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Charleston Tours
Magnolia Plantation Admission & Tour with Transportation from Charleston
4.5

Magnolia Plantation Admission & Tour with Transportation from Charleston

By Adventure Sightseeing
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The biggest reason Charleston visitors skip a visit to Magnolia Plantation is because of transportation logistics—an excuse this tour easily solves. Travel directly from downtown Charleston to Magnolia Plantation, and then tour the grounds. Your entrance fee is covered, too, so you can get straight to seeing the historic house and grounds.
Lowest price guarantee

Ages 0-99, max of 25 per group
Duration: 4h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • Guided tour of Magnolia Plantation grounds and house
  • Transportation from downtown Charleston, South Carolina solves transport logistics
  • Glean insight into the area’s rich history from your guide
  • Entrance fee is already included so you don’t have any extra expenses

  • Admission to Magnolia Plantation in Charleston
  • 45-Minute Narrated Nature Tram Ride through the Audubon Swamp Gardens
  • 30-Minute Tour of Magnolia Plantation Historic Home
  • Round-Trip Transportation Aboard Air-Conditioned Vehicle
  • Professional Guide
  • Enjoy a guided walk through America's last large scale Romantic Garden
  • See wildlife such as alligators, egrets, herons, and turtles on the nearly 600 acre plantation
  • Entry/Admission - Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
What's not included
  • Food and drinks
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)

Meet your guide at the Charleston Visitors Center, right in the middle of historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Board an air-conditioned coach and enjoy views of the rolling Lowcountry landscape as you make the 45-minute drive to Magnolia Plantation, one of the oldest plantations in the South. When you reach the plantation, head right past the entrance gate—the entrance fee is already accounted for in the tour price. Then, board a tram for a narrated 45-minute ride through the grounds: see slave cabins, swamps, and rice fields. Next, take a guided walk through the garden, before finally heading to the Drayton Plantation for a tour of the grand historic home. Tour concludes with drop-off at your original starting point.

Start:
  • 375 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403, USA
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    • Infants must sit on laps
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 48614P1

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Tour is not recommended for children under 3 years old.
    • Drinks are available for purchase at the Magnolia Plantation
    • Cannot accommodate wheelchairs, but we can accommodate those with limited mobility if they can be assisted by a companion.
    • No pets. Service animals are allowed.
    • Dress code is casual
    • Please Arrive 15-Minutes before departure time
    • Most travellers can participate
    • Moderate amount of walking is required, not suggested for those with limited mobility
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travellers

