These Small Towns in South Carolina Come Alive in Summer
South Carolina is full of sleepy little towns that boom with activity in the summer months. Whether your idea of a good vacation is long days slumbering on the beaches of the State Lower Coastal Plain, strolling down historic main streets in search of antiques and local histories, or racing through the rough-rolling bike paths of the Blue Ridge Mountains, there’s an option for you in this southeastern state. These are ten small towns in South Carolina that bustle with life in the summer seasons.
Travelers Rest
The small and aptly named Travelers Rest explodes with activity every summer as vacationers flock to the mountainside town of about 8,750 people. The biggest draw for the little town’s visitors is the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail, a 28-mile network of bike paths connecting Travellers Rest, Fountain Inn, and Greenville, all of which rest in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Escarpment. According to the Greenville Parks and Recreation Department, almost 2 million people use the trail each year. This favorite of American travelers is a hiker and biker’s paradise, with the popular Table Rock and Jones Gap state parks each about 16 miles away. Travelers Rest. Need a few supplies before hitting the trail? Sunrift Adventures is South Carolina’s oldest outdoor store, built in a repurposed cotton gin in the town’s downtown core. For a sample of local crafts and produce, visitors have plenty of options at the town’s Saturday Farmer’s Market, which hosts more than 70 vendors each week.
Beaufort
Almost 13,500 people call the beautiful Beaufort their home, but many more fill its parks and streets in the summer. Beaufort is on Port Royal Island off the Atlantic Coast of South Carolina. Nearby Hunting Island State Park, with its soft sandy shores and blue lagoons, attracts over 1 million visitors each year, but those looking for a peaceful spot to go fishing may try Land's End Beach on the shores of St. Helena Island. While there, it is worth a stroll down The Avenue of Oaks, also on St. Helena. The lush, canopied trail is a favorite of local nature lovers and ends at the historic Coffin Point Plantation. The natural saltwater marshes that surround Beaufort make for excellent kayaking routes. Beaufort Kayak Tours runs year-round tours of the swamps and surrounding waterways.
Sullivan’s Island
Another seaside getaway, only about 2000 people live in little Sullivan’s Island, just 9 miles east of downtown Charleston. But every summer, the sleepy little town turns into a beehive of activity as millions of vacationers flock to the island and the wider Charleston area to soak up the sun. This incredible vacation spot tucked into the Charleston harbor has 2.5 miles of sandy beaches to serve swimmers, surfers, and beach bums alike. History buffs, on the other hand, maybe more drawn to the town’s rich heritage. The island was founded in the 17th century by Captain Florence O'Sullivan, and its own Fort Moultrie served as a key stronghold in the defense of nearby Charleston during the American Revolution. The island paradise is also home to excellent cuisine, including the Baja-inspired fanfare at Mex 1 and the fresh-caught seafood of The Longboard.
Georgetown
Follow Highway 17 North from Charleston for about 60 miles, and you’ll find the small beachside city of Georgetown. Though it’s home to just about 8,700 people, its historic charm and natural beauty make it a hot vacation spot. As the third oldest city in South Carolina, Georgetown is a treasure trove of old architecture, boasting more than 250 historic homes, 60 of which are registered national historic sites. Stop by the uniquely historical Rice Museum on Front Street to learn about the town’s history of plantation slavery. Front Street, with rows of oak trees on either side, is a destination in its own right, having previously been named “America’s Best Coastal Small Town” by USA Today. Nautical enthusiasts should hit up the South Carolina Maritime Museum in October to see the annual wooden boat show, which features more than 100 displays of classic wooden boats, a youth regatta, children’s ship modeling workshops and more. A romantic sunset walk along the harbor is a great way to end your day in Georgetown.
Edisto Beach
Tiny Edisto Beach is one of the best spots for cottagers and beaches in all of South Carolina. Home to less than 1,000 locals, it is one of the state Lowcountry’s best-kept secrets. The beach town is at the end of the Edisto River, which empties into the Atlantic Coast. Visitors to the beach cottage town are drawn in by the town’s slow pace and quiet atmosphere. It is home to one of the state’s few undeveloped beaches at Edisto Beach State Park. The park is also great for bikers and hikers, with over four miles of trail available for their exploration. The local creeks and waterways are also excellent for kayakers, and visitors may choose to book a tour of them with one of the township’s various guides. Though there are no hotels in the little community, the state park offers lots of accommodations for RVs and campers, and many of the beachside cottages are available for short-term stays.
