These 12 Towns In South Carolina Feel Like Home
South Carolina, a topographically varied coastal state in the Southeastern US, stands out for the lofty Blue Ridge Mountains in the northwest, the undulating Piedmont in the center, the Carolina Sandhills on the Piedmont’s edge, and the Atlantic Coastal Plains in the south and east. Nonetheless, peppering the Palmetto State’s fantastical terrain are countless idyllic communities that make every out-of-towner feel less like guests and more like next-door neighbors. Each of these pleasant communities with less than 20,000 inhabitants (as per the U.S. Census) and boasting thriving family-owned businesses in the central business districts, unspoiled natural marvels, Main Street dining venues serving delectable hearty meals, plenteous green spaces for open-air activities, and above all, southern friendliness, will make everyone feel truly at home.
McClellanville
Set near the Atlantic Coast and abutted by the Francis Marion National Forest, McClellanville is a serene fishing town in the northeastern part of the pastoral Charleston County, just an hour away from Downtown Charleston and a little more than an hour from Myrtle Beach. Owing to the town’s attractive setting, the community denizens have traditionally depended on the mighty Atlantic and coastal marshes for livelihood by fishing, shrimping, and oystering.
While on a sightseeing tour of this town of less than 1,000 inhabitants, pop in at the Village Museum, often hailed as one of South Carolina’s outstanding small-town museums, where exhibits tell the stories of the local history of the St. James Santee Parish and the Village of McClellanville. Addedly, at the McClellanville Arts Council, check out the awe-inspiring creations of community artists, and treat yourself with appetizing fried and grilled seafood at the nearby T.W. Graham & Company Seafood Restaurant.
Edisto Beach
A tranquil coastal retreat in Colleton County, Edisto Beach is a bedroom community and one of South Carolina’s most frequented family-oriented beach destinations, which includes Edisto Island’s developed coastal portion within the town limits. Spread over an area of 1,255 acres, the Edisto Beach State Park offers miles of sandy shoreline, handicap-accessible hiking and biking trails, and profuse outdoor recreations like boating, surf fishing, picnicking, and avian watching, makint it a must-visit for both residents and travelers.
Drop in to see a variety of reptilian species at the Edisto Island Serpentarium, discover more about Edisto’s historic legacy at the Edisto Island Museum, and smack scrumptious seafood, burgers, and homemade potato chips, besides beer & spirits at Whaley’s Restaurant & Bar.
Landrum
Founded in 1880 and titled for the Baptist pastor John Gill Landrum, this alluring Spartanburg County town tucked against a mesmerizing backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains is directly west of the Interstate 26 highway and located between Spartanburg and the North Carolinian city of Asheville. Exuding small-town magnetism and countryside warmth, Downtown Landrum invites vacationers to procure antiques from the Landrum Antique Mall, versatile women's clothing from Blush & Bashful Boutique, and assorted American fare from The Hare & Hound.
Nature lovers must set out on a drive through the softly curving hills and lush agricultural fields to spectate Campbell’s Covered Bridge as it's South Carolina’s sole remaining covered bridge crossing the Beaverdam Creek off Pleasant Hill Road. For a taste of the local flavor, join the community members on Saturdays at the Landrum Farmers Market for fresh agricultural products, handmade crafts from small-scale producers, and amicable conversations.
Pendleton
An enthralling upcountry alpine settlement in Anderson County named after jurist Henry Pendleton, Pendleton is situated on the northeast area of Lake Hartwell, just southeast of Clemson. Encompassing the entire settlement, its immediate environs, plus vast expanses to the west towards Lake Hartwell, is the Pendleton Historic District, featuring immaculately maintained 18th and 19th-century homes. Among these historic homes is the antebellum Woodburn Plantation, the former summer residence of American statesman Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, and the Lowcountry-style Ashtabula plantation house, constructed for a Charleston family and now offering guided tours. Moreover, inspect the Town Square’s plentitudinous vintage shops like Pendleton Place Antiques, and ingest brisket & pork platters and barbecued ribs at The Smokin’ Pig restaurant.
Travelers Rest
Located at the Blue Ridge Mountains’ southern base in South Carolina’s Upcountry region, almost 20 miles south of the state boundary with North Carolina, is Travelers Rest, the northernmost community in Greenville County. Formerly a haven for exhausted itinerants who sought refuge in the cool upland areas, escaping the lingering summer heat, the town rightly lives up to its name as a sheltered sanctuary for adventure enthusiasts, gastronomy aficionados, and compassionate souls.
The town’s highlighted feature is the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail, a 28-mile multi-use cycling, biking, and walking greenway that traverses city parks and an archaic railroad corridor along the Wilson Creek and Reedy River, connecting the town to the nearby Greenville. The proximate 1,540-acre Paris Mountain State Park is best for hiking, picnicking, and swimming activities, while the White Rabbit Fine Art Gallery in downtown is apt for all your gifting requirements. The farm-to-table Topsoil Restaurant is perfect for a memorable dining experience.
Hartsville
Founded by Captain Thomas E. Hart, this Darlington County town is situated in the state’s northeastern portion by the Prestwood Lake and proudly endorses their motto: "A small town with a big heart." Recognized as an All-America City by the National Civic League, Hartsville is crammed with dozens of historically significant buildings, such as the J.B. Gilbert House, a two-story Tudor Revival-style residence built in 1929 for illustrious Hartsville businessman John Barton Gilbert.
Go for a relaxing amble through Kalmia Gardens on the scenic campus of Coker University, a luxuriant 35-acre botanical garden spotlighting several ornamental floral species, undisturbed trails, views of Black Creek, and at the center, the Thomas E. Hart House, the town founder’s residence. Likewise, taste classic southern eats at the homey Marilyn’s Kitchen, and from November 20 to 22, 2025, attend the three-day annual Heart of the Holidays Festival in the downtown area.
