Things to Do in Beaufort, SC: Costs, Hours, Kids, Dogs

Destinations › Lowcountry › Beaufort › Things to Do

Things to do in Beaufort: 12 picks, from the town's and each operator's own pages, with hours, costs as published, and notes for kids, dogs and rainy days. 0 list free entry.

Picks12each with a source
Free Entry0as the operator states
Rainy Day3indoors
Kids or Dogs Noted2 / 3only where stated

Pick by Your Situation

Quick Picks

Rainy Day
Reconstruction Era National Historical Park – Old Firehouse visitor center, Beaufort History Museum, Parris Island Museum
indoors
With Kids
Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Hunting Island Lighthouse climb
kid notes from the operator
With a Dog
Hunting Island State Park, Hunting Island Lighthouse climb, Beaufort National Cemetery
dog rules from the operator

Historic Sites

Reconstruction Era National Historical Park – Old Firehouse Visitor Center
Indoors
National park headquarters and visitor center in downtown Beaufort about the Reconstruction era (1861-1900) in Beaufort County. source Official site
Hours
Park grounds sunrise to sunset every day; visitor center hours not read (see unverified)
Cost
No entrance pass required; no park fees (partner sites may charge)
Where
706 Craven Street, Beaufort, SC 29902
Camp Saxton
NPS site where, per the park, Black Civil War soldiers took their first steps toward citizenship; partly on SC DNR and U.S. Navy property. source
Beaufort National Cemetery
VA national cemetery in Beaufort open to visitors daily. source
Hours
Open daily, 8:00 a.m. to sunset; office Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where
1601 Boundary Street, Beaufort, SC 29902
Dogs
No pets on the grounds; no picnicking or recreational activities
Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve
County-managed preserve in Port Royal. source
Hours
Open daily from sunrise to sunset
Where
601 Old Fort Road, Port Royal, SC
Brick Baptist Church (Penn Center District)
Part of the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District; housed the Penn School from 1862 to 1865 per the NPS. source
Where
St. Helena Island

Museums

Penn Center and York W. Bailey Museum
Former Penn School campus, a National Historic Landmark District with 25 historic buildings and structures; museum tours or a self-guided campus walk with a map. Penn School history begins in 1862. source
Hours
Museum Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm; Welcome Center Tuesday to Saturday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm; docent-led museum tours at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm
Cost
Self-guided tour: $10; docent-led tour and documentary: $15; campus map: $5; ages 5 and under free
Where
16 Penn Center Circle West, St. Helena Island, SC 29920
Beaufort History Museum
Indoors
Museum in the Arsenal in downtown Beaufort with permanent and changing exhibits. source
Hours
Tues-Fri 10:00 AM-4:00 PM, Sat 10:00 AM-3:00 PM (site asks you to call beforehand to confirm staff availability)
Where
713 Craven Street, Beaufort, SC 29902
Parris Island Museum
Indoors
Marine Corps museum on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. source
Hours
Not read from an official page
Where
676 Panama Street, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC 29905 (as listed by the Foundation; directions link uses 111 Panama St)

Parks

Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park
City park on the Beaufort River, partly built on pylons as a pier, with an amphitheater, playground, picnic tables and benches; site where the Combahee River Raid led by Harriet Tubman began and ended June 1-2, 1863. source
Where
103 Charles St, Beaufort, SC 29902
Kids
Playground listed
Hunting Island State Park
State park with five miles of beach, a saltwater lagoon, an ocean inlet, camping and a nature center. source Official site
Hours
6 a.m. – 6 p.m., daily (extended to 9 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time); Nature Center 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
Cost
$8/adult; $5/SC seniors; $4/ child age 6-15; Free for children 5 and younger
Where
Hunting Island, about 16 miles east of downtown Beaufort
Dogs
Pets allowed in most outdoor areas on a leash not longer than six feet; not allowed in cabin area, on the pier or inside the lighthouse complex; not on the tip of North Beach past posted markers

Trails

Spanish Moss Trail
Paved rail trail connecting the City of Beaufort and the Town of Port Royal; nearly 10 miles open. source
Where
Depot Trailhead and other access points

