
Magnolia Plantation Day Tour with Transportation
Traveler rating
4.6/5
Based on 117 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Magnolia Plantation Day Tour with Transportation worth booking?
Magnolia Plantation Day Tour with Transportation is a 5-hour experience in Charleston, United States, from $75 per person. It scores 71 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.6/5 rating across 117 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 71 / 100
- Rating
- 4.6/5 (117)
- Duration
- 5 hours
- From
- $75 per person
Explore the enchanting Magnolia Plantation, a gem in the heart of the Lowcountry. This tour takes you to the historic estate, where you’ll enjoy a guided tour of the Magnolia House, rich in Southern heritage. With options for a Nature Train Tour through beautiful gardens or a Wildlife Boat Tour on the Ashley River, there's something for everyone. Unwind on six miles of picturesque trails, wander through the Audubon Swamp Garden, and learn about the fascinating history of the plantation. A perfect day out for nature lovers and history buffs alike. - Round-trip transport from Charleston Visitor Center in luxury minibuses - Guided tour of the Magnolia Plantation House and exclusive Nature Train or Boat Tour - Discover six miles of scenic walking and biking trails and the Wildlife Center - Immerse yourself in the history of the plantation dating back to 1676
What you get
About this experience
Explore the enchanting Magnolia Plantation, a gem in the heart of the Lowcountry. This tour takes you to the historic estate, where you’ll enjoy a guided tour of the Magnolia House, rich in Southern heritage. With options for a Nature Train Tour through beautiful gardens or a Wildlife Boat Tour on the Ashley River, there's something for everyone. Unwind on six miles of picturesque trails, wander through the Audubon Swamp Garden, and learn about the fascinating history of the plantation. A perfect day out for nature lovers and history buffs alike. - Round-trip transport from Charleston Visitor Center in luxury minibuses - Guided tour of the Magnolia Plantation House and exclusive Nature Train or Boat Tour - Discover six miles of scenic walking and biking trails and the Wildlife Center - Immerse yourself in the history of the plantation dating back to 1676
What's included
Included
- Exclusive, choose the Nature Train Tour through scenic trails and gardens, or the Wildlife Boat Tour
- Guided Tour of the Magnolia Plantation House
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Round-Trip Transportation
- Explore the Wildlife Center, home to a variety of rescued animals and native species
- Infants 3 and under are free
- Entry into the 66-acre Magnolia Plantation
Not included
- Gratuities
What you'll see and do
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
Guided tour of the Magnolia Plantation House and exclusive Nature Train or Boat Tour of the property - Discover six miles of scenic walking and biking trails and the Wildlife Center - Immerse yourself in the history of the plantation and gardens dating back to 1676 - Stroll the Audubon Swamp Garden, a preserved wetland rich with native wildlife - Explore the Wildlife Center, home to a variety of rescued animals and native species
240 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Charleston
Look for the Old Town Trolley Tours bus and the driver at the Charleston Visitor Center where all the tour busses depart. Please arrive 20 minutes prior to your tour time.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Look for the Old Town Trolley Tours bus and the driver at the Charleston Visitor Center where all the tour busses depart. Please arrive 20 minutes prior to your tour time.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 10 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Historic Tours Of America
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- For accessible transportation, please contact tour operator 24 hours in advance to schedule and accessible vehicle
- Service animals are permitted. Pets and emotional support animals are not permitted
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 112 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
6 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
5 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Organization
2 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Good for families
2 mentionsReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Traveler reviews
112 verified traveler reviews for Magnolia Plantation Day Tour with Transportation. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Two Worlds Collide
The grounds were magnificent. Loved all the flowers and plant life. Great combination of forest and swamp. I took the train ride, and our guide was knowledgeable. The lady who did the slave presentation was skilled and a former educator. I had a great day.
via Viator
Prefer Magnolia to Boone Hall
I went to both Boone Hall and Magnolia. If you only have time for one, Magnolia is much better. Boone Hall changed hands many times throughout history, whereas Magnolia has belonged to the Drayton family from the beginning to the end. That’s true heritage. Boone Hall has some nice exhibitions of slave cabins but they felt a bit gimmicky (to me at least) as compared to Magnolia’s Slave to Freedom talk, which offers more context. Last but not least, Boone Hall doesn't have large grounds to walk on, whereas Magnolia’s romantic style garden is truly wonderful.
via Tripadvisor
Meeting location...