Georgetown
Seamlessly blending maritime ambiance with time-honored history, Georgetown, the third-oldest town of the state, and the second-largest seaport, is located close to where the Black, Waccamaw, Great Pee Dee, and Sampit Rivers drain into the Winyah Bay in the Lowcountry region. The National Register-listed historic district of Georgetown County’s administrative center is packed with countless exquisitely preserved architectural treasures like the Georgetown County Courthouse and Prince George Winyah Episcopal Church. Embark on a guided tour of the Kaminski House Museum, delving deeper into the town’s interesting past through educational programs, fantastic antiques, one-of-a-kind gifts, and historical presentations.
Explore the multifarious artifacts, maps, paintings, and dioramas chronicling Georgetown’s rice farming history at the Rice Museum housed in the Old Market Building, a Classical Revival-style temple-form building in the Front Street Business District. The Harborwalk, a four-block-long boardwalk, provides ample opportunities to peruse the many small businesses, stroll along the waterfront, witness a phenomenal sunset, and take in sweeping views of the Georgetown Harbor.
York
York, endearingly known as “The White Rose City,” is the York County seat, set approximately 30 miles southwest of the populous Charlotte and 15 miles west of Rock Hill. Downtown York, placed near several Revolutionary War battle sites, is one of the most extensive historic districts in the state. The area contains over 180 contributing properties, including the Classical Revival style York County Courthouse designed by American architect William Augustus Edwards.
Plus, not to be missed are downtown’s multitudinous women’s clothing stores like the Blush Blossom Boutique, and family-centric sports-themed restaurants like Towne Tavern York. Here, one can feast on beer-battered fish ‘n chips, sizzlin’ fajitas, numerous chicken wing flavors, and entrée salads.
Beaufort
Beaufort County’s administrative capital, Beaufort, located amidst a marshy estuary on Port Royal Island at the heart of the Sea Islands and the Lowcountry region, is the second-oldest city in South Carolina. Epithetted the “Queen of the Carolina Sea Islands,” the town is lauded for its enchanting backdrops, a strong antebellum heritage, booming cultures, and seafront fine dining establishments such as Plums Restaurant serving Lowcountry cuisines and southern comfort food.
When in town, roam the Beaufort Historic District’s moss-draped live oak tree-lined streets, sighting long-standing structures like the Federal and Greek Revival style Rhett House Inn in The Point neighborhood and the art deco U.S. District Courthouse in The Bluff neighborhood. Visit the Beaufort History Museum in an 18th-century Arsenal to learn more about Beaufort’s history & culture, and spend some time at the extolled riverfront Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, which presents a landscaped green space excellent as a peaceful utopia for all visitors.
Clemson
Spanning Pickens and Anderson Counties, Clemson, a spirited college town situated right on the shores of Lake Hartwell at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, forms a portion of the Palmetto State’s Upstate region. In addition to housing the aesthetic campus of Clemson University, the town is widely known for remarkable attractions such as the Fort Hill Plantation, the preserved residence of the U.S. Vice President John Caldwell Calhoun, providing a glimpse into 19th-century Southern life. There's also the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts, where world-class professional dance, theater, and musical performances are hosted in the spacious auditorium during the academic year.
Furthermore, hit balls into a series of holes at the 18-hole championship John E. Walker Sr. Golf Course and watch a game played at the Memorial Stadium, also known as "Death Valley," by the Clemson Tigers football team.
Cheraw
Dubbed “The Prettiest Town in Dixie,” Cheraw is located at the fall line of the 232-mile-long Pee Dee River, in the eastern part of northeast South Carolina’s Chesterfield County. Wander through the National Register-listed Cheraw Historic District, noting the multiple early frame houses, antebellum structures, and Victorian properties that tell tales of the town’s storied past. Cheraw’s historic streets reverberate with the rhythmic cadence of jazz, venerating the local jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie at the yearly South Carolina Jazz Festival and with a 7-foot-tall bronze statue on the town green.
Behold the eclectic collection of regional artifacts at the Cheraw Lyceum Museum, relish native delicacies at Woos & Keems Soulfood Restaurant LLC, and play a round of golf in the championship golf courses, hike or bike picturesque trails, and paddle across Lake Juniper in a canoe at the Cheraw State Park.
Camden
The Palmetto State’s oldest inland city, Camden, the largest settlement and the government seat of Kershaw County, located southeast of the Wateree Lake, has been a destination for adrenaline-fueled adventures, unforgettable experiences, and timeless Southern charm for centuries. As the “Steeplechase Capital of the World,” this small town is also home to the National Steeplechase Museum, the sole U.S. Museum dedicated to every little thing about steeplechase.
Step back in time at the Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site, a 104-acre site maintained as an open-air museum, where visitors get to see restored colonial-era properties, a blacksmith exhibit, and reconstructed military fortifications. Stroll through Camden’s Cultural District, checking out exhibits on the African American community at the African American Cultural Center of Camden, and shopping for antiques from the Menagerie Antiques & Collectibles store on Broad Street.
From Travelers Rest, a mountain-framed community in the Upstate, to Edisto Beach, a seaside escape in the Lowcountry, each Palmetto State town nurtures a spirit of inclusiveness. In these 12 towns, you are sure to find a genuine sense of belonging where warm-hearted neighbors give friendly waves from porticoes, local culinary wizards identify frequent customers by name, and life flows at an easy-going pace. Whether you are interested in surveying the appealing points of interest in the historic districts, savor satisfying fare in local diners, or show up at seasonal celebrations, make yourself at home in these South Carolina towns.
