The Great American Road Trip ChallengeOne trip, ~2.5 years, 48 states
← The Coastal SoutheastCongaree National Park
Day216

Day 216 — The Old-Growth Swamp — Congaree National Park

Full day5h planned
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180Skyline Drive181Luray Caverns182Down to Charlottesville183Jefferson's Charlottesville184Free Day185East to Richmond186The Capitol & the Revolution187Civil War & art188Free Day189To the Historic Triangle190Colonial Williamsburg191Jamestown & Yorktown192Virginia Beach193Free Day194South to the Outer Banks195First Flight196Lighthouses & the Seashore197Free / Beach Day198Inland to the Triangle199The Capital & its museums200Durham & the campuses201Free Day202West to Asheville203Biltmore204The Blue Ridge & Mount Mitchell205Free Day206Down to Charlotte207Speedways & Uptown208Free Day209Southeast to the coast210Riverfront & Battleship211Free Day212Into South Carolina213Falls Park & Main Street214Free Day215East to Congaree216The Old-Growth Swamp217Into the capital218The Capital & the Zoo219Free Day220East to the Grand Strand221The Grand Strand222Free Day223Down to Charleston224The Historic District225Fort Sumter226Plantations & the Angel Oak227Free Day228Into the Lowcountry229Beaufort & the Gullah coast230Free Day231Down to Savannah232The Squares233Gothic Savannah234Free Day235Out to Tybee236Beach & Lighthouse237Free Day238South to the Golden Isles239Jekyll & St. Simons240Free Day241Inland to Athens242Campus & the Clubs243Free Day244North to Helen245Alpine Georgia246Free Day247Down to Atlanta248Downtown icons249Civil rights250Art & the BeltLine251Free Day252South to Florida

Champion trees and blackwater.

  1. 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM· 2h 30m

    Congaree Boardwalk LoopNational Parks & ForestsAnchor

    A 2.6-mile elevated boardwalk through a cathedral of champion loblolly pines and bald cypress knees.

    Bring: bug spray · walking shoes

    100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC

  2. 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM· 2h 30m

    Kayak Cedar CreekOutdoor & Water ActivitiesWorth it

    Paddle the marked blackwater trail beneath the old-growth canopy (synchronous fireflies in late spring).

    Bring: kayak (rentals nearby)

    Cedar Creek, Congaree NP, SC

What the colours mean

On this day

  • National Parks & Forests1
  • Outdoor & Water Activities1

And how much each one matters

  • AnchorAlways do — the reason this stop is on the map
  • Worth itDo most of these
  • BonusQuirky bonus, if it's happening while you're here