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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort
Two nights is right: one full day for the historic district on foot, one for the water or Parris Island. Skip it as a day trip from Charleston (2 h each way).
Beaufort is a small waterfront town on Port Royal Island, roughly halfway between Charleston and Savannah. The draw is a compact historic district of antebellum houses along Bay Street and the sea islands around it. It is a two-night stop, not a base for a week, and a car makes the islands and beaches reachable.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Beaufort
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (heat, humidity, hurricane season), mid-Dec–Feb (quiet, some closures)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget US$90–140 excl. bed · Mid US$150–230 excl. bed · High US$250+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · Beaufort Police (non-emergency) 843-524-2777 · Poison Control 1-800-222-1222
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | US$3–6 |
| Deli sandwich or plate lunch | US$10–18 |
| Shrimp or oyster dinner main | US$22–38 |
| Draught beer / house wine | US$6–9 / US$9–14 |
| Historic-house museum entry | US$8–15 |
| Hunting Island State Park entry, per person | US$8–10 |
| Ride-hailing across town | US$10–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- HHH · Hilton Head Island Airport
- About 23 km south; very limited service, no direct flights from most cities.About 14 mi south; very limited service, no direct flights from most cities.
- SAV · Savannah/Hilton Head International
- About 60 km southwest; the usual choice, with service to major US hubs.About 37 mi southwest; the usual choice, with service to major US hubs.
- CHS · Charleston International
- About 79 km northeast; more flights than Savannah, about 1.5 h by car.About 49 mi northeast; more flights than Savannah, about 1.5 h by car.
Typical fares
- Savannah airport → Beaufort, taxi or shuttle
- US$90–140, about 1 h (check)
- Charleston airport → Beaufort, taxi or shuttle
- US$120–180, about 1.5 h (check)
- Ride-hailing in the historic district
- US$8–15
- Amtrak Yemassee → Beaufort, taxi
- US$40–60, about 30 min (check)
Get around
The historic district is walkable in 20–30 minutes end to end. For the sea islands, beaches and Parris Island you need a car or a ride-hailing app; Palmetto Breeze runs limited public bus routes around Beaufort County, with sparse evening service. Parking downtown is metered or free in marked lots — check signs.
See and do
Known for
- Antebellum architecture in the historic district
- Bay Street waterfront and Downtown Marina
- Forrest Gump filming locations
- Sea islands: St. Helena, Lady's Island, Hunting Island
- Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting Island State Park | Drive US-21 south through Lady's Island and St. Helena, about 30 min from Beaufort | About 45 min |
| Hilton Head Island | Drive US-278 south, about 45 min without traffic | About 1 h |
| Bluffton | Drive US-278 west, about 25 min | About 35 min |
| Savannah, Georgia | Drive I-95 south then I-16, about 1 h 15 min | About 1.5 h |
| Charleston, South Carolina | Drive US-17 north, about 1 h 30 min | About 2 h |
Sleep
- Historic District (Bay Street and the Point)
- Walk to the waterfront, restaurants and house museums; inns and B&Bs, highest prices.
- Boundary Street and US-21 strip
- Chain hotels, free parking, 5–10 min drive to the waterfront; best value with a car.
- Port Royal
- Quieter village 10 min south, near The Sands beach and Cypress Wetlands; a few small stays.
- Lady's Island and St. Helena Island
- Rural rentals and a few inns; you need a car for everything.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Thank you |
| Where is the waterfront? | Where is the waterfront? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
| A table for two, please | A table for two, please |
| Is there parking nearby? | Is there parking nearby? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Summer heat and humidity are serious: plan walking before 11:00 and after 16:00.
- Hurricane season runs Jun–Nov; check forecasts and evacuation routes if a storm is named.
- Parris Island is an active military base: civilians need a valid photo ID, vehicle registration and proof of insurance, and must sign in at the Visitor Center.
- Some historic-house museums keep short seasonal hours and close on Sundays or Mondays — check before you go.
- Marsh and beach areas have mosquitoes and no-see-ums at dusk; bring repellent.
Beaufort is a low-crime small town; the real risks are summer heat, marsh mosquitoes, rip currents on the beaches and deer on the sea-island roads at dusk.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Beaufort, South Carolina yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Antebellum architecture in the historic district
- Bay Street waterfront and Downtown Marina
- Forrest Gump filming locations
- Sea islands: St. Helena, Lady's Island, Hunting Island
- Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Beaufort official visitor site: www.beaufortsc.org/
- Historic Beaufort Foundation: historicbeaufort.org/
- Palmetto Breeze Transit routes and schedules: www.palmettobreezetransit.com/routes-schedules
- Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport: www.savannahairport.com/
- Charleston International Airport: www.iflychs.com/
- Hilton Head Island Airport: www.hiltonheadairport.com/
- Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island: www.mcrdpi.marines.mil/
- Fort Fremont Preserve: fortfremont.org/
- Wikivoyage: Beaufort (South Carolina), revision 5239137 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5239137
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Beaufort, South CarolinaBeaufort
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Beaufort Police (non-emergency)843-524-2777
- Poison Control1-800-222-1222
No embassies in Beaufort; consulates are in Atlanta and Miami, embassies in Washington, DC.
Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, US$1–2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hailing.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/beaufort-south-carolina). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.