Charleston plantation tour: Middleton Place & Drayton Hall

Two plantations, two centuries of design: gardens versus architecture

A guided tour of Middleton Place and Drayton Hall, two Charleston plantations along the Ashley River, with pickup from the city and an air-conditioned vehicle. The tour covers both sites in four hours, moving between America's oldest landscaped gardens and the finest surviving example of Palladian design in the United States, each telling a different story of the Low country's past.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Charleston plantations and historic sites

• Drive through Charlestonwne neighborhood
• See St. Michaels Church
• View oldest Charleston homes including Williams Mansion
• See Lather Home and preservation movement site
• Tour Middleton Place Plantation gardens and museum
• Watch 18th-century craft demonstrations at Middleton Place
• Visit Drayton Hall Plantation and explore Palladian architecture

The Experience

The tour begins with a short drive through Charleston's historic neighborhoods, passing St. Michaels Church (built 1761, where George Washington prayed in 1791), the Williams Mansion at 24,000 square feet, and the Lather Home—where the preservation movement was born in 1920. From there, the route heads to the two plantations themselves.

Middleton Place opens with grounds that shift with the seasons: terraces, camellias, azaleas, and centuries-old oaks draped in Spanish moss make up what is known as America's oldest landscaped gardens. The historic house museum traces the Middleton family's influence on the Low country, and the stable yards host demonstrations of 18th-century crafts and animal husbandry. The site also interprets the lives of the enslaved people who built and maintained the estate.

Drayton Hall stands a short distance away along the Ashley River, built in the mid-18th century and never modernized—no electricity, no plumbing, no major alterations. Its Palladian design emphasizes symmetry and proportion: a central entrance flanked by evenly spaced windows, a grand double portico, soaring ceilings, and finely crafted woodwork arranged with classical precision. The architectural purity of the house, preserved in its original 18th-century state, offers a rare window into colonial design.

The tour runs four hours total and includes pickup from Charleston and an air-conditioned vehicle. Admission to the plantations is not included and can be added at checkout.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle.
• pickup from Charleston.
• live guide in English.
• access to both Middleton Place and Drayton Hall (admission available as an add-on option).

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomeNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Historic Charleston Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to compare two contrasting estates in one morning—Middleton Place shows you the gardens and living history, while Drayton Hall focuses on colonial architecture, letting you see both the landscape design and building styles that defined the Low Country.

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Top questions

What is Middleton Place known for?

Middleton Place is renowned for America's oldest landscaped gardens, featuring terraces, camellias, azaleas, and centuries-old oaks draped in Spanish moss. The estate also includes a historic house museum, stable yards with demonstrations of 18th-century crafts, and interpretation of both the Middleton family's history and the lives of the enslaved people who built and maintained the property.

Why is Drayton Hall's architecture considered significant?

Drayton Hall is the finest surviving example of Palladian architecture in North America, built in the mid-18th century and never modernized. Its design reflects the Italian Renaissance principles of symmetry, proportion, and classical detail—a central entrance, evenly spaced windows, grand double portico, and soaring ceilings—all preserved in their original 18th-century state without electricity, plumbing, or major alterations.

Does the tour include admission to both plantations?

Admission to Middleton Place and Drayton Hall is not included in the base tour price and can be added as an option at checkout.

How long is the tour and what's included?

The tour runs four hours and includes pickup from Charleston, an air-conditioned vehicle, and a live English-speaking guide. The route also passes through Charleston's historic neighborhoods, including St. Michaels Church and the city's largest homes.

What happens at the start of the tour?

The tour begins with a short drive through Charleston's historic neighborhoods, where you'll see St. Michaels Church (built 1761), the Williams Mansion (the largest home in Charleston at 24,000 square feet), and the Lather Home, where the American preservation movement was founded in 1920.