A Family Day in Charleston: Where to Take Kids

At a glance

• Where: Downtown Charleston, South Carolina, with a few picks on the Ashley River side and Johns Island
• Best base: The downtown peninsula, near Liberty Square, East Bay Street and Meeting Street
• Hours: Typically 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the main attractions; check each official site before you go
• Cost: Angel Oak and Hampton Park are free; Fort Sumter has no entry fee but needs a ferry ticket
• Best ages: Ages 4 to 12 get the most out of the forts and museums; under 4 do best at the parks and the Children's Museum

The best things to do in Charleston with kids are a harbor ferry to Fort Sumter, the South Carolina Aquarium, the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry, the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon and the free open space at Hampton Park and Angel Oak. Most of these sit on or near the downtown peninsula, so you can stack two or three in a day without a long drive. This guide sorts them by age, tells you where to park and where to eat, and ends with a full-day route you can screenshot.

Fort Sumter is free to enter, but you can only reach it by paying for a boat. That one fact shapes the whole day: the ferry sets your schedule, and everything else bends around it.

How we chose

We picked places that are open on their own official sites, sit in or very near the City of Charleston, and give a family a reason to stay an hour or more. We left out anything we couldn't confirm from an official page, and we say plainly where a place is outside the city. Prices and hours change, so we give them as typical and tell you to check before you go.

Which Charleston attractions suit which ages?

Toddlers and preschoolers do best at the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry, Hampton Park and the Angel Oak. Early elementary kids (roughly 5 to 8) get the most from the Aquarium and the Fort Sumter ferry. Kids 9 and up, plus teens, are the audience for the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, Drayton Hall and the Charleston forts.

That is our reading of the attractions, not an official age rating. None of the official pages we checked set age minimums, so use your own child as the guide.

What are the best picks, and what is each one like?

Each pick below names the place, its neighborhood and what to do there.

1. Fort Sumter National Monument, harbor ferry from Liberty Square

Fort Sumter National Monument is the place to start because it is the story most kids have heard of: the Civil War began here on April 12, 1861, according to the National Park Service. Tours leave from Liberty Square, 340 Concord Street, downtown Charleston, and the fort sits on an island in Charleston Harbor.

Fort Sumter Tours typically departs at 9:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. from late February through November, and earlier-ending winter times apply in December. Plan on about two and a quarter hours, with about an hour on the island. There is no entrance fee for the fort, but you need a ferry ticket, so check the official ticket page for current child pricing. The visitor center at Liberty Square is free and typically open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Our advice: take the first boat. Kids are fresher and you are back in time for lunch. Official site: Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park and Fort Sumter Tours.

2. Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, East Bay Street

The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, at 122 East Bay Street downtown, is a historic customs house with a dungeon level that suits kids who like a little spookiness. It is typically open Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission is typically $16 for adults and $12 for children, and children under 6 are free. The official site gives the child age band two different ways (6 to 12 in one place, 7 to 12 in another), so confirm at the door if your child is 6 or 7. It is a one-hour stop, which makes it a good fit after a ferry ride. Official site: oldexchange.org.

3. South Carolina Aquarium, Aquarium Wharf

The South Carolina Aquarium, 100 Aquarium Wharf on the downtown harbor, is the rainy-day answer. It is typically open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are timed and sold in advance, so book before you leave the hotel and check the official ticket page for prices. Official site: scaquarium.org.

4. Children's Museum of the Lowcountry, Ann Street

The Children's Museum of the Lowcountry, at 25 Ann Street in Charleston, is our pick for burning off toddler energy indoors. It is typically open Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (the first hour is typically reserved for members) and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Admission is typically $15, or $13 if you buy in advance, and children under 1 are free. Families using SNAP, WIC or foster ID pay a reduced rate. Official site: explorecml.org.

5. Hampton Park, Charleston peninsula

Hampton Park, at 30 Mary Murray Drive, is a City of Charleston park with a playground, restrooms, on-site parking and a fitness trail. The city lists no entry fee, and its own page notes that Hampton Park is one of the few City of Charleston parks with both restrooms and on-site parking, which matters a great deal with small kids. The city sets Walk, Run & Roll hours when vehicles are restricted around the park, so check the city page for the current schedule if you plan to drive in. Official page: City of Charleston, Hampton Park. The surrounding neighborhood is covered in our Hampton Park Terrace guide.

6. Angel Oak, Johns Island

The Angel Oak, at 3688 Angel Oak Road on Johns Island, is a City of Charleston park built around a live oak the city says is 65 feet high with a 25.5-foot circumference, and estimated at 300 to 400 years old. Admission is free and donations are welcome.

The rule that surprises parents: food and drink are not allowed on or around the tree, so eat first. Leashed pets are allowed in designated areas. The official page does not list hours or parking details, so check before the drive. It is a 20-to-40-minute stop, best paired with a drive rather than a half-day. Official page: City of Charleston, Angel Oak.

7. Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, West Ashley

Charles Towne Landing, at 1500 Old Towne Road, in West Ashley, Charleston, is a South Carolina state park on the spot where English settlers landed in 1670. The grounds are typically open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Animal Forest typically 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the park has 6 miles of trails.

