James Island County Park
Park
262 acres2.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Photo: Chris Pruitt · CC BY-SA 3.0A−Outdoors
Outdoors in Charleston
14% of Charleston’s land is conserved: 10,087 acres
The biggest trail networks: James Island County Park (2.9 mi), Hampton Park (2.6 mi), Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site (1.7 mi). 89 miles of mapped trail cross Charleston, 0.8 per square mile of land. 3,156 acres are parks and preserves, 20 per 1,000 residents.
Ahead of 83% of U.S. towns · #5 of 169 in South Carolina. What drives it
Conserved land
14%
10,087 acres · of 115.3 sq mi of land
Trails
89 mi
0.8 per sq mi of land
Park land
3,156 ac
20 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
79%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
38 mi
7.8 mi lanes · 28 mi paths
Lakes & rivers
17
10 beaches · 13 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Charleston?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Charleston have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Charleston is ahead of 83% of U.S. towns, #5 of 169 in South Carolina. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; conserved land ranks highest, the share of residents near a park lowest.
A−
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Charleston’s overall grade.
Conserved land14% of the land · typical SC town 1% · U.S. 4%A−Trails0.8 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (89 mi) · SC 0.2 · U.S. 0.4B+Park land20 acres of park per 1,000 residents (3,156 acres) · SC 6 · U.S. 13BParks close to home79% of residents within a half mile of a park · SC 52% · U.S. 72%B
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 83%
LessMore
South Carolina towns of 2,500+ (169)Ahead of 98%
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Charleston ranks #157 on Outdoors.
Few South Carolina towns conserve much land (a typical one, 1%; the U.S., 4%), so Charleston’s 14% is ahead of 96% of South Carolina towns, while its trails per square mile lead 85% of them.
Water is 15% of Charleston’s area (21 of 136 square miles), so every share here is of land; over land and water together, the conserved share would read 12%.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would still be A−. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is James Island County Park, with 2.9 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Hampton Park
Managed by City of Charleston
41 acres2.6 mi of trail
Parcourse FitCircuit
Dogs on leash
Directionsto the parking lot
Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site
Managed by South Carolina State Parks
403 acres1.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
West Ashley Park
Park
63 acres1 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Stono River County Park
Park
24 acres0.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trail sign
All 79 parks & preserves
James Island County Park262 acres · 2.9 mi of trail
DirectionsHampton Park41 acres · 2.6 mi of trail · City of Charleston
DirectionsCharles Towne Landing State Historic Site403 acres · 1.7 mi of trail · South Carolina State Parks
DirectionsWest Ashley Park63 acres · 1 mi of trail
DirectionsGovernor's Park33 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsStono River County Park24 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsMarion Square6 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · City of Charleston
DirectionsHarborview / Fort Johnson Park5 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsJoe Riley Waterfront Park5 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · City of Charleston
DirectionsCharleston Nine Memorial Park4 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · City of Charleston
DirectionsDemetre Park2 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsWaverly Park2 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Town of Daniel Island
Bellinger Island2 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Town of Daniel Island
Smythe Park23 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Daniel Island POA
DirectionsSaint Andrews Parks and Recreation14 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsEtiwan Park7 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsBarfield Park4 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Daniel Island Property Owners' Association
DirectionsCarr-Richardson Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Wragg Square2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · City of Charleston
DirectionsCenter Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Osprey Trail Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsTownsend Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Town of Daniel Island
May Forest State Park18 acres
DirectionsJames Island Recreation Complex and Park18 acres · James Island
Bees Landing Recreation Center14 acres
Harmon Field12 acres · City of Charleston
DirectionsBrittlebank Park12 acres · City of Charleston
DirectionsAlberta Long Lake Park11 acres · City of Charleston
DirectionsAckerman Park11 acres
DirectionsColonial Lake Park11 acres · City of Charleston
DirectionsDoolittle Park11 acres
Freedom Park10 acres
DirectionsThomas Johnson Park10 acres
Mary Utsey Park8 acres
Lenevar Park8 acres