Meeting location convenient, comfortable van, safe driver. Reasonable price, included entrance fee and one optional tour. Magnolia Plantation is a magical experience.
via Viator
We loved the...
We loved the transportation we took to the plantation. The driver was humorous and very informative on history narration as we drove there. Some negatives: 1. The talk from slavery to Freedom was delivered at too fast a pace and was therefore very difficult to process. I am 64 and had trouble as did my whole family. The content we could gather was interesting 2. It wasn’t clear where to meet for the Slavery to Freedom tour. 3. The house tour was informative and tour guide was great but we were disappointed this was not a grand manor house we imagined we were going to see 4. The tour of “the gardens” was very disappointing. These are not gardens at all. We rode through light fire station and swamps. The word “garden” is the wrong description for what we saw. 5. The lunch was dreadful.
via Viator
Highly recommend this tour
Karlie Joe was fabulous. Funny, fair and a wonderful driver/guide. She was also very prompt.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 41
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Who runs this experience
Operated by Historic Tours Of America, who run 57 experiences we rank across 9 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 65.8.
See everything Historic Tours Of America runsWhy this scores 71
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Magnolia Plantation Day Tour with Transportation: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Charleston.
How much does Magnolia Plantation Day Tour with Transportation cost?
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Prices start at $75 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Charleston usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Magnolia Plantation Day Tour with Transportation take?
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Plan for about 5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Charleston is not rushed.
Is Magnolia Plantation Day Tour with Transportation worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 71 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.6/5 across 117 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Charleston, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Magnolia Plantation Day Tour with Transportation?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Magnolia Plantation Day Tour with Transportation suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Magnolia Plantation Day Tour with Transportation?
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Around 41 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Charleston can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Charleston and add a light layer if any part of the 5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Magnolia Plantation Day Tour with Transportation start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Charleston within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Charleston?
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Charleston's best experiences are small: house museum tours with an architectural historian, Gullah heritage walks, harbour sails at sunset and Lowcountry food crawls through the market district. Plantation day trips vary enormously in how honestly they handle the history, and our ranking factors that in directly. On Outty we rank every Charleston experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Charleston historical walking tour with a Professor of History at The Citadel, Historic Charleston Guided Sightseeing Walking Tour, Hidden Alleyways and Historic Sites Small-Group Walking Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Charleston?
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March to May and September to November, the two mild shoulder windows. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Charleston?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Magnolia Plantation Day Tour with Transportation?
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Included: Exclusive, choose the Nature Train Tour through scenic trails and gardens, or the Wildlife; Guided Tour of the Magnolia Plantation House; In-vehicle air conditioning; Round-Trip Transportation; and Explore the Wildlife Center, home to a variety of rescued animals and native species. Not included: Gratuities. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Magnolia Plantation Day Tour with Transportation?
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Look for the Old Town Trolley Tours bus and the driver at the Charleston Visitor Center where all the tour busses depart. Please arrive 20 minutes prior to your tour time. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Magnolia Plantation Day Tour with Transportation offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Magnolia Plantation Day Tour with Transportation?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Magnolia Plantation Day Tour with Transportation wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Wheelchair accessible; Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap; and For accessible transportation, please contact tour operator 24 hours in advance to schedul. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Magnolia Plantation Day Tour with Transportation if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Charleston. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Magnolia Plantation Day Tour with Transportation?
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Across 117 reviews averaging 4.6 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, organization. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
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