Fort Moultrie
Fort Moultrie
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Federal headquarters for the National Park Service's historic properties located in Charleston and Fort Sumter.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
977 reviews
Excellent
575
Very good
331
Average
64
Poor
6
Terrible
1
ColeDT
Gloucester, VA81 contributions
Feb 2020
Smaller museum with gift shop. The rangers inside were extremely welcoming and nice! Museum was a one room with an attached theater that showed a short 15 minute movie about the Fort. However, we opted out of watching it.
The grounds of the Fort were fun to walk around and explore. Our boys had a blast! The batteries overlook Sullivan Island and the views are great. Looking out we saw three dolphins close to shore playing.
We spent a good hour and a half looking around the grounds.
Then walked to the beach and enjoyed that for another thirty minutes.
We were here in FEB, so its still a more quiet time in Charleston, so the beach was practically bare except for a few people walking their dogs. (Although I don't think this is a swimming beach because there is a huge sign talking about deadly current here) I don't think that is a seasonal sign, but I am not sure of this.
Great place to visit, and we will visit again on a warmer day =)
The grounds of the Fort were fun to walk around and explore. Our boys had a blast! The batteries overlook Sullivan Island and the views are great. Looking out we saw three dolphins close to shore playing.
We spent a good hour and a half looking around the grounds.
Then walked to the beach and enjoyed that for another thirty minutes.
We were here in FEB, so its still a more quiet time in Charleston, so the beach was practically bare except for a few people walking their dogs. (Although I don't think this is a swimming beach because there is a huge sign talking about deadly current here) I don't think that is a seasonal sign, but I am not sure of this.
Great place to visit, and we will visit again on a warmer day =)
Written February 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DebbiPRN
Langhorne, PA44 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
Heard about Fort Moultrie while on the ferry back from Fort Sumter & decided to visit. Glad we did. The small, but informative, museum & movie give a good overview of the important history of this Fort. You can go into one of the WW II bunkers & see the actual rooms set up. They included the Command Center, Radio Room & Decontamination area among others. We used Lyft to get there but, when we were leaving @ 4:30, neither Lyft or Uber were available to bring us back to Charleston! A wonderful, compassionate volunteer, Jim, gave us a ride to Mount Pleasant & we were able to get a ride from there.
Written March 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KRISTEN
Raleigh, NC107 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
Fort Moultrie was originally not on our list. We wanted to see Fort Sumter but the high price of $35 per person scared us off. Fort Moultrie was a very reasonable $10 per adult and kids up to age 16 were free. Be aware: the visitors center is not air conditioned so prepare for a hot visit. From the park ranger Kaley to the fort itself, this is a great place that taught my kids an important part of history. Everything you see has plaques describing the purpose or history behind the object. The lawn and the fort are meticulously maintained and the visitor center itself is a wealth of knowledge. There is a short video that I suggest watching before you venture into the fort. (20mins or so). The bathrooms at the visitor center are very clean. Something to note: most of the fort is not handicapped accessible. Strollers may also be hard or impossible to use.
Built of palmetto logs and sand, the fort saved Charleston from British occupation in 1776. Many of the cannons used to defend the coast, are on display in their original positions. I am claustrophobic and had to push myself to climb down some stairs into the dispatch and communication headquarters. It was nice and cool down there and very informative. The tunnels and various rooms displayed are quite interesting to explore and you definitely feel transported back in time.
The park ranger Kaley gave my kids an activities book to complete tasks while exploring the fort. After we completed our self-guided tour, my youngest daughter was sworn in as an honorary park ranger. It was definitely a nice experience and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about the first fort on Sullivans Island.
Built of palmetto logs and sand, the fort saved Charleston from British occupation in 1776. Many of the cannons used to defend the coast, are on display in their original positions. I am claustrophobic and had to push myself to climb down some stairs into the dispatch and communication headquarters. It was nice and cool down there and very informative. The tunnels and various rooms displayed are quite interesting to explore and you definitely feel transported back in time.
The park ranger Kaley gave my kids an activities book to complete tasks while exploring the fort. After we completed our self-guided tour, my youngest daughter was sworn in as an honorary park ranger. It was definitely a nice experience and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about the first fort on Sullivans Island.
Written July 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SeanandLarue
Meeker, CO644 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
What an amazing time, we happened upon this historic site while driving around and what a great history lesson and place. This is well worth stopping and visiting, lots of helpful volunteers to explain and help, also loved the demonstration of the historically dressed Militia and Continental Army talking about the life for them during the revolution and why the use of the muskets and close combat formations. Our country’s history is amazing and great to learn, can’t wait to visit again.