Daufuskie Island
Less than 700 people live on Daufuskie Island, South Carolina, but many more go for a visit when the summers get hot. The only way to the island is by ferry, making it a perfect secluded getaway for people who like a slower vacation. The island is home to three miles of unspoiled, soft sandy beaches. The Bloody Point Lighthouse and Museum, at the island’s southern tip, is worth a stop for history lovers who’d like to learn a little more about the island’s history. Foodies will be delighted by The Old Daufuskie Crab Company Restaurant, a culinary treasure serving up seafood staples like fried shrimp, oysters, and the restaurant’s signature deviled crab.
Bluffton
A little on the larger side as far as vacation towns go, Bluffton is a little further inland than Daufuskie Island and is home to about 35,000 souls. In the heart of Lowcountry, the holiday hub is rich with history. It was a hotbed of secessionist rhetoric leading up to the Civil War. In fact, nearly two-thirds of the town was destroyed during the war, but it experienced an economic resurgence in the early 1900s due to the local Oyster harvesting industry. At more than 150 years old, the Church Of The Cross is one of the town’s oldest surviving witnesses of that storied history. Bluffton sits on the May River Waterway and is a great place to go kayaking, sailing, or Dolphin watching. Vacationers may be interested in staying at one of the town’s acclaimed resorts, like the Montage Palmetto Bluff, which has a gorgeous view of the town's waterfront.
Seneca
Seneca is home to less than 9,000 people year-round, but many more call it a home away from home in the summertime. On the southern shore of Lake Keowee, Seneca is a natural choice for anglers, fishers, swimmers, and paddlers. The lake has 300 miles of shoreline to explore and provides almost endless recreational space for cottagers. Visitors also have quick, easy access to Lake Hartwell State Park, 16 miles to the South, near the Georgian border. Though both are excellent fishing spots, Lake Hartwell is especially so and is regularly used to stage professional fishing tournaments. At about 25 miles North, Devil’s Fork State Park is a little further away, but those who make the trip will be treated to breathtaking views of Lake Jocassee and its waterfalls. After spending the hottest part of the day hiking and swimming, visitors may journey into Seneca’s historic Ram Cat Alley, a downtown hub of shops, restaurants, and local businesses.
Walhalla
Resting in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the 4,000 residents of Walhalla have access to some of the best biking and hiking trails in the state. Walhalla, Norse for “Garden of the Gods,” has lots to offer adventurers, with an abundance of local parks to choose from. Follow Highway 28 southwest for about 5.5 miles, and you’ll find Stumphouse Mountain Park and the historic Stumphouse Tunnel. Construction on the tunnel began in the 1830s and was designed to connect railways from Charleston to as far away as Knoxville, Tennessee. The project was abandoned during the Civil War after the State economy tanked. The tunnel and nearby Issaqueena Falls are essential sites for day-trippers. Though summer is perhaps the best time for mountain bikers to visit, the town also holds an annual Oktoberfest, making fall trips a viable option as well.
Bennetsville
At the edge of Marlboro County on the southern shore of Lake Paul A. Wallace, Bennetsville is a cute little home away from home for summer vacationers. With less than 7000 people to call it home, Bennetsville is also one of the best small towns for visitors in South Carolina. Vacationers have plenty to do at the nearby lake, including swimming, sailing, water skiing, and fishing. The local Marlboro Country Club is also a great spot for golfers looking to squeeze in a few swings on vacation. Bennettsville is home to the Marlboro County Museum, where people can learn about the town and the surrounding county’s history as an agricultural powerhouse. Your inner historian will feel right at home walking down Main Street, where Union Major General Frank Blair and General William Tecumseh Sherman used the town courthouse as an operations center during the Civil War.
Embracing South Carolina's Summer Towns
South Carolina is awash with cute little towns, which many travelers and vacations are already calling their home-away-from-home. The lush sandy shores of Edisto Beach and Sullivan’s Island bring in visitors just as well as the historic architecture of quaint Travellers Rest and Georgetown’s Front Street. These little towns are the perfect retreat from the everyday, offering the excitement of crashing Atlantic waves and rolling mountains, as well as the slow, sleepy pace of old-world architecture and sunset walks. Though tiny on the outside, these ten towns have big hearts and tons to offer the avid traveler.
