Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

Beaufort-SC.com logo

Find your perfect Beaufort

Vacation Rental

Featured Vacation Rentals

186 Beach Club Villa - Pet Friendly, Bea...

Luna Sea Is a  1 bedroom, 1st floor beach club villa. Painless access, only a few steps up to the first floor. Savor the striking sunsets, the marsh and tidal creek. Watch dolphins swim by on your screened in porch. Appreciate the private crabbing...

  • Fripp Island
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
This lovely home is just half mile from ...

Your comfortable hideaway awaits in Port Royal at this fantastic home. With 3 bedrooms including a king bed, queen bed, and bunk bed, 2 full baths and 1 powder room this impressive property is ideal for families or groups of friends. Savor amenities...

  • Port Royal
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
332 Ocean Point

Summary:Spectacular Vistas - 5 Bed / 3.5 Bath - Golf Cart Supplied! Fripp Island Resort Access Supplied!The Space:GREAT FOR LARGE FAMILY GATHERINGS and GOLF GROUPS - This 5 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom home sleeps 14. Ascending the stairs and through the...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 16
796 Marlin Drive

Summary:796 Marlin Drive - Resort Access Supplied! Private Pool!The Space:Beach Music at 796 Marlin Drive: Your Ultimate Island OasisIndulge in the ultimate island hideaway at Beach Music, 796 Marlin Drive, where every moment promises unparalleled...

  • Fripp Island
  • 7 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 18
Where 19th Century Grandeur Meets Modern...

Where 19th Century Grandeur Meets Modern Southern Luxury A refined Historic Retreat in the Heart of BeaufortWelcome to The Azalea House, an exquisitely restored 1890 Southern residence in the traditional Beaufort style, where timeless craftsmanship...

  • Beaufort
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 15
New to VRBO. Renovated Home on Fripp wit...

Oceanfront Cottage on Fripp Island – Freshly Renovated with Private Balconies with each bedroom. (This is a single family home-not a condo or villa.)Welcome to your ideal coastal escape on Fripp Island, where the Atlantic Ocean is your backyard...

  • Fripp Island
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Spring Florals - Acrylic Workshop

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$75.00

Bring in spring with an afternoon of painting florals in a fun representational style. We will have lots of inspirational photos to spark ideas or you can bring one of your own garden to use. Instructor Anne McCall Wilson...

Kayak Rental

Edisto Watersports and Tackle

Book online
$40.00 - $80.00

meeting_point: Edisto Beach, SC description: *Book Online Now!* ___________________________________ Rates **Single Kayak:** $40 **Tandem Kayak (Seats 2):** $80 **Tandem Kayak + Child(under 10):** $60 *Must be 18+ to Rent* *Ages 4 & over...

Adult Game Show Night

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$10.00

duration: 1hour meeting_point: Oceanview Lounge (above Beach Club) min_age: 21 description: Join us on FRIDAY to play either The Couples Game with teams of 2 (against other teams of 2) or Family Feud After Hours (against another family) and go...

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...

Oak Avenues & Island Marsh Sunset

Beaufort Photography Tours

Book online
$249.00 - $499.00

description: THE LOCATIONS YOU'VE BEEN DREAMING ABOUT! Options - **Semi-Private Tour**: Includes one non-shooting guest at no additional charge - **Private Tour**: (1 -4 Guests) About THERE'S NOTHING MORE SOUTHERN THAN LIVE OAKS AND...

Beaufort Lands End Paddling

Book online
$20.00 - $60.00

duration: 1.5-2 hours meeting_point: Safe Harbor Beaufort, 1006 Bay St, Beaufort, SC 29902 description: Discover downtown Beaufort like never before—from the water at high tide, where history and Southern charm come together for an unforgettable...

Big Fripper Monkey Island Cruise

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$60.00 - $75.00

duration: 3 Hours meeting_point: 875 Bonito Dr, Fripp Island, SC 29920 description: what_is_included:

CFT Merchandise

Columbia Food Tours

Book online
$2.00 - $30.00

We have products we'd love to share with you to help you remember the great time you had on our Columbia Food Tour.

Rocky Land RC

Red Maple Event

Book online
$5.00

duration: 5 minutes meeting_point: Saluda Shoals Park min_age: 6 description: Customer will be able to drive a RC Crawler for 5 minutes on the Mobile Crawler Course what_is_included: Course Rules: -Stay in the course boundaries -No wreck less...

Marine Communities & Microscopes

Port Royal Sound Foundation

Book online
$10.00

description: Join us for a unique experience! Duration 1 Hour About Explore the world of marine invertebrates that are found living on our docks under a microscope.

Sunset

Lowco Tiki

Book online
$40.00 - $380.00

duration: 2 hours meeting_point: 1 Port Royal Landing Dr, Port Royal, SC 29935 group_size: 6 Passenger maximum description: Beaufort sunsets are unforgettable and there’s no better way to experience them than aboard the LowCo Tiki. As the sky...

Fripp Fest 2025

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$45.00

duration: 4 Hours meeting_point: Beach Club Complex min_age: 21 description: Join us for our annual Fripp Fest! Enjoy live music from 77th Street Revue! Food, drinks, and fun! Reconnect with old Fripp friends or meet new ones while mixing and...

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