In this South Carolina travel safety guide, we have answered all safety-related questions such as how safe is South Carolina for travel, the safest and most dangerous places, and more.
So, without any further ado, let’s get started –
How Safe Is South Carolina for Travel?
South Carolina is located in the southern part of the United States and is surrounded by North Carolina, the Atlantic Ocean, the Savannah river, and Georgia. It is a metropolitan state and among the most populated states in the US. Despite being populated, the culture of the state thrives and attracts tourists to visit, especially during new year’s eve in Charleston.
Foods like toasted Ravioli, crab cakes, and pork roll sandwiches are mostly eaten in South Carolina. You can try these cuisines near Folly beach and other beaches in the state. These beaches are not only famous among tourists but also visited by locals on weekends.
Need some break from your hectic schedule, or someone just broke your heart, and you need a vacation? Pawleys Island, Horry County, or Myrtle Beach are the best places for your getaway destination. The warm Breezy air of Myrtle Beach with a cold beer with their local seafood is all you need to forget all the stress. On top of that, Pawleys Island can be a great place for golf as well as shopping.
Warnings & Dangers in South Carolina
South Carolina is one of the safest states of all, but there are some dangers you may face. Crime rates actually went up in recent years in South Carolina, including murders, mugging, scams, and many others.
So if you are planning to visit South Carolina, this section will help you understand warnings and dangers in the state –
Lowest Risks
South Carolina’s cities are safe as far as transportation is concerned. However, local taxis may not be available outside downtown places, or they may charge high prices. So, it’s better to book prior to your ride.
Besides that, the chances of getting pickpocketed are low, but still, you should beware when you are in a crowded area.
Even though we are living in 2022, there is always a slight risk to the safety of women travelers. Women travelers’ safety is taken very seriously in Charleston and other cities. There have been barely a few complaints about solo female travelers’ safety in recent years. However, if you are traveling alone, we recommend being aware of the surroundings.
Medium Risks
South Carolina has a medium risk associated with scams. Sometimes, they ask you to overpay for the services, or they may trick you into paying for something you have already paid for. These incidents happen no matter where you’re traveling. So, try to rely on reputed services only.
Besides that, there is a slight chance of a terrorist attack. Even though there has been no incident of terrorist attacks, some places in South Carolina have a bad reputation for it.
However, one thing which is quite common in South Carolina is mugging. There are some recent reports of mugging from tourists. If you are carrying a lot of cash or wearing any eye-catching jewels, then please be aware of your surroundings, especially at night. It’s better if you don’t carry any valuable things but rather keep them in the room or somewhere else safe. If you are in a situation like that, then it is better to hand over whatever they ask for.
High Risks
The tap water throughout South Carolina is not good. So, it’s better to carry your own water bottle while traveling. The authority is still working to fix tap water issues, but there has been no significant improvement regarding this in recent years.
Another thing that you can do is to avoid traveling during hurricane season. We recommend keeping an eye on weather forecasts to stay updated with weather-related information.
Also Read – How safe is Texas for Travel?
Safest tourist Places to visit in South Carolina
South Carolina is among the beautiful states enriched with hundreds of amazing places. Below, we have shared a list of the safest tourist places in South Caroline –
Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach is amongst the safest places in South Carolina. The best month to visit the beach is from June-August. The water is swimmable and safe for travelers to explore.
The crime rates are very low. The amusement park, golf courses, and amazon resorts are some of the best places to visit in the city.
Woodruff
The town with a low population, Woodruff, is the safest place to explore for travelers in South Carolina. This town is also best if you’re thinking of starting a new business, family, or career, as it is counted as America’s Top 100 Best Places to Live.
Fort Mill
Fort Mill is located in York County, South Carolina, and offers a lot of places to explore, like parks, Museums, and especially the mountains. There have been very low crime rates in recent years.
Ladson
With a very low population and low crime rates, the place is very quiet and calm. Ladson is located in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties.
The bars, clubs, restaurants, entertainment places, and food are the main attractions of this place.
Cayce
It is in Lexington County, SC. The place with fewer crime reports is among the safest places to explore in South Carolina.
North Charleston
It is the third-largest city in the state of South Carolina, with a population of 114,852 people. There were around 7 million visitors last year, and the city is among the safest.
The parks, food, famous landmarks, museums, and other places are attractions of North Charleston.
Greenville
The city of South Carolina, with a population of 60,000, is a safe place for visitors. The small lakes, malls, museums, and clubs give you a good feeling.
Also Read – How safe is Tennessee for Travel?
Places to avoid in South Carolina Safety
South Carolina is overall a safe state, but there are some places you should avoid visiting due to high crime rates –
Beaufort County
It is a county in South Carolina with a high crime rate and should be avoided visiting. The crime rate has been increasing in recent years. Therefore, we recommend to avoid this place, especially if you are a lone traveler.
Greenwood County
It is a county with high violent crime rates. The place is very unsafe for travelers, especially during the night.
Marion County
It is the most dangerous and unsafe place for travelers. The crime rates are very high.
Also Read – How safe is South Dakota for Travel?
Safety tips for traveling in South Carolina
These are the safety tips that you should follow if are traveling to South Carolina –
- Avoid the hurricane season – The hurricane season starts nearly in June and ends in November. It’s better to avoid the season as it brings serious damage to South Carolina. Even if you plan to travel during the hurricane season, avoid the places which are prone to landslides and flooding.
- Keep your bags and purse in hand – There are multiple cases where the passenger didn’t even notice that someone stole their money or phones from their bags. So, it’s better that you keep your bags or purse in hand or in your lap while traveling on buses and on trains.
- Beware of scammers – There is always a chance of being a victim of scams, and therefore, we recommend to beware of them. Before booking anything, always check their ratings and information on their profiles. Another thing you can do is negotiate before booking an on-spot cab.
- Don’t go anywhere if a stranger invites you – Always say a ‘no’ when a stranger approaches you for a drink or a ride. Don’t give any information about where you are staying, with whom you’ve come, or when you’ll leave.
- Always watch your drinks at clubs/bars – Do not leave your drinks or food unattended, and don’t accept any drink or food from strangers.
- Be careful what you share on social media – Do not share your personal information online, like a hotel, tickets, addresses, and other things. All these pieces of information can be used against you and put you in some serious issues.
Also Read – How safe is Pennsylvania for Travel?
Is South Carolina safe to travel alone?
Yes, you can travel to some places alone, like Charleston. It is among the safest cities in South Carolina, with a very low crime rate. Solo trips are fun but make sure you follow all basic safety tips.
Is South Carolina safe for solo female travelers?
Yes, women can travel alone in some places in South Carolina. The best place to visit by solo female travelers is Charleston. It is among the safest cities in South Carolina, and you can explore a lot of things, like visiting the city market, historic landmarks, horse-drawn carriage tours, eating local seafood, and more.
How safe is South Carolina for Travel?
Overall, South Carolina is quite safe for tourists. There are some places where crimes are quite common, and you should avoid such places. However, besides those places, most of the places in South Carolina are quite safe to travel to.
However, no matter how safe the state is, we recommend following all basic safety tips to avoid any sort of danger.
With that said, here I am wrapping up this article. If you have any questions, feel free to shoot them in the comment section below. Our team will try to respond ASAP.
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