Magnolia Plantation & Gardens is a 600-acre historic plantation and public garden located at 3550 Ashley River Road, approximately 13 miles north-west of downtown Charleston, South Carolina. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, parking, accessibility, and practical tips for planning your visit.
Updated May 2026. The Magnolia House Tour and “From Slavery to Freedom” Tour are now both included with standard admission, a change introduced in 2024 that many outdated guides still list as paid add-ons.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm daily (last ticket sold at 4:00 pm) |
| Closed | Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day |
| Address | 3550 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC 29414 |
| Phone | (843) 571-1266 |
| Admission – adults | $32 |
| Admission – children (5–13) | $16 |
| Admission – children under 5 | Free |
| Add-on: Nature Train Tour | $15 per person (on-site only) |
| Add-on: Wildlife Boat Tour | $15 per person (seasonal; currently closed) |
| Parking | Free on-site parking |
| Public transport | None; Uber, Lyft, or taxi required |
| Typical visit duration | 3–5 hours |
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens opening hours
The plantation is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, with the last ticket sold at 4:00 pm. The site is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Unlike many competing sites, Magnolia does not operate reduced seasonal hours — the 9 am–5 pm schedule applies year-round. Guests are required to leave the premises by 5:00 pm; if you plan to take guided tours, arrive no later than 2:00 pm to allow sufficient time.
Why book the Historic Magnolia Plantation Tour?
- 🌸 America’s Oldest Public Gardens: Wander through the world-famous “romantic style” gardens that have been open to visitors since 1870, featuring breathtaking collections of ancient camellias and azaleas.
- 🚜 Guided Nature Tram Tour: Enjoy a narrated 45-minute ride through the estate’s diverse landscapes, including wetlands, forests, and lakes, with frequent sightings of alligators, turtles, and herons.
- 📜 From Slavery to Freedom: Participate in an essential, award-winning tour of the preserved 1850s cabins, honoring the history and resilience of the Enslaved people who lived and worked on the property.
- 🌿 Audubon Swamp Garden: Explore the unique beauty of a cypress and tupelo swamp via elevated boardwalks, offering a tranquil and immersive look at one of the South’s most iconic ecosystems.
- 🚐 Included Charleston Transportation: Save time and avoid the hassle of driving with professional, air-conditioned transport provided from downtown Charleston directly to the plantation gates.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens ticket prices
Standard garden admission covers access to over 200 acres of grounds, six miles of walking and biking trails, the Wildlife Center, the Audubon Swamp Garden boardwalk, the Magnolia House Tour, and the “From Slavery to Freedom” Tour. The House Tour and Slavery to Freedom Tour are complimentary with admission but require a same-day tour ticket, collected in person at the Welcome Center on arrival — they cannot be booked in advance and are subject to availability and capacity.
The Nature Train Tour ($15 per person) and the seasonal Wildlife Boat Tour ($15 per person) are paid add-ons, purchased on-site only on a first-come, first-served basis. As of May 2026, the Wildlife Boat Tour is closed for the season; check the official website for its 2026 reopening date.
Advance tickets for garden admission can be purchased online. Buying online is recommended to avoid queuing at the Welcome Center, particularly at weekends and during the spring bloom season.
Admission prices and opening hours were checked on the official website and last verified in May 2026.
City pass: Magnolia Plantation & Gardens is included in the Charleston TourPass scheme, which also covers Boone Hall Plantation, the South Carolina Aquarium, Fort Sumter tours, and other Charleston attractions. A TourPass covers standard garden admission; the Nature Train Tour and Wildlife Boat Tour are not included and cost $15 each on-site.
Why book the Charleston TourPass?
- 🎟️ All-Inclusive Access to 40+ Sites: Enjoy full admission to the city’s most iconic landmarks, including the Fort Sumter Tour, Boone Hall Plantation, and historic carriage rides, all with one simple pass.
- 📱 100% Digital Experience: Skip the hassle of paper tickets with a mobile-friendly pass that includes interactive maps, site information, and easy-to-use booking tools right on your smartphone.
- 💰 Significant Travel Savings: Save 40% or more compared to buying individual retail tickets, making it the most cost-effective way to experience the best of the “Holy City.”
- 🗓️ Flexible Scheduling: Take control of your itinerary with the ability to choose between 1 to 5-day passes, allowing you to explore at your own pace and make reservations for popular tours in advance.
- ⚓ Diverse “Featured” Experiences: Choose from high-value “Featured” tours like harbor cruises and guided plantation tours, plus unlimited entry to “Standard” attractions like museums and historic homes.
AHS RAP members: Magnolia participates in the American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Admissions Programme. Present your AHS membership card at the Welcome Center for complimentary admission for you and one guest.
How to get to Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
There is no public transport to the site. Visitors without a car should use Uber, Lyft, or a local taxi. The plantation is 13 miles from downtown Charleston and 12 miles from Charleston International Airport. Journey time from downtown is approximately 25–40 minutes depending on traffic. The official website advises booking your return pickup in advance, as the site has no on-call transport.
For visitors driving from downtown Charleston, take US-17 North and turn onto SC-61 (Ashley River Road). The entrance is on the right, roughly nine miles along Ashley River Road.
Parking at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
On-site parking is free and described as ample. There are designated accessible parking spaces for visitors with disabilities. No advance parking reservation is required.
How long to spend at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
Plan a minimum of 3 to 4 hours to cover the main garden areas, the Audubon Swamp Garden boardwalk, and one or two guided tours. Visitors who add the Nature Train Tour and spend time at the Wildlife Center typically need 4 to 5 hours. The property covers more than 600 acres in total; it is not possible to see everything in a single visit.