Typical admission is $12 for adults and $7 for ages 6 to 15, and ages 5 and under are free. If the animals are the point, check the official page for any Animal Forest exhibit closures before you go. It has a Charleston address, but it is a state park, not a city one. Official site: southcarolinaparks.com.

8. Drayton Hall, Ashley River Road

Drayton Hall, at 3380 Ashley River Road, is a preserved plantation house that works best for ages 7 and up. It has a Charleston mailing address but sits out on the Ashley River Road corridor, not on the downtown peninsula, and we could not confirm from the official site exactly where the city line falls.

It is typically open Wednesday to Monday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed Tuesdays, and the last tour gate closes at 3 p.m. House tours are typically $30 for adults online, $15 for ages 7 to 15, and free under 7. Parking is free, and the gate does not take cash. The property's history includes the enslaved people who lived and worked there, so preview the tour for younger children. Official site: draytonhall.org.

9. Marion Square and the Saturday farmers market, Meeting Street

Marion Square, at 329 Meeting Street, is the city's central green. The City of Charleston runs the Charleston Farmers Market there on Saturday mornings, typically from April to November, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with live music. It is a good snack stop with kids, since they can wander and eat between stalls. Check the city market page for the current season, because dates shift each year.

Where do you eat with kids?

Two places on King Street work well for a family stop, but neither is a kids-menu restaurant.

• Callie's Hot Little Biscuit, 476 1/2 King Street. Typically open daily 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is a breakfast-and-early-lunch stop, so it works before a morning ferry, not after an afternoon one. Official site: calliesbiscuits.com.
• Leon's Oyster Shop, 698 King Street. Typically open daily 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Its own FAQ says there is no kids menu and suggests fried chicken, a plain chicken sandwich or fried shrimp for younger eaters. Parking is at 19 Race Street, and it takes reservations for parties of 6 to 12 on Resy, though not same-day. Official site: leonsoystershop.com. Eat early, before the dinner crowd.

For more options, see our food and dining listings.

Where do you park?

For Fort Sumter, park near Liberty Square and allow extra time, because the boarding line is the one deadline you cannot miss. For Hampton Park, use the on-site lot. For Drayton Hall, parking is free. For Angel Oak, the official page lists no parking details. For the Old Exchange and the Aquarium, plan for a downtown garage or metered street space, and check the City of Charleston parking page before you drive in. Park once, then walk or ride between the downtown stops.

Can you visit Fort Moultrie too?

Yes, but it is not in the City of Charleston. Fort Moultrie, at 1214 Middle Street, is on Sullivan's Island, a separate town on the harbor, and is the second half of Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park. It is typically open daily 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Entry is typically $10 for ages 16 and up, and children under 16 are free. Cash is not accepted. The park also runs a Junior Ranger program, so ask at the visitor center. Read more about the island on our Sullivan's Island page.

What does a full day look like?

This route assumes a morning ferry, school-age kids and a downtown base. Swap in the Children's Museum for the Aquarium with toddlers.

1. 8:00 a.m. Biscuits at Callie's Hot Little Biscuit on King Street.
2. 8:45 a.m. Park near Liberty Square and check in for the ferry.
3. 9:30 a.m. Fort Sumter Tours ferry to the fort; plan on about an hour on the island.
4. 11:45 a.m. Back at Liberty Square.
5. 12:15 p.m. Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon on East Bay Street, about an hour.
6. 1:30 p.m. Late lunch at Leon's Oyster Shop on King Street, before the dinner crowd.
7. 3:00 p.m. The Aquarium is open until 5 p.m. with last entry at 3:30, or the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry until 5 p.m. Pick one, not both.
8. 4:30 p.m. Leave. A seven-hour day is plenty for most kids under 10.

What should parents book and pack?

Book the ferry first, then plan everything else around it.

• Book the 9:30 a.m. Fort Sumter ferry and, if you go, a timed Aquarium ticket before you arrive.
• Eat before Angel Oak: no food or drink is allowed there.
• Bring a card, not cash: Drayton Hall and Fort Moultrie do not take cash.
• Pick one indoor stop per afternoon.
• Leave by late afternoon, before the kids hit the wall.
• In summer storms or flood weather, check the weather page before you head out.
• Looking for something this weekend? See events this weekend.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best things to do in Charleston with kids?

The best things to do in Charleston with kids are the Fort Sumter ferry, the South Carolina Aquarium, the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry and the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon. Free options include Hampton Park and the Angel Oak.

Is Fort Sumter good for kids?

Yes, for school-age kids. The tour takes about two and a quarter hours, including a boat ride and about an hour at the fort in Charleston Harbor. Fort Sumter has no entrance fee, but a ferry ticket is required, so check Fort Sumter Tours for current child prices.

Is the Angel Oak free to visit?

Yes. Admission to the Angel Oak on Johns Island is free, and donations are welcome. Food and drink are not allowed on or around the tree.

Is Fort Moultrie in Charleston?

No. Fort Moultrie is on Sullivan's Island, a separate town on the harbor, though it is part of the same national park as Fort Sumter. Children under 16 enter free, and adults typically pay $10.

What should we do in Charleston with kids on a rainy day?

Go to the South Carolina Aquarium on Aquarium Wharf or the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry on Ann Street. Both are indoors, and the Aquarium uses timed tickets, so book ahead.