4-Day Road Trip Through Northern South Carolina: Explore the Olde English District
This guide will help you plan a four-day road trip through South Carolina’s Olde English District, including places to stay, popular dining spots, and things to do.
- Discover where to stay in rustic cabins and go kayaking at a state park.
- Find out where to go berry picking and beer and wine tasting.
- Top your adventure off with a stay at a historic inn.
- The guide focuses on visiting Fort Mill and the cute small towns of Cheraw and Lancaster.
Guide To Exploring the Olde English District
We’re always looking for fun road trip getaways, so when we were invited to visit South Carolina’s Olde English District for a hosted adventure, we said, “Yes!”
The Olde English District was named after the early English settlers who colonized it in the 1700s. It encompasses seven counties in north-central South Carolina: Chester, Chesterfield, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Union, and York.
This part of South Carolina has deep roots, including its role in the Revolutionary War. If you’re a history buff, you’ll enjoy exploring the historical sites, but I don’t get into that here – check out this itinerary if you’re a history lover.
If glamping, kayaking, and hiking at a state park, along with exploring small towns, picking blueberries, and tasting beer and local wine, are more your speed, we’ve got you covered.
How To Get There
Fly into Charlotte Douglas International Airport (in North Carolina) and rent a car. From there, drive south and head across the state line. You’re about thirty minutes from the airport before your first stop in Fort Mill, South Carolina. There can be quite a bit of traffic around Charlotte, but once you get outside the city, there is less traffic.
As I mentioned, the Olde English District has seven counties, but this article focuses on visiting Fort Mill and the quaint small towns of Cheraw and Lancaster.
Where To Stay
Cheraw State Park: Spend your weekend getaway in a cozy restored cabin in the woods at Cheraw State Park.
Pablo and I spent two nights relaxing at a cabin initially built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. It was all wood inside and beautiful, with a screened-in porch. The cabins have a kitchen (supplied with coffee), a bathroom, and a living room. They also have fire pits outside.
If you’re road-tripping through the area with your RV or van, there’s also a nice campground next to Lake Juniper.
You can make reservations online with Cheraw State Park.
The Kilburnie Inn: It’s a nearly 200-year-old renovated Southern mansion tucked away on a farm. The innkeeper, Johannes Tromp, is warm and inviting and has incredible life stories to share.
Our eyes danced from room to room as we admired each’s unique character and personality. We were awe-struck by the beauty of the parlor and its handcrafted crown molding by famous artist Jim Shore before settling in for the night in the attic Walkup Suite. The attic suite, where we stayed, was beautifully decorated and inviting, with exposed beams and a hydrotherapy spa tub.
You can book directly with the inn.
Laurel Haven Estate Vineyard and Winery: This is a luxurious place to get away for the weekend. It is also a Bed and Breakfast serving wholesome farm-to-table meals.
Book directly with them online.
When To Visit the Olde English District
You can visit the Olde English District all year round. Summers are hot but the perfect time for kayaking and picking berries. Fall is great for paddling, hiking, and visiting the local U-pick farms for pumpkins and hay rides. The weather is mild in the winter, making it a great time to get outdoors and beat the heat. If you want to catch the local spring blooms and pick strawberries, spring is the best time to visit.
Check out the Olde English District’s website to see their seasonal events.
Day 1: Arrive, Lunch in Fort Mill, Drive to Cheraw
Stop in Fort Mill
Once you get your rental car, drive from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Fort Mill, South Carolina. It’s about 30 minutes from the airport.
Stop and grab a bite to eat at Fish Market. They have the cutest outdoor patio. Pablo ordered fish and chips, and I ordered a chicken salad, and both of our meals were absolutely delish.
Afterward, walk around Market Street to window shop and check out more local hangouts. We took a detour into the Southern Olive Oil Company for dessert. I got the best gluten-free brownie I’ve ever had in my life (I’m not exaggerating).
Before heading out of town, visit a local grocery store to pick up water, drinks, and snacks. If you’re staying the night at a local state park, like we did, you’ll want some provisions.
Arrive in Cheraw
After getting groceries, drive to Cheraw, South Carolina. Once you get into town, swing by the Dizzy Gillespie Homesite Park. Dizzy was a famous jazz musician.
Head to Cheraw State Park to spend the evening in one of their rustic cabins. If you’re hungry, have dinner at Bistro on 2nd Street. I got a salad with sweet tea, and Pablo ordered a steak sandwich, which he loved.
Day 2: Outdoor Adventures at Cheraw State Park + Sightseeing
Kick off the day early by renting kayaks at Cheraw State Park. The gear you rent includes a kayak, paddle, and life jacket. The lake is so beautiful and peaceful that we didn’t want to get off the water.
After kayaking, we hiked the Boardwalk Trail to the campground overlooking Lake Juniper. Then, we drove into Cheraw to eat lunch. We indulged in sweet tea at the River’s Edge and got praline pecan ice cream at the Caffeinated Cow.
If you’d like to learn more about the community and its history, you can take a self-guided cell phone tour around Cheraw. While you’re walking around, you’ll see the QR codes to scan.
In the evening, if you’re hungry, El-Sherif’s Restaurant and Lounge has yummy Mediterranean and Greek food. I enjoyed their gyro salad, and Pablo was in Heaven eating shrimp pasta.
Day 3: Berry Picking + Wine and Beer Tasting in Lancaster
Drive to Lancaster and Explore the Town
Lancaster is about an hour from Cheraw. When we arrived, I didn’t expect the town to have such an emerging artsy vibe. Colorful murals, boutique shops, and local restaurants lined the main street. We also found a neat trail to hike – the Lindsay Pettus Greenway.
Places to grab coffee: Five Grands Coffee or Daily Grind Coffee Bar
Pick Berries at a U-Pick Farm
After walking the greenway, we drove outside Lancaster to the Ivy Place Berry Farm. There, we roamed fields of blueberry and blackberry bushes and had so much fun.
If you’re hungry after picking berries, head back into town for lunch at 521 BBQ. Pablo and I treated ourselves to combination plates stacked with chicken wings, brisket, fries, potato salad, and coleslaw.
Taste Local Wine
Next, we drove to the Laurel Haven Estate Vineyard and Winery. After parking our car, we immediately noticed the beautiful white mansion and fountain and couldn’t wait to enter. We walked in and were awed by the inside, the views of the pool, and the green vineyard.
They have European grapes bred with American grapes, which helps the vineyard thrive. We sampled a hand-crafted white wine flight and loved some of the wine so much that we flew a bottle home.
Visit the Local Brewery
After visiting the winery, we drove to Bedford Brewing, a local microbrewery. It’s a little outside town and a great spot to stay if you do Harvest Hosts and need a place to park your van or small RV for the night.
Check-in for the Evening
We ended the evening at the Kilburnie Inn after having dinner at the Catawba Fish Camp. Staying there was the best possible way to wrap up our trip. The Southern hospitality during our visit left us eager to visit South Carolina again.
If the Kilburnie does not have availability, check out the Laurel Haven Estate.
Day 4: Breakfast + Fly Home
Enjoy your B&B before driving back to the airport. Lancaster is about an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes from the airport, depending on which property you’re staying at.
Planning tip: Keep in mind that there can be traffic going into Charlotte. The Charlotte airport is one of the busiest airports in the U.S., and you definitely want to plan to be there at least two hours before your flight.
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