On the Atlantic coast, South Carolina beaches offer a variety of beach activities including the beautiful beaches in South Carolina's Lowcountry like Hilton Head Island and Hunting Island State Park that feature nature trails, salt marshes and maritime forests that offer opportunities for hiking, biking, wildlife viewing and kayaking. You'll also find sandy beaches with plenty of amenities like ice cream shops, nearby restaurants and beach chair rentals at Kiawah Island, Surfside Beach and Myrtle Beach. There is pier fishing, surf fishing and boardwalks. There are even spots great for water activities like surfing.
Keep reading to find out more about the best beaches in South Carolina, things to do and great AAA Diamond properties to stay.
1. Hilton Head Island
About 45 minutes north of Savannah, Georgia, you'll reach Hilton Head Island. The popular South Carolina beach destination has 12 miles of beaches — where the water is generally calm — along with salt marshes and opportunities for kayaking, fishing and birding. To top it off, the island has more than 20 golf courses.
The current tends to be gentle, making the island in the Lowcountry a popular family-friendly spot. If you want to swim in the ocean, you'll find designated swimming areas located at Alder Lane, Coligny, Driessen and Islanders beaches. Coligny Beach is Hilton Head's most popular beach, and both Driessen Beach Park and Islanders Beach Park have playgrounds. For nature viewing, visit Fish Haul Beach, which features an observation deck that overlooks the salt marshes, where it's possible to spot dolphins, manatees and loggerhead sea turtles. Kayak tours in the marshes are a fun thing to do.
- Location: About 45 minutes north of Savanah, Georgia, and about 2 hours and 30 minutes south of Charleston, South Carolina
- Lifeguard: Yes, lifeguards are on duty seasonally (April-September) at Alder Lane, Coligny, Driessen and Islanders beaches.
- Where to stay:
- Hilton Beachfront Resort & Spa Hilton Head Island, Three Diamond
- Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort, Four Diamond
- Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island, Three Diamond
2. Hunting Island State Park
More than just a beach, Hunting Island State Park offers 8 miles of trails for both hiking and biking, a boardwalk trail through the salt marsh, an equestrian trail and a saltwater lagoon. The trails offer opportunities for wildlife viewing and birding; pack bug repellant. To learn more about the park's wildlife, visit the nature center, which has live animal exhibits. Movie buffs will be interested to know that scenes of the movie “Forrest Gump,” set during the Vietnam War, were filmed here.
The island features 5 miles of beach, but there is no designated swimming area. Pay attention to the beach warning flags for hazard levels, as rip currents at the park can be strong. The white sand is soft and perfect for lounging. A fishing pier is located at Fripp Inlet.
- Location: About 30 minutes east of Beaufort and 2 hours south of Charleston
- Lifeguard: No
- Where to stay:
- The Cuthbert House, Four Diamond
- Anchorage 1770 Inn, Three Diamond
- Best Western Sea Island Inn, Three Diamond
3. Kiawah Island
Part of South Carolina's Low Country, Kiawah Island is a barrier island off the coast of South Carolina and has 10 miles of coastline. The wide and sandy beaches are a mix of private and public access. Public access is at West Beach at Beachwalker Park. There is a fee to park, and in season, there's a snack bar as well as chair and umbrella rentals. For a unique experience, head to Captain Sams Inlet at low tide for the chance to watch bottlenose dolphins strand feed: Dolphins chase fish ashore and then swim up to feed on them. It is important to keep your distance during this process. People on land must stay 15 yards away from dolphins and 50 yards away if in watercraft.
Kiawah Island also offers activities off the beach. There are miles of paved bike trails and maritime forest to spot wildlife. If you stay at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, you'll have access to all the resort activities and amenities, and even if you aren't a resort guest, you can enjoy some of what the resort has to offer such as golfing at any of the five golf courses.
- Location: Kiawah Island is about 1 hour south of Charleston along the South Carolina coast.
- Lifeguard: Beachwalker Park has a lifeguard on duty seasonally.
- Where to stay: The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Five Diamond, Inspector's Best: Personal Favorite
4. Folly Beach
Folly Beach is a South Carolina town that offers a mix of lounging, fishing and birding. The Folly Beach Fishing Pier is over 1,000 feet long. You can walk the pier while trying a sweet treat from the ice cream shop and enjoying views of the Atlantic Ocean. You may even spot bottlenose dolphins! The pier's tackle shop has fishing rods available for rent.
Another popular South Carolina beach is at Folly Beach County Park. Beach chairs and umbrellas are available to rent, and the park has amenities such as outdoor showers, public restrooms and a snack bar that's open seasonally. Surfing and boogie boarding are popular pastimes.
