We are so lucky to have so many great parks and playgrounds around Charleston to explore! Take a look at some of our favorites and let us know in the comments if we are missing any.
Here are some other resources you might enjoy:
- Weekend Events for Kids in Charleston
- Moving to Charleston City Guide
- Girls Weekend in Charleston (An Itinerary)
*Please note – While we make every effort to crosscheck current links and details on our guides, we always encourage you to do the same before making final plans. If details are missing or incorrect, please let us know so that we can correct them.
Mount Pleasant
Big Toy Playground
Palmetto Islands County Park, 444 Needlerush Pkwy, Mount Pleasant, 29464
What makes it great: It’s a spacious, shaded playground with lots of climbing equipment, swings, slides, sandbox, and seating for adults. There are multiple covered picnic tables with grills, which also make the area great for birthday parties and grilling out with family and friends. The trails around the playground are great for bike riding or exploring the nature boardwalk along the marsh, and also lead to another cool feature that’s a tall wooden structure with slides and tunnels, and stairs that go up a tower for beautiful Lowcountry views.
Alhambra
131 Middle Street, Mount Pleasant, 29464
What makes it great: Gorgeous oak trees, plenty of room to run and play, playgrounds for littles and bigs. picnic tables, waterfront views…what more could you ask for? Read more about this park in our Lowcountry Parks & Playgrounds series.
Park West Recreation Complex
1251 Park West Blvd., Mount Pleasant
What makes it great: The playground is next to a big dirt hill that little ones love to climb. It’s surrounded by sports fields and a nearby lake. It also has water fountains and bathrooms. We’ll let you in on a little secret: the fire department plays frisbee there sometimes so if you’re lucky fire trucks will be there too!
LifePark – Noah’s Ark Playground
1151 George Browder Blvd, Mt Pleasant
What makes it great: A giant wooden ark is the centerpiece of this park. Most kids I know refer to it as the “Pirate playground.” Parents will love that it’s surrounded by a fence so little ones can’t escape. A large lawn outside of the fence is great for running around and burning off any extra energy. Bathrooms on site.
Mount Pleasant Waterfront Park
99 Harry Hallman Boulevard, Mount Pleasant, 29464
What makes it great: Open fields for football or soccer, a beautiful walkway to the Cooper River, a cute little gift shop, and a snack bar…this park is perfect for a hot summer day because of the shade the bridge provides! Plus you can’t beat the stunning views of the Ravenel Bridge. Read more about this park in our Lowcountry Parks & Playgrounds series.
Pitt Street Bridge Park
Pitt Street & William Street, Mount Pleasant, 29464
What makes it great: This park has beautiful views of the intercoastal waterway, is easy to get to. has free parking and access for fishing and crabbing.
Downtown
Brittlebank Park
185 Lockwood Dr., Charleston, 29403
What makes it great: Located along the Ashley River next to the Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park, Brittlebank Park has a playground that includes ramps for handicapped children.
Hampton Park
30 Mary Murray Drive, Charleston, 29403
What makes it great: Picnic tables, trails, restrooms, baseball fields, ponds, trails – this park has it all in a beautiful downtown setting!
Corrine Jones Park
36 Marlow Dr, Charleston, SC 29403
What makes it great: There’s plenty of shade, a variety of activities, and even a place for dogs to run free. There’s also a basketball court, free WI-FI, picnic tables, a port-a-potty, free street parking, and a community garden. Read more about this park in our Lowcountry Parks & Playgrounds series.
Hazel Parker Playground
70 E Bay St, Charleston
What makes it great: This park, in the heart of the peninsula and includes tennis courts, restrooms, drinking fountains, picnic tables, and more!
Gadsdenboro Park
303 Concord St., Charleston, 29401
What makes it great: Located next to the South Carolina Aquarium, it’s a nice quiet area of downtown that’s easy to get to and has two sides to the playground: a side for younger kids, and additional equipment for older kids. There are also bathrooms and metered parking, plus gorgeous views of the Ravenel Bridge. Read more about this park in our Lowcountry Parks & Playgrounds series.
Moultrie Playground
41 Ashley Avenue, Charleston 29401
What makes it great: This recently renovated playground includes an innovative net climbing structure, a state-of-the-art rubberized play surface, a pickleball court, a basketball court, paths for biking and walking, and picnic areas. Read more about this park in our Lowcountry Parks & Playgrounds series.
Colonial Lake Park
What makes it great: It doesn’t get more picturesque than this area in the heart of Harleston Village. With fountains, ponds, and paths, this is a great place to take the family for a weekend stroll!
West Ashley
St. Andrews Parks & Playgrounds
1095 Playground Rd.
What makes it great: St. Andrews has a playground, baseball fields, a sheltered picnic area, and tennis courts. They also occasionally host events!
Lenevar Playground
1305 W. Lenevar Dr., Charleston, 29407
What makes it great: This recently renovated playground also has tennis courts, a baseball field, and walking trails with exercise stations! Mom tip: No public bathrooms!
West Ashley Park
3601 Mary Ader Ave., Charleston, 29414
What makes it great: This park has two playgrounds along with picnic areas, bathrooms, walking trails, ponds, and baseball fields.
Magnolia Plantation Children’s Garden/Fairy Garden
Magnolia Plantation, 3550 Ashley River Road, Charleston
What makes it great: Fairy garden…need we say more? Fairy villages, houses, gnomes, elves, and woodland creatures along with a storybook walk will keep them entertained as they explore the pathways of this mystical land. The cost of the Children’s Garden is included with the basic admission ticket price. 
