Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

Cozy 2-bedroom house in delightful Port ...

Walkable Downtown Port Royal Getaway| Near Parris Island | Family-Friendly Coastal HomeSavor a peaceful, well-located private home in the heart of Port Royal—ideal for families, Marine graduation visits, and travelers looking to experience the...

  • Port Royal
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Bring your boat and bask on your own doc...

Minutes to downtown Beaufort, Paris Island and Port Royal. Come savor all that Beaufort has to offer or just stay home and appreciate the beautiful vistas of dolphins passing by from your private dock. There is plenty of room inside and out to relax...

  • Beaufort
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Peaceful Beaufort Home w/ Front Porch + ...

Escape to Beaufort with family when you book this home in a convenient and peaceful neighborhood! Located just a short drive to MCAS Beauforts, MCRD Parris Island, and downtown, this vacation rental ensures a central launching point no matter what...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Stay Awhile in Habersham

Discover the tree topped tranquility of Habersham from this 2-bedroom 2.5 bath Loft Style Townhome with balconies overlooking one of Beaufort's premier hot spots - Habersham Marketplace. Steps to Stores & Cafes. This marvelous rental features 1...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Superior King Room at The Emerald

Summary:Our warm and inviting Superior king room offers a lush king size bed, a wet bar with sink, microwave and mini refrigerator and modern spa style private bathroom with a rain shower. Each Superior king room also has a private balcony. All of...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2
Relax in a Pet-Friendly Lowcountry Home ...

This delightful home is located in a peaceful residential neighborhood close to everything that Beaufort and the low country has has to offer. Just a short ride to downtown Beaufort's Chambers Waterfront park and Bay Streets many fine stores and...

  • Beaufort
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 7

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Kids Fishing Tournament

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

duration: 7 hours min_age: 5 max_age: 15 description: This is a sign up for the Kids Fishing Tournament on November 28th! Each child participating need to be signed up individually. You will have to attend the captains meeting on November 28th at...

3 Hour Hilton Head Island Lunch Trip

Tallboy Fishing Charters

Book online
$600.00

meeting_point: Beaufort, SC description: Travel by boat to beautiful Hilton Head Island for lunch at one of three excellent restaurants. See the Town of Port Royal, Paris Island, and Port Royal Sound along the way as well as Dolphins, Sea Turtles...

Tie Dye at Creekhouse

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

duration: 1 hours meeting_point: Creekhouse min_age: 3 description: Get ready to mix, swirl, and create in our tie dye activity! This hands-on experience is perfect for anyone! Choose from a variety of colors and patterns to create a one-of-a-kind...

Start Your Day Right
Book online
$40.00 - $325.00

duration: 1.5 hours meeting_point: 1 Port Royal Landing Dr, Port Royal, SC 29935 group_size: 6 Passenger maximum description: There’s no better way to greet the day as the sun warms the water and sparkles in the morning light. This relaxing cruise...

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:

Thursday Camp Fripp: Pirate Cruise

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$110.00 - $116.00

duration: 5 hours cancellation_summary: 48- hour in advanced meeting_point: Peg Legs (Next to Paddle Shack) min_age: 3 max_age: 12 accessibility: 3 description: Drop the kids off for a fun Camp Fripp Exploration! Camp Hours: 8:45 am - 2 pm Embark...

Good underpainting makes great compositions!

duration: 3 hours 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: 14 group_size: 8 accessibility: second floor description: A good...

Beaufort Land and Sea Combo

Beaufort Gray Line

Book online
$32.00 - $69.00

meeting_point: Beaufort Marina description: Combine our 90-minute Beaufort City Tour with Coastal Expedition's 90-minute Dolphin and History Boat Cruise Departing from the downtown Beaufort marina at the Waterfront Park, this land and sea...

Mississippi Kite Flight

Carolina Safari Co.

Book online
$40.00

duration: 2 Hours meeting_point: West Columbia Riverwalk & Amphitheatre group_size: Maximum 8 people description: It’s Spring Time and you know what that means… Migration is upon us! This time of year hundreds of species of birds are migrating...

5 Hour Rental

Pedego Electric Bikes Greenville

Book online
$25.00 - $94.00

description: Ride out our front door onto the Swamp Rabbit Trail! ???? Experience the Thrill of Greenville's Iconic Swamp Rabbit Trail with Pedego Electric Bikes! ????‍♂️ Ready for an adventure like no other? ???? Step right up and...

Giant Beer Pong Tournament at Adult Pool

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$4.00 - $6.00

duration: 1 hour meeting_point: Adult Pool min_age: 21 description: Think you got what it takes to dominate in this oversized twist on a classic favorite? Join us for a giant beer pong tournament, where buckets and soccer balls replace cups and ping...

Big Fripper Beaufort Air Show

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$75.00

duration: 4 Hours meeting_point: The Paddle Shack at The Fripp Island Marina description: We are excited to share the newest addition to the Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort fleet, The Big Fripper! We welcome all Members to come to check out the new...

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