Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Vacation Rental

Featured Vacation Rentals

170 Ocean Creek - Resort Access Included...

Welcome to 170 Ocean Creek, an elevated Fripp Island getaway offering refined coastal living just a short walk from the exclusive Cabana Club. Spanning over 2,700 square feet, this gorgeously refreshed two-story home features an inverted floor plan...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
The Wilmington Place

Totally remodeled home constructed in 1910 with historic appeal and a modern touch. Located in the historic district of Beaufort just ~8 blocks from downtown and a fast 12min drive to Parris Island, this is the ideal home for graduation, vacation or...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Beautiful, Modern Getaway in Historic Do...

Located in historic downtown Beaufort, this freshly remodeled 3 bedroom, 2 bath home is a great place to call home while you are visiting Beaufort and all the marvelous attractions the community has to offer. Every thought has been taken to have...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Sweet Magnolia Sandy Feet Retreat - 4 Po...

Charming Uptown Sanctuary with all the amenities. Each bedroom has its own porch. The master has a king bed, dual vanity, shower, and separate soaking tub. The 2nd bedroom has a queen bed, dual vanity, with shower and bath combo. The 3rd bedroom has...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Gorgeous Oceanview Fripp Home on Golf Co...

New to the Steel Magnolia in 2025 - a elegant reclining leather sectional, new cushioned rockers for the front porch, and both decks have been replaced. We look forward to hosting your family in our delightful Fripp home. Welcome to Steel Magnolia...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
New Rental, Lake Home, Newly Renovated, ...

New to Fripp Island rental market. Appreciate an island hideaway in this newly remodeled home.  Located on a peaceful and peaceful cul-de-sac on Blue Heron Lake, you will have spectacular vistas of the lake and wildlife from the deck and screened...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Fit on Fripp Goat Yoga

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$35.00 - $40.00

duration: 1 hour cancellation_summary: 48- hour in advanced meeting_point: Beach Club min_age: 14 group_size: 30 description: Experience the unique blend of fitness and fun with Goat Yoga. Kickstart the season by joining us for an interactive yoga...

Guided Kayak Sunrise Tour

Edisto Watersports and Tackle

Book online
$50.00 - $100.00

description: Sunrise Tour to Scott Creek - One and half-hour guided tour leaving early morning and paddling to Scott Creek to enjoy an early morning sunrise on the water - Beginners welcome on this trip - $50 per adult/$25 age 10 and under

PTP: Special Sunset Cruises

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$45.00

duration: 1.5 Hours meeting_point: 875 Bonito Dr, Fripp Island, SC 29920 description: Pledge The Pink: Special Sunset Cruises on The Big Fripper

Bear Island Bird Safari

Carolina Safari Co.

Book online
$60.00

duration: 4 Hours meeting_point: Bear Island Game Management Area Main Gate - 12294 Bennetts Point Rd, Green Pond SC 29446 group_size: Maximum 8 people description: Are you ready to visit one of the best birdwatching spots in South Carolina? Bear...

Deck the Porch

Brice Herndon Draft Horse and Carriage Company

Book online
$15.00

Group Carriage Rides Climb aboard and stroll through our beautiful town as we harness in some of our Christmas magic. Travel along historic Hampton Street in Walterboro, known as the Front Porch of the Lowcountry and enjoy the twinkle of Christmas...

Art Club - Monthly Second Monday

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$29.50 - $60.00

Join this artist gathering and enjoy the fun Monday made better. Each session, we explore different aspects of abstract painting and techniques to take our creations to the next level. This "club" has no joining fee and no restrictions except...

Nature Hike

Port Royal Sound Foundation

Book online
$10.00

description: Join us for a 1.5 mile exploration hike! Duration 1.5 Hours About Meet at the Maritime Center and enjoy a nice morning hike! This Naturalist-led hike is roughly 1.5 miles through maritime forest and salt marsh. Ages 3 & up ...