Attractions

Hunting Island Lighthouse Climb
Climb 167 steps to the top of the lighthouse, moved 1.3 miles inland in 1889 because of beach erosion. source Official site
Hours
First climb 9:30 a.m., last climb 4:30 p.m., first-come first-served; may stop for unsafe weather
Cost
$5 per person, paid at the oil house; does not include park admission
Where
Hunting Island State Park
Kids
Children 13 and younger need an adult 18+; climbers must be at least 44 inches tall and under 260 pounds
Dogs
Pets not allowed inside the lighthouse

More Guides Within 15 Miles

St. Phillips Island State ParkState Park, about 14 mi

Coming Up Near Beaufort

Nov 74th Annual Holiday Market on Paris AvenuePort Royal · about 7 mi
Nov 7Rotary Club of the Lowcountry Oyster RoastPort Royal · about 7 mi
Nov 14Lowcountry Pride FestivalPort Royal · about 7 mi
Nov 19Third Thursday in Port Royal (Historic Port Royal Foundation)Port Royal · about 7 mi
Nov 26Habitat for Humanity Turkey Trot 5K (Beaufort)Beaufort · about 1 mi
Dec 2Port Royal Christmas Tree LightingPort Royal · about 7 mi

3 more on the full events calendar.

Events within 15 miles, measured in a straight line to the centre of the event's town. Dates come from our checked events list; confirm with the organizer.

FAQ

What is there to do in Beaufort on a rainy day?

Reconstruction Era National Historical Park – Old Firehouse visitor center, Beaufort History Museum, Parris Island Museum are indoors.

Is Reconstruction Era National Historical Park free?

Yes. The NPS says no entrance pass is required and there are no park fees; partner sites such as Penn Center may charge. source

When is downtown Beaufort parking free?

Meters are enforced 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and parking is free on Sundays. source

How much does it cost to climb the Hunting Island Lighthouse?

$5 per person, paid at the oil house the day of the climb; it does not include park admission ($8/adult; $4 child 6-15). Climbers must be at least 44 inches tall. source

What We Could Not Confirm

Not confirmed: we looked for these on official pages and did not find them. Check with the town or operator before you rely on them.

NPS Reconstruction Era NHP visitor center hours and ranger program times: nps.gov hours page (home.nps.gov/reer/planyourvisit/hours.htm) lists only park grounds sunrise to sunset; site-by-site hours were empty. An unofficial summary of mention Tuesday-Saturday 9-5 and ranger programs at 11 and 2 but only from 2019 or secondary pages; not included (not confirmed on the official page).
Beaufort History Museum admission price: wildapricot site links to a Hours & Admission page not read; older secondary listings mention a suggested donation but are not official.
Parris Island Museum hours, admission and gate/ID requirements: parrisislandmuseum.org returned 404 and parrisislandfoundation.org home page lacks hours; /museum page not read.
Downtown Beaufort meter hourly rate: City page gives enforcement hours and free Sundays only.
Waterfront Park hours, dog rules: City Parks page links to a park-regulations ordinance not read; NPS places page gives no hours.
Spanish Moss Trail hours, dog rules, e-bike rules: about page links to a rules section not in text.
Camp Saxton address, access and hours: nps.gov camp-saxton page returned 404; only the description from the park home page.
Airport serving Beaufort (name/code): not found on beaufortsc.org pages read.
Penn Center welcome center reopened per NPS (hours there stated as not listed on the NPS page; Penn Center site gives Tuesday-Saturday 9-4).
Port Royal boardwalk and observation tower: only a one-line mention on the visitor site; no hours read.
Hunting Island lifeguards: not stated on the page.

Sources

Read on October 26, 2026. How we check: editorial standards; spot a mistake? Tell us.

Cite this page: It's South Carolina, “Things to Do in Beaufort, SC”, itssouthcarolina.com/destinations/lowcountry/things-to-do-in-beaufort-sc/ (updated 2026-10-26). By the It's South Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.

Things to Do in Beaufort, SC