. During your stay, secure tickets to the storied Abbeville Opera House for a musical or concert.
Pickens
History lives at Hagood Mill Historic Site, where the water-powered gristmill, blacksmithing and hearth cooking demos, and Appalachian folk music create an immersive step back in time. Don’t drive off without exploring the mysteries etched in stone at Hagood Creek Petroglyph Site, one of the most significant collections of Native American rock carvings in the state.
Landrum
Settle in at The Red Horse Inn, touting glorious views of the misty Blue Ridge Mountains. In the morning, pull over at Campbell’s Covered Bridge, the only one of its kind still standing in the state, before heading into downtown Landrum for treasure hunting at The Shops at Landrum Antique Mall. Reminisce about your road trip over a round of cocktails and upscale American cuisine in the cozy, wood-paneled pub The Hare & Hound.
