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Charleston Driving History Tour

1 Review 5.00 out of 5 stars Based on 1 reviews collected by City Balloon Tours and TripAdvisor |
Recommended by 100% of reviewers
100% of reviewers gave this experience a rating of 4 or higher.
| Charleston, USA
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from $125 per person

Lowest Price Guarantee
20 South Battery - where the preservation movement began in 1920
St Michaels church. George Washington prayed in this church in 1791
Confederate general Beauregard
A scene from the movie The Patriot - filmed on Tradd Street
White Point Gardens - Where the settlers landed in 1680
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 31 (0) days in advance.
2 hours (approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket

Overview

You’re coming to Charleston and you want the best experience possible. You’re staying at a great hotel, you’ve made reservations at some of Charleston’s finest restraunts and you want to learn about this wonderful beautiful city, it’s rich history and you want to know what it’s like living here today. Historic Charleston Tours is a boutique tour guide company that specializes in small group and private tours. All of our guides are licensed by the city (no longer required in Charleston), but more importantly all of our guides live in the Old and Historic District. They can offer you interesting and amusing insights as to what it’s like living in this truly fascinating, historic neighborhood. Virtually no other tour guide company in Charleston can make such a claim. And if you have trouble walking or it's too hot we will drive you. Your choice. See why so many of Charleston’s finest hotels choose Historic Charleston Tours for their guests.

What's Included

  • Air-conditioned vehicle

    Meeting and Pickup

    Pickup point
    Pickup details

    Travelers will be contacted prior to the tour with specific pickup details.

    What To Expect

    Book Online

    Our secure website provides real-time availability, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
    Read more

    Safe & secure Easy breezy Hassle‑free

    South Battery Street

    This is a private driving tour for the more sophisticated traveler. You will of course learn about Charleston’s colorful history but you will also hear about what it’s like living in this unique and fascinating city today.The tour begins at White Point Gardens, the very southern tip of the penninsula and where the settlers landed in 1680. There you will see the Lather Stevens home, at 17,000 sq. ft. the second largest home in Charleston. It was at a meeting in the ballroom of this home in 1920 where the preservation movement in this country was born. Then to the William Gibbes - built in 1772. Cornelia Roebling (designer of the Brooklyn Bridge and featured in the tv series The Gilded Age) purchased this house in 1928. When she came here she had her world famous landscape architect, Loutrel Briggs, design her garden. As a result, Briggs eventually designed more than 100 gardens here in Charleston.
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    30 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    East Battery Street

    As we drive along E. Battery Street we will be on the waterfront and we will see more of Charleston’s largest homes. We will see 5 E. Battery. One of the most beautiful homes in Charleston. Scott Bessent, our current Sec. of the Treasury just completed a 5 and a half year restoration to this home and sold it for $18 million. We will then step onto the high battery where you will learn about the Civil War and the Revolutionary War. I will talk about the Battle of Battery Wagner, featured in the movie Glory and Revolutionary War Battle of Sullivan’s Island.As we drive further you will see the Edmonston Alston House, a museum house today and featured in the tv series Outer Banks, the Carolina Yaughtless Club, the Charleston Club and Rainbow Row.As we drive along E. Battery Street you will see more of Charleston’s largest homes and hear interesting and amusing stories about social life here in Charleston today.
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    40 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    Meeting Street

    Once on Meeting Street we will pass by St. Michael’s Church. If the doors are open we will go in. It’s one of Charleston’s most beautiful churches and George Washington prayed in this church if 1791. Two signors of the Constitution - John Rutledge and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney are both buried in the graveyard. We will see South Carolina Society Hall, built in 1804 and the current home of Charleston’s Cotillion. Then to the Nathanial Russell House, one of Charleston’s most beautiful museum houses. We will step in to the gardens of this house, one of Charleston’s finest gardens. On to the Williams Mansion. At 24,000 sq. ft. Charleston’s largest private residence, built after the Civil War in the Italianate style. George Williams was a wealthy merchant before the Civil War and a blockade runner during the war. Martha Mitchell, author of Gone with The Wind visited this home as a young women and we think she may have gotten the inspiration of her book when she was here.
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    30 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    Tradd Street

    We will conclude our tour on Tradd Street where we will be in what was Charleston’s original walled city. We will see some of Charleston’s oldest homes. Some built in the early 1700’s. Lined with Crape Mertyle trees and carefully manicured window boxes, Tradd Street is one of Charleston’s most charming streets and a site for the movie The Patriot. We will see the neighborhood “Catfish Row” subject of the play “Porgy and Bess” and talk about a middle class black neighborhood in Charleston before the Civil War.
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    20 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    Show 3 more stops

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

    Frequently Asked Questions (7)

    Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Charleston Driving History Tour?

    A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EST). Read more Apr 2025

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

    Still have questions?

    We're here to help.
    Activity code: C-329381P5

    Traveler Photos

    Reviews

    5.00
    1 reviews

    Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 1 traveler reviews collected by City Balloon Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

    5 stars
    1
    4 stars
    0
    3 stars
    0
    2 stars
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    1 star
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    Don't miss out!
    On average, this is booked 31 (0) days in advance.
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    Frequently Asked Questions (7)

    Activity name

    The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from City Balloon Tours customers.

    Filter by:

    Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Charleston Driving History Tour?
    A:
    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
    • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
    • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
    • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
    • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EST).
    Apr 2025
    Q: What's included in the price?
    A:
    The following is included:
    • Air-conditioned vehicle.
    Apr 2025
    Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
    A:

    The minimum age to participate is 6. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..

    Apr 2025
    Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
    A:

    If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

    If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

    Apr 2025
    Q: Is this an accessible tour?
    A:

    Accessibility information for the Charleston Driving History Tour is as follows:

    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
    • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    Apr 2025
    Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
    A:

    Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Charleston Driving History Tour will be included in your confirmation email from City Balloon Tours. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

     

     

    Mar 2024
    Q: How long does a refund take to reach my card, and can I get it faster?
    A:

    Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.

    Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.

    If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.

    Oct 2026

    What's Included

    Activity name

    • Air-conditioned vehicle

    Additional Info

    Activity name

    • Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
    • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
    • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

    Report Product Issue

    Activity name