Step Right Into The Notebook: Cypress Gardens Charleston, SC

Ever wanted to have your own romantic boat ride through massive cypress trees like Noah and Allie in The Notebook? Well, you can at Cypress Gardens near Charleston, SC. 

I loved the Nicholas Sparks romance, The Notebook. And while the book is always better than the movie, the film didn’t disappoint, especially when it came to creating a scene that looked like it was from another world on a boat amongst massive cypress trees and swans. 

While I took this trip with my kids (who have not seen the movie), the boat ride at Cypress Gardens was incredible, beautiful, and peaceful. Doing it with your significant other would be next-level romantic. But there’s more to see at the gardens than the swamp gardens. 

Cypress Gardens Quick Facts

• Where: 3030 Cypress Gardens Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461. The gardens are about 30 miles north of downtown Charleston, a roughly 45-minute drive
• Hours: Open daily 9 am – 5 pm. Last admission at 4 pm; last self-guided boat tour departs at 4:15 pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
• Admission: $10/adults | $6.50/seniors 65+, military, and 911 personnel | $5/kids ages 6–17 | free for ages 5 and under (education and youth groups excluded from the free rate)
• Boat rides: Self-guided rowboats are included with admission. Guided tours are $5/person, reserved on-site the day of your visit. Availability is limited.
• What’s here: Swamp boat rides, the Swamparium, the Butterfly House, walking trails, two playgrounds, and a seasonal splash pad (ages 2–12)
• How long to plan: 2–3 hours for a quick visit, 4–5 hours to see everything
• Pets: Leashed dogs allowed outdoors November through February only. Dogs not permitted inside buildings or on boats.
• Contact: 843-553-0515 | Operated by Berkeley County

About Cypress Gardens

Cypress Gardens is a 170-acre nature preserve in Moncks Corner, about 30 miles north of downtown Charleston, roughly a 45-minute drive. It’s run by Berkeley County and has trails, a swamp garden with boat rides, a Swamparium, a playground, and education programs.

Think lots of beautifully tall trees and Spanish moss, flowers everywhere, and a sense of total peace, especially on the water. 

It seems that Hollywood also loves Cypress Gardens, Charleston SC. The Notebook was filmed here, as well as parts of the Outer Banks, Swamp Thing, The Patriot, and Cold Mountain. You can see the full list on the Cypress Gardens website. 

The Swamparium

Just outside the Swamparium is a small waterway where we saw two big gators. I actually thought they were fake until we got closer. Nope, they are real and they are everywhere in the gardens. They are pretty docile. Just don’t go trying to pet them. 

The Swamparium is a building that houses lots of fish and reptiles that are found both in local waterways and swamps as well as in South America. We saw big catfish and a couple of venomous snakes, but the biggest thing we saw was the massive anaconda. 

This thing was huge, and it was feeding time. I’ll spare the details for those readers who would rather not read about this part of nature, but for those who think it’s cool, it was. 

The Swamp Boat Tours

The self-guided swamp boat tours are part of your admission ticket, which is pretty awesome. We went in February, and it could not have been more perfect in terms of temperature and bug levels. It was cool and bug-less so we could really take in the immense beauty of the blackwater and cypress trees. It was truly a stunning sight. 

There are very sturdy rowboats to take out into the swamp, and life jackets are available. Pro tip: for smaller groups, take a smaller boat. There were only three of us, and maneuvering the larger rowboat was a challenge. 

The self-guided tour takes you through the swamp by arrows on the trees, so it is easy to follow. You’ll go right past the part of the swamp where Noah and Allie were filmed in the boat as well as the bridge shown at the beginning of the film, referred to by the guides as the “duck bridge” because you have to duck under it while paddling. It’s so pretty. 

We were told it would take us about 45 minutes to paddle through the swamp, and it took us a bit longer, maybe. I totally lost track. It was peaceful and quiet paddling through the blackwater. We were given instructions to watch for gators and other wildlife and to keep to ourselves. I’m sure they were there, but we didn’t see any in the swamp. 

If you’d rather paddle with a pro, Cypress Gardens offers guided boat tours for an additional $5/person. You reserve on-site the day of your visit — there’s no pre-payment — and availability is limited, so ask at the gift shop when you arrive. 

The Trails, Butterfly House, and Playground

There are trails that wind all around the gardens. We took the pink trail around part of the swamp, and it took us about 20 minutes to walk it all. There are places to sit along the swamp and admire the beauty. There are other, longer trails if you’d like. 

The Butterfly House is a must-see. The plants and flowers there are very pretty, and you may get to see some newly-made butterflies. There’s also a small pond inside with koi fish.

And kids will love the playground at Cypress Gardens. There is a larger playground for bigger kids and a smaller one for the littles. There’s also a covered pavilion with picnic tables that are perfect for a shaded rest. 

Cypress Gardens has also added a splash pad for ages 2–12, with a tipping bucket, spray cannons, restrooms, and a picnic shelter. It runs seasonally, so check the website before you build a hot-day plan around it. 

Honest Mom Review: Cypress Gardens

My kids are 13 and 9, and they really enjoyed Cypress Gardens. They are used to me dragging them to gardens to see pretty flowers and plants but not to take a boat ride in a swamp. They both definitely liked it, but I was in awe the whole time. Yes, I love the romantic movie that was filmed there, but I love nature more. The beauty of those huge cypress trees standing tall in the water blew me away. I could have done that boat ride again. 

And the Swamparium was also really neat. I may be in the minority, but I like snakes and turtles, especially the more I learn about them. The building was so well put together and educational.

And one of the best parts about Cypress Gardens was the price. I couldn’t believe the low cost of admission to see all we did and the fact that it included the self-guided boat ride. You can’t really do any better than that in the Charleston area. This place is a treasure. Go visit!

Visiting Cypress Gardens

Cypress Gardens is open daily from 9 am–5 pm with the last admission at 4 pm and the last self-guided boat tour going out at 4:15 pm. They are closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

Admission is $10/adults; $6.50/seniors 65+, military, and 911 personnel; $5/kids ages 6–17; and free for kids ages 5 and under. The free rate doesn’t apply to children visiting with an education or youth group.

Pets are allowed only from November through February, and they must be leashed at all times. They are not allowed in buildings or in the boats. Be sure to check the Cypress Gardens events page before you go as the gardens host special events and seasonal programs throughout the year.

Cypress Gardens
3030 Cypress Gardens Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461
843.553.0515
Cypress Gardens Website

Cypress Gardens FAQs

Is the boat ride included with admission?

Yes. The self-guided rowboat trip through the swamp is included in your general admission ticket. If you’d rather have someone else paddle, guided tours cost an additional $5 per person, reserved on-site the day of your visit. Availability is limited for both.

Is Cypress Gardens really where The Notebook was filmed?

Yes. The swamp boat scene with Noah and Allie was filmed here, and you paddle right past it on the self-guided route. Cypress Gardens has also appeared in The Patriot, Cold Mountain, Outer Banks, Swamp Thing, North and South, and others.

How far is Cypress Gardens from Charleston?

It’s in Moncks Corner, about 30 miles north of downtown Charleston. Plan on roughly 45 minutes each way. It makes an easy half-day trip from the city.

Is this the same Cypress Gardens that’s in Florida?

No. This Cypress Gardens is a 170-acre nature preserve in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, operated by Berkeley County. The Florida attraction of the same name is a separate, unrelated place.

How much time should we plan for a visit?

Cypress Gardens suggests 2–3 hours for a quick visit hitting the Butterfly House, Swamparium, and film-location trail, or 4–5 hours if you want to add the boat ride, the splash pad, and a slower walk through the gardens.

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