    • All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 48614P1

    From
    ₹6,653.56
    per adult
    Select date and travellers

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    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Adventure Sightseeing
      2,618
      Charleston, United States
      Joined in October 2012
    • sportsdoc_11
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Southern History that is well depicted
      This was a great investment of an afternoon and the historical perspective at the property was well presented. I most enjoyed the Gullah presentation above all and would not miss this when visiting. The Oak lined lane provides an amazing photo back drop and looks iconically southern. It is worth a visit. We did not have a rental car during our stay so took the van transport as part of the tour and if I had to do over I would have preferred to drive myself. The transport was more of a tour and while our driver was very enthusiastic and engaging we were not really expecting the non stop narrative and were really just looking for the ride to the desired location.
      Written 20 January 2025
    • cherieh614
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Beautiful grounds
      The grounds were beautiful and the family commitment to the community is wonderful. Really enjoyed the Gullah presentation. I didn't realize the house was not an authentic antebellum mansion. The history was still very interesting.
      Written 16 January 2025
    • caroleL9035CV
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great Tour Guide!
      This was an amazing tour of Charleston. We learned so much. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the history of Charleston and had many funny and interesting stories to share. It was an unusually cold day so taking the bus tour was perfect!
      Written 12 January 2025
    • Joanne F
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great full day Tour - awesome customer service
      I did the full day Boone Plantation and City Tour. The first Boone Plantation is more of a shuttle ride, they drop you off and you spend your time as you want. The second half of the tour was on a different shuttle which explored the whole Charleston area - saw more than just downtown. Really impressed with the customer service of the office. I asked if i could leave my luggage at their office and they went above and beyond to find a solution for me. They called the day prior to confirm the tour and see if I had any questions - exceptional!!!
      Written 3 January 2025
    • Anai T
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Could have had Christmas music playing while…
      Would of been nice to have Christmas music playing while on the bus! Also, customers should be made aware that there are not many food options at the Festival of Lights! So, eat before you go! They do give you a s’more.
      Written 28 December 2024
    • OhioDan
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Spectacular
      Even though it was raining it was still fun to see all the lights. My wife and I enjoyed it very much. We showed my daughter and SIL how much money we saved going on a yellow night. They didn't realize they paid almost twice as much going there 4 times so far this year on the busy nights.
      Written 27 December 2024
    • Claude B
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Christmas in Charleston
      We had an enjoyable time; our driver Shawn was very friendly and entertaining, the drive thru the park was very nice, the stopover at the park was OK. Overall a good experience.
      Written 27 December 2024
    • N6953DGvanessam
      0 contributions
      2.0 of 5 bubbles
      Not worth it in my opinion. Very uncomfortable ride. Be aware that a tiny tour van that squeaks and bounces is no fun.
      The van or mini bus was extremely jolty and bumpy, and the constant pumping of the breaks and stop and go, sudden stops made me motion sick. The speaker was up WAY too high and I had a headache ten minutes in. Saw a few nice houses but mostly run down boarded up houses and the driver even pointed out “section 8” housing. Nothing special and not worth the money.
      Written 22 December 2024
    • rapperfstull
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Boone Hall Plantation City Bus Tour
      We had to reschedule because of a last minute flight change. Everyone was very helpful and we were able to still take the tour. Cathy, the driver/tour guide was informative, entertaining, and also a safe driver. It was a great experience.
      Written 18 December 2024
    • 779saundrah
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Good Tour
      Good knowledgeable guide, driver. Small group so we could move around the bus. Worth your time and money!
      Written 17 December 2024
    • lynntrantow
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A great adventure to visit a beautiful, historic plantation.
      This trip was easy to book through Trip Advisor, the driver and transportation bus were excellent. Boone Hall was so very interesting, with excellent presentations throughout the Plantation grounds. I highly recommend this excursion.
      Written 17 December 2024
    • Kathryn B
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A great overview of plantation life
      Lots to see. The guides all did a great job - from the house tour, the tour/ride of the grounds, the Gullah talk, to the gin house. I only wish we would have had a little more time. I didn’t get to spend much time reading the information in the cabins.
      Written 15 December 2024
    • Mary C
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Thankful to have begun our stay with this tour!
      An incredible amount of information in a short time…a great overview of your city! Glad we did this on Day 1. I would highly recommend.
      Written 9 December 2024
    • Jane F
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great tour Charleston!
      Our tour was of historic Charleston. Such a beautiful city. The guide was very knowledgeable about the area. Beautiful homes, churches and parks!
      Written 2 December 2024
    • 539courtneyd
      0 contributions
      2.0 of 5 bubbles
      Not enough about Charleston
      The tour did drive us all over the city and we did like that it gave us the option to get off at city market. Also nice that is was enclosed on a rainy day. We did however find our guide Anderson lacking. His narrative was more of his college days with a small serving of Charleston History and facts/information. It doesn't need to be scripted but a little less personal focus would have been better. I feel like having been in Charleston for the first time and for a very short time I missed out on a lot.
      Written 1 December 2024
    See all 2,618 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    4.5
    4.5 of 5 bubbles328 reviews
    Excellent
    211
    Very good
    74
    Average
    22
    Poor
    11
    Terrible
    10

    Charlie G
    56 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The gardens at Magnolia were beautiful. The house and surrounding plantation were rich in history and well-maintained. For someone who didn’t rent a car during our stay, transportation from Charleston being included in admission was the real MVP of the trip. It was a 45 minute commute from Charleston’s Visitor Center we wouldn’t have made otherwise, and our driver provided a lot of information about Magnolia along the way, as well as bug spray when we arrived. Being part of a group also gave us a mini VIP treatment as we were the first to tour the house. We had to cancel a separate tour of Boone Hall Plantation we had booked because transportation was not included. My only complaint - if I had one at all - was that I wish we had more time at Magnolia. After a tram ride around the grounds looking at plants and wildlife, we had to choose between a walking tour of the gardens or a March to Freedom demonstration near the old slave cabins but didn’t have time to do both. The March to Freedom was informative of the slave trade during that time & explained how the Magnolia plantation operated under slave labor.
    Written 12 July 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Gwen King
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2024 • Solo
    Maria was a lovely guide for the day. The group was welcoming and so friendly (as a solo traveller this is important). Rigel, the guide at the house was informative and thorough and presented the history in a fun but still informative way. The only slight downside was that the 1pm talk about the history of slaves had been booked by a private group, which had not been communicated to our tour provider. This was only a small mishap, as it meant we all went on the train ride of the grounds, which was also informative and went through the history of the grounds. John, our guide for the train, was also informative and humourous, and presented some information not provided by the tour at the house.

