Fort Sumter Tours & Boat Cruises

We happened to be in town on business but had the afternoon free and booked the ferry tour out to Fort Sumter. Amazing April day. About 30 minute ferry ride out to the Fort an hour there and 30 minutes back. Ranger Shelby was very knowledgeable and because we took the 2:45 ferry we even were able to participate in the lowering of the flag ceremony. Great historic place to visit!

We had such an incredible experience visiting Fort Sumter National Monument. As a native Charlestonian, this truly ranks in my top five local experiences. Everything from start to finish was so well done. The boat ride over is scenic, relaxing, and surprisingly quick. The ranger talks during the ride really prepare you for what you’ll see and help bring the history to life before you even step onto the fort. Once you arrive, the hour goes by so fast, so I definitely recommend making the most of every minute. One of the absolute highlights for my boys was the Junior Rangers program. Ranger Bob was a wealth of knowledge and SO helpful throughout our visit. He took time to answer questions, engage with the kids, and even swore my sons in after they completed their booklets, which made the experience extra special and memorable for them. We even got to see Parrot the Burrowing Owl! This was educational, meaningful, and fun for our whole family. Whether you’re a visitor or a local, this is a must-do Charleston experience. We will definitely be back!

Wonderful - go here! This tour includes a great tour guide who makes the history fun and alive. The ferry is roomy, safe and clean. The tour is well-organized and there is just the righ amount of time to see everything at the fort. The view from the top is lovely on a sunny or cloudy day. It can be a bit windy and cool.on the ferry - dressy accordingly!

The boat was comfortable, staff was very friendly, rangers at the fort were very knowledgeable and great speakers on the history of the fort. The 30 min narration on the boat ride was only about 5 min, and it was just a recording, With all the history about charleston, we found it lacking.

I’d do 4.5 stars. The ferry was fun. Very informative and the crew were super nice. We did the flag raising ceremony, took a little longer than 5 mins like she said but other than that it was nice. My husband loved it. Said an hour wasn’t long enough needed about 30 more minutes but he could have stayed all day but for me it was enough time.

My friends and I had a perfect trip to Fort Sumter on May 30 2026. The ferry ride was well-organized and on time. The NPS volunteer who spoke on the way to the Fort provided an excellent narrative of history which made the visit far more meaningful. The amount of time at the Fort to explore it and the museum is perfect. Highly recommend!

We took the first ferry tour of the day and got to see them do the flag raising ceremony. It was very moving and patriotic. They asked members of the military to assist. We enjoyed all of the historical information shared on the ferry ride to the fort and also the museum at the fort. I would highly recommend this tour!

Such a great experience! First, I was glad that the boat ride was so comfortable. There were 3 levels, and you could stay inside or go outside if you wanted. Plus, there was an area to buy drinks and snacks. Fort Sumter is also beautiful! The museum and the fort itself were beautiful and interesting. Even my children loved it. Highly recommend, especially if you love history.