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National Historical Park · South Carolina

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park

National Historical Park in South Carolina. $10 per person.

By The Green Adventures · Updated · How we check

TypeNational Historical Park
StateSouth Carolina
Entrance fee$10 per person
CampgroundsNone
Nearest national parkCongaree (88 mi)
Closest airportCHS (14 mi)
A row of cannon with Fort Moultrie in the background. A US flag is flying in the fort.
Fort Moultrie spans 171 years from 1776-1947 Photo: NPS Photo

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park is a national historical park run by the National Park Service in South Carolina.

In the park service’s words

Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to preserve slavery, construction on a new fort, Fort Sumter, proceeded. The Confederacy fired on the US garrison of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861 opening the Civil War, which redefined American freedom.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: $10 per person. The America the Beautiful pass covers it.

Hours: Daily, 9:00AM - 4:30PM. Fort Moultrie represents the entire history of static seacoast defenses in the United States, from the American Revolution through World War II. The site includes a visitor center with museum exhibits. The Fort Moultrie Visitor Center is open daily 9:00 am-4:30 pm. The fort itself is open until 4:30 pm all year. There is an entrance fee for the park.

Getting there

Fort Sumter is accessible by ferry boat. Boats depart at scheduled times from two sites. The primary departure point is the Fort Sumter Visitor Center, 340 Concord Street, Charleston. Boats also depart from Patriots Point, 40 Patriots Point Boulevard, Mount Pleasant. There is a fee for the concession-operated ferry. Fort Moultrie is accessible by car at 1214 Middle Street, Sullivan's Island. A park entrance fee is charged for the park. Details at: https://www.nps.gov/fosu/planyourvisit/directions.

Airport City Drive to the park Straight-line miles Type
Charleston International Airport (CHS) Charleston, SC No road route 14 Large hub
Hilton Head Airport (HHH) Hilton Head Island, SC No road route 61 Regional
Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) Myrtle Beach, SC No road route 84 Large hub

Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.

Miles are straight-line distances.

Visitor centers

  • Fort Moultrie Visitor Center: Daily, 9:00AM - 4:30PM. The Fort Moultrie Visitor Center and Fort are open daily 9:00 am-4:30 pm. Park is closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day, and open all other federal holidays. There is an entrance fee for the park.
  • Fort Sumter Visitor Center at Liberty Square: Daily, 9:00AM - 4:30PM. The Fort Sumter Visitor Center is open daily all year from 9:00 am- 4:30 pm except for New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. This visitor center is free. There is a fee for the concession-operated ferry to Fort Sumter.

Weather

Mild winters. Hot and humid during the summer.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Know before you go

Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.

Nearby

The nearest national park is Congaree, about 88 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

Last checked 1 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee at Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park?

$10 per person.

Where is Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park?

In South Carolina. The closest airport with scheduled flights is Charleston International Airport, about 14 miles away.

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