Visit Beautiful Beaufort, South Carolina

Oh, you want to experience the bliss of Beaufort, South Carolina? You want to fill your belly with seafood then stare out at the ocean? And you like the idea of wandering aimlessly, looking at perfect, charming, Southern houses? You want to actually smile at the people you pass on the street? And you are craving a weekend of not caring what time it is? Then it’s time to visit beautiful Beaufort, South Carolina.

It doesn’t get much better than Beaufort, South Carolina.

I lived in Beaufort for almost 3 years after I graduated college and have been back many times since. I love how quaint it is, how centered around the water it is, and how kind the people are. When I think back to my time there, it almost felt like a dream.

For as lovely as it is, Beaufort isn’t suffocated by tourists. People do come to experience the Southern charm, and they should. Fortunately, I never had the thought, “this is too touristy.” It always felt like home.

If you want to be a part of the secret that is Beaufort, South Carolina, allow me to help you plan a little getaway. First, I’ll tell you about what you should spend time doing. Later in this post, I’ll tell you about all the details like getting there, where to stay, etc.

The Best Things to do in Beaufort, South Carolina:

#1  Spend an afternoon at Hunting Island State Park

Sunrise at Hunting Island State Park

I am assuming you have seen Jurassic Park. You don’t have to see all 5 or 6 or however many there are. Just the perfect original. Now imagine that beautiful island, full of lush trees. That is how the coast of Hunting Island State Park looks. It feels wild.

The drive from Beaufort to Hunting Island is around 20-30 minutes, and it’s a beautiful one.

Pro Tip: If Barefoot Farms is open (it’ll be on your left on the way there), stop by this local stand and pick up the best peach salsa on the planet.

If you want a view of the beach from higher up, the walk up the lighthouse is definitely worth the $2.

The Hunting Island Lighthouse

Reminder: It’s South Carolina, so it can get really hot at this beach during the summer. On the opposite end, if it’s chilly out, it is going to be even colder at this beach due to wind.

Keep an eye out for dolphins. I spotted them often, and it was always thrilling to watch them swim near the shore.

Relish your time at this unique, wild beach.

#2  Visit during a festival

Beaufort has some bomb festivals, sure to bring out both the tourists and locals. Water Festival is a week of fun. Shrimp Festival is, ya know, a lot of shrimp-eating. Taste of Beaufort is amazing food and music. The Gullah Festival celebrates the Gullah heritage. I promise you will have a blast at any of these.

#3  Hang out at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park

Bench swings, big grassy areas, sparkling water, people sitting on the lawn, and a view of the swinging bridge. It is a must visit. Grab a coffee from Common Ground and meander around the park. No admission fee; just walk up.

#4  Admire the beautiful Southern homes

You can see these from almost anywhere in Beaufort. If you walk up Bay Street (away from the bridge) from the Waterfront Park, you will see lovely, historic Southern homes.

#5  Take a historical tour

I never did this while I was there, but it is a great way to find out more about Beaufort.

Sea Island Carriage Company does horse-drawn carriage tours and is a highly recommended tour company.

If you are active, Beaufort Running Tours is an excellent option! You get some exercise in while learning Beaufort’s history. And my friend, Katie is the kindest, most knowledgeable person.

Beaufort History and Film Location Tour by Van shares history and also takes you to some of the locations that have appeared in film over the years. Think Forrest Gump 🙂

#6  Visit The Sands in Port Royal

I used to love driving my Jeep onto The Sands Beach

This “secret” spot is so lovely. Bring your kids and search for shark teeth on the beach. Drive your car onto the sand. Walk the boardwalk and climb the viewing tower. It is the best place in Beaufort to watch the sunset. And it’s free.

Sunset from The Sands

#7  Eat delicious food

While living in Beaufort, I weighed the most I have ever weighed. And I 100% blame this on the mouth-watering, Southern food. We all know Southern food is not known for being healthy. If you’re in Beaufort for a weekend, eat to your heart’s content. If you decide to move there, maybe eat the butter and mac and cheese in moderation.

Best Food & Best Breakfast: Red Rooster Cafe. They have an incredible breakfast menu, unique sandwiches, and great salads (and I literally never think salad is great). If I think of one food I loved above all other food during my time in Beaufort, it was The Gobbler sandwich.

Best Seafood: Dockside was always my favorite. You can sit out on the patio and enjoy fresh seafood, cooked to perfection.

Best Burger: I used to live near Fat Patties, and it became a go-to. While it’s not in an area where you’ll find much else to do, they do serve some damn good burgers with many unique toppings.

Best Hole in the Wall Place: If you promise not to be pretentious and judge this place for its lack of decor and space, I will tell you the secret of a really great sandwich joint. Alvin Ord’s. Their bread is unlike any other bread. Please have your order ready by the time you reach the cashier. A lot of locals frequent this place, and the line can get long if customers aren’t prepared. Plus, the cashier will be nicer to you 🙂

Best Ambiance: Old Bull Tavern. This gastropub serves awesome food in a very chill setting. Make a reservation then soak up the atmosphere.

Best Coffee Shop: Common Ground. It’s cute, the drinks are fantastic, and it took me a year to get how clever their name was.

#8  Drink and be merry

You have plenty of options for drinking in Beaufort. Any of the places on the waterfront on Bay Street are great bars with lovely views. Because the “downtown” area is so small, you can walk from place to place until you find somewhere you like. Often, these bars will have live music on the weekend. I spent many nights drinking and dancing at these spots.

Adventures in Beaufort

This quiet town isn’t exactly known for its adventurous trip options. But because I tend to write about adventure travel, here are a few options.

You can kayak the waterways, which is a beautiful way to see the town. You can also Stand Up Paddleboard. If you are into trail running, the trails at Hunting Island State Park are fun.

Plan your Trip to Beaufort, South Carolina

Best Time to Visit

Spring and fall are the most pleasant times to be in Beaufort. Summer can be unbearably hot, and it can get quite chilly in the winter.

How to get to Beaufort

The closest airports to Beaufort: You can fly into Hilton Head Island Airport (HHH), 55 minutes from Beaufort. Savannah (SAV), Georgia’s airport is also within an hour drive of Beaufort. If flights are cheaper from Charleston, South Carolina or you are trying to fly with Southwest, Charleston (CHS) is 1.5 hours away. You could explore Charleston for a day to make it worth the drive. The drives from these airports are all beautiful.

Renting a car is necessary for a trip to Beaufort. Rent one out of whatever airport you fly into.

Where to Stay

Parris Island, a Marine base, is located in Beaufort. Therefore, if it is a graduation weekend, places might fill up quicker than you would think.

Beaufort has some of the nicest Bed and Breakfasts downtown. The Cuthbert House Inn, Rhett House Inn, and North Street Inn are some of the most popular.

There are quite a few hotels. If you are needing a cheaper option, book farther away from downtown.

AirBnb has some unique places for cheaper rates.

And if you really want to rough it, you can camp at Hunting Island State Park.

Parking Downtown

There are metered spots right on Bay Street if you are there for a shorter trip. If you plan on staying a while, park in the downtown Marina or on Craven Street.

Trip Costs

A trip to Beaufort, South Carolina can be as cheap or expensive as you want. You can go all out, stay at an expensive bed and breakfast, and eat pricey food the whole trip. Or you can rent a $80 AirBnb and mostly stick to the free things to do.

Beaufort, South Carolina is a lovely getaway. Be sure to walk a little slower, enjoy each moment, and immerse yourself in this amazing place.

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