Some road trips are planned around museums, and some are planned around a paper cup of salty, soft peanuts pulled hot from a slow cooker. In South Carolina, boiled peanuts are the official state snack, and the best ones still come from small country stores and roadside markets.
These six spots stretch from the Lowcountry coast to the Upstate foothills, and each one keeps a pot going for anyone who stops by. Grab some napkins, because this list is about to make your next drive a lot longer.
1. Sewee Outpost, Awendaw, SC
Tucked behind a stand of trees on the Lowcountry stretch of Highway 17, Sewee Outpost might be one of the last old-style country stores left in this part of the state. You will find it at 4853 N Hwy 17, Awendaw, SC 29429, near the edge of the Francis Marion National Forest.
Awendaw is a small town with fewer than 3,000 residents, and the store fits that rural setting perfectly. It works as a general store, a snack stop, a sandwich counter, and a gas station all at once.
The boiled peanuts here are made fresh, not poured out of a can. That alone earns the place a spot at the top of this list.
Homemade biscuits share the spotlight, and the country ham version has a loyal following. Pair one with a bag of peanuts and you have a very Southern breakfast on the go.
Shelves also carry hunting and fishing supplies, so anglers heading toward the coast can stock up on gear and snacks in one stop. The fun stuff scattered around the store makes browsing part of the trip.
Doors open daily from 7 AM to 7 PM, and a free parking lot sits right out front. Saturday mornings and afternoons get busy, while Sunday evenings tend to be calm, so plan accordingly if you like a little elbow room at the peanut pot.
2. Sparky’s Country Store, Marion, SC
Size is the first thing that stands out at Sparky’s. This vast general store packs in clothes, souvenirs, snacks, and even fireworks under one roof.
Sparky’s sits at 2416 S US Hwy 501 Bypass, Marion, SC 29571, right on the route many travelers take toward the coast. Marion itself is a historic Pee Dee town of roughly 6,500 people, so the store makes an easy pit stop.
Hot boiled peanuts stay in a warmer on site, ready for anyone who wants a salty snack for the road. Just know that batches can vary, so it pays to ask how fresh the current pot is before you buy.
The real draw here is variety. It is the kind of place where a quick peanut run turns into twenty minutes of wandering the aisles.
Hours shift a bit through the week. The store opens at 7 AM every day, closes at 6 PM on Wednesday, 7 PM on Monday, and 8 PM the rest of the week.
Sunday mornings and early afternoons draw the biggest crowds, while weekday evenings stay quiet. Free parking is available, along with restrooms for road-weary families.
3. Bellews Country Store, Spartanburg, SC
Plenty of produce stands sell vegetables. Bellews Country Store sells vegetables plus just about every Southern pantry staple you could want, and the boiled peanuts may be the best part.
The store sits at 240 Garner Rd, Spartanburg, SC 29303, in a quiet rural pocket of Spartanburg County. It runs year-round, so the shelves stay stocked even when local fields rest.
Fresh produce fills the bins, while jars of chow chow, jams, jellies, BBQ sauce, and canned vegetables line the shelves. Local honey and local pollen are here too, along with grits and vanilla extract.
Sweet tooths get covered with cakes, pies, moon pies, and a mix of candies. Beef sticks come in unusual varieties, including elk and bison.
The clerks are known for being kind, and an extra scoop of peanuts for a first-timer is not unheard of. That friendly streak makes the place feel more like a neighbor’s store than a business.
Bellews is open Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 6 PM and closed on Sunday. Friday afternoons and Saturday afternoons bring steady traffic, so a Thursday morning stop is the calmest bet.
4. Country Corner Produce, Travelers Rest, SC
Up in the Blue Ridge foothills, a little corner market keeps the old roadside tradition going strong. Country Corner Produce sits at 2324 US-25, Travelers Rest, SC 29690.
Travelers Rest is a town of about 8,000 with a firm rural Upstate character. This market matches that spirit with a mix of farm goods and snacks.
Seasonal fruit is the headline, and boiled peanuts are a daily staple. Plenty of people have tried their very first boiled peanut right here, guided by a friendly face behind the counter.
The shelves go well beyond produce. Farm fresh eggs, raw milk, jellies, and salsa all have a home here.
Drinks are a quiet highlight, with a variety of ciders and bottles of Blenheim ginger ale, a South Carolina original. A fried fruit pie rounds out the snack lineup nicely.
The market opens every day from 9 AM to 5 PM, which makes it an easy stop on a drive toward the mountains. Arrive earlier in the day if you want the best pick of the fruit.
5. Ringo’s Produce Plants and Boiled Peanuts, Eastover, SC
When boiled peanuts make it into the business name, you know they are taken seriously. Ringo’s Produce Plants and Boiled Peanuts has built a local following around its homemade batches.
The market stands at 10545 Garners Ferry Rd, Eastover, SC 29044. Eastover is a tiny farming community in Lower Richland County with fewer than 1,000 residents.
Many locals call these the best boiled peanuts in the South, and longtime customers have been stopping by since childhood. That kind of loyalty does not happen by accident.
Fresh produce fills the stand, along with hanging baskets and plants. Jarred vegetables like pickled okra and beets sit on the shelves for anyone building a Southern pantry.
A cooler stays packed with sodas in glass bottles, a small treat that kids especially love. There is even propane on hand, which makes this a surprisingly practical stop.
Hours run Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 7:30 PM, with Sundays off. Saturday afternoons are the busiest stretch.
6. Winslett’s Produce Market, Easley, SC
Ask around Easley about where to grab boiled peanuts, and Winslett’s Produce Market tends to come up first. Many locals consider it the best place in town for them.
The market is at 401 Powdersville Rd, Easley, SC 29642. Easley is a small Piedmont town in Pickens County, with a historic downtown and farm country all around it.
Peanuts are scooped fresh on site and land as a solid answer to any afternoon snack craving. They are a top reason people keep coming back.
Beyond the peanut pot, the market carries fresh fruits and vegetables plus flowers. An onsite deli means you can turn a snack stop into a full lunch.
Winslett’s also offers in-store pickup, which is handy for busy schedules. Restrooms are available too.
The market opens at 8 AM Monday through Saturday and stays closed on Sunday. Closing time is 6:30 PM on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and 6 PM on the other days, with Saturday afternoon being the busiest window.
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