10 Famous Movie Locations in Charleston

The 8-acre space of Waterfront Park offers spectacular views of Charleston Harbor and the Cooper River, including the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown – which is now a museum – and the Ravenel Bridge. Some exterior scenes from “Dear John” were filmed here. Stroll along shady, picturesque brick paths. Shoot photos in front of the Pineapple Fountain, or even wade into it – it’s encouraged. Have a picnic and watch ships arrive and depart in the harbor under the gazebo on a pier at the park’s north end. Walk a few blocks to the Historic Charleston City Market.

“Dear John,” starring Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried, follows the romance between a soldier and a Charleston woman carried out largely through letters.

High Cotton is one of numerous filming locations for “The Notebook”, which was shot in and around Charleston. It offers fine dining in an upscale environment, and it looks similar to what you see in the film. Within its antique brick walls, you’ll find classic Lowcountry dinner dishes including shrimp and grits, and locally caught seafood. Its brunch menu includes crab cakes benedict, and chicken and waffles. A bar menu offers truffle fries, fish tacos, oysters, and mussels.

In “The Notebook” at this location, Noah spots Allie on the street – after not having seen her for years – and follows her to High Cotton, where she meets up with her new fiancé.

Magnolia Cemetery offers a lesson in the history of Charleston as well as a walk through majestic live oak trees and historical grave markers. People buried in Magnolia Cemetery include governors, U.S. representatives and senators, poets, novelists, confederate generals, and an engineer who developed confederate submarines. It’s the fictional location of the grave of Judith Myers, the first victim of the killer depicted in the 2018 film “Halloween,” a sequel to the 1978 film of the same name.

The cemetery was established in 1849. One tree known as “Grandfather Oak” is believed to be 800 years old. You can get a walking map of the cemetery at the front office or book a walking tour with Bulldog Tours.

The American Theater and the surrounding neighborhood are featured in “The Notebook.” The theater is now a venue for weddings and private events and no longer shows films, but you can see the exterior of the beautifully restored facility where some of the movie’s scenes take place. It’s located on King Street, where the city’s history and architecture are on display. King Street is now home to restaurants, bars, art galleries, antique dealers, clothing sellers, housewares stores, and other shopping destinations.

The American Theater is the setting for Noah and Allie’s first date in “The Notebook.” The couple later slow dance along King Street – and eventually lay down in the road.

Much of the College of Charleston campus has the feel of a movie set. Its iconic Randolph Hall has been featured in numerous films, including “The Patriot,” “Cold Mountain,” “The Notebook,” and “Dear John.” Founded in 1770, the College of Charleston is located in the heart of the historic district, close to shopping, restaurants, and other landmarks. It has shaded walkways and an old-world feel one would expect from an institution founded so long ago.

You can get a campus map and walk around on your own, get a self-guided walking tour from the office of admissions, or schedule a guided tour. The college website advises scheduling a guided tour at least 2 weeks in advance.

Cypress Gardens is a 175-acre swamp garden that offers boat tours, classes, and rental space for events. It’s about 30 minutes north of Charleston in Moncks Corner. Its natural beauty has been the setting for multiple films and television series, including “Swamp Thing,” “The Patriot,” “The Notebook,” and “Cold Mountain.”

Take a swamp boat tour through cypress and tupelo trees mirrored on the still blackwater, where you can see alligators, river otters, turtles, and bald eagles in addition to various plant species. Take a gardening class or check the schedule to catch an event such as the Blackwater Ukulele Festival. Cypress Gardens rents several scenic areas for weddings or smaller conferences.

Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens is a 738-acre site in nearby Mount Pleasant that offers tours, presentations, events, and educational programs, including some related to slavery. Boone Hall produced numerous crops including cotton and pecans and it continues agricultural operations today. You can take a tractor tour of the grounds or tour the Georgian-style mansion. See the presentation Exploring the Gullah Culture, told by African Americans descended from the originators of this Lowcountry way of life. A Black History in America Exhibit includes 9 historic slave dwellings built between 1790 and 1810.

Exterior shots of the summer home owned by Allie’s family in “The Notebook” were captured here, and a line of live oaks was used in “Gone with the Wind.”

Bowens Island Restaurant is near the ocean in an area called Folly Island, about 20 minutes from the Charleston waterfront. It’s an open-air establishment specializing in classic seafood dishes from the Lowcountry. On the menu is Frogmore Stew (which includes sausage, shrimp, corn, and potatoes) as well as oysters, shrimp, and crab cakes. If you bring a marker pen, you can join other guests who’ve written their names on some of the exposed-wood railing.

Bowens Island Restaurant was the location of John and Savannah’s first date in “Dear John.”

The pier on Isle of Palms Beach is the signature structure on a 6-mile stretch of the Atlantic coast. Isle of Palms, about 12 miles from historic downtown, is a barrier island. Its residential and resort community includes the beach, golf, tennis, a marina, and various recreational activities. The pier, featured in “Dear John,” is near the Front Beach commercial district, where you’ll find shops and restaurants. Restrooms and showers are located at Isle of Palm County Park, near the pier.

In “Dear John,” John jumps off the pier to retrieve Savannah’s purse, which sparks the movie’s classic love story. The scene is worth seeing before you visit.

The historic homes of Beaufort bespeak an old South feel, framed by winding roads and tall, shady live oak trees covered with moss. One home, the Tidalholm Mansion, was used in “The Big Chill” and “The Great Santini.” Although it’s not open for tours, seeing it as part of a broader Beaufort experience is worth the hour-plus drive from Charleston.

Tour the historic district with a map from the Beaufort Visitor Center. Stop by the Pat Conroy Literary Center. See old-growth forests and marine life on a kayak tour. Experience local cuisine, including restaurants that specialize in Gullah dishes, developed by an African American culture specific to the region that retains a great deal of African language and culture.