Downtown Beaufort
Bay Street, the Point and the Woods Memorial Bridge hold the most film sites in the smallest space. See our Beaufort day trip page for the town.
About 40 miles, an hour from central Hilton Head.
Movies Filmed in Beaufort, SC, and the Lowcountry
Forrest Gump, The Great Santini and The Prince of Tides were all shot around Beaufort, an hour up the road from Hilton Head.
Beaufort, about 40 miles up the road from Hilton Head, has been a movie set for decades, and most of the best-known South Carolina films were shot in or near it. Movies filmed on Hilton Head itself are few. The island’s film history is mostly across the bridge, and this page and its guides to each film say what you can still see, what is private, and how far each site is from the island.
Movies Filmed Around Beaufort
The three films with their own guides are below. Forrest Gump (1994) used Beaufort, Hunting Island and Fripp Island. The Great Santini (1979) was set and shot in Beaufort. The Prince of Tides (1991) was filmed in Beaufort, on St. Helena Island and on Fripp Island. The Big Chill (1983) used the same Beaufort house as The Great Santini, and it is private, so it is viewed from the street.
Where Forrest Gump was filmed around Beaufort, SC: the bridge, Hunting Island and Fripp Island, which sites you can visit, and the drive from Hilton Head.
Where The Great Santini was filmed in Beaufort, SC: the Meechum house on the Point, the air station, Pat Conroy's Beaufort and the drive from Hilton Head.
The Prince of Tides cast and who played whom, plus where the 1991 film was shot in Beaufort, SC, on Fripp and St. Helena, and the drive from Hilton Head.
Where The Big Chill was filmed in Beaufort, SC: Tidalholm on the Point (a private home), Bay Street, the funeral church and the drive from Hilton Head.
Daughters of the Dust was shot on St. Helena Island near Beaufort. Julie Dash's film, the island, Penn Center and the drive from Hilton Head.
Pat Conroy's Beaufort: the Pat Conroy Literary Center, his books and the films made from them, Daufuskie, his grave and the drive from Hilton Head.
More Movies Shot Nearby
G.I. Jane (1997) was shot on Harbor Island and Hunting Island. The Big Chill was filmed in Beaufort’s historic district. The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000) was filmed at Colleton River Plantation in Bluffton, a short drive from Hilton Head. The South Carolina Film Commission keeps a longer list.
Books Set in the Lowcountry
Pat Conroy, who lived in Beaufort, set all of his books in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Two became films covered here. The Water Is Wide is about his year of teaching on Daufuskie Island (see The Water Is Wide). Beach Music (1995) is a Lowcountry novel as well, and South of Broad and The Lords of Discipline are set in Charleston.
Beaufort International Film Festival
The Beaufort International Film Festival has run every February since 2007, with screenings at the USC Beaufort Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret Street, the same building seen in Forrest Gump. Check the festival’s own site for each year’s dates and lineup.
A Film-Sites Day Trip From Hilton Head
Hunting Island State Park
The beach and lagoon seen in the Vietnam scenes of Forrest Gump, and in G.I. Jane, and a state park open to everyone.
About 55 miles, an hour and 20 minutes.
Savannah, Georgia
The Chippewa Square bench scenes of Forrest Gump, in a city that has plenty of its own screen history.
About 37 miles, an hour.
Hilton Head to Beaufort is under an hour: the drive, the waterfront, carriage tours, Penn Center, Old Sheldon Church and Hunting Island.
Hilton Head to Savannah is about an hour by car, or a morning ferry to River Street. Distances, the two boats, parking and what to see in a day.
Hunting Island State Park is about 70 minutes from Hilton Head: climb SC's only public lighthouse, walk Boneyard Beach, camp, plus hours and admission.
Beaufort to Hilton Head is about 33 miles, under an hour: the route over the Broad River, when to cross the bridges and which beaches to pick.
The Water Is Wide book and Pat Conroy's year on Daufuskie Island: where he taught, the Conrack movie, and how to visit the Mary Field School today.
Things to do in Hilton Head, SC: boat tours, fishing, water sports, parks, history, shopping and family fun, sorted by type, with tours to book online.
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies were filmed in Beaufort, SC?
Forrest Gump, The Great Santini, The Prince of Tides, The Big Chill and G.I. Jane were all shot in and around Beaufort, along with scenes from other films. Each of the first three has its own guide on this site.
Were any movies filmed on Hilton Head Island?
Very few. The best-known film sites are in Beaufort, about 40 miles away, and The Legend of Bagger Vance was shot at Colleton River Plantation in Bluffton, just off the island.
How far is Beaufort from Hilton Head?
About 40 miles, roughly an hour’s drive from central Hilton Head with no traffic.
Can you go inside the houses from the movies?
Mostly no. The houses in The Great Santini, The Big Chill and The Prince of Tides are private homes, so they are viewed from the public street.
When is the Beaufort film festival?
The Beaufort International Film Festival is held every February. Check the festival’s own site for each year’s dates and venues.
Local guides like this come standard for Guests of Partner Properties — one small part of what a Partner Property gives every guest.
Book Partner Properties