There is no shortage of beautiful and quaint small towns in South Carolina, although they weren’t always as picture-perfect as they are now. A lot of our small towns and even small cities had hit some rough times over the past few decades. Buildings were falling down and in much disrepair. Miscreants had broken windows and vandalized the outside as well as the inside of beautiful timeless structures. But now, after a lot of care and hard work was put into place, these small towns are shining brighter than ever before. When downtown areas began their revitalization process over the years, more and more charming small towns in South Carolina came onto the scene, worthy of a day trip to explore. Come take a look at these beautiful small towns in South Carolina and see which ones you can cross off your bucket list.

1. Seneca, South Carolina
Let Ideas Compete/Flickr
Seneca, SC, USA
graywolfx47/Flickr
Seneca makes our list as one of the best small towns in South Carolina because it has been dubbed the mini-metropolis of the Upstate. It is a beautiful town mixing upscale flair with southern hospitality. Historic downtown Seneca is the place to be if you're one who really enjoys exploring little boutiques and dining in delightful restaurants.
2. Ninety Six, South Carolina
Townof Ninety Six/FB
Ninety Six, SC 29666, USA
Townof Ninety Six/FB
With a name like Ninety Six, there just has to be something special about it! The town is chock full of history from the war with the Cherokee Native American tribe all the way up to the Revolutionary War. The little town is absolutely beautiful with a historic downtown walking trail and many spots of interest.
3. Summerville, South Carolina
Ty Nigh/Flickr
Summerville, SC, USA
bonaircat/Flickr
Summerville is one of the most popular quaint towns in South Carolina for many reasons. Among them is the fact that when the residents of what is now a beautiful historic downtown saw that their dream was crumbling along with the vacant buildings, they threw on their hard hats and boots and got to work. Now, Summerville is the quintessential place you would love to be on any given day. You can't help but fall in love with this place.
4. Newberry, South Carolina
Leslie/Flickr
Allen Forrest/Flickr
The town square in charming Newberry is still where everyone meets in the afternoon for business and pleasure. Blocks upon blocks of buildings are all listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, each providing a unique insight into the history of the town and surrounding area. Visiting Newberry is like taking a trip back in time. There are little boutique shops and antique shops for you to browse through before heading to a production at the Newberry Opera House with dinner afterward. It's a very lovely place and we're sure you'll want to stay awhile!
5. Camden, South Carolina
Camden, SC 29020, USA
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Once you arrive here, you and your betrothed will fall in love all over again! Camden is a wonderful place to spend a weekend and it truly has it all with antebellum neighborhoods and historic sites. The downtown area is brimming with unique boutiques, museums, art galleries, and so much more. If you time your visits just right you will get to see world-class horse racing. Giddy up!
6. Ridgeway, South Carolina
Ridgeway, SC 29130, USA
ashliek/Flickr
Ridgeway, South Carolina, may be small, but this town packs a lot of punch! It is known to have the world's smallest police station, but they have so much more. We are talking about museums, boutique shopping, walking tour guides, and historic homes for you to see. They also have great art walks and exciting festivals year round which keep the town hopping. To add more to this, every first Friday they have something going on so you definitely won't lack things to do and enjoy.
7. Edgefield, South Carolina
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr

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Edgefield, SC 29824, USA
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Have you got the art bug? Then head on over to the quaint small town of Edgefield. This charming enclave has turned into quite the little place to be if you are an artist. They have not one, but two pottery studios that sell their own pieces as well as other art shops and boutiques. They even have a blacksmith! Antiques, historic sites, wonderful restaurants, and so much more are just the beginning of all the excitement here.
8. Gaffney, South Carolina
Sid Sowder/Flickr
Gaffney, SC, USA
Sid Sowder/Flickr
Gaffney, one of the best small towns in South Carolina, will delight you on all fronts. They definitely have shopping covered with 80+ stores in their shopping district. They are also home to Harold's which is a restaurant that has been featured on the Food Network. You'll also find many interesting historic sites such as Cowpens and Kings Mountain, just to name a few. Limestone's art and music departments are downtown as well as Gaffney's Little Theatre and there are many performances that happen for the public. And be sure not to miss a visit to The Big E,, a massive indoor playground that is absolutely mind-blowing! There is so much to do you could take a relaxing weekend and spend it here especially if you love the mountains and want to see those majestic views.
9. Bennettsville, South Carolina
Bennettsville, SC 29512, USA
Darryl Kenyon/Flickr
You might want to take your time and go ahead and make it a long, leisurely weekend vacation in Bennettsville. Take a room at a bed and breakfast. Then you can roam around at your leisure. Tour the historic downtown and sit back with a nice mug of hot coffee at any one of the little charming cafes they have there. You can then shop your way through downtown, stop for lunch, and take in a show.
10. Fort Mill, South Carolina
Amber Bren/Flickr
Fort Mill, SC, USA
Amber Bren/Flickr
Nestled between Charlotte, North Carolina, and Rock Hill, South Carolina, Fort Mill has made a name for itself. It has become a self-sufficient little town with beautiful parks, amazing shopping, and local restaurants. As far as naming the best quaint towns in South Carolina, this one must be on the list!
11. Union, South Carolina
Union, SC 29379, USA
Scott LePage/Flickr
Union, South Carolina is one of many small towns in the Upstate that has a vibrant downtown. Shops line the streets for your shopping and viewing pleasure. In fact, there are more than 100 shops! That's quite a bit for a town of this size. And don't forget the museums, art studios, and galleries. They will delight and surprise you at every turn.
12. Walterboro, South Carolina
Jon Dawson/Flickr
Walterboro, SC 29488, USA
PROOZinOH/Flickr
Walterboro is known as the historic small town that every South Carolinian should visit at least once! It has its own unique beauty as well as quite a busy downtown. Local diners are just waiting for you to pop in for a quick bite before heading back out again and they are serving up Lowcountry foods that you wouldn't expect to see. Don't forget to take home a piece of the past from one of many antique shops.
13. Abbeville, South Carolina
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr
Abbeville, SC 29620, USA
Bill Herndon/Flickr
Last but certainly not least on our list of the best small towns in South Carolina is Abbeville, South Carolina. Abbeville is one of those beautiful places that deserves to be explored more than once. The Downtown Abbeville area is made up of oodles of historic shops, taste tempting restaurants, charming boutiques, and so much more. The locals here are open and friendly, and invite you to come explore their town that is both historic and rich in natural beauty.

These are so much more than just a day trip in South Carolina. A weekend trip is more like it! Just get a nice little room at a bed and breakfast and settle in for a day or two. These small towns really pack a lot in them, so you wouldn’t want to miss anything.

Have you visited any of these beautiful small towns in South Carolina before? Share with us which ones were your favorite in the comments section!

If you’re looking for other great adventures in The Palmetto State, check out this totally cool lighthouse road trip itinerary!

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Quaint towns in South Carolina

Marisa Roman | August 27, 2021

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What is the capital of South Carolina?

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