Drawing 101-Draw what you REALLY see!

duration: 3 cancellation_summary: Full refund for cancellations 24 hours or more before class. Day of class, a gift certificate refund, and no shows, no refund. min_age: 13 group_size: 9 accessibility: Second Floor description: We all assume we know...

Hunting Island and the Holidays

Hilton Head Island Recreation Association

Book online
$25.00

duration: 2hrs meeting_point: Hunting Island State Park group_size: Up to 20ppl description: A wonderful Moore to Life Holiday tradition filled with nature, food, shopping and fun with friends! We'll begin our day at the Hunting Island Nature...

SC Pimento Cheese Festival- Vendor
Book online
$30.00 - $125.00

duration: 8 hours meeting_point: 6071 St Andrews Rd, Columbia, SC 29212 description: With over 2,500 in attendance in our 1st SC Pimento Cheese Fest last year, we believe this year will be bigger and better! Promote your business in front of the...

Beaufort River Tour from Downtown (90 Min)

Beaufort Dolphin Adventures

Book online
$325.47 - $533.02

duration: 90 Minute Private Boat Tour cancellation_summary: Customers will receive a full refund with 24 hours notice of cancellation or if we have to cancel due to weather meeting_point: 1 Port Royal Landing Dr, Port Royal, SC 29935 group_size: Up...

Lil Fripper

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$300.00 - $400.00

duration: 1.5 meeting_point: Fripp Island Paddle Shack group_size: 6 description: Let's cruise the island's waterways and watch the sunset on our new Lil' Fripper. This captained social boat comfortably accommodates six guests, ensuring lots of fun...

Find your perfect Beaufort

Fishing Charter

Beaufort, SC

Beaufort is a historic waterfront town in South Carolina's Lowcountry, known for its antebellum architecture, moss-draped oaks, and scenic coastal views.

Founded in 1711, Beaufort is the second-oldest city in South Carolina and offers a rich blend of Southern charm and history. Visitors can stroll the walkable downtown, explore art galleries and boutiques, or take a horse-drawn carriage tour through the historic district. The nearby Sea Islands - including Hunting Island, Fripp Island, and Harbor Island - offer beautiful beaches, nature trails, and wildlife viewing, while the town itself is a favorite for boating, kayaking, and enjoying fresh local seafood.

Beaufort features a variety of lodging options, including historic inns, charming bed and breakfasts, and vacation rentals with waterfront views. The area is ideal for those looking to relax and take in the culture, history, and natural beauty of the South Carolina coast. Whether you're exploring Gullah heritage, visiting the lighthouse at Hunting Island State Park, or simply enjoying a quiet evening along the river, Beaufort offers a peaceful and unforgettable Lowcountry getaway.

Beaufort is, at its heart, a small southern town with a big population, that's chock-full of historical sites, a thriving arts scene, and plentiful attractions, which are readily available for curious newcomers to explore. Smaller than its' northern South Carolina neighbor Charleston, Beaufort nonetheless has a far-reaching reputation as one of the most historically relevant and undeniably charming towns along the eastern coastline.

Beaufort SC Waterfront Park

Named by Southern Living Magazine as the "Best Small Southern Town," and featured by both American Style Magazine and the New York Times in recent praising articles, the secret about Beaufort's appeal is clearly out, but visitors can still enjoy miles of quiet waterfront, cool art scenes, or happening downtown streets at their leisure, during any time of the year. An easy day trip that combines the best of the legendary Coastal Carolinas and the modern southern scene, Beaufort, SC clearly deserves its glowing designation as one of the best big little towns in the Lowcountry.

Beaufort SC

The town of Beaufort was originally founded in 1711, as an integral part of the southernmost colony that originated with early English explorations and settlements. The initial growth of the town, (or rather the colony), was quite slow at first as the region was subject to a number of Native American attacks and threats by competing European settlers, (namely, the Spanish explorers.) After these initial growing pains, however, the city of Beaufort flourished as a shipbuilding center, die in no small part to its easy proximity to the Beaufort River, and later as an elite locale for local Lowcountry planters, who thrived in the booming Indigo and rice industries.

