Fort Sumter Admission and Self-Guided Tour with Roundtrip Ferry
Recommended by 90% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Charleston, USA
- 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Visit the site where the American Civil War began without the hassle of arranging transportation or waiting in line for tickets. This Fort Sumter package includes admission skip-the-line tickets as well as round-trip ferry transport. Take in views of Rainbow Row and the Battery as you cruise through Charleston Harbor. Then, enjoy time to explore the historic fort and museum, before the return ferry ride.
- Relax with prearranged admission and transportation
- Catch the ferry at Liberty Square or Patriots Point for a scenic cruise
- Learn historical insights from the National Park Ranger who greets you
- Follow your own lead with a self-guided tour of the fort
What's Included
- Admission to historic Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina
- Round-Trip Ferry Transportation from Liberty Square or Patriots Point (30-minutes each way)
- 1-hour Self-Guided Tour to explore Fort Sumter and its well-preserved ruins
- Experience the opening battle of the American Civil War with a National Park Ranger
- Access to the Fort Sumter Museum, Bookstore, and Souvenir Shop
- Food & Beverages
- Parking
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Fort Sumter National MonumentSouth Carolina 29412, USA
Tour requires a ferry boat to and from the island. Please select ferry departure location at checkout.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Fort Sumter National Monument
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
2
Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center
Admission Ticket Free
Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge (Pass By)
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum (Pass By)
Fort Moultrie (Pass By)
Battery & White Point Gardens (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- 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 the restrooms on Fort Sumter are accessible only by climbing a flight of stairs, 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, restrooms, 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.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 385 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Mary_S
What an AWESOME experience! It was a beautiful & peaceful ferry ride! We enjoyed the views of the bridge & the city, the bay, and the boats going by. The ferry ride did get pretty windy and chilly so I recommend bringing a jacket, but I was okay without one despite that I am typically always cold. We learned so much during the trip; on the ferry ride as we passed certain locations they had facts play over the speakers, and while we were at the fort the Park Ranger gave a very informative speech (about 10 to 15 minutes) about the history of the fort and all that happened there. Throughout the fort there are signs that teach you quite a bit too about each area. We appreciated being in a place with such rich history! The Fort is so well taken care of and has incredible views. The Park Rangers are very knowledgeable and friendly, and the ferry staff was great, as well. We wished would have had longer to explore the Fort; you are given an hour (We still got to see pretty much the whole Fort and enjoy the experience. It would have been even better to have an hour & a half to 2 hours because there is so much to see, read & learn, as well as to to just take in the views & what all happened there.). It was an Unforgettable and Great experience! We absolutely recommend it!!!
Reviews
4.6
based on 3,757 reviews
Jerry_H, Jul 2026
Arrive earlysit back and enjoy !!! Fort was a great experience!!!! We took many pictures and the rangers were knowledgeable!!!
Adam_S, Jun 2026
There is little shade, so if visiting in summer, wear a hat, sunscreen, and drink water. There are also a lot of steps. There are limited accessible areas for wheelchairs and assisted walkers.
Overall, the program is excellent, well-rounded, organized, and informative.
Danielle_K, Jun 2026
Nice trip with a lot of information. An hour is plenty at the fort and the ride out is pleasant. It’s a good late morning activity because it gets very hot in the afternoon.
Gregory_S, Jun 2026
Great experience, lots of good historical accuracy and information. Park rangers were very cordial and well informed.
Jeanine_A, Jun 2026
The ferry ride was fun, being the surrounding scenery with a cool breeze. The ranger at the fort giving the history of events, was knowledgeable and easy to understand. The museum was interesting and a nice refuge from the hot, humid weather.
Tamara_S, Jun 2026
Viator needs gps. Sent us to wrong location. We had to rebook with the park service. Park service said this happens all the time with 3rd parties.
Ken_C, Jun 2026
One of best tours we’ve taken with Viator. Informative and lots of fun. Tour guides very well trained and friendly.
Ashley_S, Jun 2026
We had a wonderful time at Fort Sumter. Kids really enjoyed the ferry ride to and from, and it was overall a great family activity to do together!
Stephen_M, Jun 2026
Very efficient travel arrangements. Just the right amount of time on the island. Take some water to drink.
Keith_W, Jun 2026
Very nice simple tour. You will ferry to and from Fort Sumter. Knowledgable park rangers give great history notes and told the story of all the surroundings and how it shaped US history. Highly recommend for anyone interested in learning more and gaining an appreciation for the importance of these places.
Kellie_N, Jun 2026
We missed our trip due to the fact the first excursion through Viator ran late. Cannot give it a rating
Sheila_W, Jun 2026
Victor sent us to the wrong pick up location. Was told this had been a problem with others also.
Other than that experience was good.
Melissa_B, Jun 2026
I really enjoyed this experience. The ferry ride was quite nice and saw lots of dolphins. The history and preservation of Fort Sumter was great to see. We spent time in the museum which was great. I would recommend going in the morning on the 930 am to help with the flag going up. I imagine the last one takes it down as well. That was great!
Carla_N, Jun 2026
Great experience learning about our history as an educator and a mom. Gained great resources and stories to share with others.
Edward_S, Jun 2026
The ferry ride over was nice and informative. The fort itself was crumbling. Everywhere is unsafe to walk so it’s gated off. So, there’s really nothing to see if you can’t see details of anything. Very disappointing and an absolute waste of money. Our government should be preserving this monument and not let it crumble away!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We have forwarded your comments to our partners at the National Park Service. If you would like to contact them directly, please call 843-883-3123.