Bees Landing Recreation Center Playground
1580 Ashley Gardens Blvd., Charleston
What makes it great: With places for both the littles and the bigs to play, plus a dog park and restrooms, everyone will enjoy this one! 
Daniel Island
Smythe Park – Pirate Cove
2364 Daniel Island Dr, Charleston
What makes it great: This park offers walking paths around a pond, picnic tables, and a grill. And did we mention it’s a pirate ship?
Governor’s Park
Seven Farms Drive, Daniel Island
What makes it great: Located near the Family Circle Tennis Center, this playground has soccer and baseball fields, a playground, waterfront trails, and more. The playground itself has a zip line that your kids will love! Read more about this park in our Lowcountry Parks & Playgrounds series.
Center Park
2223 Daniel Island Dr, Charleston, 29492
What makes it great: Center Park on Daniel Island is huge with a train and swings section and a second section that has a merry-go-round and play structure. It’s a great place for kids to run around and get their energy out.
James Island
James Island County Park
871 Riverland Drive, Charleston
What makes it great: You could spend an entire day at James Island County Park playing on the playground, cooling down on the splash pad or Splash Zone Waterpark, biking, kayaking, walking, picnicking, and more.
Plymouth Park
35 Plymouth Ave, Charleston
What makes it great: A park shaded by oak trees right along Wappoo Creek, Plymouth Park is located across from a fire station and baseball field for added fun!
North Charleston
Wannamaker Park
8888 University Blvd, North Charleston
What makes it great: With two playgrounds, and Tot Lot and Fun Lot, Wannamaker has so much to offer! A large hill nearby is perfect for running and sliding down. A fountain to splash in, trails for biking and hiking, and lots of green space to run around on making this a playground you won’t want to miss! There’s also a splash pad there for the summer months! Mom tip: You might want to have your kids wear closed-toe shoes to this playground because there are lots of little pebbles and rocks!
Westcott Park
9006 Dorchester Rd., North Charleston, 29420
What makes it great: Along with baseball fields, a dog park, sheltered areas, and bathrooms, there are also two playgrounds at Westcott Park. There’s also a snack bar during baseball season!
Summerville
Gahagan Park
184 W Boundary St, Summerville, 29483
What makes it great: This large park is completely shaded, with plenty of areas for parents to sit and watch their children play. There is also a large parking lot so no need to worry about parking. Mom tip: This playground is probably best for slightly older kids. The play structure makes it slightly difficult to see smaller children when they are playing in it.
Saul Alexander Park
650 Laurel St., Summerville, 29483
What makes it great: This park is fenced in and never too crowded. It’s also got picnic tables, tennis courts, and bathrooms. While the equipment is definitely on the older side, it’s a great place to let the kids run around and burn some energy off.
Huger Park
615 W. Richardson Ave., Summerville, 29483
What makes it great: Along with a playground, there are also sheltered picnic tables.
Wassamassaw Community Park
651 Wassamassaw Rd., Summerville, 29483
What makes it great: With basketball courts, a sheltered picnic area, a playground, paved walking trails, and two off-leash dog areas, this one’s a hidden gem!
Rosebrock Park
What makes it great: This pet-friendly park features a playground, restroom, and 1.5 miles of hiking trails that lead visitors from the parking lot trailhead through 70 acres of protected bottomland forest and wetlands to the banks of the Ashley Scenic River.
Ashley River Park
200 Renken Rd, Summerville, 29485
What makes it great: This brand-new park has everything you could possibly imagine! Along with playgrounds, it also has a zipline, splash pad, picnic shelter, dog parks, walking trails, and more! Daily admission is $2 per person, though Dorchester County residents can purchase an annual pass that covers up to nine people for $40. The cost is $80 for non-residents. Read more about this park in our Lowcountry Parks & Playgrounds series.
Sullivan's Island
J. Marshall Stith Park
Middle Street, Sullivan’s Island
What makes it great: Shade, separate enclosed area for little ones, tennis court, basketball courts, picnic tables, and lots of local restaurants nearby. The recipe for a perfect playground!
Isle of Palms
IOP Recreation Center
28th Street, Isle of Palms, 29451
What makes it great: This HUGE playground is just minutes from the beach and has bathrooms onsite. There are also there are soccer fields, tennis courts, and covered picnic tables. Plus, it never gets very crowded!
Folly Beach
Pirate Cove Playground
510 E Erie Ave, Folly Beach, 29439
What makes it great: Pirate. Playground. Need I say more? This park is shaded by a large tree in the center and has a covered gazebo for events. There is also a skate park nearby for bigger kids.
Moncks Corner
Old Santee Canal Park
900 Stony Landing Rd., Moncks Corner, 29461
What makes it great: There are nature trails around the Salt Marsh to explore as well as the Interpretive Center. There is also a great playground and picnic area.
Goose Creek
Shannon Park
St. James Avenue on Old Moncks Corner Rd., Goose Creek
What makes it great: Shannon Park is close to the library, walking distance to a smoothie place, and is fenced in and shaded. Win-win!
Central Creek Park
147 Old Moncks Corner Road, Goose Creek, SC 29445
What makes it great: One of the Lowcountry’s newest parks, this 26,145 square-foot inclusive playground also has a new pavilion, basketball and tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, walking trails, and a splash pad.
We love Plymouth Park on James Island, also. It has quite a few toys that people have left behind for the kids to play with. It is right on the water, shaded by oak trees, and across the street from a fire station and baseball field.