This hot, sunny Charleston weather has us longing for relief. Luckily, Charleston is home to great swimming spots, from pools and lakes to rivers and the ocean, and everything in between. Bookmark this list to stay cool as a cucumber all summer long.

Social clubs + hotels

Several local social clubs and hotels offer day passes to their swimming pools, giving you a perfect excuse to plan a mini staycation. So — sunscreen and sunglasses in hand — let’s dip our toes into some options, shall we?

A poolside cabana at Paradiso — we're relaxed just looking at this. | Photo via @paradisochs

Paradiso | Days and times vary | 4401 McCarthy St., North Charleston | $50+ | This family-friendly social club offers a couple of day-pass options for its pool, which is open from 9 a.m. to sunset.

A view of the pool and terrace at The Mills House Hotel. Striped lounge chairs and umbrellas line the pool area, and you can see the hotel's signature pink exterior in the background as well as views of downtown Charleston. — Another peek at the pool and terrace at The Mills House — splashy, right? | Photo via The Mills House

The Mills House Hotel | Days and times vary | 115 Meeting St. | $275+ | Downtown’s historic pink landmark hotel offers poolside cabana rentals for visitors — even if you’re not a hotel guest.

Public pools

Martin Luther King Jr. Pool | Daily | 155 Jackson St. | $2+ | The year-round pool offers youth summer rates as low as 50 cents.

Herbert Hasell Pool | Daily | 265 Fishburne St. | $2+ | The year-round pool offers youth summer rates as low as 50 cents.

R.L. Jones Center Pool | Monday-Saturday | 391 Egypt Rd., Mt. Pleasant | $5+ | This indoor pool is perfect for rainy days and also offers swim lessons, non-competitive swimming, and water safety classes.

Park West Pool Indoor Facility | Monday-Saturday | 1251 Park W Blvd., Mt. Pleasant | $5+ | This is another indoor spot perfect for slashing, swimming, and dodging the summer heat.

North Charleston Aquatic Center | Daily | 8610 Patriot Blvd., North Charleston | $5 | Make a splash at this aquatic center featuring a 50-meter, 10-lane pool and a 25-yard therapeutic pool.

North Charleston Sports Complex | Monday-Saturday | 455 Monitor St., North Charleston | $5 | Opened in 2024, this complex is home to open and lap swim, as well as swim team practices.

All the bells and whistles at Splash Zone to keep Charlestonians cool this summer. | Photo provided by Charleston County Parks

Waterparks

Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark | 8888 University Blvd., North Charleston | $25 | The Big Kahuna wave pool and giant slides will be a surefire draw for the bigger kids, while the younger ones can enjoy the Big Splash Tree House.

Splash Island Waterpark | 444 Needlerush Pkwy., Mt. Pleasant | $13 general park admission | Splash around sprayers, geysers, and raindrop waterfalls, plus slides for the older kids.

Splash Zone Waterpark | 871 Riverland Dr. | $18 general park admission | The rainforest play structure with slides is a highlight for the smaller kids.

Folly Beach — one of Charleston, SC’s 5 beaches — is the perfect destination for a day spent surfing + chilling | Photo provided by Explore Charleston

Hit the beach

Folly Beach | Free | Frolic at this family-friendly beach and enjoy a picnic lunch, beach games, and boogie boarding.

Sullivan’s Island | Free | Spend a day in the sun, then grab a bite to eat at Home Team BBQ — known for its award-winning barbecue.

Isle of Palms | Free | Pack your sunscreen and explore seven miles of beaches perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and dolphin spotting.

Drive to dive

These escapes call for a little road trip — but we have a feeling it’ll be worth it.

Edisto River | Free | Make plans to swim or float on this slow-moving, blackwater river and take in some of the most scenic and untouched Lowcountry views.

Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort | Days and times vary | 23 Ocean Ln., Hilton Head Island | $150+ | This picturesque resort ~100 miles south of Charleston boasts three swimming pools and hot tubs, and offers many day pass options.