Hollywood, SC

Hollywood is a small Lowcountry town in Charleston County, South Carolina, with a population of roughly 4,700 residents. Tucked between tidal marshes and the inland sea islands, the community has a quiet, rural character defined by live oaks draped in Spanish moss, tidal creeks, and the unhurried pace typical of South Carolina's coastal plain. It sits about 25 miles southwest of downtown Charleston, serving as a peaceful inland base from which visitors can explore both the historic heart of the Lowcountry and the barrier islands to the south.

Roughly 30 minutes to the northeast, Charleston is the marquee draw for any stay in the region. One of America's most photographed cities, Charleston offers a walkable historic district of pastel antebellum houses, the open-air City Market, Fort Sumter in the harbor, and the Battery promenade, along with a nationally recognized food scene rooted in Lowcountry and Gullah-Geechee traditions. The drive into the city along Highway 17 or Savannah Highway passes through classic Lowcountry scenery, including marsh views and roadside stands selling peaches and boiled peanuts.

A closer cultural stop is Middleton Place, a National Historic Landmark and former rice plantation on the Ashley River, about 20 minutes north of Hollywood. The site is best known for its terraced gardens, considered among the oldest landscaped gardens in America, as well as preserved plantation outbuildings, a stable yard with heritage breeds, and a house museum. Visitors can tour the grounds, watch costumed craft demonstrations, and walk down to the river for sweeping views of the marsh.

To the south, Botany Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area on Edisto Island lies roughly 35 to 40 minutes from Hollywood. The 4,600-plus-acre preserve protects a striking mix of maritime forest, tidal marsh, and shell-strewn beaches along the North Edisto River. Several short trails, including the Bache Maybank Trail, lead visitors through canopies of oaks to isolated stretches of coastline that feel a world away from the busier resort beaches.

A bit further out on Edisto Island, Edisto Beach State Park is about 45 minutes southwest of town. The park offers a quiet, family-friendly stretch of Atlantic beach, shaded live oak trails, a campground, and access to the Scott Creek salt marsh for crabbing, shrimping from a public dock, and kayaking. Its uncrowded shoreline and moss-draped paths make it a favorite for travelers seeking the coast without the bustle of the larger resort islands.

Hollywood's appeal for short-term rentals lies in this balance: the town offers a genuine, low-key Lowcountry setting with room to spread out, while keeping Charleston, historic plantations, protected coastal preserves, and quiet beaches all within an easy day trip. It is well suited to guests who want scenic Lowcountry immersion by day and the option of world-class dining, culture, and history by night.