South Carolina: Savoring the Barbecue Trail

The jury is still out on which sauce makes for the most authentic South Carolina barbecue, but two ingredients are for sure—pork and heat. Slow-cooked for hours, the succulent meat you’ll find on this trip through the heart of barbecue country guarantees a mouth-watering good time. Bring a napkin!

Drive 322.8 miles, 4 hours, 47 minutes

1. Hilton Head Island

Starting Point

Known best as a beach resort with long stretches of pristine white sand, your first thought dining out in Hilton Head Island will probably be fresh seafood. You wouldn’t be wrong—fresh oysters at the Old Oyster Factory or a high-end affair at Red Fish are singular experiences—but don’t skimp on trying out a little low-country barbecue after a day in the sun. Bullies BBQ is a low-key joint, specializing in Carolina-style pulled pork, which simmers and smokes for over 14 hours.

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2. Charleston

104.6 miles, 1 hour, 54 minutes

Savor barbecue made with love. At the Swig & Swine, the kitchen staff uses high-quality hickory, oak and other hardwoods to infuse the meat with just the right flavor. “Low and slow” could be their motto, and the customer wins with succulent barbecue plates like pulled pork and beef brisket, along with an array of barbecue sandwiches that includes smoked turkey and homemade sausage. Enjoy your meal with a wide variety of appetizers and salads, and then wash it all down with a tantalizing selection of craft beers.

RECOMMENDED STOPOVERS 

Oak Plantation Campground, LP
Charleston, SC
(843) 766-5936

3. Columbia

114.8 miles, 1 hour, 32 minutes

Choose a side in the ongoing debate about which sauce makes for authentic South Carolina barbecue at Little Pigs in Columbia. Tomato, mustard and vinegar-based sauces are available at this traditional buffet-style restaurant, alongside never-ending plates of sides, from collard greens and macaroni and cheese to tomato pie. The Palmetto Pig on Devine Street, Southern Belly BBQ and Maurice’s Piggie Park BBQ also make the list for best in town, so make a day of it.

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4. Greenville

103.4 miles, 1 hour, 21 minutes

In a town chock full of barbecue restaurants, it’s the “leanest butt” that wins the most accolades. If the lines out the door didn’t give it away, a trip to Henry’s Smokehouse is a must in Greenville. Twelve hours of slow cooking and a time-honored hand-pulling technique yield the incredibly tender meat that sets this smokehouse apart. Especially popular at lunch, Henry’s Smokehouse is the perfect place to try traditional fare in an informal setting. For barbecue of a different stripe, dinner at the upscale Smoke on the Water or the innovative and tangy sauces at Bucky’s Bar-B-Q should do the trick.