Port Royal, South Carolina
Port Royal is a town of 15,579 people in Beaufort County, South Carolina.
Why visit Port Royal
Townapedia lists 27 museums and landmarks, 21 parks and trails, 15 places to eat, 3 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Richard V. Woods Memorial Bridge, Broad River Bridge, Beaufort National Cemetery and Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 91°F; January lows average 41°F.
Weather in Port Royal
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Port Royal
Port Royal is a town on Port Royal Island in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 14,220 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Hilton Head Island metropolitan area. Port Royal is home to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and United States Naval Hospital Beaufort.
From the Wikipedia article Port Royal, South Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
Richard V. Woods Memorial Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 5.3 mi
Bridge in United States of America
Broad River Bridge
Bridge · 5.4 mi
Bridge in United States of America
Parris Island Range Lights
Lighthouse · 3.1 mi
Lighthouse in South Carolina, United States
Museums and landmarks27
Beaufort National Cemetery
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.5 mi
Historic veterans cemetery in Beaufort County, South Carolina
Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.6 mi
Archaeological site in South Carolina, United States
Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
South Carolina
Fort Fremont Battery
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.7 mi
Historic fortification in South Carolina, USA
Fort Fremont Hospital
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.5 mi
Hospital in South Carolina, United States
Isaac Fripp House Ruins
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Historic ruin in South Carolina, United States
John A. Cuthbert House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.6 mi
House in Beaufort, South Carolina
John Mark Verdier House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.5 mi
Historic house in South Carolina, United States
Orange Grove Plantation
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.7 mi
Listed on the NRHP in Beaufort County, South Carolina
Parris Island Drydock and Commanding General's House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.6 mi
Historic military structures in South Carolina, USA
Riverside Plantation Tabby Ruins
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.2 mi
Frogmore, South Carolina, listed on the NRHP in South Carolina
15 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds21
9 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes15
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3 more on the map.
History
Port Royal takes its name from the adjacent Port Royal Sound, which was explored and named by Frenchman Jean Ribault in 1562. Ribault founded the short-lived settlement of Charlesfort on Parris Island. The area later became the site of a Spanish and still later Scottish colony during the 17th century.
Port Royal was the site of the Naval Battle of Port Royal during the Civil War. Later during the war, it was one of the sites of the Port Royal Experiment, which included most of the Sea Islands in Union hands. In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was first read at Christmas under the Proclamation tree in Port Royal.
From the History section of Port Royal, South Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay3
Days Inn by Wyndham Port Royal/near Parris Island
Motel and hotel · 2.3 mi
1660 Ribaut Road, Port Royal
Churches and places of worship13
Union Church of Port Royal
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.6 mi
Cross Community Church
Church · Southern Baptist · 2.2 mi
31 Shell Point Recreation Pike, Beaufort
St. Mark's Episcopal Church
Church · Episcopal · 1.6 mi
1004 11th Street, Port Royal
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries16
Healthcare2
Map of Port Royal
102 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61°F | 41°F | 3.5 in |
| Feb | 64°F | 44°F | 3.1 in |
| Mar | 72°F | 49°F | 3.8 in |
| Apr | 77°F | 56°F | 3.2 in |
| May | 84°F | 66°F | 3.3 in |
| Jun | 89°F | 72°F | 5.8 in |
| Jul | 91°F | 75°F | 5.8 in |
| Aug | 90°F | 74°F | 7.1 in |
| Sep | 86°F | 70°F | 5.2 in |
| Oct | 79°F | 61°F | 4.3 in |
| Nov | 70°F | 51°F | 2.5 in |
| Dec | 62°F | 44°F | 3.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Beaufort Wwtp Hcn (3 mi away), rain and snow from Hilton Head Island 4.0 N, NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Beaufort County has had 21 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-23: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-29: Hurricane Helene (Hurricane)
- 2024-09-29: Tropical Storm Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-05: Hurricane Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2023-08-31: Hurricane Idalia (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Beaufort Executive Airport (BFT) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 6 miles away.
- Beaufort 7 mi north, about 11 min by car
- Hardeeville 21 mi west, about 33 min by car
- Wilmington Island 29 mi southwest, about 47 min by car
- Rincon 31 mi west, about 51 min by car
- Port Wentworth 32 mi west, about 51 min by car
- Garden City 33 mi southwest, about 54 min by car
- Savannah 37 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
- Pooler 37 mi southwest, about 59 min by car
- Georgetown 40 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
- Charleston 53 mi northeast, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Port Royal, SC City Government Offices, Thomson200, CC0
- Lewis Hine, Bertha, six year old oyster shucker, Port Royal, South Carolina, 1912, Lewis Hine, Public domain
- Union Church of Port Royal, Bill Fitzpatrick, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 20220225 38 Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC, David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
- Emancipation Day, NPS, Public domain
- Woods Memorial Bridge, Cantbeatpie at English Wikipedia, GFDL
- Beaufortnatcem, Gnhn ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Fort Fremont Hospital, Bill Fitzpatrick, CC BY-SA 3.0
- John A. Cuthbert House, Elisa.rolle, CC BY-SA 4.0
- John Mark Verdier House, Elisa.rolle, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fort Charles, Arman Manookian, Public domain
- Fort Fremont Battery, Bill Fitzpatrick, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Anchorage, Bill Fitzpatrick, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Parris Island Museum Exhibit 001, U.S. Marine Corps, Public domain
- 05 Kazoo Museum Beaufort SC 6588 (12385969035), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- Parris Island Graduation, Marcleonti, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Flickr - DVIDSHUB - Bravo Company shoots down Khe Sanh event (Image 3 of 6), DVIDSHUB, Public domain
- Flickr - DVIDSHUB - Depot Marine named honor grad of Corporals Course (Image 2 of 4), DVIDSHUB, Public domain
- Flickr - DVIDSHUB - DI School graduates newest 'Hats' (Image 1 of 5), DVIDSHUB, Public domain
- Flickr - DVIDSHUB - Taking the Final Step (Image 8 of 11), DVIDSHUB, CC BY 2.0
- Flickr - DVIDSHUB - Mike Company recruits battle Fallujah Resupply (Image 4 of 5), DVIDSHUB, CC BY 2.0
- F W Scheper Store, Bill Fitzpatrick, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ISS018-E-43149 - View of The State of Georgia, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS050-E-29566 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS047-E-71460 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS051-E-42149 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
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