    A small point is that the tour of the house and the grounds assumes that the visitor knows the history of the Union/Confederate battle. As a non-US citizen tourist, this was all new to me. A small/brief introduction to this would have been helpful in order to understand the flippant comments made by the tour guides at the house.
    Written 5 November 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Nancy K
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Millie is all you need…

    She made us laugh, cry and rejoice. I’ve never, ever, had a guide/docent move me to tears like she did. She made this plantation tour come to life and I’d recommend it to anyone in the Charleston area. Passion, compassion, dedication, and a mother that inspired her. She is a gem and I hope you all take advantage of her knowledge and devotion.
    Written 7 November 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Deborah M
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2023 • Family
    My family really enjoyed this tour, which included quite a bit for the money. The tour bus was clean and comfortable, and held about 24 other guests. Our guide, Shawn, was knowledgeable and professional. Tour also included a tour of the romantic gardens (which we learned is a type of garden - not just an adjective for the beautiful grounds), a guided tram ride of the plantation grounds (thanks, Sharon!), and a guided house tour. Lunch was available, with covered eating tables and a lovely picnic area under a live oak. We were joined by a tame peacock who strutted his train and almost seemed to pose for pictures. Only negative: the sandwiches, though delicious, were pricey. Our family of three each had bottled waters and split two sandwiches for about $45 (more with tax).
    Written 29 June 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Rick H
    Mobile, AL52 contributions
    2.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2023 • Family
    The Eco Tour around the plantation was very nice. The house was not very interesting. There are far better plantation homes in Alabama/Mississippi/Louisiana. The grounds were alright. The garden was not impressive. BRING YOUR OWN FOOD or eat when you return to your hotel. The Peacock Cafe charges way too much (Captive audience prices)......for what is basically a mediocre box lunch.
    Written 16 June 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    barbara w
    4 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    We were very disappointed at the non historical significance of this “plantation”.
    The house tour gave us rooms but no one knew what they were originally… “we just put a bed and chest of drawers in here cuz we had the furniture lying around, teehee”.
    The docent spoke to us like they were entertaining 8 year olds at a birthday party.
    There was wicker porch furniture in the formal drawing room.
    There was no mention of the slaves that kept the place running or what they did.
    Sad that they just opened up this place so the family could make more money from public tours.
    The gift shop is filled with more candy, t shirts, stuffed animals and nonsense chotchkes than Times Square.
    The grounds were lovely…
    Written 18 January 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    While the house tour is not as focused on the enslaved people that lived and worked at Magnolia, there is a dedicated Slavery to Freedom tour that is included with all admission tickets. Before Magnolia was a public garden, it was a working rice plantation. Four restored and preserved enslaved cabins are still present on property, and can be viewed on this tour. Dedicated conservation work continues to ensure we are able to honor those who labored in the rice fields, house and garden at Magnolia Plantation. The tour provides a focal point for education and discussion about the history of slavery and African American culture.
    Written 21 January 2025
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Resort79978
    Washington DC, DC13 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good trip! We went to Magnolia Plantation in winter - there’s only 4 of us on the bus, but our guide/driver Tyler was still warm and professional. The house itself is definitely worth visiting and the plantation is beautiful and huge, despite the cold weather. If I had a chance I would come again in spring!
    Written 14 January 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    diana
    Pompano Beach, FL7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2024 • Family
    This visit was excellent sight seeing tour. Well worth every $, and our tour guide Shawn was exceptionally knowledgeable about the history of Charleston and the plantation. Even though we were there in the winter it was still beautiful and as a Canadian I was excited to see my first alligator in the wild. The cornbread was delicious from the kitchen and the gift shop was beautiful. The tram ride around the property was a real treat to see the size of the property was amazing and the beautiful trees.
    This tour was extremely fulfilling with learning the rich history of the south and the magnolia plantation itself long after the owners have passed. Keep up the great work.!!
    Written 3 January 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Joanne H
    Maryand21 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2024 • Friends
    The ride to tour was good with our host, Scott. Since we didn't go to the plantation on our own, we weren't able to do both the ride around the grounds and slave tour which was a bummer. The house tour guide, though friendly, was a bit dramatic with her speaking voice which I thought was a bit much. Saw some small alligators on the tram ride. Overall it was an okay tour.
    Written 5 October 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    49free
    14 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2022 • Couples
    It was efficient to book and travel with The Adventure Tour Company and their busses hold just the right number of guests for this tour.

    Jillian was our Plantation House guide. She was superb, knowledgeable, thorough and very personable. She answered questions with a great command of the history of the home, the family and times.

    Our tour guide for the trip, however, was disappointing. He “ lost” 6 of us deep in the woods and we had to find our way to the next segment of the tour on our own. That is not what you want to have happen in unfamiliar surroundings.

    Still, I would definitely recommend the tour.
    Written 24 May 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Magnolia Plantation Admission & Tour with Transportation from Charleston provided by Adventure Sightseeing

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