Charming towns are what South Carolina is all about. When it was realized that a lot of our small towns were struggling, people came together and put into place a plan to revitalize them so they wouldn’t go the way of the Dodo bird. Now, we have some of the prettiest small towns on the east coast! But, they are not only pretty…they are thriving. Here are 15 of the best small towns in South Carolina that you should definitely visit if you get the chance.

1. York, SC
York, SC 29745, USA
Wikipedia
York is situated not too far from the North Carolina line. There is quite a bit of history in this place. It's quite a place to visit with the family, especially in the fall when the leaves are changing colors.
2. Bluffton, SC
Matt/Flickr
Bluffton, SC, USA
Wikipedia
Bluffton, where the historic meets the hippy scene. Bluffton is filled with beautiful homes, historic churches, and a poppin' art scene.
3. Edisto Island, SC
David B. Gleason/Flickr
Edisto Island, SC 29438, USA
Ken Ratcliff/Flickr
Edisto Island is not just a beach destination. There is a town there, but many don't see it because it's not on their radar. Edisto itself is a small, but charming town that has beautiful scenery.

4. Clemson, SC
Bart/Flickr
Clemson, SC, USA
Matthew Townsend/Flickr
Yes, Clemson is a college town and home to many students, but the downtown is so very nice with little shops to browse through. When you get hungry after all that walking, they have excellent restaurants. Don't forget SC Botanical Gardens, Fort Hill Plantation, and Bob Campbell Geology Museum.
5. Pendleton, SC
Pendleton, SC 29670, USA
Let Ideas Compete/Flickr
This entire town is on the National Register of Historic Places. You have to visit Palmetto Moonshine Zoo on the Roof after you tour the Farmer's Hall which is the center of the town square. Also, don't skip the Clemson Little Theater and the Agricultural Museum.
6. Travelers Rest, SC
Jason A G/Flickr
Travelers Rest, SC, USA
Jefferson Davis/Flickr
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Travelers Rest is a great example of what downtown revitalization can do for a place. Besides being the home of Furman University they also have the popular Swamp Rabbit Trail.

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7. McClellanville, SC
Daniel Bates/Flickr
McClellanville, SC 29458, USA
Daniel Bates/Flickr
McClellanville is a quaint fishing village located on the coast of South Carolina. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
8. Beaufort, SC
Beaufort, SC, USA
Henry de Saussure Copeland/Flickr
Beaufort is the small town that everyone thinks of when they think of South Carolina. It's rich in history just like all of our other towns, but it's lively and on the edge of being a small-big town. It was named in Southern Living Magazines's "Small Towns We Love".

9. Georgetown, SC
Georgetown, SC 29440, USA
SCFiasco/Flickr
Want history, art, and shopping? Visit Georgetown. They are really up and coming here making great strides in an economy that's lagging.
10. Greer, SC
Greer, SC, USA
jblaha/Flickr
Greer rests between Greenville and Spartanburg. Downtown is such a lovely and lively place with shopping and great food.
11. Clover, SC
Clover, SC 29710, USA
raymondclarkeimages/Flickr
Clover is a charming little place just south of North Carolina. Their main attraction is the fact that they are just minutes away from Carowinds, but that should be a bonus. Clover has a great downtown area full of shopping, antiques, and restaurants.
12. Aiken, SC
D.S. OWENS/Flickr
Aiken, SC, USA
Gene Bowker/Flickr
Aiken is a wonderful and beautiful southern town with a downtown to die for!
13. Mt. Pleasant, SC
Mount Pleasant, Mt Pleasant, SC, USA
Ken Lund/Flickr
Mt. Pleasant has to be the happiest town in South Carolina and surely stands up to its name of "Pleasant". The town is most definitely charming, but the people are the real charmers.

14. Cheraw, SC
Jimmy Emerson DVM/Flickr
Full of little shops and restaurants, you will quite enjoy visiting here. The tree-lined streets and town statues in this town are gorgeous.
15. Hartsville, SC
Hartsville, SC 29550, USA
City of Hartsville/FB
Hartsville has become something of a leader these days in sprucing up and cleaning out. It really is quite a beautiful little town to visit with small shops, great restaurants, and delicious bakeries.

It’s time to get out those roadmaps, Atlas, or GPS and find your way to some of the prettiest towns in South Carolina. You will love finding the heart of South Carolina in these small charming towns. If your favorite small town didn’t make the list, be sure to nominate it here.

If you are looking for more fun things to do in South Carolina, you should pack up the car for one of these South Carolina road trips. There is a themed adventure perfect for every type of person!

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More to Explore

Most Beautiful Small Towns In South Carolina

Leah | November 20, 2020

What is the smallest town in South Carolina?

These charming towns in South Carolina are considered small in various ways, but many of them might as well be cities in comparison to the tiniest town in the state. If you enjoy visiting small towns and want to check out the littlest one of them all for yourself, here it is: Smyrna, South Carolina. This itty bitty spot has only 45 residents. Despite this small number, it is an incorporated town. It's both small in population and actual size, taking up less than a square mile of space. Believe it or not, that tiny footprint is part of two counties since it straddles the line. It's certainly unique and fun to visit. It's the definition of a "blink and you'll miss it" type of town.

What is the largest city in South Carolina?

On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you've visited tiny towns but want ideas for South Carolina day trips, the state's big cities are certainly an option. By population, Columbia is technically the biggest with a population of around 130,000. However, if you count both Charleston and North Charleston as one city, then that takes the top prize. Together, they have a population of over 200,000. It's no secret that Charleston makes for an amazing day trip destination that you could spend tons of time in exploring the history, experiencing the food, and more. Columbia is also worth visiting for many reasons. It is the state capital, after all.

What is the most unique town in South Carolina?

Towns are great places to visit in South Carolina if you're looking for something a little different than the usual attractions. While some of these small towns are a dime a dozen, there are a few that truly stand out from the rest. The town of Pickens is one-of-a-kind. With just 3,000 residents, it has quite a few things to see and do. There are local trails and parks for those wanting to spend some time outdoors. Nature lovers out there will enjoy the beautiful waterfalls in the area. There are also historic attractions like the Hagood Mill and even petroglyphs. It's also home to the Pumpkintown Opry, an unusual yet totally fun roadside attraction.

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