Fort Sumter National Monument is composed of three sites: Fort Sumter, Fort Moultrie, and the Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center. The simplest way to visit is with guided tour tickets. Basic tours include round-trip transportation to Fort Sumter (accessible only by boat), commentary from a National Park Service ranger during the 30-minute ferry ride, and a guided tour inside the fort. The Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center is located at the downtown ferry launch on Liberty Square and provides additional information about the historic site. You can also catch views of Fort Sumter on a historic Charleston walking tour, Charleston harbor tour, or paddleboard tour of the harbor.
Though part of the Fort Sumter National Monument, Fort Moultrie is on Sullivan’s Island and accessible only by car. Look for tours that combine a visit to both forts to easily see them in a day. Fort Moultrie also offers self-guided tours.