DirectionsParkshore Park7 acres
Forest Park7 acres
DirectionsWhite Point Garden7 acres · City of Charleston
Carolina Bay Park7 acres
McMahon Playground6 acres · City of Charleston
DirectionsSK8 Charleston6 acres
DirectionsLowndes Grove5 acres · Patrick Properties Hospitality Group
Gadsdenboro Park5 acres · City of Charleston
DirectionsFallen Oak Park5 acres · City of Charleston
DirectionsMartin Park5 acres · City of Charleston
DirectionsGeneral William Moultrie Playground4 acres · City of Charleston
DirectionsCorrine Jones Park4 acres
North Bridge Park4 acres
DirectionsCannon Park4 acres · City of Charleston
DirectionsRosemont Park4 acres
DirectionsHazel Parker Playground2 acres · City of Charleston
DirectionsVillage Green Park Area2 acres
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, Liberty Square2 acres · National Park Service
DirectionsGuggenheim Terrace2 acres
DirectionsEric Cornelius Singleton II Park2 acres
DirectionsHorse Lot Park2 acres · City of Charleston
DirectionsGunboat Park2 acres
Bamboo Park2 acres
Mitchell Playground1 acres · City of Charleston
DirectionsRandolph Park1 acres
DirectionsCodner's Ferry Park1 acres
Gaillard Center Park1 acres · City of Charleston
DirectionsSt. Julian Devine Park1 acres · City of Charleston
DirectionsBalfour Park1 acres
Cistern Yard1 acres · College of Charleston
DirectionsWashington Square1 acres · City of Charleston
DirectionsThe Horseshoe1 acres
DirectionsFrissel Park1 acres
Waterfront Park1 acres
DirectionsMary Conway Park1 acres · City of Charleston
DirectionsHampstead Square1 acres · City of Charleston
DirectionsGreat Oak Park1 acres
Willie Gaines Park1 acres
Allan Park1 acres
DirectionsCharleston Medical District's Greenway1 acres
DirectionsLucas Park1 acres · City of Charleston
DeReef Park1 acres · City of Charleston
DirectionsTrewin Park1 acres
Simonton Park1 acres · City of Charleston
DirectionsWho protects it
10,087 conserved acres
14% of Charleston’s land. Water is left out: Charleston has 115.3 square miles of land and 20.9 of water, so the share counts land only. Who manages Charleston’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
U.S. Forest Service3,363 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits2,769 ac
Town or city2,166 ac
Other state land1,318 ac
County787 ac
State natural resources48 ac
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service22 ac
National Forest · 3,363 acConservation Easement · 2,680 acLocal Park · 1,654 acState Other or Unknown · 1,367 acLocal Recreation Area · 773 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 2,410 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 3 of 138 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Francis Marion National Forest National Forest | U.S. Forest Service | 3,363 | Open |
| Morris Island State Other or Unknown | Other state land | 984 | Unknown |
| James Island County Park Local Park | County | 633 | Open |
| Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site Local Historic or Cultural Area | Town or city | 396 | Open |
| State of South Carolina Marshland 9 State Other or Unknown | Other state land | 273 | Open |
| West Ashley Park Local Park | Town or city | 262 | Open |
| Bear Swamp Road Local Recreation Area | Town or city | 211 | Open |
| State of South Carolina Marshland 1 State Other or Unknown | Other state land | 130 | Open |
| Municipal Golf Course Local Recreation Area | Town or city | 130 | Open |
| Athletic Park Local Park | Town or city | 123 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
201 places to go in Charleston
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Charleston
Cummings Point
DirectionsSunrise Park Beach
DirectionsPlus 8 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Public pools in Charleston
Colonial Grande Swimming Pool
DirectionsHerbert Hasell PoolIn Harmon Field
DirectionsScott Park Pool
DirectionsPlus 1 public pool without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Playgrounds in Charleston
Captain's Island Park
DirectionsCarolina Bay PlaygroundIn Carolina Bay Park
DirectionsChandler Park
DirectionsFirst Light Playground
DirectionsFreedom Park Playground
DirectionsMain Playground
DirectionsNellefield Playground
DirectionsPark next to pool
Directions4 more playgrounds
Pirate ParkIn Smythe Park
DirectionsRandolph ParkIn Randolph Park
DirectionsVillage Green Playground
DirectionsWest Ashley ParkIn West Ashley Park
Directions118 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Dog parks in Charleston
Ackerman Dog ParkIn Ackerman Park
DirectionsBig Dog Park
DirectionsBluewater Appartments Dog Park
DirectionsBolton's Landing Appartments Dog Park
DirectionsCarolina Bay Dog Park
DirectionsGovernor's Park Dog ParkIn Governor's Park
DirectionsGrand Oaks Dog Park
DirectionsHampton Dog Park
Directions6 more dog parks
James Island County Dog ParkIn James Island County Park
DirectionsPeggy’s Park
DirectionsRiverland Woods Pet Park
DirectionsSmall Dog ParkIn Bees Landing Recreation Center
DirectionsSouth Adgers Wharf Dog Park
DirectionsTalison Row Dog Park
Directions32 dog parks are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Boat launches in Charleston
75 ton Tavelift
DirectionsWappoo Cut Public Boat Ramp
DirectionsPlus 11 boat launches without a name on the map.
