Horse drawn carriage tours in Charleston last about an hour and leave from barns and loading zones near the City Market. The City of Charleston assigns each public tour its zone through a random medallion draw at a city gate, so drivers do not choose it. Daytime tours at the two companies compared here start at $50 per adult.
Charleston regulates carriage routes, operating conditions and horse care, while each company sets its own prices, schedules and booking policies. Below is how the city rules work, what two of the companies charge and how to plan the day from a CHC home with its own parking.
How does the city decide where your carriage goes?
By random draw. Each carriage passes through a city gate at North Market and Church streets, where a gatekeeper draws a medallion that assigns one of five zones of the peninsula. Two tours on the same day can see different streets.
City rule | What the code says |
Zones | The peninsula is split into zones. The gatekeeper draws from 28 medallions for Zones 1, 2, 3 and 5. Zone 4 is added on city holidays and on 30 high-demand days the carriage industry picks each year |
No back-to-back repeats | The gatekeeper keeps drawing until a different zone comes up, so carriages are not sent out in a row on the same path |
Time limit | Each carriage must return its medallion and GPS unit within 75 minutes |
Gate hours | Standard time (from November 1, 2026 to March 2027): 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., last medallion 4:15 p.m. Daylight saving time: 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., last medallion 5:15 p.m. |
Streets carriages cannot use | The bricked part of Church Street from Water Street to South Battery, cobblestone and Belgian block streets, most alleys and lanes, and a list of named streets |
Guide | Every carriage tour must be conducted by a tour guide |
These rules come from the Charleston City Code, Chapter 29, Article V (Sections 29-203 to 29-209), which also requires a diapering apparatus on every horse and a GPS unit on every carriage to mark spots for street cleaning.
YOU CANNOT REQUEST A STREET
Because the zone is drawn at the gate, a tour cannot promise a particular house or street. If seeing one spot matters, plan to walk there before or after the ride.
Why do carriage tours stop in hot weather?
City law takes the horses off the streets when the temperature reaches 95 degrees Fahrenheit or the heat index reaches 110. Tours restart only after readings stay below those limits for 30 minutes in a row.
The city or police department makes the call after four consecutive readings taken at least 15 minutes apart, using the official thermometer at 181 Church Street, according to the City of Charleston carriage information page and Section 29-212 of the city code.
Horse temperature after a tour | What the code requires |
Air temperature at or above 85 F | The company takes each working horse's temperature right after every tour |
Horse at 103 to 103.9 F | Removed from service and cooled to 101.5 F before it works again |
Horse at 104 F or above | Out of service for the rest of the day and cooled down |
Not cooled to 101.5 F within 2 hours, or 105 F, or signs of distress | A veterinarian is called to inspect the horse |
The code also limits each horse to six working days in any seven. These are the city's requirements; how each company meets them is up to that company.
PLANNING A SUMMER TRIP
On a very hot day, tours can be paused with little notice. Have a backup plan for that day, and read the company's change and refund terms before you pay.
How much does a carriage tour cost, and how long is it?
A public daytime tour runs about an hour and starts at $50 per adult at the two companies compared below. Other companies set their own prices, private carriages cost more, and both companies here also run evening tours.
Palmetto Carriage Works | Old South Carriage Company | |
Where tours start | The Big Red Barn, 8 Guignard Street | 14 Anson Street |
Daytime public tour | 1 hour, from $50, up to 16 people | 1 hour, $50 adults (12+), $40 children (4 to 11), infants free |
Evening tour | Ghost tour, 45 minutes, from $50; times on its booking page | Haunted tour, $50 adults; Founding to Independence tour from 5:30 p.m., $45 adults; child prices on each booking page |
Private option | Private vis-a-vis carriage, 1 hour, from $250; its pages give different capacities, so confirm when booking | Private vis-a-vis carriages for 1 to 4 passengers |
Carriage size | Large public carriages seat up to 16 | Carriages seat 16 passengers |
Prices and times were read on each company's own website on October 30, 2026. Both companies state that they employ Palmetto Guild certified guides. Check the current price when you book.
They are not the only operators: Charleston Carriage Works on Anson Street, for one, also runs tours. Compare the current prices and policies on each company's own booking page before you choose.
