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Bluffton, SC Travel Guide

Wooden walkway leading to a dock over a tidal creek, framed by live oaks and marsh grass
Illustrative photo, not Bluffton.

Destinations › Lowcountry › Bluffton

Bluffton is in Beaufort County, in South Carolina's Lowcountry, with about 36,146 residents (2024 Census estimate). The Bluffton visitor site calls the town the "Heart of the Lowcountry" and says it sits on the May River, halfway between Hilton Head Island and Savannah.

  • Population36,146Census estimate, July 2024
  • CountyBeaufort CountyLowcountry region
  • Our Guides Nearby2parks, attractions, venues within 25 mi
  • Things to Do10 pickshours, costs, kids, dogs

Plan It in Three Lines

  1. Things to Do

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

    Open the list

  2. Where to Park

    Old Town public parking: Not read

    All parking below

  3. What's On

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

    Events page

Things to Do in Bluffton Area Events

About Bluffton

  • The Bluffton visitor site calls the town the "Heart of the Lowcountry" and says it sits on the May River, halfway between Hilton Head Island and Savannah. source
  • The Town says Old Town Bluffton was originally comprised of one square mile and incorporated in 1852, and was designated a National Register Historic District in 1996. source
  • The Garvin-Garvey House was built around 1870 on the May River by Cyrus Garvin, a freed slave, and is believed to be the oldest home built by a freed slave in Bluffton. source
  • Campbell Chapel A.M.E. Church was built in 1853 on Boundary Street and bought in 1874 by a group of formerly enslaved men. source

Areas Visitors Use

  • Old Town Bluffton (historic district) One-square-mile National Register Historic District; on-street parking is available per the 2023 walking tour map (not read directly). source
  • May River waterfront River used for fishing charters, dolphin-watching cruises and kayak or paddle board trips, per the visitor site. source
  • Boundary Street Street with Heyward House (70 Boundary Street) and Campbell Chapel A.M.E. Church. source
  • Buckwalter Place Town park listed as Buckwalter Place Park and Veterans Memorial, with an amphitheater. source

Getting There and Around

  • Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is about 30 miles south of Bluffton; Hilton Head Island Airport is approximately 12 miles from downtown Bluffton. source
  • From I-95 take Exit 8 for SC-278 toward Hardeeville and Beaufort; SC-278 east is approximately 13 miles, SC-170 east about 7 miles and Bluffton Parkway approximately 5 miles to the heart of Bluffton. source
  • Amtrak via Savannah, GA is a short 45-minute trip from Bluffton; via Yemassee, SC about one hour. source
  • Town page links to public parking areas and a Parking Information page; the Shell Art Trail is a self-guided public art trail about oysters. source

Visitor center: Heyward House Museum and Welcome Center (Historic Bluffton Foundation). 70 Boundary Street, Bluffton, SC 29910 source

Parking in Bluffton

WhereRateNotesSource
Old Town public parkingNot readTown links public parking areas; locations and rules not on the page read. Oyster Factory Park lot expansion added 35 vehicle spots and 11 golf cart spots (Town media release, 2023).source

Dogs

  • Bluffton Dog Park at Oscar Frazier Park, 77 Shults Road, is fenced and off-leash; friendly dogs are welcome at Martin Family Park and must be under control. 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

Food

  • The visitor site says restaurants along the river serve freshly caught fish, oysters and shrimp. source

Coming Up in and Near Bluffton

8 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 Bluffton

Around Bluffton within 25 miles
10 mi20 mi25 miNSEW12
  1. 1St. Phillips Island State ParkState Parkabout 20 mi
  2. 2Reconstruction Era National Historical ParkNational Historical Parkabout 21 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

How do I get to Bluffton from Hilton Head or Savannah?

Savannah/Hilton Head International is about 30 miles south and Hilton Head Island Airport about 12 miles from downtown; from I-95 take Exit 8 onto SC-278. source

Where is the Heyward House?

70 Boundary Street; the Historic Bluffton Foundation runs it as a house museum built in 1841 and as a starting point for visitors. source

Where can my dog run off-leash?

Bluffton Dog Park at Oscar Frazier Park, 77 Shults Road, is a fenced off-leash park. source

What can I do on the May River?

Fishing charters, dolphin-watching cruises and kayak or paddle board trips launch from the river. source

How many people live in Bluffton?

About 36,146, 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.

  • Calhoun Street: no official page read stated facts (Town and visitor pages read do not describe it; the 2023 walking tour map PDF could not be text-extracted). A weekly Calhoun Street market and house details appeared only in secondary summaries and are NOT included.
  • Heyward House hours and tour/walking tour prices: historicbluffton.org home page lists none; conflicting hours appeared only in secondary summaries.
  • Old Town parking lots, rates, time limits: Town /parking page 404; Town links page without text.
  • Oyster Factory Park address, hours and amenities (restrooms): Town Parks page has no details; only a 2023 Town media release mentions parking expansion.
  • Visitor center address and hours for Bluffton: visitbluffton.org home lists none; Heyward House acts as welcome center per Historic Bluffton Foundation but hours not stated.
  • Town founding date: only Old Town incorporation 1852 stated by the Town; visitor site gives no founding date.
  • Church of the Cross, Calhoun Street Market, Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival dates: not read from an official page.

Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, Vintage 2024
  2. Visit Bluffton – home
  3. Visit Bluffton – Getting here
  4. Visit Bluffton – May River
  5. Visit Bluffton – Pet friendly
  6. Town of Bluffton – Visitors
  7. Town of Bluffton – Parks
  8. Town of Bluffton – Oyster Factory Park media release
  9. Historic Bluffton Foundation – Heyward House
  10. 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, “Bluffton, SC Travel Guide”, itssouthcarolina.com/destinations/lowcountry/bluffton/ (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.