Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

Charming 2-bedroom house in enjoyable Be...

Unwind in Beaufort at this marvelous home. With 2 comfortable bedrooms featuring a queen bed and a full bed, along with 2 bathrooms, this place is ideal for a calming hideaway. Savor the amenities of heating and AC during your stay. It's simple to...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Landing | Chic 2BD, Gym

Welcome to Zephyr in Port Royal, SC! Ideal for monthly or extended stays, our completely-furnished apartments feature full kitchens, in-unit laundry, fast WiFi, fresh furnishings, and a dedicated workspace. Please note: The community pool is...

  • Port Royal
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Cozy 3-bedroom bungalow in charming Beau...

Located in Beaufort, this bungalow is a dream. With 3 bedrooms including 2 queen beds and 2 twin beds, guests will have plenty of space to relax. The 2 bathrooms are equipped with showers for convenience. Appreciate the brilliant amenities like...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Shorely Blessed on Marlin, Pet Friendly,...

Our cavernous 5 bedroom home is equipped for enormous families who appreciate the beach, cycling, and wildlife. We are located in a private area of the island, with palm trees for shade, a huge yard for the kids with a swing, and plenty of parking...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
769 Marlin Drive

Summary:769 Marlin Drive -Oceanfront! Resort Access and Golf Cart Supplied!The Space:Step into a charmingly crafted 17th-century design Cape Cod beach home, where classic appeal meets modern comfort. This 5-bedroom, 4-bathroom residence located on...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 13
Quality Home Port Royal. Pets are allowe...

Appreciate a 5-min. walk to our local farmers market & Naval Heritage Park on Saturday Mornings! Centrally located in the heart of Port Royal. Simple access to the Sands Beach (4 min), Shopping Centers, Eateries, & everything in between. This 3...

  • Port Royal
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8

Beaufort Tours & Activities

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!

Summer Camps

Camelot Farms Equestrian Center

Book online
$650.00

duration: 6 Hour Camp Days meeting_point: 101 Tom and Mike Road Saint Helena Island, SC 29920 min_age: 5 group_size: 8 participants description: Have your young rider join us at Camelot Farms for a 4-day camp experience! Our camps are available to...

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...

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...

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...

Full Day - Texture Art Expressionism Class

duration: 6 accessibility: 8 description: How to Add Texture to your Art This is a full-day class to learn and experiment with techniques that add texture to your art. We will work on two separate projects. In the morning, we will use paste...

Art Club - Monthly Second Monday

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$29.50 - $60.00

Join this artist gathering and enjoy the fun Monday made better. Each session, we explore different aspects of abstract painting and techniques to take our creations to the next level. This "club" has no joining fee and no restrictions except...

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...

Spring Florals - Acrylic Workshop

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$75.00

Bring in spring with an afternoon of painting florals in a fun representational style. We will have lots of inspirational photos to spark ideas or you can bring one of your own garden to use. Instructor Anne McCall Wilson...

Family Feud *Adult After Hours* at the Sandbar

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$10.00

duration: 1.5 hours meeting_point: Sandbar min_age: 21 description: Join us on TUESDAYS to play the spin off of the hit game show Family Feud. Play against another family and go head-to-head with questions winning the grand prize!! **Gameshow...

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...

5 Hour Rental

Pedego Electric Bikes Greenville

Book online
$25.00 - $94.00

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 immerse yourself...

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