Free in Mount Pleasant: Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, Memorial Waterfront Park and its splash pad, Shem Creek's boardwalk, trails and town festivals.
Last checked Oct. 16, 2026. Each listing is free to visit according to the operator’s own page, linked below. Parking can cost money at some sites, and we say so where it does.
Plenty of Mount Pleasant costs nothing to visit: a national historic site, a waterfront park with a splash pad, a 2,000-foot boardwalk, a bridge walk with a view of the whole harbor and a calendar of free town festivals.
Who to call
- Charles Pinckney National Historic Site: 843-881-7070
- Town Recreation Department and special events: 843-884-8517
- Town Visitor Center: at Memorial Waterfront Park, 99 Harry Hallman Blvd.
History
- Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, 1254 Long Point Road. The National Park Service preserves Snee Farm, one of the plantations of Charles Pinckney, a principal author and signer of the U.S. Constitution, and tells the story of the Africans he enslaved there. It is a fee-free site. The grounds are open Wednesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the historic house serves as the visitor center in season, and in 2026 it was open May 1 to Sept. 27.
- Captain Wayne Magwood Fisherman’s Memorial, on the Magwood Boardwalk at Shem Creek: a life-sized statue of the shrimper, unveiled in 2025. See our Shem Creek guide.
- Winnowing Hands, 1164 Oakland Market Road: a large sculpture of two hands holding a sweetgrass winnowing basket, honoring Gullah Geechee basket makers, dedicated by the town.
- Sweetgrass exhibit: the town’s Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Pavilion at Memorial Waterfront Park is closed for renovations; a temporary sweetgrass exhibit is at the Visitor Center next door, the town says.
- Old Village Historic District: walk Pitt Street and the streets around it to the Pitt Street Bridge. Our history and landmarks guide has the stories.
Parks and water
| Place | Where | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Memorial Waterfront Park | 99 Harry Hallman Blvd. | 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. |
| Splash pad | Memorial Waterfront Park | April to October, 8 a.m. to dusk; closed Tuesdays until noon |
| Shem Creek Park boardwalk | Shrimp Boat Lane | More than 2,000 feet over the marsh |
| Pitt Street Bridge park | 972 Pitt St. | A former trolley bridge, now a park |
| Skate park | Behind the R.L. Jones Center, 391 Egypt Road | Dawn to dusk; helmets and pads required |
| Town dog parks | Memorial Waterfront Park, Marsh View Trail, Carolina Park | See our dog-friendly guide |
Memorial Waterfront Park has lawns, a nautical playground and a free splash pad, and the town calls it “the crown jewel of Mount Pleasant.” The Pitt Street Bridge is where the town suggests watching the sunset.
Trails
- Wonders’ Way, the 2.7-mile walking and biking path over the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge.
- Patriots Point Nature Trail, 0.9 mile round trip, dawn to dusk, and the Hog Island Trail and Observation Deck.
- Marsh View Trail, Kearns Park Trail and Fort Palmetto Park Trail.
Details and parking for each are in our walking and biking trails guide. Palmetto Islands ($2) and Laurel Hill ($1) county parks charge small entry fees.
Libraries
Charleston County Public Library’s three Mount Pleasant branches, Mt. Pleasant (1133 Mathis Ferry Road), Wando Mount Pleasant (1400 Carolina Park Blvd.) and Village (430 Whilden St.), lend books and hold free story times and programs. See our kids’ activities guide.
Free town events
From the town’s special events page and event listings:
| Event | When |
|---|---|
| Mount Pleasant Farmers Market (free entry) | Tuesdays, April to September, 3:30 to 7 p.m. |
| Sweetgrass Festival (free admission), Memorial Waterfront Park | Fourth Saturday in July; 2026: July 25, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Children’s Day Festival (rides and activities free) | Third Sunday in October |
| Carolina Park Trunk or Treat (no fee listed) | Last Friday in October |
| Holiday Market and Craft Show (free admission and parking) | Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026 |
| Christmas Light Parade (free to watch) | Sunday, Dec. 13, 2026 |
| ArtFest (free admission, parking and activities) | Saturday, March 20, 2027 |
Other free events nearby: Live Under the Oaks concerts at Towne Centre on October Thursdays, the Tiny Lawn Music Series at the Darby Building and Boone Hall’s Christmas Tree Festival, Nov. 21-22, 2026, with free admission and free photos with Santa.
Free on certain days
- Patriots Point waives museum admission for veterans, active-duty military and their immediate families on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, and from 11 a.m. to noon for those attending its Pearl Harbor Day memorial service on Monday, Dec. 7. Parking is charged separately. Children 5 and under and active-duty military with ID are free every day.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Is Charles Pinckney National Historic Site free?
Yes. The National Park Service says the site, at 1254 Long Point Road, charges no entrance fee. The grounds are open Wednesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the historic house was open May 1 to Sept. 27 in 2026.
What can kids do for free in Mount Pleasant?
The splash pad and nautical playground at Memorial Waterfront Park, the skate park behind the R.L. Jones Center, the three county library branches and the town’s free festivals, such as the Children’s Day Festival in October.
Is it free to walk the Ravenel Bridge?
Yes. Wonders’ Way, the 2.7-mile path over the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, has no fee. Park at Memorial Waterfront Park in Mount Pleasant.
What free events does the Town of Mount Pleasant hold?
Among them: the Children’s Day Festival on the third Sunday in October, the Carolina Park Trunk or Treat, the Holiday Market and Craft Show and the Christmas Light Parade in December, and the Sweetgrass Festival on the fourth Saturday in July.
Have your say