Hilton Head, South Carolina

Hotels in Hilton Head

Hilton Head's most popular draw is, of course, its beach, which stretches roughly 14 miles from Port Royal Sound at the north end of the island to Calibogue Sound at the south end. While technically the entire area is one long beach, there are seven public-access points along the coast, and these points are popularly referred to as seven different beaches: Burke's Beach, Coligny Beach (Forest Beach), Dreissen Beach Park (Singleton Beach), Folly Field Beach, Fish Haul Creek Park (also called Mitchelville Beach Park), and Islander's Beach. There are also several "private" beaches on Hilton Head Island, accessible primarily to residents and guests, including South Beach and Sea Pines. However, all beaches in South Carolina are publicly-owned, and even if they do not provide public parking, they can be accessed by anyone via foot or boat.

The first list of hotels below covers all hotels in Hilton Head, while the links after it focus on hotels, condos, and vacation rentals near specific beaches – or shopping destinations. Shopping, after all, is Hilton Head's second most popular draw!

• Hotels in Hilton Head
  
  A great guide to the many hotels on Hilton Head Island! Explore Hilton Head hotel photos, videos, room rates, amenities, reviews, and then book your Hilton Head hotel reservation online.
  
  
• Hotels near Palmetto Dunes
  
  Located near the middle of Hilton Head's coast, Palmetto Dunes offers three miles of sun-kissed Atlantic Ocean beachfront between Burkes Beach and Coligny Beach Plaza. The Palmetto Dunes resort also features three world-class golf courses, various condo and vacation home rentals, a full service marina, an award-winning tennis center, and an 11-mile lagoon. Please note that Palmetto Dunes does NOT have its own full-service hotel, but both the Marriott Resort & Spa Hilton Head Island and the Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort are located within the Palmetto Dunes property.
  
  
• Hotels near Shipyard Plantation
  
  Covering approximately 800 acres, Shipyard Plantation is conveniently located in the scenic heart of the south end of Hilton Head Island. This residential/resort community offers a first-class resort hotel, championship golf and tennis, trails for biking and jogging, a health spa, and most importantly – the beach. Shipyard Plantation is also located between Burkes Beach and Coligny Beach Park, just south of Palmetto Dunes.
  
  
• Hotels near Forest Beach
  
  North and South Forest Beach are accessible via Coligny Beach Plaza. South Forest Beach is also accessible via the Alder Lane access point; it is the last beach on Hilton Head with public parking and segues into Sea Pines and South Beach.
  
  
• Hotels near Tanger Outlets Hilton Head
  
  As mentioned above, shopping is a big ticket item in Hilton Head, and the Tanger Outlets are particularly popular. If shopping is high on your list of things to do while in Hilton Head, you can use this guide to find the most convenient accommodations – those closest to Tanger.
  
  

Vacation Rentals in Hilton Head

• Vacation Rentals in Hilton Head
  
  Hilton Head's world-famous when it comes to vacations. Our guide will help you find the perfect Hilton Head vacation rental – whether you want to have a wedding, a reception, a party, a retreat, or just a place to gather with family and friends. We feature luxury villas plus waterfront and oceanfront homes located on one of Hilton Head's many beautiful beaches. Vacation homes are offered by first-rate local rental companies as well as individual Hilton Head families.

Marinas in Hilton Head

• Marinas on Hilton Head Island
  
  Not to be overlooked, marinas offer one of the most unique accommodations on Hilton Head Island. Hilton Head is lucky to offer 10 different marinas, giving you plenty of choice when it comes to picking a place to dock. Learn about all of them here.

Hilton Head Island is home to so many wonderful and unique attractions, from grand plantation ruins to one of the most important Freedmen's villages in South Carolina. Use our guide below to find out which destinations you won't want to miss.

© Bill Segars

Braddock's Point Plantation

• The tabby structure ruins are comprised of a foundation and the outer structure or shell of the home. Now part of the Sea Pines Plantation property and listed on the National Register of Historical Places, the thousands of oyster shells create a unique, honeycomb texture.

© Shannon O'Shea

Coligny Beach

• Coligny Beach is located at the end of Pope Avenue off Coligny Plaza on Hilton Head Island. The Town of Hilton Head Island purchased five acres in 1988 to create Coligny Beach Park, which includes showers, changing stalls, umbrella rentals, and handicapped access to the ocean. Coligny Beach has lifeguards in the summer.

© Summer Gagnon

Folly Field Beach

• Folly Field Beach, a favorite among surfers, is located on the "Mid-Island" section of Hilton Head. The first beach cottages were built on Folly Field Beach in 1953 to attract more visitors to Hilton Head Island. It has since become one of the most popular family beaches on the island, offering a boardwalk, playground, and picnic areas.