Rebecca_T, Jun 2026
This was a great experience. The ferry ride is nice and the history of Ft. Sumter is quite interesting. The park ranger gave a history lesson on the ride over and even invited people to assist with raising the flag (we went on the first ferry of the day).
There is a small indoor air conditioned exhibit and a book store. The ferry has restrooms and a water bottle filling station. If you are staying near the market, it's about a 20 minute walk to catch the ferry. Bring your sunscreen.
Abe_D, Jun 2026
Not.much time.on the island mostly boat trip but still worth it the history is great but wish youmhad more time on the island to really enjoy the trip
Betty_A, Jun 2026
Very informative, staff knew history. The fort history and artifacts were in tact. Would return and bring family/friends
Lisa_S, Jun 2026
It is a great tour to learn or refresh knowledge of the Civil War. The boat ride to the fort is great. We even saw a dolphin. The rangers are so helpful and knowledgeable when you get to the fort. Plan for the gift shop and observation deck first!!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review, Lisa!
Priyanka_V, Jun 2026
Great tour, boat was very comfortable. Go early so you can pick your seat since people line up at the dock 30 min before departure.
Patrick_K, Jun 2026
Our Ft Sumter experience was very good. The volunteer giving us the history of the fort and the Charleston area did an excellent job on the boat trip to the fort. The Park Service personnel were also very helpful.
We were allotted an hour at the fort which was just fine; not too long or too short.
Elizabeth_B, Jun 2026
It’s a well run experience, nothing fancy but definitely as advertised. Ample time on the island and a smooth ride back and forth.
Angie_S, Jun 2026
While we really enjoyed Fort Sumter and the Vietnam experience after. We were disappointed with only 2 short recorded messages about something we were supposed to see somewhere up ahead..... Maybe left, maybe right, who knows as we were off to the right side of the ferry a little more than half way back and could not hear. 1st recorded message came about halfway through the trip to the fort and then the caption "we assumed" told everyone about using the toilet before we got off the boat and that we only had an hour at the fort and to not be late Coming back or we would be left. Then a second recording.... Again, of something we couldn't hear. The fort was pretty cool, and the park ranger very knowledgeable and kind. Trip back on the ferry was completely without any recording or announcements from the captain. The girl selling items in the ferry was very nice as were the people meeting us when we got on and off. Being told what was around us... Such as where Fort Multrie was or anything else would have enhanced the trip so much. Would recommend the Trip, but hopefully with a different Captain
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that your experience did not meet expectations. Clear communication is very important to us, and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention. If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to us at (843) 722-2628.
michael_l, Jun 2026
A lot of information. Could use mote time on site. Could not hear/understand what was said over the speakers on the way to Sumpter.
Tonya_G, Jun 2026
The 30 minute ferry ride was nice. They offer snacks, drinks, and hot dogs to purchase. Once on Fort Sumter, there are guides there if you like to be more educated on areas there. We did self guided. We really enjoyed learning about the history.
John_S, Jun 2026
This is a fascinating place to visit for anyone who is interested in history! The park rangers are extremely knowledgeable and you get exactly what you pay for in terms of the logistics of the experience. The total time at the fort itself is limited to one hour due to the ferry schedule so, if you’re someone like us who likes to take their time and read all the historical markers, you may want to plan a follow up visit the next time you are in Charleston. That being said, all of that information was clearly presented before we booked the tour and the experience completely exceeded our expectations! We saw a flag raising which was led by a park ranger that was very moving! The park ranger also did a great job connecting the events of the American Civil War with our present day political climate in a nonpartisan manner which was highly insightful! One last word of advice, the gift shops at the visitor center at Liberty Square and at the actual fort carry the same merchandise so you may be better off saving your souvenir shopping for the visitor center in order to give yourself more time to explore the fort! This isn’t a big deal but just something to be aware of for visitors. Overall, this is a must see for anyone who is interested in America’s past or present!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback, John! We can't wait to have you back for a follow up visit!
John_P, Jun 2026
The tour was on a hot humid day. We sat on the lower deck of the boat. There was no air flow from the air conditioner vents. I checked several of the vents and the result was the same..This was dangerous for the passengers and made an otherwise great experience most uncomfortable.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that your onboard experience did not meet expectations. We aim to provide a comfortable experience for all guests joining us and hate that we fell short. We look forward to the opportunity to make it up to you in the future. If you would like to discuss further, we can be reached at (843) 722-2628.
Natasha_W, Jun 2026
Self guided really means self guided, don’t expect a representative from Viator to show up and tell you where to go once you arrive.
Melissa_H, Jun 2026
We stepped off of the ferry and onto hallowed ground where it all began! There are informative displays and a gift shop at both the initial visitor center and Fort Sumter. The ferry has indoor/outdoor seating and food to purchase. The staff are friendly, helpful and knowledgeable.
Varhonda_B, Jun 2026
We paid $80 to take the tour but in addition to that you have to pay an additional $20-$30 to park. !
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that your experience did not meet expectations. Fort Sumter Tours does not own or operate parking at or nearby any of our departure locations. If you would like to discuss further, we can be reached at (843) 722-2628.
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From $43.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Fort Sumter Admission and Self-Guided Tour with Roundtrip Ferry
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