Best Running Routes In Charleston South Carolina

Charleston’s year-round mild climate makes the city a runner’s dream. Beautiful weather and gorgeous scenery combine to create the ideal atmosphere for outdoor exercise. Whether you want to run alongside the ocean or through enchanting, historic neighborhoods, the city abounds in places to run. Discover our favorite running routes in Charleston by reading this guide to the city’s well-loved neighborhoods, parks and outdoor areas.

Along the Battery

By far one of the most popular areas to go for a walk or a run is the known as the Battery. This part of downtown Charleston is located at the very tip of the peninsula where you’ll discover multi-million dollar mansions facing the rough Atlantic waters. Pick up this running route at the intersection of East Bay Street and Murray Boulevard and follow the seaside sidewalk to the opposite side of the peninsula. The distance between each point is about one mile, so adjust your distance accordingly.

The Battery in Charleston, South Carolina l

Colonial Lake

Laps around the lake make for one of the prettiest running routes in Charleston. One lap is equal to just under half a mile, so you can choose to race around the lake several times or follow Rutledge towards the tip of the peninsula and make your way to the Battery for an extra-long run. Next to the lake itself, the city offers public tennis and basketball courts as well.

Across the Ravenel Bridge

Serious runners should plan to visit Charleston during the annual Cooper River Bridge Run, which takes place every April. If you can’t make it to the 10K, you can test out the most beautiful part of this running route in Charleston – the 2.6-mile-long Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge.

You can start your run on either the downtown Charleston or the Mount Pleasant side at Patriot’s Point. With a relatively steep incline, this suspension bridge can be a bit of a challenge, especially if you plan on taking a round-trip run. If you embark on this physically demanding route, don’t forget to pause at the top of the bridge and take in the breathtaking view of the city and the harbor below.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.