South Carolina Botanical Garden

Visit Dog-friendly South Carolina Botanical Garden

South Carolina Botanical Garden was a last-minute addition to my road trip to Congaree National Park. My decision to add this stop to my vacation was completely since I discovered that they were dog-friendly and I am so glad we stopped! These botanical gardens are free to the public and are located on the Clemson University campus. The gardens are also home to a few historic buildings and a Geology Museum. If you are in the area or are driving through, this is a great spot to visit for just a few hours or even a day or two!

What to Expect at South Carolina Botanical Garden

The SC Botanical Garden is a part of Clemson University, so you may be confused when your directions have you drive onto the campus. Once you enter through the main gates of the garden, you will come to a T-shaped intersection and will need to choose which direction to take.

If you have never been here before, I suggest you turn to the right so you can pick up a map from the visitor center and see the gardens and/or geology museum first. As a first-time visitor, heading towards the visitor center first made navigating the park a bit easier because there are a few one-way roads in the park.

For those of you that find yourself with a limited amount of time for your visit, you can get to the most popular part of the gardens if you turn left at this point.

These Botanical gardens are free to visit and there is no fee to park in any of the parking lots in this area. The gardens are open from sunrise to sunset. If you wish to visit The Fran Hanson Visitor Center which also hosts a small art gallery upstairs or the Bob Campbell Geology Museum, the hours are typically from 10 am- 5 pm. You are also able to tour the inside of the historic Hanover House but these hours may vary from semester to semester depending on the student employee’s class schedules.

Are dogs allowed at South Carolina Botanical Garden?

Yes! Dogs are allowed on all paths EXCEPT the Natural Heritage Trail as long as they stay on leash, and you pick up after them. The University does ask that you don’t allow your pup to urinate on any of the garden plants which can and will destroy the flowers and may result in them changing their pet policy if there is too much of a loss.

We were allowed to bring our dog Charlie into the visitor center and the Geology Museum; however, it may have been because we had him in a K9 Sportsack which meant he was being carried the whole time. Make sure to check with the employee working at each building to ask permission before bringing your dog inside, just in case the rules have changed.

Where to stay while visiting SC’s Botanical Garden

Since Clemson, South Carolina is a college town, there are plenty of hotels in the area to choose from. Feel free to use our Booking.com link to pick the perfect room for your needs. If you’re nervous about staying in a hotel with your pup, check out our top tips for bringing your dog to a hotel.

If camping is more your style there are also multiple campgrounds nearby to choose from like Twin Lakes Campground, starting at $26/night, and the KOA campground in Anderson, South Carolina which starts at $47/night. Both campgrounds are dog friendly and KOA even has a dog park onsite. We also have a post with tips for camping with your dog to help set you and your pup up for success on your vacation.

Where to eat while visiting SC’s Botanical Garden

There are no restaurants inside the Botanical Gardens, however, you can buy snacks and drinks in the visitor center if you find yourself in need of a snack. You can also bring your own food with no shortage of beautiful locations that are perfect for a picnic. Once you leave the campus, you will be able to find all sorts of fast food and sit-down restaurants to choose from in basically any direction.

Things to do at South Carolina Botanical Gardens

Not only do you have a wide array of different gardens to explore, but there is also the visitor center, gift shop, Geology Museum, several historical buildings, and an art gallery to explore while you are on the grounds. The road that leads you around the back part of the gardens also has a few additional walking trails that you can explore.

Fran Hanson Visitor Center

Fran Hanson Visitor Center is open from 10 am -5 pm every day. Inside is where you can pick up a map of the gardens, purchase bottled beverages and small snacks, and check out the gift shop.

The top floor is a small art gallery that rotates exhibits put together by local artists. We were amazed by the art we saw, especially the current fire-themed art exhibition. 

Bob Campbell Geology Museum

If you are interested in fossils or minerals, be sure to stop at the Bob Campbell Geology Museum. The museum shares the same parking lot and has the same hours as the visitor center (daily from 10 am-5 pm).

Inside the museum, is another small gift shop in addition to a large collection of rocks, minerals, and fossil exhibits. The fossils are of several species of animals to showcase the relationship between the animals that exist today and the dinosaurs that existed in the past. You can also view some of the fossils that the geology department is currently working on.

