Everything You Need to Know About Touring Fort Sumter
PLANNING A VISIT TO FORT SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA?
We’ve got all the details you need! Our family had a great time visiting the fort. It was a unique and historical experience we won’t forget. We’ve put together a guide with details and helpful tips to help you best enjoy your time at Fort Sumter.
If you have any interest in United States history, touring Fort Sumter during your stay in Charleston is well worth your time. The ferry ride out to the island is also a nice way to get out on the water.
Fort Sumter is where the first shots of the Civil War took place. Today, Fort Sumter is maintained by the National Park Service. It is found on a man-made island in Charleston Harbor.
Touring Fort Sumter is a great way to brush up on your American Civil War history and a hands-on learning opportunity to help teach kids about US history. Fort Sumter also has beautiful views of Patriots Point, Charleston, and the Ravenel Bridge.
How Do You Access Fort Sumter?
The only way to get to Fort Sumter is on a boat. Fort Sumter Tours runs the ferries that take visitors to Fort Sumter. The ferry departure points for Fort Sumter are in Downtown Charleston at Liberty Square or from Patriots Point.
Fort Sumter Ferry Departure Points
Liberty Square
340 Concord Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Patriots Point
40 Patriots Point Road
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
When booking your Fort Sumter tour ticket for the ferry be sure to pay attention to your departure point – Patriots Point or Liberty Square.
Ferry tickets do sell out ahead of time. The National Park Service Rangers recommend buying your tickets at least 2-3 days in advance.
The ferry ride from Fort Sumter to Charleston is about 30 minutes. The overall tour is 2 hours and 15 minutes with about an hour left to walk the grounds.
The ferry boat is three-levels with some seating and tables. The indoor seating is limited so if it is a sunny day pack your sunscreen and hats. If you are visiting with small children bring some small entertainment items if you think they will need them during the boat ride. We got a few snacks onboard the ferry and looked for dolphins and the time passed quickly.
How much does it cost to visit Fort Sumter?
There is no admission cost for Fort Sumter but there is a cost for the ferry ride to the island.
Fort Sumter Ferry Ticket Costs
Adults: $30 (Ages 12 – 61)
Seniors & Active Military: $28 (Ages 62+/Military ID)
Child: $18 (Ages 4 – 11)
Infant: Free (Ages 3 and younger)
Infants do need to have a ticket to board the boat so be sure to include them in your reservation.
Fort Sumter Ferry Departure Times
Patriots Points: 10:45 am and 1:45 pm
Liberty Square: 9:30 am, 12:15 pm, and 3 pm
The tours times vary throughout the year so please confirm these schedules online when purchasing tickets.
Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center
We recommend starting your day at the Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center at Liberty Square. This is where you will catch the ferry to Fort Sumter South Carolina. Admission to the fort and visitor center is free but you’ll need to buy ferry tickets to get out to the island.
The displays and information at the Education Center are very small but packed with history! The Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum outlines the history of slavery in the South, tensions between the states, and more information at historic Fort Sumter. A visit will take about 30 to 60 minutes depending on how much reading you do.
If you are visiting with kids, be sure to pick up a junior ranger packet at the Visitor Education Center.
What to Do While touring Fort Sumter
Once you get to the island, you will have 60 minutes for your tour of Fort Sumer. You are greeted by National Park rangers who give you an overview of the island’s history and attractions. This will leave you with about 45 minutes to explore the grounds, gift shop, and on-site museum.
Flag Raising at Fort Sumter National Park
If you are on the first ferry of the day, you can head to the top of the stairs for the flag-raising ceremony. We were lucky enough to get to participate in the ceremony and would highly recommend it. It is a great way to pay respect to the fallen heroes who served, especially those in the Civil War.
Take in the Views
On your way back to the ferry, walk out to the beach to admire the view of downtown Charleston. You will be able to see Patriots Point, USS Yorktown, the Battery, the Ravenel Bridge, and other area Charleston landmarks.
Original Artifacts Still on Site
There is still a lot of original items on the island. Make sure you see the Civil War era projectiles still lodged in the walls, the crooked arch, and leaning brick walls where a powder keg accidentally exploded.
There are also very large and ancient canons to look at throughout the grounds. You can ask one of the volunteers for a demonstration of how the canons worked.
There is also a tattered US flag that was smuggled out in secrecy just before the fort was captured by the Confederates.
Things to Know While touring Fort Sumter
Picnicking is not allowed at the fort, but we brought a refillable water bottle and some snacks without any issues. It is also a good idea to bring a hat, sunscreen and bug spray. There are several water fountains on Fort Sumter.
Your time at the fort will go faster than you think. Take your time and soak in the details but keep a good pace as you explore the island. A ranger will come by to tell you when the ferry is boarding. Keep in mind that if you are the last one on the ferry, you will get the last pick of seats.
Charleston Boat Tours
If the ferry tickets are sold out during your visit or you don’t mind just looking at Fort Sumter from the water, another fantastic option is a Charleston harbor tour. During this highly recommended tour, you will see Fort Sumter, USS Yorktown, the Battery, the Ravenel Bridge, and other Charleston landmarks.
You can choose if you’d like to depart in the morning, afternoon, or evening. The evening tours are a great opportunity to mix a little history in with a beautiful sunset harbor cruise. Sunsets are spectacular here.
Book Your Charleston Harbor Tour Here
About Fort Sumter
The Civil War began with an attack on Fort Sumter. The attack lasted two days from April 12-14, 1861. The only death during the attack was a union soldier who was accidentally killed during an explosion during the 100-gun salute. The Confederate army took over the fort because of nearly exhausted supplies and a shortage of troops. Union soldiers were allowed to retire the flag, fire a 100-gun salute and leave the fort.
Restaurants NearBy
There are a number of restaurants near the Liberty Square ferry departure point making it easy to grab a bite to eat before or after touring Fort Sumter.
Amen Street Fish & Raw Bar – Seafood $$-$$$
205 E Bay Street (Corner of Cumberland & East Bay)
Fire Street Food – Sushi, Asian, Fusion $
293 King Street
Cumberland Street Smokehouse – American, Barbecue $$-$$$
5 Cumberland Street
Market Street Deli and Salads – Quick Bites, American $
76 N Market Street
Queen Street Grocery & Café – American $
133 Queen Street
Maple Street Biscuit Company – Quick Bites, American $
1739 Maybank Highway, Suite U
Attractions Near Fort Sumter National Monument
The departure point for the Fort Sumter tours is 10 minutes from Downtown Charleston giving you lots of other attractions to visit in the area. Here are some of our favorite things to do in historic Charleston.
- Joe Riley Waterfront Park
- Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
- Chow Down Charleston Food Tours
- The Battery
- Isles of Palm County Park
- Folly Beach
- Angel Oak
- Charleston City Market
- Charleston Carriage Tour
Overall we had a great visit to Fort Sumter South Carolina and would recommend a visit to anyone, even if you’re visiting with young kids. Have you visited this historic fort? Let us know how your visit was in the comments below!
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