Accessibility at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
The gardens, Audubon Swamp Garden, Wildlife Center, Peacock Café, Gift Shop, and Nature Train Tour are all accessible to wheelchairs, scooters, and strollers. However, many garden paths are unpaved (dirt and gravel), which may present difficulty for powered wheelchairs and scooters. The Magnolia House Tour is not wheelchair accessible — it requires climbing steps and is not suitable for wheelchairs or scooters due to the historic nature of the building. Accessible parking spaces and accessible restrooms are available on-site. Staff at the Welcome Center can assist with personalised accessibility planning.
Inside Magnolia Plantation & Gardens: what to see
The historic gardens cover 66 public acres and include walking paths through centuries-old camellias, azaleas, and live oaks. The gardens are in the Romantic style, meaning they are naturalistic rather than formal. Late January through April is the primary bloom season, but the gardens remain open and planted year-round.
The Audubon Swamp Garden is a 13-acre blackwater cypress and tupelo swamp accessible via boardwalks, bridges, and dikes. Alligators, wood ducks, herons, egrets, and turtles are regularly seen throughout the year. In spring, nesting colonies of wading birds are visible close to the walking path.
The Magnolia House Tour covers the 1874 plantation house — the third home built on this site — through ten rooms furnished with Drayton family heirlooms. The tour traces the property’s history from the Reconstruction era to the present. The minimum age for this tour is 7.
The “From Slavery to Freedom” Tour is a guided experience covering the history of slavery at Magnolia, the domestic slave trade, and daily life on a Lowcountry rice plantation. It includes visits to preserved 19th-century slave cabins. This tour is included with admission and has no minimum age requirement.
The Wildlife Center houses native South Carolina species including red fox, bobcat, alligators, and birds of prey, many of which were rescued by conservation partner Keeper of the Wild. A reptile house features native turtles and snakes.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Arrive early | The Magnolia House Tour can reach capacity quickly; collect your same-day tour ticket at the Welcome Center as soon as you arrive. |
| Bring insect repellent | Mosquitoes and biting insects are prevalent from late spring through autumn; repellent is strongly recommended from May onwards. |
| Wear walking shoes | Most garden paths are unpaved dirt or gravel; trainers or sturdy flat shoes are more practical than sandals or heels. |
| Download the app | The free Magnolia Plantation app (iOS and Android) includes an offline map and property information; download it before you arrive. |
| Budget for add-ons | The Nature Train Tour ($15) and, when available, the Wildlife Boat Tour ($15) are not included in standard admission and must be purchased on-site in cash or by card. |
Frequently asked questions about Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Magnolia Plantation & Gardens suitable for children? | Yes. There is no minimum age for most experiences. The Magnolia House Tour has a minimum age of 7. The Wildlife Center and swamp boardwalk are popular with families. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Magnolia Plantation & Gardens? | Advance booking is available and recommended for garden admission. Guided tours (including the House Tour and From Slavery to Freedom Tour) cannot be booked in advance and are issued on-site on the day of your visit. |
| Is Magnolia Plantation & Gardens open on Sundays? | Yes, it is open every day of the week from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. |
| Are dogs allowed at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens? | Yes. Leashed dogs (lead no longer than six feet) are permitted in the gardens and on the Audubon Swamp boardwalk. Dogs are not permitted on guided tours, in the Wildlife Center, or inside the restored slave cabins. Service dogs are exempt from tour restrictions but are not permitted inside the Wildlife Center. |
| Is there food available at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens? | Yes. The Peacock Café serves sandwiches, salads, snacks, and drinks including wine and beer, opening at 9:00 am. Visitors may also bring their own food and non-alcoholic beverages; picnic tables are located throughout the property. |
Things to do near Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
Drayton Hall (0.5 miles, Ashley River Road) — A National Trust for Historic Preservation site and one of the oldest surviving plantation houses in America, open for guided tours.
Middleton Place (4 miles, Ashley River Road) — A National Historic Landmark featuring America’s oldest surviving landscaped gardens (1741) alongside a working stable yard and plantation house museum.
Cypress Gardens (30 minutes, Moncks Corner) — A 170-acre natural cypress swamp garden with flat-bottomed boat tours, a butterfly house, and an aquarium.
Boone Hall Plantation (20 miles, Mount Pleasant) — A working plantation open to visitors, with formal gardens, a historic slave street, and guided house tours.
South Carolina Aquarium (13 miles, downtown Charleston) — An aquarium focused on Lowcountry and South Carolina wildlife, including sea turtles, sharks, and freshwater species.
What to visit tomorrow: similar attractions within a two-hour drive
Brookgreen Gardens, Pawleys Island, SC (90 minutes) — America’s first public sculpture garden, set within 9,100 acres of former rice plantation land, with extensive botanical gardens, trails, and wildlife. Open daily.
Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, SC (90 minutes) — A municipal garden on the National Register of Historic Places, known for its eight species of waterlilies and all-eight-species of North American swans. Free admission.
Airlie Gardens, Wilmington, NC (2 hours) — A 67-acre coastal garden established in the early 1900s, featuring an ancient live oak estimated to be over 400 years old, and a butterfly garden.
Orton Plantation Gardens, Brunswick County, NC (2 hours) — Historic antebellum gardens bordering the Cape Fear River, with formal walkways, reflecting pools, and a colonial-era chapel.
Biltmore Estate Gardens, Asheville, NC — Beyond the two-hour mark at approximately three hours, but included as a notable reference: the Biltmore’s 8,000 acres include formal gardens, a walled English garden, and a conservatory designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.
