Savannah River Scenic Byway (original) (raw)

Skip to content

• Blog
• About
• Contact

Savannah River Scenic BywayBy Ways2021-09-10T11:56:55-04:00

Savannah River Scenic Byway

State: South Carolina
Length: 110 miles / 176.0 km
Time to Allow: One could easily spend a minimum of 3 hours to all day exploring this Byway.

The Savannah River Scenic Byway offers 110 miles of gorgeous scenic views along with opportunities for history in the rural south. As the byway sits by the Savannah River, it borders Georgia making this an excellent trip for either state. It’s also a close drive from North Carolina and Tennessee for those looking for outdoor adventure and historical intrigue. While you can take the byway in just three hours, you will want a few days to explore every sight.

As with most byways, this one intersects with several state parks and quaint towns. The byway starts in a tiny town called Oakway near Lake Hartwell. Here you can enjoy paved campsites for RVs, or you can tent near the shore. A fishing pier gives you the option to catch some sun while trying out the sport. The park store offers necessities, and kids can enjoy swimming or geocaching.

Following the byway south, stop in the town of Starr to visit the Sadlers Creek State Park and Dam. The town offers several wineries and breweries if you want to try some local brew. Camp at the Big Water Marina and Campground still on Lake Hartwell. Try some fabulous Italian food and pizza at the Mama Minto’s Pizzeria. Continuing south, stop at a few more small towns like Iva with Lake Secession and the Jim Rampey Recreation area. Stop at the Diamond Hill Mine near the lake for a little treasure hunting.

Nearby right of the byway in the town of Abbeville, you can visit the Burt-Stark House or an opera house. Calhoun Falls sits south with its own state park with options to camp, walk the trails, fish, boat, and swim. The campground has tennis courts too and shop for necessities. Several Equestrian trails allow for horseback riding. Furthermore, numerous old homesites still remain to view as you travel through the area.

Continue on to Mount Carmel with access to the Bobby Brown State Park and the Hickory Knob State Resort Park and Campground right on the water. Golfers can enjoy the Monticello Golf Course. The gorgeous area breaks off into several other state parks nearby for those looking to spend their trip outdoors. The town of McCormick comes next, heading south with access to several state parks and the McCormicks Arts Council at the Keturah, also called the MACK. A few historic hotels and a depot keep the town alive in their Historic District.

End the trip in Clarks Hill, but first stop at the Ninety Six National Historic Site, one of the battlefields from the Revolutionary War. Take a guided tour or check out the archaeological digs and interpretive trails. In town, you can take a boat out on the water for some fishing or go to the Hamilton Branch State park for camping. Stay at one of several hotels and grab a meal at the Patriots Smokehouse for some tasty barbecue before ending your trip and finding your next byway.

More South Carolina Byways

You can check out additional Byways in South Carolina by clicking on the list of byways below, or by going to the South Carolina Byways home section. To find even more of scenic byways in the United States, visit our scenic byways map.

Page load link

Go to Top