Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Vacation Rental

Featured Vacation Rentals

Recently Renovated Historic Cottage Loca...

This charmingly restored downtown bungalow exudes history and elegance. The high ceilings and impressive furnishings makes the home feel cavernous and comfortable, despite it’s early 1900’s construction. The pretty, historic, heart pine floors...

  • Beaufort
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Ideal Location! Perfect for Graduations ...

Sensational, modern, well maintained 3BR 2.5BA home in the heart of Old Port Royal. Sleeps 6-8 in 3 comfortable bedrooms. King, queen, and two double beds. Unwind on the huge first and second-floor porches, savor family dinners in the enormous...

  • Port Royal
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
863 Bonito Road - New to VRBO! Resort Ac...

Mariner's Rest: A Tranquil Two-Story Haven in the Marina Area of Fripp IslandFeel serenity at Mariner's Rest, a appealing two-story home attractively located in the Marina area of Fripp Island. Just a stone's throw from the Marina store and Bonito...

  • Fripp Island
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
512 Sunsuite - New to VRBO - Resort Acce...

512 Sunsuite is an efficiency unit located in the heart of Fripp Island. Just a short walk to the Beach Club, Sandbar, Tennis Courts, Exercise Center, and Retail Stores. This is ideal for visitors who are interested in taking advantage of Fripp's...

  • Fripp Island
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Coastal Getaway - Stunning Water Views!

Savor your Beaufort hideaway at this impressive home with deep water vistas. Everything you'll need will be in this home. An spectacular opportunity to make memories with your family and friends.This property does not have a dock. There is a local...

  • Beaufort
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
NEW! The White House, w/ 2 King Ensuites...

NEW! The White House, w/ 2 King Ensuites close to Parris Island and DowntownTotally modernized in 2025, the White House features all new construction. This is not your typical rental, the home has been meticulously furnished and equipped to ensure...

  • Beaufort
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Single Kayak Rental

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$30.00 - $240.00

duration: 1–8 Hour Rentals meeting_point: 875 Bonito Dr, Fripp Island, SC 29920 description: - Sit-on-top style - Length: 8 feet 10 inches - Width: 32.75 inches - Height: 14.25 inches - Dry weight: 44 pounds - Weight capacity: 300 pounds - Seating...

Historic Carriage Tour

Sea Island Carriages

Book online
$15.00 - $36.00

duration: 50 - 55 Minutes description: Experience Beaufort‘s rich history and unique charm on a 50-55 minute, fully narrated, horse drawn carriage tour. You’ll slip back into Beaufort’s elegant past as your carriage meanders under the moss...

Easter Festival 2026 at The Beach Club Complex

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$6.00

duration: 3 hours meeting_point: Beach Club description: Hop into spring with our Easter Festival, a fun-filled afternoon packed with activities for the whole family! Enjoy bouncing around on our inflatable attraction, playing classic games, and...

SC Pimento Cheese Festival- Pimento Cheese Competition

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 competition and parking pass into the SC Pimento Cheese Festival on March 14...

History, Marshlands & Live Oak Expedition

Beaufort Photography Tours

Book online
$499.00 - $999.00

description: 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...

Beaufort City Tour

Beaufort Gray Line

Book online
$12.00 - $35.00

description: Book Online Now! Duration 75-105 minutes About Experience over three hundred years of history in Beaufort, South Carolina’s second oldest city. This charming city boasts a fascinating history of exploration by the Spanish...

Gift Certificate

High Tide Aviation - Beaufort

meeting_point: Beaufort S.C. description: Purchase the perfect gift: a gift certificate with a value of your choosing. Valid for 1 year from time of purchase!

Port Royal Cypress Wetland & River Sunset

Beaufort Photography Tours

Book online
$299.00 - $499.00

description: SURROUND YOURSELF WITH WATER, WILDLIFE AND A BEAUTIFUL SUNSET! Options - **Semi-Private Tour**: Includes one non-shooting guest at no additional charge - **Private Tour**: (1 -4 Guests) About BEAUFORT IS CALLED THE LOWCOUNTRY...

Private: Oldfield Ladies Only Clinic

Sporting Clay Xperiences

Book online
$225.00

description: Sporting Clays day for just you ladies! Duration 3 Hours About This clinic is designed specifically for lady shooters who love Sporting Clays or want to get into the sport. This is a private clinic for Oldfield residents only...

Low Country Passport

High Tide Aviation - Beaufort

Book online
$200.00

description: About Do you want to see the entire Lowcountry from above? This is the tour for you. You will get to see many sites including. Morgan Island, Harbor Island, Hunting Island State Park & Lighthouse, Fripp Island, Pritchard’s Island...

Bentley Switch

Santee Boat Rentals

Book online
$400.00 - $500.00

meeting_point: 401 Bass Dr. Santee, SC, 29142 description: Enjoy a day on the water on the Bentley Switchback! Duration Full Day - 8 Hours Half Day - 4 Hours About It’s a 22 foot Tritoon with a 140Hp Suzuki outboard on the back. This...

Guided Kayak Tour to Pine Island

Edisto Watersports and Tackle

Book online
$70.00 - $140.00

duration: 2.5 hours cancellation_summary: 7 days advanced cancellation for full refund. At least 48 hours for 50% refund meeting_point: Edisto Watersports & Tackle min_age: 12 group_size: 6 people description: Enjoy a Kayak tour across the sound to...

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