South Carolina Field Trips for Homeschoolers

There are so many educational places to visit in South Carolina that families may be overwhelmed with all their options.  Thanks to its early settlement, homeschoolers will find it easy to tie their history curriculum to numerous places where significant events in America’s story played out. The Palmetto State is also full of natural and cultural destinations that will keep all family members excited about day trips in South Carolina.

Plan out each of your learning adventures on this printable map of South Carolina from Time4Learning. Please make sure to contact each site before you plan your visit, as COVID-19 may have impacted their hours of operations. Plus, as a bonus, we’ve even included a free download of Time4Learning lesson tie-ins that might be the perfect supplement for each trip [at end of article]!

Homeschool Field Trips in the Upstate

• Children’s Museum of the Upstate, Greenville/Spartanburg – Two different upstate locations offer dedicated places for children to explore, imagine, and get hands-on with their learning. Between the two, homeschoolers can interact with many STEAM-related exhibits. Ongoing dedicated programs for homeschoolers are available for ages 4-12.
• Rose Hill Plantation State Historic Site, Union – After the election of President Abraham Lincoln, a pivotal moment in U.S. history occurred when the governor of SC, William Henry Gist, made the decision to secede from the Union. Visitors can learn about this period in history by touring the plantation owned by the “Secession Governor.”
• South Carolina Botanical Garden, Clemson – On the campus of Clemson University is a 295-acre garden, a nature-based sculpture collection, historic home and cabin, and geology museum. On the last Wednesday of each month, homeschoolers five and up can participate in hands-on learning experiences. A 4-H Junior Naturalists club also meets at the garden.
• Split Creek Farm, Anderson – Some South Carolina day trips are completely unique – – like learning about dairy goats! If you schedule a tour of Split Creek Farm, you can learn about different breeds of dairy goats, how herding dogs keep things orderly, take a tour of the milking parlor, and even get to taste-test some of the things that are made from the farm’s goat milk supply. Don’t forget this is a true working farm – – wear clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty.
• Walhalla State Fish Hatchery, Mountain Rest – A visit to a hatchery could be a great tie-in for lessons on the food supply, food webs, aquatics species or even conservation. The Walhalla hatchery is the only one in the state dedicated to trout – – a coldwater fish common in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Chattooga Picnic Area is adjacent to the site.

Homeschool Field Trips in the Midlands

• Andrew Jackson State Park, Lancaster – Combine history, art, and the great outdoors and you have an educational field trip opportunity for learning about Andrew Jackson, the 7th U.S. president. The museum details the boyhood of Jackson, and students will also enjoy exploring the replica of an 18th-century one-room schoolhouse. A campground, hiking trails, fishing pond, and other natural features are ready to be explored here, as well.
• Camden Battlefield & Longleaf Pine Preserve, Camden – In 1780, the city of Camden was strategic for both British and American forces during the Revolutionary War. The Battle of Camden was a major British victory in the campaign which strengthened the hold of the British over the Carolinas. Admission to the battlefield is free, but you may want to combine it with a visit to other historic sites around Camden, of which there are many.
• DuPont Planetarium, Aiken – Enhance your science homeschool curriculum with a study of astronomy and the changing night sky. The brand new Digistar 6 Planetarium System is a technologically advanced way to view shows such as “Two Small Pieces of Glass,” an exploration of the use of telescopes over the past 200 years.
• Riverbanks Zoo, Columbia – The animal lover at your house would probably get excited about day trips in South Carolina that include feeding an elephant or touching a tortoise! The behind-the-scenes tours at Riverbanks would be an amazing educational experience for him or her! But even a general tour of this extensive zoo will teach students about more than 2,000 fascinating animals.
• South Carolina Railroad Museum, Winnsboro – Step back into a way of life where railroad freight and passenger travel were the primary means of transporting goods and people from one place to another. Walk through a display train that features a business car, a Southern Post office car, and a Nickle Plate caboose. Not only can you tour the museum, but 10-mile round trip train rides are available as well!

Homeschool Field Trips in the Pee Dee

• Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge, McBee – When you next study birds in your homeschool, you’ll want to plan a trip to one of the premier birding locations in the state. The refuge is home to nearly 200 species of birds, including water birds, raptors, and songbirds. Don’t forget your binoculars!
• Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum, Myrtle Beach – When you think of homeschool field trip ideas at the beach, an art museum might not be your first thought, but don’t miss out on this completely free cultural treasure that offers 11 galleries of constantly changing artwork. Field trips activities to complete before and after your visit are included on the website.
• Hopsewee Plantation, Georgetown – This historic site was home to one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Lynch, Jr. It was built at least 40 years before the Revolutionary War and was a major rice plantation in the South. Topics that homeschoolers can learn about here include rice agriculture, slavery, and the American Revolution.
• Horry County Museum and L.W. Paul Living History Farm, Conway – Looking for fun, educational field trips in South Carolina that won’t break the bank? A visit to this destination is completely free and filled with learning opportunities on topics like the history of farming, textiles, industry, wildlife, and more.
• ScienceSouth, Florence –  Some field trips in South Carolina seem to be custom-made for homeschoolers. That’s true of this educational organization dedicated to all things “science.” ScienceSouth has an entire Homeschool Science Academy for grades K-8 on the mornings of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Fridays of each month. Lab science courses are also available at the high school level.

Homeschool Field Trips in the Low Country

• Bee City Zoo, Cottageville –  With all the “buzz” about the declining honeybee population, your homeschoolers can learn about this subject up close and personal. But this destination is much more than a bee farm; students can also interact with animals such as lemurs, monkeys, alpacas, turkeys, and traditional farm animals. The site also has one of the most extensive reptile centers in South Carolina.
• Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet – Don’t let the name “Gardens” fool you – – there is way more than just flora and fauna to explore here. The thousands of acres of Brookgreen’s Lowcountry History and Wildlife Preserve are able to be explored, as well, by foot or by boat tour. Learn about the historic rice fields that are now home to alligators, osprey, and waterfowl.
• Frances Beidler Forest, Harleysville –  The largest remaining stand of virgin, old-growth bald cypress and tupelo gum trees in the world is located right here at this Audubon site. The sanctuary is located within Four Holes Swamp, so a visit could tie in with studies of swamps, conservation, and wildlife.
• North Charleston & American LaFrance Fire Museum, North Charleston – Fun field trips can sometimes even give you insight into career options, like what firefighters do on a daily basis. In addition, you can learn about the history of firefighting, and learn about fire safety. Your visit will include interactive exhibits featuring real smoke, hands-on displays, a 40-person theater, children’s play area and fire truck simulator.
• Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, Mount Pleasant – Three different museum ships are included in an educational trip to Patriots Point. If possible, try to connect your visit to one of the scheduled learning programs, but even if you are just doing a self-guided tour, your homeschoolers will learn much about history, science, aviation, marine science and the military.

For additional South Carolina field trips ideas, visit A2ZHomeschool’s South Carolina Field Trips page. Do you have any additional South Carolina field trips we didn’t mention here? Add them in the comments or share them on our South Carolina Homeschool Support forum!