The South Carolina Aquarium is a popular Charleston attraction, especially for families and visitors looking for an indoor activity. It sits on the downtown waterfront at 100 Aquarium Wharf, overlooking Charleston Harbor, and it is home to more than 5,000 animals. Here is what to see, the hours and tickets, whether it is worth the visit, and a few tips to make the trip easy.
What You Will See
The aquarium is built around its harbor-front location, and the exhibits move from the mountains of South Carolina down to the coast and the open ocean.
The Great Ocean Tank
The centerpiece is the Great Ocean Tank, a two-story, 385,000-gallon exhibit filled with sharks, sea turtles, fish, and other ocean life. It is North America's deepest tank, at 42 feet deep, and its two-story design gives visitors views from multiple levels.
The Shallows and the Touch Tanks
At The Shallows, an outdoor exhibit, you can gently touch cownose rays and, for an additional fee, hand-feed them. The aquarium also has a separate Touch Tank experience where visitors can get hands-on with coastal animals such as sea stars, horseshoe crabs, and chain dogfish.
Zucker Family Sea Turtle Recovery
The Zucker Family Sea Turtle Recovery is a public-facing sea turtle rehabilitation center, where the aquarium cares for sick and injured sea turtles in view of visitors. The center gives visitors a look at the rehabilitation process, from rescue and treatment through release.
Hours and Tickets
The South Carolina Aquarium is generally open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with last entry at 3:30 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving and December 25, closes early on December 24, and has different hours during its Aquarium Aglow event, so check the official calendar for your date. Ticket prices are not fixed. The aquarium uses dynamic pricing that changes by day and season, and you can buy tickets online up to 60 days ahead, so check the current price and calendar for your date when you book.
The aquarium also offers military benefits, including 15% off membership for active-duty military, veterans, and retirees. Check the official South Carolina Aquarium tickets and hours page for your date.
Is the South Carolina Aquarium Worth It?
For many visitors, especially families, the aquarium can make a good two to three hour stop. The Great Ocean Tank, the touch experiences, and the Sea Turtle Recovery are among the main highlights. The aquarium itself recommends allowing at least 90 minutes, while many guests spend two or more hours.
Is There an Aquarium in South Carolina?
Yes. The South Carolina Aquarium is in downtown Charleston. If you are traveling elsewhere in the state, Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach is another major aquarium in the state. For a Charleston trip, the South Carolina Aquarium is the one downtown.
Tips for Visiting
Buy tickets online in advance to select your visit date and entry time and save time at the entrance. If you prefer to visit earlier in the day, consider arriving close to opening, and plan the aquarium for the hottest or wettest part of your Charleston visit, since most exhibits are indoors. The aquarium sits next to Liberty Square, where the Fort Sumter ferry departs, so it is easy to pair the two if you have a full day downtown.
Where to Stay Near the Aquarium
Staying downtown keeps the aquarium and the rest of the peninsula within easy reach. The Iris Charleston is a boutique apartment hotel at 84 Line Street, one block off King Street, with apartment-style suites and fully equipped kitchens, making it a convenient downtown base for exploring Charleston. See the Charleston apartment-style suites or the The Iris Charleston hotel guide, and our Charleston restaurant guide for places to eat nearby.
South Carolina Aquarium FAQs
The aquarium is generally open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with last entry at 3:30 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving and December 25, closes early on December 24, and has different hours during its Aquarium Aglow event. Check the official calendar for your visit date.
Prices are not fixed. The aquarium uses dynamic pricing that varies by day and season, and tickets can be bought online up to 60 days ahead, so check the current rate for your date.
The aquarium also offers military benefits: active-duty military, veterans, and retirees receive 15% off any level of membership. The membership must be purchased at the gate on the first visit, and no advance reservation is needed. Check the official membership page for current eligibility and terms.
For many visitors, especially families, the aquarium can make a good two to three hour stop. The Great Ocean Tank, touch experiences, and Sea Turtle Recovery are among the main highlights. The aquarium recommends allowing at least 90 minutes, while many guests spend two or more hours.
Yes. The South Carolina Aquarium is in downtown Charleston, and Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach is another large aquarium in the state.