Beaufort SC

This affluent lifestyle would change significantly during the Civil War, when Beaufort was quickly seized and occupied after the Battle of Port Royal, one of the earliest battles of the war, which took place on November 7th, 1861. As a result of this early occupation, Beaufort attracted a large number of escaped slaves during the war, and a local Freedmen's Bureau worked with these new residents well into the Reconstruction period to provide an education and an overall preparation for full independence in the years to come.

Beaufort SC

After the war, the rich plantation era ended, but Beaufort slowly regained notoriety as a phosphate mining center. With the new mining industry, the town was slowly coming back to life until an 1893 hurricane brought the region to its knees, causing massive devastation that took Beaufort a full half-century to recover from. It wasn't until the second half of the 20th century, in fact, that visitors began to trickle into the area, and locals realized their town's inherent potential as a viable tourism destination. Today, the city is thriving with an eclectic mix of modern restaurants and galleries coupled with historic graveyards and historic sites, and visitors have ample room and centuries to explore. From the initial colonization to recent revitalization projects along key portions of the historic downtown, Beaufort, after a long recovery, is clearly a city on the rise.

Beaufort SC

The bulk of the city itself is situated on Port Royal Island, an interior island that features several local towns, (including the town of Port Royal), and which is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by St. Helena Island, Parris Island, and Hunting Island and the Hunting Island State Park. Despite these island borders, the city is essentially surrounded by water, primarily via the wide Beaufort River, which cuts through this mainland region and connects with the neighboring Atlantic Ocean. At a whopping 33.6 square miles in area, (including 6 square miles of water), the population of 12,300 residents or so in Beaufort almost seems somewhat small. In fact, the outlaying portions of the city are relatively quiet, while the downtown area has most of the action with plenty of sites and attractions for locals and visitors alike to enjoy.

Local outdoor attractions like the Beaufort National Cemetery, the Spanish Moss Trail and the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park will keep visitors smiling at the prospect of staying outdoors and enjoying the scene, while local historical attractions like the John Mark Verdier House Museum, the James Robert Verdier House, the Thomas Hepworth House, and the St. Helena's Episcopal Church add a touch of Beaufort's legacy and long history to the surroundings.

Beaufort SC

Cultural outposts, including a world of art galleries, local theater groups and the USCB Center for the Arts, keep visitors and locals alike thoroughly entertained with one of the most acclaimed arts scenes in the region, while shoppers will find plenty of classic boutiques and treasured antique stores to go around.

Beaufort SC

The dining scene in Beaufort is equally exquisite, with more than 130 restaurants to explore within this Lowcountry area. Local waterfront cafes, barbecue joints, and even southern-style gastro pubs can be found side-by-side on some of the more populated city blocks, and visitors are encouraged to sample the local seafood, (especially the shrimp and blue crabs), for an authentic taste of this coastal town.

For accommodations, the lodgings of choice for most visitors are local hotels, motels, and B&Bs, and there are approximately 20 of these accommodation options within the city limits. With chic loft hotels and antebellum mansions converted into beautiful inns, potential visitors will find a wide variety of lush accommodations that are close to the local attractions, and fit in effortlessly with the laid-back southern atmosphere. There are also a handful of vacation rentals available as well, namely small cottages and townhomes, and travelers heading to the area by sea will find an ample number of marinas to dock for a night or two and enjoy a little inland exploring.

Easily one of the most peaceful and surprisingly varied southern destinations, Beaufort is rising to fame as one of the most accommodating and interesting communities along the East Coast. A small southern city with a big personality, Beaufort is sure to keep visitors entertained and smiling with its coastal atmosphere, gorgeous landscapes, local sights, and general warm southern nature that makes out-of-town guests feel welcome and essentially right at home.

Beaufort Vacation Guides