Fishing spots in Charleston
2 fishing spots without a name on the map.
Scenic views in Charleston
1 scenic view without a name on the map.
Picnic areas in Charleston
9 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Charleston
Camping at James Island County ParkFee · In James Island County Park
DirectionsPlus 1 campground without a name on the map.
Community gardens in Charleston
Alicia's Garden
DirectionsDaniel Island Community GardenDaniel Island School
DirectionsWarren Place GardenCollege of Charleston
DirectionsPlus 7 community gardens without a name on the map.
Trails & water
11 named trails and 17 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 10.0 miHorses · 2.8 miUnpaved · 23.3 mi
Nature Trail3.9 mi
Tuxbury Horse Trail2.4 mi
Big Swamp Motorway1.2 mi
Hoover Road A0.6 mi
Arrowhead Trail0.6 mi
Beresford Woods Trail0.5 mi
Turkey Trot Trail0.5 mi
Forest Road 63460.4 mi
Winding Creek Trail0.4 mi
Parcourse FitCircuit0.3 mi
1 more trails
Osprey Trail
0.2 miBiking & sports
38 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
7.8 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
28 mi
off-road bike paths
1.9 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
192Tennis
60Soccer
50Basketball
47Baseball
23Pickleball
13Football
13Tracks
7Softball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →110 places on the National Register, 34 of them National Historic Landmarks
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 80 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
★
William Aiken House and Associated Railroad StructuresNational Historic Landmark · District · listed 1966
About it98 more on the History page.
When to get out
The best walking months in Charleston: April and May
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 10.2 | 11.0 | 11.9 | 13.0 | 13.8 | 14.3 | 14.1 | 13.4 | 12.3 | 11.3 | 10.4 | 10.0 |
| High (°F) | 60 | 62 | 68 | 75 | 82 | 87 | 90 | 89 | 85 | 78 | 69 | 62 |
| Rain (in) | 3.3 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 5.5 | 5.7 | 6.3 | 5.3 | 4.4 | 2.8 | 3.3 |
November is the driest month (2.8 in) and July the warmest (highs of 90 °F). 6.3 inches fall in August, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 90 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Charleston →
Next door
Charleston and its neighbors
Charleston has the most mapped trails of the 7 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Charleston89 miNorth Charleston68 miGoose Creek39 miMount Pleasant38 miHanahan8.8 miFolly Beach1.1 miHollywood0.6 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | 14% | 0.8 | 20 | 79% | A− |
| Hollywood | 6% | under 0.1 | 196 | 44% | B− |
| Folly Beach | 11% | 0.1 | 84 | 77% | B+ |
| North Charleston | 4% | 0.9 | 17 | 66% | B+ |
| Mount Pleasant | 10% | 0.8 | 26 | 55% | A− |
| Goose Creek | 1% | 0.9 | 8 | 70% | B− |
| Hanahan | 1% | 0.8 | 7 | 86% | B |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Charleston
Where can I hike in Charleston?
The longest trail networks: James Island County Park, 2.9 miles; Hampton Park, 2.6 miles; Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, 1.7 miles; West Ashley Park, 1 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Charleston is conserved land?
14% of its land, against a typical 1% for a South Carolina town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Charleston’s trails?
OpenStreetMap records dogs as welcome at Hampton Park (on leash). For the rest, check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Charleston?
38 miles of bike routes are on the map: 7.8 of painted or protected lanes, 28 of off-road paths and 1.9 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Charleston?
72,419 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Charleston or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 7,010 of them inside the city line.
How much outdoors does Charleston have?
Ahead of 83% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #5 of 169 in South Carolina. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Charleston neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →