Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

River's Retreat at Port Royal Landing

Escape to the serene Sea Islands and indulge in the ultimate coastal lifestyle in this attractively refreshed 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom bungalow. Located in the photogenic Port Royal Landing Marina, this beautiful getaway offers a ideal blend of modern...

  • Port Royal
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Charming 3-bedroom new building along Pa...

Discover the tranquility of Beaufort from this Brand new 3-bedroom building. Each bedroom features a queen bed, ensuring a pleasant nighttime's sleep for all guests. With 2 bathrooms equipped with a hair dryer and bathtub, relaxation is key. The...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Historic Beaufort, SC Near Parris Island...

This newly refreshed mobile home is centrally located in Beaufort and is less than 5 mins. drive to Parris Island, MCAS Air Station and handsome Historic Downtown Beaufort. The mobile home has newly been completely modernized inside with all new...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 7
Cocktail pool, hot tub, game room, sleep...

Welcome to the new and improved "Oceanside Beauty" on the corner of Rock Beauty and Tarpon Blvd.UPDATE: January 2026 we have added an 8 person hot tub. A half bathroom in the game room, a drink refrigerator, a commercial grade ice maker, And open...

  • Fripp Island
  • 8 Bedrooms
  • 5 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 24
Charming Port Royal Duplex – Walk to S...

Charming Port Royal Duplex – Walk to Stores, Dining & Sands BeachWelcome to this comfortable two-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath duplex located in the heart of the historic town of Port Royal, South Carolina. Perfectly located within walking distance...

  • Port Royal
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
 El Sur - Where Southern Charm meets Ins...

Just 5 blocks from the downtown waterfront, this two-bedroom home is full of sunlight, whimsical design, enchanting lighting, and soft comfortable spaces to lounge and relax. Its the ideal place for a travel lover.The unit includes a living room...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 5

Beaufort Tours & Activities

TWO DAY-Reiki 3/Master Class

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$700.00

duration: 7 hours min_age: 15 group_size: 8 accessibility: Second Floor description: Day 1, Intuitive Healing...Day 2, Learn to Teach Reiki. On Day 1, we will go further into the process of Intuitive Healing and deep listening. We will do practical...

Swallowtail Kite Flight

Carolina Safari Co.

Book online
$50.00

duration: 2 Hours meeting_point: USC Salkehatchie Admissions Office group_size: Maximum 9 people description: Have you ever seen a Swallow-tailed Kite? These birds will flock up by the hundreds to roost. In the early mornings they descend upon cow...

OPEN STUDIO

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$39.00

duration: 4 cancellation_summary: Full refunds available up to 24 hours before the class. Within 24 hours, a gift cert. will be issued. No refunds for no-shows. meeting_point: The Arts Port Royal 1404 Paris Ave, Port Royal min_age: 15 group_size...

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...

Shibumi© Shade Rental

Edisto Bike and Golf Cart Rental

Book online
$25.00 - $125.00

description: The newest must have for the beach!! Super light weight and easy to set up! All you need is a calm ocean breeze to create 100sq ft of perfect shade!! Super light weight and easy to set up! All you need is a calm ocean breeze to...

Low Country Expressions

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$85.00

duration: 3 hours meeting_point: The Arts Port Royal group_size: 4 description: From marshes to beaches to magnificent sunsets in expressionism style Expressionists paint not just what they see but also what they feel. It is often described as...

Seas The Day Cruise

Beaufort Boat Charters LLC

Book online
$480.00

description: Join us for a Lowcountry Adventure! Duration 3 Hours About Our 3 hour cruise allows time to get in even more during your time on the water! Some options may include visiting a local sandbar (tide dependent), a trip to...

Sound Explorer Kayak Camp

Port Royal Sound Foundation

Book online
$400.00

duration: 7 Hours cancellation_summary: Due to limited space and high demand for our Junior Pluff Mudder summer Camps, all payments are non-refundable. Please let us know as soon as possible if you have to cancel your reservation so we can fill your...

Pritchards Island Excursion

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$15.00 - $80.00

duration: 2-4 hours cancellation_summary: No refunds if cancelled within 24 hours of excursion meeting_point: Nature Center group_size: Maximum 8 people description: Pritchard's Island is a pristine undeveloped natural barrier island just south of...

Dive In Movie at Cabana

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

duration: 2 hours meeting_point: Cabana Club min_age: 5 description: Experience movie magic like never before with our swim-in movie night! This unique event transforms your typical movie night into an unforgettable aquatic adventure! Grab your...

Dancing Trees in the Wind-Acrylic

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$65.00

duration: 3 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: This colorful dance...

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...

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