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Beaufort, SC Travel Guide

Salt marsh with tall grass and a tree line under a sunset sky with glowing clouds
Illustrative photo, not Beaufort.

Destinations › Lowcountry › Beaufort

Beaufort is in Beaufort County, in South Carolina's Lowcountry, with about 14,334 residents (2024 Census estimate). The Beaufort visitor site says the British founded the city in 1711 and calls it the second-oldest city in South Carolina.

  • Population14,334Census estimate, July 2024
  • CountyBeaufort CountyLowcountry region
  • Our Guides Nearby4parks, attractions, venues within 25 mi
  • Things to Do12 pickshours, costs, kids, dogs

Plan It in Three Lines

  1. Things to Do

    12 picks with hours, costs and kid, dog and rain notes.

    Open the list

  2. Where to Park

    Downtown metered parking (run by Park Beaufort): Hourly rate not listed on the City page

    All parking below

  3. What's On

    Dated events in and around Beaufort, checked on organizer pages.

    Events page

Things to Do in Beaufort Beaufort Events

About Beaufort

  • The Beaufort visitor site says the British founded the city in 1711 and calls it the second-oldest city in South Carolina. source
  • Beaufort is on Port Royal Island, and the visitor site says its entire downtown is a National Trust for Historic Preservation historic district. source
  • Reconstruction Era National Historical Park was established as Reconstruction Era National Monument in 2017 and redesignated a national historical park in 2019; its headquarters and visitor center is in the Old Firehouse downtown. source
  • Visitor site lists Port Royal, Lady's Island, St. Helena Island, Hunting Island, Harbor Island, Fripp Island and Parris Island as nearby islands and towns. source

Areas Visitors Use

  • Downtown Beaufort (Port Royal Island) Historic district with Bay Street, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, the Arsenal and the Old Firehouse. source
  • Port Royal Visitor site says it is known for its harbor and its boardwalk and observation tower. source
  • Lady's Island Shopping and dining area of northern Beaufort County, north of Beaufort and Port Royal per the visitor site. source
  • St. Helena Island About 5 miles east of Beaufort, with farms, shrimp docks and the Penn Center. source
  • Hunting Island State park about 16 miles east of downtown Beaufort; the visitor site calls it South Carolina's most-visited state park. source
  • Parris Island Home of the Parris Island Museum and Marine Corps history. source

Getting There and Around

  • From Hilton Head the NPS lists the Beaufort visitor center as about 33 miles and 45 minutes via US 278 west then SC 170; from Savannah about 40 miles and 1 hour via US 17 north and SC 170 east; from Charleston about 65 miles and 75 minutes via US 17 south and Trask Parkway. source
  • Penn Center on St. Helena Island is about 41 miles and 1 hour from Hilton Head and about 78 miles and 1 hour 45 minutes from Charleston, per the NPS. source
  • Palmetto Breeze provides public transportation in seven Lowcountry counties, listed on the City parking and transportation page. source
  • Buses in downtown Beaufort can only unload on Carteret Street by the Beaufort History Museum and can unload and park at the Marina. source
  • Palmetto Breeze public transportation serves seven Lowcountry counties. source
  • The Spanish Moss Trail connects the City of Beaufort and the Town of Port Royal; nearly 10 miles are developed and open. source

Visitor center: Beaufort Visitor Center (Historic Arsenal). 713 Craven Street, Beaufort, SC 29902; Monday through Friday 10am to 4pm; Saturday 10am to 3pm; closed Sundays and on Memorial Day, 4th of July, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day; (843) 525-8500 source

Parking in Beaufort

WhereRateWhenNotesSource
Downtown metered parking (run by Park Beaufort)Hourly rate not listed on the City pageMeters enforced 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through SaturdayFree on Sundays. Meters take cash or credit/debit cards, or the Park Mobile app. Park Beaufort: 500 Carteret Street, Suite B1, 843-379-9330. Parking near the NPS visitor center is metered street parking managed by the City.source
City lotsNot listedMarina parking lot; 500 Carteret Street; Waterfront Park Playground lot (off Bay Street); Library lot; Saltus River Grill lot; Scott Street lot. NPS says parking for Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park is available at the nearby marina.source

Beaches in Beaufort

BeachAccess and parkingDogsLifeguardsSource
Hunting Island State Park beachFive miles of beach inside the state park; park admission applies. A park advisory said the bridge to Little Hunting Island/Boneyard Beach was temporarily closed due to high tides.Pets allowed in most outdoor areas on a leash not longer than six feet; dogs may not go on the tip of North Beach past the posted markers (shorebird habitat).Not stated on the page read.source

Comparing beaches? See which South Carolina beach to pick.

Dogs

  • Beaufort has a Southside Dog Park at 2614 Southside Boulevard, listed on the City parks page. source
  • No pets are allowed on the grounds of Beaufort National Cemetery. source

When to Go

  • Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30; peak is September 10 with most activity mid-August to mid-October. source
  • Penn Center holds its annual Heritage Days Celebration each November. source
  • Hunting Island park hours extend to 9 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time. source

Coming Up in and Near Beaufort

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.

Near Beaufort

Around Beaufort within 25 miles
10 mi20 mi25 miNSEW1234
  1. 1Reconstruction Era National Historical ParkNational Historical Parkabout 3 mi
  2. 2St. Phillips Island State ParkState Parkabout 14 mi
  3. 3Hunting Island State ParkState Parkabout 17 mi
  4. 4Edisto Beach State ParkState Parkabout 24 mi

Straight-line distances between map points, not driving miles. Dots sit in their true compass direction; distance is stretched near the middle so close neighbors stay readable.

Nearby Towns With Their Own Guide

FAQ

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

Can I take my dog to Hunting Island?

Yes in most outdoor areas on a leash no longer than six feet, but not in the cabin area, on the pier, in the lighthouse complex or on the tip of North Beach. source

Where is the Beaufort Visitor Center and when is it open?

713 Craven Street in the Historic Arsenal; Monday-Friday 10am-4pm, Saturday 10am-3pm, closed Sundays. source

How many people live in Beaufort?

About 14,334, the U.S. Census Bureau’s estimate for July 1, 2024 (Census table).

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

  1. U.S. Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, Vintage 2024
  2. Visit Beaufort SC – home
  3. Visit Beaufort SC – Visitor Center
  4. City of Beaufort – Parking & Transportation
  5. City of Beaufort – Parks Division
  6. NPS Reconstruction Era NHP – home
  7. NPS Reconstruction Era NHP – Basic info
  8. NPS Reconstruction Era NHP – Directions
  9. NPS Reconstruction Era NHP – Fees
  10. NPS Reconstruction Era NHP – Hours
  11. NPS – Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park
  12. SC State Parks – Hunting Island
  13. SC State Parks – Hunting Island Lighthouse
  14. Penn Center – Visit
  15. Beaufort History Museum
  16. VA National Cemetery Administration – Beaufort National Cemetery
  17. Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail – About
  18. Parris Island Museum Foundation
  19. NOAA National Hurricane Center – climatology

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

Cite this page: It's South Carolina, “Beaufort, SC Travel Guide”, itssouthcarolina.com/destinations/lowcountry/beaufort/ (updated ). 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.