Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

Beaufort-SC.com logo

Find your perfect Beaufort

Vacation Rental

Featured Vacation Rentals

BEST OCEANFRONT VIEW ON THE ISLAND

Beachfront home on Tarpon Boulevard with handsome ocean vistas across to Pritchards Island, a nature preserve! Unobstructed vistas of the ocean, Skull Inlet, and island salt grass marshes.All new remodel, great room surrounded by ocean vistas...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Golden Hollow Cottage - Sleeps 4

Cozy 2-bed, 1-bath home in a peaceful waterfront community, just steps from the breathtaking Spanish Moss Trail. Ideal for outdoor lovers with simple access to walking, cycling, and running paths. Only 8 mins. to Parris Island and downtown Beaufort...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Cardinal Cottage - Sleeps 4

Step into timeless elegance at this beautiful 1-bed, 1-bath getaway, located on a historic plantation in the heart of Beaufort. Designed to welcome up to 4 guests with 2 opulent queen beds, this classy hideaway blends modern comfort and Southern...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Fairway to Heaven | Luxurious 6-BR Fripp...

Professionally managed by iTrip, Fairway to Heaven is located on handsome Fripp Island and is the ideal family beach home. This charming 6 bedroom home will become your new favorite vacation spot. With refreshed furnishings and striking artwork...

  • Fripp Island
  • 6 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 13
Charleston-Style Retreat, Golf Cart Incl...

Introducing "Feelin' Fripp Sea," a brand new 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom vacation home that comfortably accommodates 8 guests. This Charleston-style getaway, finished in 2024, offers a prime location overlooking the 17th fairway of the Davis Adore III...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
382 Wahoo - Resort Access and Golf Cart ...

Tucked away on a peaceful street yet ideally positioned in the heart of Fripp Island, this cavernous 5-bedroom, 3-bath home offers the best of both land and water living. Just across the bridge from one of the island’s most trendy beach accesses...

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

Beaufort Tours & Activities

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...

4 Hour Private Charter

Tallboy Fishing Charters

Book online
$700.00

description: Hop aboard Tallboy Fishing Charters with a local Expert! ___________________________________ Rates **Private Charter:** $700 *Up to 6 Passengers* ___________________________________ About the Captain Make memories fishing with...

Columbia's Shrimp & Grits Fest

Columbia's Shrimp and Grits Fest

Book online
$25.00 - $75.00

meeting_point: Seawell's, 1125 Rosewood Drive, Columbia, SC 29201 description: Columbia's Shrimp & Grits Fest >On Saturday, June 20th, 2026 area restaurants will compete in Columbia's 11th Shrimp & Grits Fest. One restaurant will be named...

Cast Net Fishing Class

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$75.00

duration: 1 Hour min_age: 10 description: Learn how to catch bait like the locals! This class will include demonstration and you will get to practice what you learn! what_is_included: Class and your very own cast net to take home.

Canvas & Cabernet Wine Glass Edition in Savannah's(above Ocean Creek Pro Shop)

duration: 2 meeting_point: Oceanview Lounge (above Beach Club) min_age: 21 description: Wine Glass edition; includes 2 wine glasses to paint. Our Recreation Intern Artist will guide you through the painting basics. Choice of 2 designs for your wine...

Historic Carriage Tour

Sea Island Carriage Company

Book online
$15.00 - $36.00

description: Rates - Adults: $36 - Military: $34 - Child (Ages 4-12): $15 - Lap Child (Ages 0-3): $Free - Must sit on lap Duration 50-55 minutes About Experience Beaufort's rich history & unique charm on a 50-55 minute...

Genesis Compound Rental & Range Time

duration: 1 Hour Range Time description: Curious about archery but don’t own equipment? Our Genesis Compound Tryout Experience includes everything you need — bow, arrows, and range time — with guidance from our knowledgeable staff. It’s the...

Gift Cards

Emma's Earth Shop Golf Cart Tours

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

Valentine's Day Carriage Rides

Brice Herndon Draft Horse and Carriage Company

Book online
$100.00

description: A Fairytale Valentine's Day: Take Your Sweetheart on a Magical Carriage Ride. We will start from the north side of Union Point Park . Each ride is approximately 18 to 20 minutes long. The carriage will comfortably hold 4 adults and...

Gift Cards

Carolina Hydrofly

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

Family Feud at the Beach Club Greene (by the food trucks)

duration: 1 hour meeting_point: Beach Club min_age: 6 description: Get ready for a fun-filled game of Family Feud! Gather your team and go head-to-head in this exciting, fast-paced trivia challenge based on the classic game show. Answer survey-style...

Learn to Sail Adventure

Otter Sailing Adventures LLC

Book online
$600.00

duration: 3.5 hours or more group_size: maximum of 6 description: Duration 3.5 hours About Experience the thrill of learning to sail on our Catalina 275 Sport, the perfect boat for learning keel boat sailing for the first time or honing your...

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