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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.

New YorkAbbeville, LouisianaAbbeville, South Caro…AbercrombieAberdeenAberdeenAberdeenAberdeenAbernathyAbilene, KansasAbileneAbington TownshipAbiquiuAbita SpringsBeaufort, South Carolina500 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
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

ItemPrice
CoffeeUS$3–6
Deli sandwich or plate lunchUS$10–18
Shrimp or oyster dinner mainUS$22–38
Draught beer / house wineUS$6–9 / US$9–14
Historic-house museum entryUS$8–15
Hunting Island State Park entry, per personUS$8–10
Ride-hailing across townUS$10–20

Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.

Get in

By air

HHH · Hilton Head Island Airport
About 23 km (14 mi) south; very limited service, no direct flights from most cities.
SAV · Savannah/Hilton Head International
About 60 km (37 mi) southwest; the usual choice, with service to major US hubs.
CHS · Charleston International
About 79 km (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)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card

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

WhereHowTime
Hunting Island State ParkDrive US-21 south through Lady's Island and St. Helena, about 30 min from BeaufortAbout 45 min
Hilton Head IslandDrive US-278 south, about 45 min without trafficAbout 1 h
BlufftonDrive US-278 west, about 25 minAbout 35 min
Savannah, GeorgiaDrive I-95 south then I-16, about 1 h 15 minAbout 1.5 h
Charleston, South CarolinaDrive US-17 north, about 1 h 30 minAbout 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

EnglishSay or show
Thank youThank you
Where is the waterfront?Where is the waterfront?
Can I pay by card?Can I pay by card?
A table for two, pleaseA 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.

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)

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.