Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

Beaufort-SC.com logo

Find your perfect Beaufort

Vacation Rental

Featured Vacation Rentals

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
Stunning 5 Bedroom Home, Short Walk to B...

The guest who books the reservation must be 25 years or older and must be present for the length of the stay in the property.New Home! New - 3,100 Sq Ft 5 BR, 3 1/2 BA home! Come and appreciate everything Fripp Island has to offer in this brand...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
Stay at Frogmore Lodge – Stylish Comfo...

Frogmore Lodge – Elegant Comfort in a Private RetreatDiscover refined relaxation at Frogmore Lodge, a handsomely appointed 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom escape designed with luxury in mind. Ideal for couples or solo travelers seeking something special...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2
Sea Sounds -  steps to beach access, sle...

Sea Sounds located on esteemed Marlin Drive, Fripp Island S.C. is your ideal vacation destination. Perfectly located steps from the ocean (really the best beach location), whether high tide or low, savor the convenience of walking to and from the...

  • Fripp Island
  • 6 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 22
5BR2BA,Game Rm,FirePit,Golf,BBall,Near P...

Savor the comfort of this 5BR|2BA home -mins from Parris Island & Downtown Beaufort. Ideal for families & groups, our home is the ideal hideaway for celebrating graduations & other events, it features a entirely equipped kitchen, game room, work...

  • Beaufort
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
Gorgeous Sunsets and Marsh Views, Pet Fr...

Spectacular marsh vistas greet you from the moment you step inside this family-friendly home at the heart of Fripp Island near the Beach Club. The living room, dining room, and sitting area have walls of windows looking out to the marsh.  Very...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Cornhole Tournament at Peg Legs

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$12.00

duration: 1 hour meeting_point: Adult Pool description: Ready, set, toss! Grab a partner and test your tossing skills in a fun and friendly game of cornhole! Whether you are a seasoned pro or a first-timer, this classic game is prefect for anyone...

OUTPOST PHOTO ACADEMY

Guy Harvey Outpost

Book online
$75.00 - $350.00

meeting_point: Beaufort, SC description: Join us for a special Outpost Photo Academy hosted by professional photographers Mark Krancer. Capture the beauty of historic Beaufort, SC and all its southern charm all while becoming a better...

Beaufort Lands End Paddling

Book online
$20.00 - $60.00

duration: 1.5-2 hours meeting_point: White Hall Boat Landing - Factory Creek, Sea Island Pkwy & Meridian Rd, Beaufort SC 29907 description: Experience the heart of the Lowcountry from the water on our guided paddle through Downtown Beaufort that...

Beach Day Chair Rentals

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$15.00 - $65.00

duration: 6 hours cancellation_summary: 48- hour in advanced meeting_point: beach access 15 (Beach Club boardwalk) min_age: 18 description: The Beach Hut is located at the end of the Beach Access boardwalk at the Beach club, between Access 15 and ...

Club 15.5 - Beach Rentals

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$15.00 - $350.00

duration: 9:00 - 5:00 meeting_point: Beach Hut description: Enjoy the luxury and relaxation of Fripp Island beaches without having to bring or set up anything on the beach! Walk right off the boardwalk and into the perfect beach day. No need to run...

SC Pimento Cheese Festival- Pimento Cheese Competition

meeting_point: 2nd Annual Amateur Pimento Cheese Competition description: Does your pimento cheese have what it takes to win "South Carolina's Best Pimento Cheese" title? Registration **$25 per entry** - This fee includes entry into the...

One Ocean Film Tour

Port Royal Sound Foundation

Book online
$10.00

duration: 2 meeting_point: 310 Okatie Highway description: The Port Royal Sound Foundation is proud to present One Ocean Film Tour at the Maritime Center. You won't want to miss a great evening of incredible ocean-themed short films and movie snacks...

Reiki I & II

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$250.00

duration: 6 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: 10 accessibility: Second Floor description: Reiki is a...

Classic Tabletop Beer Pong Tournament at Adult Pool

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$12.00

duration: 1 hour meeting_point: Adult Pool min_age: 21 description: Gather your friends and get ready for some friendly competition in our classic tabletop beer pong tournament! Show off the college you, using precision and teamwork as you take...

Private Farm Tour

Lowcountry Oyster Co.

Book online
$300.00 - $450.00

meeting_point: 15823 Bennetts Point Rd, Green Pond, SC, United States description: Reserve a farm & boat tour all to yourself with this exclusive option! Enjoy a private and personalized tour of our farm facilities followed by a boat ride out into...

Stuff-A-Plush Holiday Craft at Beach Club complex

duration: 1 hour meeting_point: Creekhouse min_age: 3 description: Create your own cuddly companion at our stuff-a-plush event! Choose from a variety of animals, then bring them to life by stuffing them with fluff and adding a special heart for...

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...

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