© Tomas Marek

Harbour Town

• While not historic, the Harbour Town Lighthouse is nevertheless an iconic image of Hilton Head. This 90-foot tower was built in 1970 – the first privately-financed lighthouse to be constructed since the early 1800s. Many visitors enjoy the beautiful view the lighthouse offers of Hilton Head, Daufuskie Island, and the Calibogue Sound.

© Bill Segars

Leamington Lighthouse

• Also known as the Hilton Head Rear Range Light, this tower served as part of a lighthouse system that was constructed in 1880 to guide ships into the Port Royal Sound. Located on the former Leamington Plantation, the front and rear range lights replaced a set erected by the federal government in 1863.

© Shannon O'Shea

Mackay Creek

• Separating Hilton Head Island from the mainland is Mackay Creek. The creek is also one of the waterways surrounding the Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge, along with Skull Creek and the Port Royal Sound.

© SCIWAY

Mitchelville

• The Civil War changed the lives of both planters and slaves on Hilton Head Island. Gradually a plan was formulated for the education, welfare, and employment of the blacks, combining both government and missionary efforts. The Department of the South, headquartered on Hilton Head, became a "Department of Experiments."

© SCIWAY

Museums in Hilton Head

• Hilton Head Island is home to two museums - including one that encourages the exploration of the natural history and cultural heritage of the island - and there are even more in surrounding Beaufort County. Be sure to check each of them out with this helpful directory to Hilton Head area museums.

© Jeff Kreulen

Pinckney Island Wildlife Refuge

• Located in beautiful Beaufort County near Hilton Head Island and bounded by the Intracoastal Waterway, the Pinckney Island Wildlife Refuge includes former plantation land once owned by Major General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Revolutionary War veteran and delegate to the Constitutional Convention.

© Josh Whiteside

Shopping in Hilton Head

• Hilton Head is a shopaholic's mecca, and this guide to boutiques, shopping centers, and outlet malls will help you find all the best stores near and on the island.

© Robert Magina

Stoney-Baynard Plantation

• The ruins of this unusual mansion on Hilton Head Island date to the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. An anomaly among Hilton Head plantation houses, it was built with tabby – a combination of crushed oyster shells, whole oyster shells, water, and lime.

• Restaurants in Hilton Head
  
  From greasy spoons to fine dining, Hilton Head is one of the best places in South Carolina to grab some grub. Our guide sorts the various restaurant options by type of cuisine – American, BBQ, seafood, and so on.
  
  

• Shopping in Hilton Head
  
  Hilton Head is a shopaholic's mecca, and this guide to boutiques, shopping centers, and outlet malls will help you find all the best stores on the island.
  
  
• Art League of Hilton Head
  
  The Art League of Hilton Head is a 501(c)(3), charitable arts organization providing exhibitions, education and support for Hilton Head Island artists and visitors.
  
  
• Arts Center of Coastal Carolina
  
  This Hilton Head venue showcases both performing and visual arts; it also offers field trips and workshops through its arts education program.
  
  
• Camera Club of Hilton Head Island
  
  This club promotes photography within the Hilton Head community through education, exhibitions, competitions, and photography-based field trips in and around the Hilton Head area.
  
  
• Hilton Head Choral Society
  
  The Hilton Head Choral Society is a 100-voice ensemble performing four major programs per season playing major classical and contemporary works and seasonal favorites.
  
  
• Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra
  
  The Hilton Head Symphony is comprised of 70 musicians including soloists who play classical music as well as pops and jazz.
  
  
• Island School Council for the Arts
  
  The education and art experience of youth in the greater Hilton Head Island and Bluffton areas are enhanced by the non-profit organization, Island School Council for the Arts.
  
  

• Festivals and events in Hilton Head
  
  Itching to get out of the house ... or hotel? Use this guide to find annual festivals and events held on Hilton Head Island. Our list can be sorted by date, Hilton Head community, and type of event.
  
  

• Recreation in Hilton Head
  
  SCIWAY's guide to Hilton Head and Beaufort County recreation links to a wealth of athletic teams and social groups. Here you can find tennis, softball, sailing, and soccer teams – for both kids and adults – as well as hobby groups that focus on things like knitting, chess, gardening, and more.
  
  

• Summer Camps in Beaufort and Hilton Head
  
  Summer camps are a time-honored institution for young people, and Hilton Head and surrounding Beaufort Count offer plenty of choices for parents who are seeking the best camps for their children.