What should you know before you ride?
Book ahead, arrive early to park, and check your company's rules on rain, pets and mobility needs. Palmetto Carriage Works, for example, recommends a reservation and says its walk-up seats are often gone early in the day.
Question | What Palmetto Carriage Works says on its FAQ page |
Rain | Tours go out in the rain unless the weather is dangerous. Umbrellas are not allowed on the carriage; bring a rain jacket or poncho. If you would rather not ride in rain, you can reschedule or cancel for a refund |
Wheelchairs | Wheelchairs cannot be accommodated on the carriages. The public boarding platform has a ramp and is nearly level with the carriage, but riders step across a small gap. Smaller private carriages have steps. Wheelchairs, walkers and strollers can be stored at the barn during the tour |
Dogs | Allowed if you buy the whole row of four seats |
Drinks | Snacks and drinks are fine, but no alcohol, under the city's open container law |
Restrooms | Two restrooms in the boarding area |
Changes, group tickets | Cancel for a full refund, or reschedule, up to 1 hour before the tour |
Changes, private carriages | No refunds or schedule changes within 24 hours of departure |
Other companies set their own policies, so check yours before you go.
How do you get to the carriage barns?
Palmetto loads at its barn on Guignard Street and Old South at 14 Anson Street, both near the City Market. From our office at 6 Tully Alley, Google Maps showed a 9-minute drive or a 28-minute walk to the Palmetto barn on a Friday morning. Check live directions before you go.
Palmetto Carriage Works warns that parking near its barn is limited and asks guests to allow time to find a space. A home with its own off-street parking lets you leave the car there and take a short ride or walk in instead. Our downtown Charleston parking guide covers garages and rates if you do drive.
LEAVE THE CAR AT YOUR RENTAL
Parking near its barn is limited, the Palmetto Carriage Works FAQ says. Every CHC home in the table below lists at least one off-street parking space on its own page, so the car can stay parked while you ride.
Where should you stay for a carriage tour weekend?
Book a CHC home with off-street parking and plan the tour as part of a longer stay. Every home below lists at least one off-street parking space on its own page.
CHC home | Sleeps | Off-street parking | Useful for group size |
118 President, entire home | 16 | 6 spaces | A group of 16 |
179 St. Philip E | 10 | 2 spaces | A group of 10 |
118 President A or B | 8 each | 3 spaces each | A group of 8 |
Pool House | 4 | 1 space | A family of four or two couples |
Suite Two or Cannon 407 | 2 | 1 space | A couple |
A shared stay does not guarantee a shared carriage: confirm seating for your group with the carriage company when you book the tour. Bringing the whole group? 118 President, the entire home sleeps 16 and lists six off-street spaces, and you can compare all CHC homes with three or more bedrooms. For a couple, pair a private carriage ride with dinner from our list of romantic restaurants in Charleston, and stay in one of our one-bedroom rentals for two.
FAQs
Prices vary by company. At Palmetto Carriage Works and Old South Carriage Company, checked October 30, 2026, a one-hour public daytime tour starts at $50 per adult, and Old South charges $40 for children 4 to 11. Private carriages cost more.
Not when it gets too hot. City law removes carriage horses from the streets after four consecutive readings, at least 15 minutes apart, of 95 degrees Fahrenheit or a heat index of 110. Tours resume after readings stay below those limits for 30 consecutive minutes.
Not on a public tour. A city gatekeeper at North Market and Church streets assigns each carriage one of five zones by random draw, so the route depends on the medallion drawn. If one street matters to you, plan to walk there yourself.
Some operators say yes: Palmetto Carriage Works says its large public carriages seat up to 16, and Old South Carriage Company says its carriages seat 16. Confirm group seating with the company before booking, and look at 118 President, a CHC home that sleeps 16.
How do you book a CHC home for your Charleston trip?
Check open dates on the availability page, or call or email the CHC team with your dates, group size and number of cars. CHC Vacation Rentals owns and manages a growing portfolio of boutique rentals across Charleston, from one-bedroom units to a home that sleeps 16.
Call 843.329.2040 or email bookings@chcvacationrentals.com, and we will match you to a home with enough beds and parking for the trip.