For all of the mineral and rock fans, they do have a blackout room where you can see different minerals glow in the dark depending on what kind of UV or black light is used.

Around the outside of the building, you will find trails leading through the Jurassic Garden. This garden features greenery descended from plants that flourished during the Jurassic age and spread amongst a few more fossil and dinosaur-themed exhibits.

The Botanical Garden

The South Carolina Botanical Garden covers around 295 acres and they have organized it into smaller themed mini-gardens to make it easier for you to decide where to spend your time. They do offer organized tours if you would like to learn more about the flowers and plants you see or you can wander the property on your own.

South Carolina Botanical Garden Tours

There are two tours to choose from; Garden Overview and the Natural Heritage Garden Tour. The Garden Overview Tour will last about an hour and your guide will point out the seasonal ‘stars’ in the gardens while sharing the history of the gardens. This tour costs $6 and does have a $60 minimum in order to book.

The Natural Heritage Garden Tour will lead you down the Natural Heritage Trail and will last around 1.5-2 hours while you learn about the cultural and ecological history of South Carolina. This tour is $10 a person with a minimum $100 fee.

They do ask that you book your tours at least one week ahead of time so they can make sure to accommodate your group.

The Gardens

If you have decided to tour the gardens yourself, I highly suggest picking up a map from the visitor’s center or downloading one from the website. This way you can choose which gardens you are most interested in visiting, especially if you only have a few hours to visit.

I like to think of the gardens as being separated into 3 different areas; the visitor center, the Duck Pond, and the Natural Heritage Garden Trail which connects the two other sections. The area by the Duck Pond has most of the themed gardens and most of the more popular ones like the Children’s Garden.

The Duck Pond is also home to countless numbers of turtles and of course ducks. The best view of the turtles will be from the gazebo and if there is turtle food available to purchase if you want to feed them.

The area by the visitor center has two gardens: the Desert Garden and the Jurassic Garden.  The Jurassic Garden is next to the Geology Museum and contains several fossil facts and exhibits.

The Natural Heritage Garden Trail is an out-and-back trail that connects the duck pond and visitor center. Dogs are not allowed on this trail. Along this trail are several unique gardens including a Carnivorous Plants section. This garden was a highlight for me since I had fallen in love with carnivorous plants after seeing several species in West Virginia’s Cranberry Glades Botanical Area. If you don’t have the time to walk the entire trail (and back), this particular garden is just a short walk from the visitor center.

Heusel Nature Trail

In addition to the paths that weave through the various gardens, you can also hike the Heusel Nature Trail. To get to this trail, keep an eye out for the small parking lot as you drive on the back Garden Trail Road. This road runs through the back side of the Botanical Garden and offers some nice scenic views as you drive from the Visitor Center to the other side of the property.

Hanover House

Hanover House is one of the historical properties located on campus that is open to the public. The home is manned by students, so weekday hours do vary by semester and the house is closed on university holidays and all at-home football game days. The Hanover House should typically be open on Saturdays from 10 am-12 and 1-4:30 pm. On Sundays, it should be open from 2-4:30 pm.

Hanover House is a Dutch Colonial home that was built in 1714 in Berkeley County. It was moved to the Clemson Campus in 1941. There is a $5 entry fee to enter the home and group tours can be booked in advance. If you are not part of a tour, you can still enjoy learning through their exhibit signs and by using QR codes to hear more about the history of the house and what life was like during that time period as you go room by room. 

If you love historical buildings, you can also see Hunt Cabin and Carriage House as you stroll through the gardens.

Nearby Attractions

Clemson, South Carolina is just a few hours away from several large cities like Charlotte, North Carolina, Augusta or Atlanta Georgia, or Columbia South Carolina. Most of these cities are home to zoos, stadiums for sports games and concerts, museums, and plenty of great food and drink options. If you are looking for more outdoor adventures, consider visiting Stone Mountain in Georgia, or Congaree National Park in South Carolina.

Why You Should Visit

South Carolina’s Botanical Garden is a fantastic spot to stop and relax for a few hours while you’re traveling through the state, especially if you have a dog! Take advantage of a free and beautiful stop to stretch your legs on your road trip. The Clemson Campus is a great place to enjoy the themed gardens, see some great local art, learn about dinosaurs and minerals, and see some historic buildings. This is definitely a spot that I will visit again on future road trips in the area!

Pin For Later: