9 Off-The-Beaten-Path Towns In South Carolina
South Carolina is a diverse state with rich local cultures and histories. According to the Municipal Association of South Carolina, the state currently has 271 cities and towns; forty-six percent of the state's towns have a population of less than 1,000 residents. Here, we will explore nine of the most remote, off-the-beaten-path small towns in South Carolina. Each of the towns listed below has a population under 20,000. They are all, however, worth a visit. Beaufort, for example, is the second-oldest town in the state and has a rich history. Edisto Island is an undeveloped barrier island that still offers visitors much to do. Read on to discover more about these out-of-the-way South Carolina towns.
Beaufort
Beaufort, on Port Royal Island, one of South Carolina's coastal Sea Islands, is truly off-the-beaten-path. This small town was founded by British settlers in 1711 and holds the distinction of being the second-oldest town in the state. Today, the entire downtown area of Beaufort is a historic district under the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Part of Beaufort's most notable history is its Gullah culture. This African-American community with a distinct creole language is centered in South Carolina and Georgia regions. Modern Gullah people have distinct cuisines, stories, music, and culture. The Original Gullah Festival of South Carolina in Beaufort is one way this community celebrates their painful yet noble ancestry.
Travelers Rest
Travelers Rest is a small town at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains where you can truly rest. The town's location contributes to its name, as travelers and those moving cattle towards the coast in the 1800s often stopped in the area known today as Travelers Rest. The Travelers Rest History Museum on Edwards Street houses the town's artifacts and exhibits, highlighting the town's unique history.
Another historical landmark in Travelers Rest is the Dicey Langston Memorial monument on Tigerville Road. This memorial commemorates a patriotic spy who saved lives during the Revolutionary War.
Business View Magazine named Travelers Rest a "Best Managed City" in 2024. The publication praised the town's welcoming, community-like feel and its integration of nature in the downtown area, where pocket parks and trails are found. The Travelers Rest Farmers Market is a popular gathering spot in town. Open year-round, in the wintertime, the market sets up on the second Saturday of the month and every Saturday in the summer.
Travelers Rest is accessible via Highways 276 and 25. It is just 10 miles north of the larger city of Greenville, and 20 miles south of the border with North Carolina.
Newberry
Newberry is one of the highlights of the Piedmont area of South Carolina. The Travel Channel named Newberry one of the "Most Charming Small Towns in America." Newberry has been described as a small, friendly town with a larger city feel. The town was established in 1789 as the county seat of Newberry County and is still welcoming visitors with its Southern hospitality today.
Even though it is a small town, Newberry is full of art, history, culture, and recreational opportunities. The downtown area boasts the Newberry Opera House, built in 1881 and still operating as a performance hall for the arts. The Taylor Building in the downtown area is home to the Newberry Museum, showcasing the region's military and civil history. When you want to have fun outdoors, head to Lake Murray, a 50,000-acre man-made lake just north of Newberry. Fishing, swimming, boating, and walking are popular pastimes here. Newberry is in the Midlands area of the state, just off Interstate 26, 43 miles northwest of the larger city of Columbia.
Garden City
The town of Garden City in Horry County is sometimes referred to as Garden City Beach. Garden City is popular with travelers looking to visit a family-friendly beach town, quieter than nearby Myrtle Beach. Garden City is known for crabbing, fishing, and water sports.
Other popular activities in Garden City include golfing at the award-winning Indian Wells Golf Club; shopping at the town's specialty gift stores, such as Village Surf Shop; dining at its restaurants, like Sam's Corner, which features local seafood; and visiting the Garden City Pavilion Arcade.
Garden City attracts many visitors each year yet retains its small-town feel. For the past 30 years, the town has been holding a notable Fourth of July golf cart parade, just one example of the tight-knit community atmosphere in Garden City.
Landrum
Landrum, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is a popular, remote getaway for those looking for a slower, small mountain town experience. This town in Spartanburg County was founded in 1880, when the railroad was extended from the larger town of Spartanburg. Today, Landrum has a walkable downtown area filled with local favorites, including restaurants like Southside Smokehouse and shops like the Antique Mall and White Buffalo Collectibles.
One popular Landrum landmark is Campbell's Covered Bridge. Built in 1909, today it is the last surviving covered bridge in the state, and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Outdoor lovers have plenty to keep them busy in Landrum, too. Hikers won't want to miss the Palmetto Trail's Blue Wall Passage, running through the Blue Ridge Escarpment, the line marking where the Blue Ridge Mountains plunge down towards the rolling foothills. This trail isn't for the faint of heart, as it is a bit over two miles long and climbs to a height of 1,400 feet. Landrum can be found just south of the North Carolina border and west of Interstate 26.
Edisto Beach
Edisto Beach is located on Edisto Island, one of South Carolina's Sea Islands.
Edisto Island boasts five miles of beaches and Edisto Island State Park, which offers campsites, RV hookups, and cabins. The island ecosystem is home to abundant wildlife, including egrets, dolphins, pelicans, and deer.
The Edisto Island Museum includes exhibits on the island's history and that of the Edisto Indians who once inhabited it. Or, Visit the Edisto Island Serpentarium, the first such enclosure in the state dedicated to the preservation and study of reptiles.
Hardeeville
Some are drawn to Hardeeville to see races at the Hardeeville Motor Speedway. Others might prefer to take photos of Thelma and Louise, two life-size elephant statues in front of Crazy Joe's Fireworks. Still, more visitors might come to Hardeeville to see Argent Lumber Company Engine Number 7 on Main Street, a 1910 wood-burning steam locomotive donated to the town when the lumber company closed. Another historical site on Main Street is the Hardeeville United Methodist Church, which dates back to 1860 and was restored in 1947.
The outdoors beckons visitors to Hardeeville. Millstone Landing overlooks the serene Savannah River, which is known as one of the best fishing spots in the South. While you are there, stop at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, which exists on both sides of the river in South Carolina and Georgia and is home to a variety of waterfowl and migratory birds. Dining options in Hardeeville include Hardeeville Chicken Lickn and Hunt Brothers Pizza, both on Whyte Hardee Boulevard. Hardeeville is accessible from Interstate 95.
Murrells Inlet
Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, is a historic fishing village known as the "Seafood Capital of South Carolina". The community is popular for its boardwalk and notable seafood restaurants, including The Claw House, Bovine's, and Wahoo's Fish House. Ecologically, Murrells Inlet was built upon a saltwater marsh estuary, a natural habitat for diverse marine life.
Outdoor lovers can participate in water and land activities in Murrells Inlet. Murell Boat cruises, fishing trips, parasailing, scuba diving, and jet skiing are just a few of the watersports offered here. Or, hike within the 2,500-acre coastal Huntington Beach State Park, where you will likely see some of the more than 300 species of birds residing. True bird enthusiasts might also consider visiting Murrells Inlet during its annual Birding Festival, held each February. Murrells Inlet is just off US Highway 17, south of Pawleys Island and Litchfield.
Cayce
Cayce is a town in the midlands of South Carolina, located along the Congaree River. It wasn't incorporated until 1914 but was a popular supply depot for the Confederate Army during the Civil War. The Cayce Historical Museum, a replica of a fort from 1765 used during the Revolutionary War, explores Cayce's history. Sports and music lovers might prefer visiting the Historic Columbia Speedway, a former NASCAR venue now hosting concerts and events.
Lots of outdoor recreation opportunities are available in Cayce. The Cayce Riverwalk Park includes the Cayce Riverwalk, spanning 12 miles along the Congaree River. Looking across the river, you can see South Carolina's larger capital city of Columbia. The Riverwalk is popular for hiking, biking, jogging, birding, and gazing at the area's wondrous natural beauty. Annual events in Cayce foster the community feeling of the town, and include the Soiree on State. This festival takes place each March and features music, art, food, and more. Cayce is easily accessible via I-77, I-20, and I-26.
Although these South Carolina towns are off the beaten path, that could be just the reason to visit. Hardeeville, in fact, is the fastest-growing municipality in the state, having increased its population by one-seventh in a year, per the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce. Other towns on this list, like Landrum, might have a small population but also have a large neighborly heart, welcoming visitors and new residents alike. Whether you plan to visit or potentially move there, each of these nine towns has many attractions to lure you in.
