THE VISITOR'S GUIDE TO THE BEST CHARLESTON EXPERIENCES

South Carolina Aquarium

The South Carolina Aquarium is located on the Charleston Harbor at Aquarium Wharf. The aquarium has over 10,000 aquatic animals from across the state of South Carolina, along with 60 displays and exhibits including an interactive touch tank with hermit crabs, whelk, sea urchins, horseshoe crabs, and Atlantic stingrays.

Visitors enter the aquarium, and encounter The Great Ocean Tank which holds over 385,000 gallons of water and 10,000 species of marine life. Now the journey through the aquarium begins visiting aquatic animals from the mountain forest, Piedmont, coastal plain, salt marsh, the Charleston Coast, and the ocean. The aquarium is fairly small and all exhibits can be viewed in about an hour. Any questions about the marine life or exhibits can be answered by the friendly and helpful volunteers and staff.

Buying advance tickets is recommended to avoid waiting in long lines or missing the hospital tour which often sells out early. The aquarium also has a gift shop and a cafe that serves pizza, sandwiches, ice cream, chips, and cold drinks. A deck that projects out over the Copper River provides awesome views of boats and dolphins in the Charleston Harbor. Parking is available in the city parking garage at 24 Calhoun St for $2 an hour or metered parking is offered along Washington St. and Concord St. The free CARTA Dash shuttle also stops at the aquarium.

South Carolina Aquarium Photos

Click Photos to Enlarge

South Carolina Aquarium Hours and Admission

Hours:
Open Daily 9am - 4pm
Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
Christmas Eve Hours 9am - noon

Admission:
Adults (13+) $29.95
Child (3-12) $22.95
Children under 3 Free

South Carolina Aquarium Address and Map

South Carolina Aquarium
100 Aquarium Wharf St
Charleston SC 29401
(843) 577-3474
South Carolina Aquarium Website

Current and Upcoming Events
at the South Carolina Aquarium

Now Open: BricksALIVE features a collection of more than a dozen animal sculptures throughout the Aquarium’s second floor. These amazing and complex figures represent species that call South Carolina home. Requiring five months of construction time, these incredible sculptures are designed and built by the Aquarium’s exhibits team and include a bald eagle, a sea turtle, a river otter and an 8-foot dolphin.