Overview
Of all the Charleston ghost tours running after dark, only one departs from a big red barn. This 45-minute evening carriage ride rolls past gas-lit alleys, walled gardens, and graveyards older than the republic while a licensed guide tells the stories Charleston would rather whisper. History first, chills second, and you never have to leave your seat.
Charleston’s Haunted History, Told From a Horse-Drawn Carriage
Charleston is regularly named among America’s most haunted cities, and it earned the reputation honestly. Three centuries of war, fire, piracy, and plague left their marks on these streets, and some residents, the stories say, never checked out.
Your evening begins as the light fades and the carriage rolls into the old city, where church bells, cobblestones, and iron gates set a scene no sidewalk can match. Every ride is led by a city-licensed guide who knows the difference between the documented record and a good legend, and who will tell you which is which. That is the Palmetto way: real history, told well, by Charleston’s oldest carriage tour company.
Tour Information
Duration
Weekly Availability
Capacity
Times
Yearly Availability
Meeting Point
What You'll See on the Route
The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon
By day, the Old Exchange is a colonial landmark. By night, the stories move to the Provost Dungeon below, where footsteps, voices, and cold spots have been reported for generations. Read more in our guide to the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon.
Circular Congregational Church Graveyard
The markers in this churchyard date to 1695, some of the oldest in the South. From your carriage seat, you will see it at its most atmospheric, through iron rails and beneath live oaks just past dusk.
The Four Corners of Law After Dark
The Four Corners of Law brings courthouse, city hall, federal court, and St. Michael’s Church to a single crossing. After dark, the steeples glow in the lamplight above two centuries of trials and duels, and even the skeptics tend to go quiet.
Ghost Stories From the Old Walled City
Ask about Lavinia Fisher, the innkeeper Charleston lore remembers as one of America’s first female serial killers. She was held at the Old City Jail and hanged in 1820, and the wedding dress she is said to have worn to the gallows still anchors the city’s most requested ghost story. You will also hear about the Battery Carriage House Inn, where overnight guests have reported a courteous gentleman ghost and a far less courteous presence in Room 8.
Our guides collect these stories from court records, church registers, and a century of Charleston storytelling, and they are careful to say which is which. If you want to arrive already knowing the backstories, start with our guide to haunted places in Charleston.
Why Take Your Ghost Tour by Carriage?
Most Charleston ghost tours cover a few blocks on foot. A haunted carriage tour covers the old walled city, from graveyards to the waterfront, in a single seated ride. You keep your whole group together, grandparents and kids included, without a two-hour walk at the end of a long Charleston day.
If an evening shower rolls in, you ride under cover. And because nobody is watching the sidewalk, everyone is free to watch the city itself: upper-story windows, steeples, and garden gates, where the best stories tend to live.
Tour Details: Times, Pricing, and What to Expect
The Charleston Carriage Ghost Tour runs about 45 minutes through the historic district, with seating for up to 16 guests per carriage. Evening departures typically fall between 5:30 and 9 p.m. year-round, shifting with the season and the sunset, so check the current schedule when you book. Pricing starts at $50 per adult; confirm current rates on the booking page.
The storytelling is history-forward rather than gory, and most families find it comfortable for school-age kids and up. Seats are open-air with a canopy overhead, so dress for the evening weather, and bring a camera for the lamplit streets.
Tour pricing, schedules, and availability vary by season and are subject to change. Confirm current details with Palmetto Carriage Works
before booking.
Reviews
Charleston Carriage Ghost Tour FAQs
Is the ghost tour too scary for children?
It leans on history rather than jump scares, and most school-age kids do fine. You know your crew best; the spookiest
thing on the route is the storytelling.
What happens if it rains?
Tours run in most weather, and the carriages are covered. In severe conditions, call the barn before you head out to
confirm your departure.
Are the stories real?
Every stop on the route is a real place with a documented past. Where the record ends and legend begins, your guide
will say so.
Can I pair the ghost tour with a daytime ride?
Yes. The Ghost + Daytime Carriage Tour combo covers Charleston in daylight and after dark at a package rate.
Book Your Charleston Ghost Tour
Evening seats are limited to 16 guests per carriage, and summer and October dates fill early. Reserve online in a few minutes at book your tour, or make the night your own with a private evening carriage tour. We will see you at the Big Red Barn.
Charleston Ghost Tours by Carriage
FROM
$50.00
- Weekly Availability: Daily
- Capacity: Up to 16 People
- Times: 5:30 - 9pm, year round availability
Cancellation Policy
Group carriage tickets may be canceled up to 1 hour before the tour begins, and you will receive a full refund. Group carriage tickets may also be rescheduled up to 1 hour before the tour begins. Tours rescheduled within 1 hour of your tour time are subject to a $25 rebooking fee. Please call 843-938-2126 to make changes to your reservation.
Our Tours
FROM
$50.00
- Duration: 1 Hour
- Weekly Availability: Daily
- Capacity: Up to 16 People
- Times: Every 30 minutes, 9am-5pm
Explore Charleston’s Historic District on an unforgettable one-hour horse-drawn carriage ride! See houses, gardens, and more.
FROM
$250.00
- Duration: 1 Hour
- Weekly Availability: Daily
- Capacity: Up to 8 Passengers
- Times: Varies - Check Calendar
Experience historic Charleston in an elegant, private vis-a-vis carriage. Explore 25-30 blocks of the city’s downtown district!
FROM
$50.00
- Duration: 45 Minutes
- Weekly Availability: Daily
- Capacity: Up to 16 People
- Times: 5:30 - 9 PM, year round availability
Dare to explore the more sinister stories of Charleston’s past on this evening carriage ride! Learn hauntings at historic sites.
FROM
$275.00
- Duration: 30 Minutes
- Weekly Availability: Daily
- Capacity: Up to 8 People
- Times: 5:00pm or 5:30pm
Enjoy Charleston in a more intimate setting with a private evening carriage tour of the old walled city. Perfect for small groups!
- Duration: Customizable
- Weekly Availability: Daily
- Capacity: Customizable
- Times: Customizable
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- Duration: 1 Hour
- Weekly Availability: Daily
- Capacity: Up to 16 People
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