From $45 / Adult (ages 12+)
From $40 / Child(ages 4-11)•$0 / Infant(ages 0-3)
Your expert guide will regale you with stories of the people, places, and moments that defined the city’s place in American history.
By purchasing tickets for any horse-drawn carriage tour with Old South Carriage Company, participants acknowledge and accept all risks and liabilities associated with the tour, horses, and its properties. Old South Carriage Company is not liable for any injuries, damages, or losses that may occur; and participants agree to release Old South Carriage Company and its employees from all liability. For more information, please visit our Terms and Release of Liability page.
The Founding to Independence tour runs 40 minutes from boarding to drop-off. Departures leave every 15–30 minutes from 14 Anson St., daily from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. There are no scheduled breaks during the 40-minute ride, so plan a restroom stop in our boarding building before you board.
Yes — the tour runs daily, year-round, with limited holiday closures. Evening departures (5:30–7:30 pm) are the standard schedule April through October; winter departure windows shift slightly with daylight. Check live availability and book at oldsouthcarriage.com or call (843) 723-9712.
The route weaves through Charleston's Historic District past landmarks tied to America's founding — including St. Michael's Church, the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, the Powder Magazine (the oldest public building in the Carolinas), the Four Corners of Law, Washington Square, Circular Congregational Church, Hibernian Hall, St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Broad Street, the U.S. Customs House, and Waterfront Park with glimpses of Charleston Harbor. The City of Charleston randomly assigns routes to all carriage operators to evenly distribute traffic — your specific stops will vary, but every Founding to Independence route is anchored to Revolutionary-era sites.
Tickets start at $45 for adults (ages 12+) and $40 for children (ages 4–11); infants under 4 ride free. A family of four (two adults + two children) is $170 — about $30 less than comparable Charleston evening carriage tours. Booking online saves $2 per person.
Yes. All Old South carriages board from an elevated platform at our 14 Anson St. location, which removes the step-up that traditional curb-boarding requires. We can accommodate guests with limited mobility, walkers, and most folding wheelchairs — call ahead at (843) 723-9712 so we can have staff ready to assist.
Tours run rain or shine in light or moderate weather — our carriages have rain curtains and we'll keep you covered. If the tour is canceled due to severe weather, you can reschedule online any time before your tour or take a full refund under our Best Cancellation Policy. No fees, no fine print.
All Founding to Independence tours board at 14 Anson St., Charleston, SC 29401, near the historic City Market. Closest paid parking is the Cumberland Street Garage (just over a block away) and the Aquarium Garage at 24 Calhoun St. Street parking around Anson and Market fills fast in the evening — plan to arrive 15 minutes before your departure time.
Dress for the weather — Charleston evenings can swing 20°F between April and November, so a light layer is a smart call. Bring water, your phone or camera (the gas-lit Historic District is photogenic at dusk), and comfortable shoes if you're walking to or from the carriage barn. No outside food on the carriage. The 40-minute ride is short enough that strollers and large bags are best left in your car.
Other tour companies make you buy trip cancellation insurance for full flexibility. Not us. We make it free and easy to change your plans.
Public Tours: Free cancellation with full refund for any reason with 1 hr notice, or reschedule anytime before your tour.
Private Tours: Free cancellation with full refund for any reason with 24 hrs. notice. Get a full refund due to inclement weather with just 2 hrs. notice.
Groups & Exclusive Tours: Get a full refund for any reason with 48 hrs. notice.
If you find a better price on one of our tours anywhere else, we'll match it.
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, you can travel through the heart of historic Charleston and uncover the vital role this harbor city played in the nation’s founding. Relax on the most comfortable carriages in Charleston as you pass pastel-colored Georgian houses and antebellum mansions. Come explore historic cobblestone streets in the shade of expansive Southern live oaks with an expert guide.
As the sun sets and the street gas lamps flicker on in orbs of warm light, pause beside some of Charleston’s oldest buildings. Listen as your guide breathes new life into the city’s storied past against the rhythmic sound of horse hooves clopping along the cobblestone. This carriage tour explores Charleston’s journey from colonial settlement to Revolutionary War stronghold, revealing how its port, defenses, and patriotic leaders helped launch a new nation.