Written February 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mountaineer_Steve
Charleston, SC910 contributions
May 2019
This is a great family event especially if you are already on Sullivan's island. Inside there is a Museum, orientation film is offered and a bookstore with interactive items. Outside you will walk the grounds of the fort on your own. I think there are guided tours but they were not available when we were there
Written January 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen B
Sevierville, TN266 contributions
Mar 2020
We took a very interesting self guided tour of the Fort. There is plenty of information on hand and it gives a great overview of the history of this place. We had our dog with us and you can take dogs around the exterior of the fort but not inside the fort walls. Unknowingly we took our dog inside the fort walls, but not inside the buildings, so just be aware of that. The little museum across the road has a cool exhibit. If you are not into history this attraction is probably not for you.
Written March 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FarAway750814
11 contributions
Feb 2023
Fort Moultrie is a fascinating place to visit. The Park Service team does an outstanding job describing the significance of the fort’s role in the history of city and harbor of Charleston. On occasion, a living history volunteer is present to provide more details of the fort, specifically the tense moments leading up to the first shots of the Civil War being fired on Fort Sumter. Fort Moultrie also played a key role in the defense of the harbor in both World Wars.
Written February 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
darkwriter1
Leesville, SC44 contributions
Mar 2020
This small area of land has seen so much in the way of warfare and history. Just gazing at the enterance to the fort, one plunders at the thought of the many who passed through that doorway for a whole different reason entirely. From Revolutionary War, Civil War, and even the World Wars, Fort Moultrie has been involved.
Written March 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephanie
Fargo, ND78 contributions
Apr 2023 • Family
Our family of three (two adults and one infant) visited on a Monday morning. It was relatively busy, with a line present to pay at the information center. It cost us $10 per adult, but no one ever checked our tickets, and it seemed that some people were just wandering inside and outside of the fort without tickets.
The most disappointing aspect of the site is that it is not ADA accessible and this fact does not seem to be listed on their website or anywhere at the information center. We had a small umbrella stroller with us and were never told upon paying that the fort would be difficult to navigate. We were having to lift the stroller up/down stairs and over thresholds. One whole section of the fort - the observation tower - wasn't doable with a young child due to the steepness and narrowness of the stairs and space.
While we're both into American history, we realized after the fact we would have been fine saving the $20 and forgoing this stop. We really enjoyed the outside walk around the fort, but inside was mostly a bunch of empty tunnels and storage rooms (no props, no exhibits, etc.). There was a ranger on-site who was said to be very informative, but we didn't catch any of his explanations.
Outside of the fort, just at the entrance, is the burial site of Oceola, a Seminole Chief. If you cross the parking lot into the picnic area, you can see where General Moultrie is buried. There is also a nice dock into the marsh worth taking a walk out onto.
The most disappointing aspect of the site is that it is not ADA accessible and this fact does not seem to be listed on their website or anywhere at the information center. We had a small umbrella stroller with us and were never told upon paying that the fort would be difficult to navigate. We were having to lift the stroller up/down stairs and over thresholds. One whole section of the fort - the observation tower - wasn't doable with a young child due to the steepness and narrowness of the stairs and space.
While we're both into American history, we realized after the fact we would have been fine saving the $20 and forgoing this stop. We really enjoyed the outside walk around the fort, but inside was mostly a bunch of empty tunnels and storage rooms (no props, no exhibits, etc.). There was a ranger on-site who was said to be very informative, but we didn't catch any of his explanations.
Outside of the fort, just at the entrance, is the burial site of Oceola, a Seminole Chief. If you cross the parking lot into the picnic area, you can see where General Moultrie is buried. There is also a nice dock into the marsh worth taking a walk out onto.
Written April 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laurana532
Atlanta, GA70 contributions
Feb 2022
What a neat place to visit. There is parking and then you go inside to pay to tour the park. There is a short film (cheesy 70's film) and a museum. You can climb the top of the museum and it has a beautiful view of the fort. Across the street is the fort. There is a lot of walking but is it neat to see and read about the history. You are able to walk a very short walk to the beach. There are rocks to sit on if you didn't bring any chairs. There were many dogs frolicking on the beach which were fun to watch. We were there in the afternoon and were able to see a few dolphins swimming/playing around. You are able to drive to this fort unlike Fort Sumter. Right now, they are closed on Monday and Tuesday. We had plenty of time to explore all we wanted to see.
Written February 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I did not see any personal landings at this access. And I would say since this was a federal park and you pay a fee to enter that you would not be permitted to access the land via water.
Written September 3, 2018
It was super cheap. Whole family can get in for (from what I recall) about $5.
Written October 15, 2015
If you are taking your own boat then it shouldn't be a problem, the issue you may have is if you take the harbor boat over. It is more thane a 2 hour boat ride round trip and even though the dog would be allowed on the fort it may not be allowed on the boat. They may make exceptions if it is a small dog in a carrier.
Written July 22, 2015
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