- Location: About 30 minutes south of Charleston
- Lifeguard: Yes, seasonally
- Where to stay:
- Water's Edge Inn, Three Diamond
- Tides Folly Beach, Three Diamond
5. Sullivan's Island
Nearby Charleston is Sullivan's Island with an attractive beach frequented by locals looking for a relaxing day and visitors of Charleston wanting to revel in coastal activities. The small island is fun to bike, and golf cart rentals are available. On the beach, kite surfers, sailboarders and other recreational watercraft users enjoy the Atlantic Ocean in designated areas. Rentals of personal watercraft, golf carts, bicycles and beach chairs are available.
Beachgoers can enjoy the lighthouse, a popular landmark, and the nearby restaurants. Off the beach, you can visit Fort Moultrie with its history dating back to the American Revolution.
- Location: About 25 minutes from Charleston
- Lifeguard: No
- Where to stay:
- The Restoration, Four Diamond, Inspector's Best Personal Favorite
- The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina, Four Diamond, Inspector's Best Scenic View
- Andrew Pinckney Inn, Three Diamond, Inspector's Best: Personal Favorite
6. Huntington Beach State Park
Huntington Beach State Park offers many activities. At the wide sandy beach, park visitors can enjoy surf fishing, swimming and sunbathing. Near the beach's south access point is an ice cream shop and gift shop with refreshments and snacks. The park also features hiking paths, a bike path and boardwalk trails through the salt marsh and the freshwater lagoon. Kayak tours of the salt marsh are offered in addition to programs about birds and wildlife in the park. The park's nature center has exhibits about Hunting Beach State Park's birds and alligators as well as a touch tank.
- Location: 30 to 40 minutes south of Myrtle Beach
- Lifeguard: No
- Suggested activities: 2-Hour Guided Segway Tour of Huntington Beach State Park
7. Surfside Beach
The South Carolina town of Surfside Beach is a family-friendly locale that has two miles of wide beaches, and the town prides itself as an autism-friendly travel destination. Visitors can get to the beach from over 30 public access points served by paid parking lots. A popular spot is the Surfside Beach Fishing Pier that offers dining, including an ice cream shop. The pier is free to access, but there is a fee to fish, payable at the pier's tackle shop.
Off the beach, you can find plenty of dining options and playgrounds for kids. There's also shopping at some antique stores and an open-air flea market.
- Location: Just south of Myrtle Beach
- Lifeguard: Yes
- Where to stay: Holiday Inn Oceanfront at Surfside Beach, Three Diamond
- Suggested activity: Surf Lessons
8. Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach, one the most popular South Carolina beach towns and one of the most popular vacation spots in the U.S., offers 10 miles of coastline, an exciting boardwalk with restaurants, gift shops, the Myrtle Beach Sky Wheel and arcades, and piers. The 14th Avenue pier, at the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, offers a fishing and a tackle shop; you must pay a daily fee to fish off the pier. This family-friendly destination has multiple public access points to the beaches. Concessionaires rent out umbrellas and beach chairs, and beachgoers can enjoy swimming, surfing, parasailing and surf fishing. While in Myrtle Beach, also head to Myrtle Beach State Park — that, in addition to the beach, has camping, a maritime forest, nature trails and a fishing pier.
Off the sand, Broadway at the Beach has shopping, go-karts, an arcade, mini golf and more. Family Kingdom is a small amusement park that features more than 30 rides. The city is also known for its live shows, including musical performances, tribute shows, a circus, a magic show and dinner theater. That's not even mentioning the many championship golf courses in and around Myrtle Beach.
- Location: About 100 miles north of Charleston on the Atlantic Coast; Myrtle Beach is served by the Myrtle Beach International Airport.
- Lifeguard: Yes, and police and fire department personnel also patrol the beaches
- Where to stay:
- Homewood Suites by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront, Three Diamond, Inspector's Best: Family Friendly
- Hampton Inn & Suites Myrtle Beach/Oceanfront, Three Diamond, Inspector's Best: Personal Favorite
- Marina Inn at Grande Dunes, Four Diamond
9. Cherry Grove Beach
In North Myrtle Beach, the neighborhood known as Cherry Grove Beach is a family-friendly destination. This South Carolina beach is known for the nearly 1,000-foot-long Cherry Grove Fishing Pier. There's a fee to walk on the pier and a fee to fish, but you don't need to get a fishing license on the pier. Off the pier, you can enjoy the wide beach and find concessionaires that rent equipment like kayaks. Barefoot Landing features shopping, dining, live music and a carousel.
- Location: In North Myrtle Beach
- Lifeguard: Yes, seasonally
- Where to stay: Prince Resort at The Cherry Grove Pier