Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

Beaufort-SC.com logo

Find your perfect Beaufort

Vacation Rental

Featured Vacation Rentals

838 Fiddlers Ridge - New to VRBO! Resort...

Escape to a Fripp Island getaway located among the lush South Carolina palm trees, where tranquility and relaxation await. This unique three-bedroom, two-bathroom home offers a comfortable escape for any group seeking a respite from the demands of...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
458 Tarpon Blvd - New to VRBO! Resort Ac...

When you think of a beach home, you think of 458 Tarpon! This beauty is oceanfront with enormous windows to capture that pretty sun dance off the ocean water as it hits the Carolina shoreline. With 5 different decks facing the water, nearly all 16...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 14
Relax by the Sea! Wide Beach! Beautiful ...

Unwind and savor the view of the ocean from the screen porch or open decks. The beach path wanders through the dunes to the beach where you can appreciate the beauty of nature away from the hordes. The home offers a family-friendly ambiance with...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 13
High Tides & Positive Vibes 2BR Riverfro...

About this spaceVeteran owned Port Royal Landing bungalow blends home like touches with 5⭐️ hotel luxuries. 5-7 min to Parris Island, Port Royal & Beaufort. Ideal for Marine Corps families or golf get-a-ways. 65 courses within 20 mi; 2 mi to...

  • Port Royal
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
New Home includes 6 seat golf cart - 3 I...

Peaceful OasisThis 2400 square-foot home was finished in March of 2023. It is located just over the bridge in the Fiddlers Cove area in a private, relaxing, setting with handsome trees and wildlife.This home has an open floor plan with a enormous...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 11
Welcome to Belle’s Love Shack! Cozy 3 ...
5.0
(8)

Centrally located to everything!Professionally Decorated, 3 bedroom home features over 1500 sq. Ft. of living space and sleeps 8 comfortably. This beauty has 3 enormous bedrooms and a beautiful yet comfortable space to help create lasting memories...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Big Fripper Morgan Island Cruise

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$20.00 - $75.00

duration: 3 Hours meeting_point: 875 Bonito Dr, Fripp Island, SC 29920 description: Approximately 3-Hour Tour to see Monkey Island. Morgan Island, better known locally as "Monkey Island" is home to approximately 3,500 free ranging monkeys. Morgan...

Beaufort River Tour (2 Hrs)

Beaufort Dolphin Adventures

Book online
$325.47 - $533.02

duration: 2 Hours cancellation_summary: Customers will receive a full refund with 24 hours notice of cancellation or if we have to cancel due to weather meeting_point: 1 Port Royal Landing Dr, Port Royal, SC 29935 group_size: Up to 14...

SC Pimento Cheese Festival - Tasting Ticket

A festival to showcase South Carolina's Favorite snack, Pimento Cheese Rates General Admission is Free and $5 Parking Fee per car at Gate Tasting Tickets are **$5 per person** Each Tasting Ticket holder will receive 6 tasting tickets to sample...

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...

Beaufort River Tour (3 Hrs or More)

Beaufort Dolphin Adventures

Book online
$457.55 - $683.96

duration: 3 Hours (Longer trips can be booked via phone and email) cancellation_summary: Customers will receive a full refund with 24 hours notice of cancellation. Customers will also receive a full refund or credit in case of operator cancellation...

Drawing 101-Perspective

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$75.00

If your drawings look wonky, it's probably a problem with your perspective. In this class you will learn to scale your drawings and create perspective. Creating the illusion of distance is the fundamental reason to create convincing...

Maritime Center Eco Tour

Beaufort Dolphin Adventures

Book online
$50.00

duration: 90 Minutes cancellation_summary: Customers will receive a full refund with 24 hours notice of cancellation. Customers will also receive a full refund in case of operator cancellation due to weather. meeting_point: Port Royal Sound...

Sunset Cruise

Edisto Watersports and Tackle

Book online
$30.00 - $50.00

description: Join us for a Leisurely Sunset Boat Ride! ________________________________ ⚠️**Cancellation Policy** Customer cancellations made more than 7 days in advance will receive a full refund/waiver of fees. Customer cancellations made...

Haints and Haunts of the Sea Islands
Book online
$9.00 - $20.00

description: Come with us on a macabre journey through time in the seaside town of Beaufort. Witness the grim and twisted lore of the city’s past on a guided experience through the historic city streets. This two-hour waking tour will cover the...

20' Skiff

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$400.00 - $650.00

duration: Half Day (4 Hours) & Full Day (8.5 Hours) meeting_point: 875 Bonito Dr, Fripp Island, SC 29920 description: Our 20' Skiffs hold up to eight people. They are equipped with 115HP Yamaha four stroke motors and all have bimini tops. Life...

Ayurveda-Self-Care For Your Energy Type

duration: 2.5 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: 15 group_size: 10 accessibility: Second Floor description: Are you...

Beaufort Ecology Tour

Beaufort Kayak Tours

Book online
$40.00

*Discover nature around every corner! * Rates **Adult (Ages 13+):** $65 **Child (Ages 12-5):** $35 Duration 2 hours About On our Beaufort Ecology Tour, we explore the beauty and nature from an optimal vantage point, the seat of a...

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