BEAUFORT SC IN 48 HOURS

This past summer Max and I took a little drive down to the Low Country SC! We didn’t know much about Beaufort SC prior to our trip but were excited to visit a lesser-known town in the South. While planning a trip to Beaufort, North Carolina earlier this year, we stumbled upon Beaufort South Carolina. We quickly learned, Beaufort, SC is pronounced “Byou fort” whereas Beaufort NC is pronounced “Bow fort”. Very confusing!

I’m not going to lie; I was pleasantly surprised by Beaufort! A few days prior to our trip, Max and I started questioning whether or not it was worth the drive. It’s about a 4.5-hour drive from Raleigh to Beaufort which is lengthy for a weekend trip. The second we got to the waterfront we knew it was worth the trek! Beaufort is a more mellow and quaint version of Charleston SC so it’s easy to overlook.

We loved Beaufort so much we decided to make it our first family getaway with our newborn daughter a few weeks ago. It’s a great place for families to travel! There is so much to do outside from Hunting Island to the Spanish Moss Trail there are activities for kids of all ages. While our daughter was a baby at the time, we enjoyed a lot of walks with her. After spending a little time in Beaufort, I’ve put together a guide to help you plan your perfect weekend away!

And don’t forget to pin this for later!

I’d recommend spending at least two days in town. Between the history, restaurants, and surrounding Beaufort SC beaches there is actually a lot to do in this little town. We fit a lot into the few days we had in town but left wanting to see more. With that said, Beaufort is the type of place that makes you want to slow down a bit; this is the Low Country after all!

Located in Beaufort County SC, Hilton Head SC or Savannah GA are a great addition to a trip to Beaufort. Hilton Head is approximately a 40-minute drive whereas Savannah is closer to an hour. You could also do a day trip to either place while staying in Beaufort (or vice versa).

While Beaufort experiences all four seasons, winters tend to be mild meaning it’s a great destination year-round. However, if you don’t like the heat, avoid visiting in the summer months since it is hot & humid. If you want to spend time at the nearby beaches, I recommend visiting late Spring into early Fall. We visited at the beginning of June, and it was pretty toasty! Since we like to be active on vacation, we tried to plan activities early in the day. Our most recent trip was at the end of December and the weather was actually perfect. The weather is less predictable this time of year so we got really lucky!

Beaufort also has a street party in the downtown area every first Friday of the month! If you’re looking for something fun to do in the evening, book a trip to Beaufort on the first Friday. It is so much fun to see everyone enjoying themselves downtown and wandering around the streets. If you’re visiting on a first Friday, make sure to make a dinner reservation since people flock to the downtown!

Similar to most destinations in the United States, you really need a car for your trip to Beaufort. While the town is small and walkable you’ll need a car to drive to nearby beaches and destinations. We drove to Beaufort and loved the ease of having a car. There is plenty of paid parking downtown Beaufort SC. If you’re staying at a hotel downtown, parking is likely included in your stay.

Get an early start on your first full day in Beaufort – especially during summer! Grab a quick breakfast before you head out for the day. A lot of the B&B’s include breakfast but if you’re looking for a recommendation, we loved Urban Brew! The coffee shop opens at 7 am daily and is closed on Sunday. Another great spot for a grab and go breakfast is rain-n-bagels located downtown.

The Spanish Moss Trail, known for its beautiful scenery and 10 miles of paved greenway, quickly became a “must see” on a trip to Beaufort. Founded in 2012, the trail continues to expand. Its popularity is largely due to the fact it is easy to access from town. Depending on where you’re located in town, it’ll be about 1-2 miles to access the trail. We thought it was a pretty easy bike ride to the trail, but I read a handful of reviews saying it was a challenge. We mostly rode on the sidewalk but there were a few places we had to ride in the street (the roads weren’t busy though). As I mentioned, this is a great activity for kids! There were a ton of families on the trail with kids either biking or walking along.

Travel Tip: Be on the lookout for gators! If you’re from this area, you’re probably used to it, but I definitely am not. Max spotted one in the marsh on the trail, and I was not about to stop biking to take a look!

From town you can either head south toward Port Royal or north to go inland. We did the entire path and preferred the path toward Port Royal. My suggestion is to bike toward Port Royal and spend the morning in town. The path doesn’t quite take you into Port Royal, but I’ve added a map below to help guide you into town. There is one main road between the path and town that is a pain to cross, other than that it’s a breeze!

Bike Rentals: Most hotels in town offer bikes to guests so double check with your hotel before you rent anywhere! We rented from University Bikes which charges $16 for 24 hours. This included the bike, a lock, basket, and helmet. We thought this was a great deal and wound up using the bikes quite a bit. The only bummer is the shop doesn’t open until 10 am and is closed on Sundays so if you’re looking for an early morning bike ride, rent the bikes the evening prior. The owner of the shop is super mellow and let us store the bikes there overnight, so we didn’t have to haul them back and forth.

