Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

Port Royal Blue Island Getaway

This home is a blend of southern comfort and coastal appeal located in the heart of the historic district of Port Royal, South Carolina. It’s ideally located within a 3 min. walk to local eateries, cafes, museum, Port Royal Sands Beach, Cypress...

  • Port Royal
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 7
14 Sea Mist Road - Resort Access Include...

Your Coastal Haven: 14 Sea Mist Rd - A 3 Bed/3 Bath Beachfront Retreat on Southern Fripp IslandFeel the epitome of island living at 14 Sea Mist Rd, a well-appointed beachfront residence poised to be your ideal island hideaway. This 3-bedroom...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Perfect Location For Parris Island Gradu...
4.7
(3)

Within 5 mins. to Parris Island and downtown Beaufort.Remolded and refreshed in 2017. This 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath is ideal for a visit to the Lowcountry. Master bedroom has a queen bed. One guest room offers a queen bed and a full size bed. The other...

  • Port Royal
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Charming 4-Bedroom Home, Walk to Downtow...

Welcome to your ideal hideaway in the heart of Historic Beaufort, SC! This cavernous and attractively appointed home is within walking distance of cozy stores, eateries, and the breathtaking waterfront park.Step inside and you'll find a enormous...

  • Beaufort
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Newly Renovated 3 Bed/2.5 Bath 15 mins t...

Feel the best the Low Country has to offer in our historic 2,300 sq ft home. Located just a short walk from Beaufort’s thriving waterfront and lively downtown, our freshly refreshed and thoughtfully appointed home is filled with natural light and...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Golf cart, bikes, PING PONG, corn hole @...

Our "Big Kahuna" Beach home is ready for some fun! Fill our home with your family, friends and let’s build some magnificant beach memories.We include a golf cart, bicycles, fire pit, ping pong table, corn hole, beach chairs and even an additional...

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

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Beaufort River Tour (90 Min)

Beaufort Dolphin Adventures

Book online
$259.43 - $448.11

duration: 90 Minutes 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 to 14...

Private Marsh Kayak Tour

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$100.00

duration: 1-3 hours cancellation_summary: No refunds if cancelled within 24 hours of excursion meeting_point: Paddle Shack min_age: 8 max_age: 99 group_size: Maximum 8 people description: Share a tandem kayak with a buddy or paddle yourself in a...

Custom Tour

High Tide Aviation - Beaufort

Book online
$220.00

Decide what sights you see! Duration 1 hour About An hour-long flight where you get to decide what sights you see and what landmarks you focus on. Whether you want a new perspective of the Harbor Town Lighthouse, or a bird's eye view of...

History, Marshlands & Live Oak Expedition

Beaufort Photography Tours

Book online
$499.00 - $999.00

TURN BACK THE CLOCK AND EXPERIENCE THE PAST! Options - **Semi-Private Tour**: Includes one non-shooting guest at no additional charge) - **Private Tour**: (1 -4 Guests) About MUCH OF THE SOUTH WAS DESTROYED, BUT IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO...

Screen 1

Highway 21 Drive-In Theater

Book online
$6.00 - $11.00

More Info - Ticket Window and Concessions Open at 6:00PM - The first show will start when the sun goes down - Please arrive early on Friday and Saturday nights - Double Features on Friday and Saturday nights only PLEASE OBSERVE SOCIAL DISTANCING...

Fripp Island Milky Way Photography

Beaufort Photography Tours

Book online
$100.00

About Join us for an opportunity to photograph the Milky Way. We'll meet for a brief classroom session to discus settings and composition and then head to the beach for photography. This tour is highly weather dependent. We may suggest moving the...

Beaufort River Tour (3 Hrs or More)

Beaufort Dolphin Adventures

Book online
$438.68 - $665.09

duration: 3 Hours (Longer trips can be booked via phone and email) cancellation_summary: Customers will receive a full refund with 24 hours notice of cancellation. Customers will also receive a full refund or credit in case of operator cancellation...

Gift Cards

Carolina Hydrofly

Purchase the perfect gift: a gift card with a value of your choosing!

Guided Kayak Sunrise Tour

Edisto Watersports and Tackle

Book online
$50.00 - $100.00

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

Summer Camps

Camelot Farms Equestrian Center

Book online
$650.00

duration: 6 Hour Camp Days meeting_point: 101 Tom and Mike Road Saint Helena Island, SC 29920 min_age: 5 group_size: 8 participants description: Have your young rider join us at Camelot Farms for a 4-day camp experience! Our camps are available to...

Private Full Day Cruise

Unwritten Charters LLC

Book online
$1,500.00

Come enjoy a couple of hours on the water with us! Duration 6 Hours About This Full Day cruise in the harbor will take you to The Battery, The Ravenel Bridge, and out to Ft. Sumpter. A great way to see Charleston from a completely different...

Day Camps

Camelot Farms Equestrian Center

Book online
$100.00

Join us! Duration 4 Hours About Our day camps at Camelot farms give children the opportunity to learn about horses, ride, and meet new friends. Each camp can vary slightly, but they all offer riding and learning opportunities as well as a...

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