Darlington, SC Travel Guide

Darlington, South Carolina is home to the famous Darlington Raceway, one of the first and most difficult tracks in NASCAR. It’s one of the ten best cities for NASCAR fans, making it a must-visit city for race lovers. If you plan on attending the Cook Out Southern 500 race on September 1 of this year, then you may be wondering what else to do while visiting this historical city, as well as where to stay. To make the most out of your journey, here are some of the best things to do in Darlington, in addition to race day.

Things to Do

Go to Darlington Raceway

As one of NASCAR’s most iconic race tracks, the Darlington Raceway is home to one of the most famous events of the year, the Cook Out Southern 500. This year, the event takes  place on September 1, where those attending will get to watch the season finale of the NASCAR Cup Series live. The second closest finish in NASCAR history also happened here in March 2003, when Ricky Craven got ahead of Kurt Busch by 0.002 seconds. The raceway was also built on land that was once used to grow peanuts and cotton!

Visit Williamson Park Woodland Preserve  

If you are looking to kill time or get in some light exercise, then take some time to explore Williamson Park. With 50 acres of this woodland preserve living in the town of Darlington, it’s become a popular spot in the area. Explore the 1.5-mile trail running through the park that allows you to be immersed in a cypress forest, hike alongside Swift Creek, and check out native trees and flowers.

Try Different Restaurants 

While visiting Darlington, you’ll of course have to eat! A popular place to grab a bite is Original Raceway Grill, which  is a great place to go for race and beef lovers. Other great places to go are Tenampa Mexican Restaurant, which is rated the third best place to eat on TripAdvisor, and Takis Diner, which offers everything from salads to breakfast foods.

Visit Darlington Veterans Memorial 

The Darlington Veterans Memorial was established in 2000 by the American Legion Post 13 to honor all veterans in the United States Military who fought for freedom. If you find yourself wanting to walk through history, you can easily get to the memorial—it’s located between Main Street and Orange Street in Town Square, which is only a five-minute drive from the Darlington Raceway.

Where to Stay

• Darlington Raceway offers camping for both Southern 500 and Throwback Weekend.
• Trackside Camping is located right outside of the Darlington Raceway. 
• Swamp Fox Campground is located in Florence, SC, and offers a swimming  pool, playground, and more family-friendly amenities.

There is nothing more exciting than watching race cars whip around a track. In addition to being famous for its NASCAR races, Darlington is a great city for many other reasons, such as going on a hike or exploring different parts of its history. After staying in Darlington, be sure to check out some of the best places to RV in South Carolina as well.

See you on the road!