Boone Hall Plantation Tour: House, Gardens & Gullah Culture

A 30-minute house tour in historical dress, then the grounds on your own pace

This 4.5-hour guided tour from Charleston includes round-trip transport on an air-conditioned bus, entry to Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens, a 30-minute house tour led by a guide in historical dress, a presentation on enslaved life in the historic cabins, and a seasonal live Gullah culture performance. The tour departs from the Charleston Visitors Center downtown and is limited to small groups of 25 or fewer. Hotel pickup is available as an add-on option at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Boone Hall Plantation from Charleston

• Depart from Charleston Visitors Center
• Travel by air-conditioned mini bus
• Guided 30-minute house tour
• Visit slave cabin and history presentation
• Attend seasonal Gullah culture presentation
• Take self-guided garden and grounds tour
• Enjoy seasonal plantation tram tour if available
• Return to Charleston Visitors Center

The Experience

The tour starts at the Charleston Visitors Center, where you board an air-conditioned bus for the drive to Boone Hall. Once there, a guide in period dress walks you through the house for 30 minutes, starting on the front porch and moving through rooms while explaining the plantation's ownership since 1681 and its role in Charleston's history. This is the only structured part of the day—everything else unfolds at your own speed.

After the house, you move through the slave cabins and see the living quarters, tools and relics of the people who were enslaved here, paired with a history presentation that contextualizes their lives and labor. If the season is right, you'll also attend a live performance called "Exploring The Gullah Culture," a presentation unique to Boone Hall among Charleston-area plantations—it's performed by a costumed interpreter and covers the distinct culture that African enslaved people developed and passed down. A tram tour runs if availability allows, and the gardens and grounds stay open for you to walk through on your own.

The bus returns you to the Visitors Center after the full visit. The site itself is not wheelchair accessible, but companions can assist visitors with limited mobility. Drinks and snacks are available for purchase on the grounds. Small groups mean you're never in a crowd, and the 4.5-hour window gives you time to linger without rushing through any single stop.

What’s included

• Round-trip transport on an air-conditioned bus from the Charleston Visitors Center.
• all plantation entry fees.
• a 30-minute guided house tour with a guide in historical dress.
• access to the historic slave cabins and history presentation.
• the seasonal Gullah Theater performance.
• self-guided garden and grounds tour.
• tram tour based on availability.
• professional driver.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Adventure Sightseeing

Is this one for you?This tour suits travelers who want the structure of a guided house tour and the context of a historian's voice, but prefer to explore the gardens and grounds without a group moving in lockstep—the 30-minute house walk is led, and everything after that is yours to pace. Choose this if you're traveling from Charleston without a rental car and want transport, entry and interpretation all arranged in one booking.

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Top questions

What exactly happens on the house tour at Boone Hall?

A guide in historical dress leads a 30-minute walk through the house starting on the front porch, explaining the plantation's history from 1681 onward and its evolution through different owners. The tour is the structured part of the day; everything after it moves at your own pace.

Is the Gullah culture presentation included, or is that extra?

The Gullah Theater presentation is included in the tour price when it's in season. It's a live performance by a costumed interpreter covering the culture that African enslaved people created and maintained at Boone Hall—it's the only plantation in the Charleston area that offers this.

Do I have to walk the whole plantation, or can I skip parts?

The house tour is guided and timed, but the gardens and grounds are self-guided, so you can spend as much or as little time there as you want. A tram tour runs if available, which is another option for covering the grounds without walking the full distance.

Where does the tour pick me up and drop me off?

The tour departs and returns to the Charleston Visitors Center downtown, which has parking, restrooms and a gift shop. Hotel pickup and drop-off is available as an add-on option—you can select it when you book.

How many people are usually on this tour?

The small-group tour is limited to a maximum of 25 people, so you won't be in a large crowd moving through the house or the grounds.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

Round-trip transport, all gate fees, the house tour, the slave cabin presentation, the seasonal Gullah performance, and the tram tour (if available) are all included. Drinks and snacks are available for purchase on the plantation grounds.