Fort Sumter Admission with Roundtrip Ferry
About this activity
Highlights
- Scenic ferry ride through Charleston Harbor
- Explore historic Fort Sumter at your own pace
- Engaging exhibits detailing Civil War history
- Breathtaking views of the Charleston skyline
- Opportunity to spot dolphins during the ferry ride
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Access to the Fort Sumter Museum, Bookstore, and Souvenir Shop
- Experience the opening battle of the American Civil War with a National Park Ranger
- Admission to historic Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina
- 1-hour Self-Guided Tour to explore Fort Sumter and its well-preserved ruins
- Round-Trip Ferry Transportation from Liberty Square or Patriots Point (30-minutes each way)
- Food & Beverages (available for purchase)
- Gratuities
Important information
Know before you book
- Ferry schedules may vary; confirm departure times in advance.
- Tickets are non-refundable if canceled less than 2 hours before departure.
- No food items are allowed on the Fort Sumter grounds; plan accordingly.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for uneven terrain.
- Bring a hat and sunscreen to protect against sun exposure.
- Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly for the ferry ride.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Stroller Accessible
- Service Animals Allowed
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to departure time
- Boarding begins 15 minutes prior to departure time
- Accepted payment methods include all major credit and debit cards only
- The ferries are equipped with an elevator/lift and handicapped accessible restrooms. The Liberty Square boarding ramp can accommodate electric & manual wheelchairs and scooters except in extreme tide situations. Although restrooms on Fort Sumter are unavailable; the ferry remains at the Fort so that restrooms on the boat are available during your visit.
- There is currently no Elevator Service at Fort Sumter – the museum, bookstore, and top level of Fort Sumter are only accessible by climbing stairs.
- The Fort Sumter Tour is a boat excursion dependent on changing weather and tide conditions, Fort Sumter Tours cannot and does not guarantee accessibility. Ramps used to access the ferry can vary based on tides and adverse conditions.
- Tours run rain or shine. Only the Captain has the final say as to whether he feels it needs to be canceled due to weather. That decision is made at the time of departure and throughout the duration of the tour.
Traveler reviews
Wrong meeting place info sent by Viator
Misinformation from Viator sent us to the wrong location at the wrong time. We were able to switch our tickets but I ended up having to take a later ferry to Fort Sumter. We also ended up having to pay $30 for parking because of the wrong info. We had chosen Patriots Point for departure but was sent the Liberty location. It through the timeliness for our day off and cost us the extra expense of parking.
Comfortable....
Comfortable. Informative.Ferry was clean. Left on time and returned on time. The fort had great views. Enjoyed the raising of the flag.
Super cool to see Fort...
Super cool to see Fort Sumter. All the previous reviews were very helpful in understanding how this tour worked. Gerry company staff was organized and friendly. NPS staff was super knowledgeable and friendly as well. The history lesson on the ride out was very good. We took the morning boat from Liberty Station and participated in the raising of the flag ceremony which was a very unique experience! My only wish that would have made it better would have been to stay longer! We didn’t get to visit the museum because we spent our time exploring the different sections of the fort instead. Would have been nice if the ferry provider operated like the ferries when visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in NYC. Or if the time at the fort was 1.5 hours instead of just 1 hour.
Great trip!
Get there promptly as they do not wait. At the scheduled time they immediately start removing the walkway access and closing off the guardrails on the boat. They give you a safety brief and then you are off. One time the speaker for about 5 minutes to give you some information about the area, then the rest of the time you get to enjoy the views. They speak for another 2-3 minutes at the fort to explain what to do there, how the only restroom & trash bin is on the boat, and to meet back on the boat in 1 hour. You can listen to a ranger talk for about 5-10 minutes and then explore the fort and air conditioned museum at your own pace but remembering to return to the boat in time. Your return trip will give you great views of the USS Yorktown & Cooper River Bridge as you come back into Patriots Point. The boat rides are about 30 minutes each, so the whole experience is about 2 hours.
Ft. Sumter Trip
Ft. Sumter was awesome and the Park Rangers knew the stories and told it well. The boat ride was great, parking fees and set up was terrible. Either you pay for two hours or 24 hours, what's up with that.