Whether or not the Spanish Moss Trail sounds up your alley, spend the morning in Port Royal. Established in 1562, Port Royal is a small town in Beaufort County SC about 15 minutes from downtown Beaufort. The town is known for their beach, walking trails, boardwalk, and observation tower.

While in town, visit the Port Royal Boardwalk and Observation Tower for gorgeous views of the water. Check out the cypress wetlands, a mile long loop near town with a chance to spot gators. Lastly, grab lunch at Fish Camp I’ve heard from a few locals, it’s a must!

There is also an incredible farmer’s market in Port Royal on Saturdays from 9am-12pm which we absolutely loved. It’s located in a historical park with live music playing under the gorgeous oak trees. If you’re traveling with kids, there’s also a great playground behind the market.

Head back to Beaufort for the remainder of the day to soak in the beauty of this little town! A few key sites in (or near) town include Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Beaufort National Cemetery, and the Beaufort History Museum. Beaufort has an interesting past; the French were actually the first to attempt settlement in 1562 near Parris Island. However, the town wasn’t founded until 1711 by the British making it the second oldest city in South Carolina. Beaufort was preserved in the Civil War because it was one of the only Southern towns occupied by Union Troops. As such, the entire downtown Beaufort SC is designated a historic district. To learn a little more about the history of Beaufort, take a tour of the town; you can book a walking, carriage, or golf cart tour online or in person.

Enjoy your afternoon in Beaufort and set aside time for the local shops in town. Scout Southern Market is a staple. The shop is a home goods store with an iced tea bar in the back known for their sweet tea floats. The Chocolate Tree is another can’t miss shop in Beaufort and the chocolate was actually featured in Forrest Gump!

Kick your second day off in the Low Country at a slower pace with brunch in town. My recommendation is Lowcountry Produce, a popular restaurant in town. I go into a little more detail below, but the restaurant is adorable and perfect for brunch! Lowcountry Produce tends to be busy on the weekends so you might want to get there early if you have a busy day planned.

Next up is a day of activities on Hunting Island! With 5 miles of beaches and endless walking trails, you can spend most of your day on the island. Again, this is a great activity for families! You can enjoy some beach time with your kids while soaking in the beautiful views.

If you like walking, there are some beautiful trails on Hunting Island ranging from .25 to 2-mile paths. We’ve done the Lagoon Trail (1.4 miles) and it’s gorgeous! I’ve attached a map with all of the trails; you can also get a map on your way into the park!

For an incredible view of the island, make a reservation to climb the Hunting Island lighthouse. Built in 1859, the lighthouse guided boats along the coast between Charleston and Savannah. The lighthouse standing today is actually a replica of the original which was destroyed by confederate soldiers during the civil war. An interesting fact about the lighthouse is it was constructed in sections in case it ever needs to be moved; which it did due to beach erosion in 1889. I’m not going to lie… I loved the view, but it was spooky up top on a windy day! Only 6 people are allowed in the Hunting Island lighthouse at a time, so a reservation is required. We made our reservation a few days in advance during peak season. Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to get on the island if you make a reservation for the lighthouse.

There are also a number of tours you can do from Hunting Island such as a day trip to Fripp Island, Dolphin cruise, or kayak tour.

The island is about 25 minutes from downtown Beaufort but can take a little longer since there is only one way onto the island. We waited in a long line to get on the island in the summer but drove right in during the winter.

Pricing for Hunting Island:

• Adults: $8
• Seniors: $5
• Kids ages 6-16: $4
• Lighthouse: $2

For a small town, there are a surprising amount of well-known restaurants in Beaufort! From Low Country cuisine to trendy coffee shops, the downtown has it all. I actually recommend making a reservation ahead of time as restaurants book up especially in the summer months. Below is a list of our favorite Beaufort SC restaurants!

As I mentioned, another staple in town is Lowcountry Produce! The restaurant is located inside an old building with such a unique atmosphere. Lowcountry Produce offers breakfast and lunch so it’s the perfect place for brunch. You can’t make reservations so there’s usually a wait on the weekend. We arrived around 11 am and waited about 30-40 minutes for our table. Everything looked delicious, I ordered “the bowl” and it was excellent!

As you can tell, we absolutely love spending time in Beaufort SC! This small town is filled with all the southern charm. If you’ve already been, be sure to let me know your favorite things to do in Beaufort SC! We are counting down the days until our next trip!

Headed to South Carolina? Here are a few articles to help you plan your trip!

• Best things to do in Hilton Head
• Charleston Itinerary – 48 Hour Guide
• Charleston vs Savannah

Safe Travels,

Sarah :)

I’ve linked a few of my favorite baby travel essentials below as well as one I can’t live without! Let me know if you have any questions on any of the items, I would be happy to answer!