Hilton Head Island
Covers the six Hawaiian islands, Key West, Nantucket, Hilton Head, Fiji and Bora Bora, plus the passport rules for US citizens.
UpdatedThis page carries dated prices, schedules or seasonal facts checked on the date above, and that window has now passed. Re-check the sources at the foot of the page before you book.
Hilton Head Island is the classic family beach island of the Southeast. It sits at the southern tip of South Carolina, joined to the mainland by a bridge, with flat, hard-packed beaches along its Atlantic side and marshes, creeks and Calibogue Sound behind. You come for long beach walks, bike rides, golf and a villa with a pool, not for coral reefs.
It is also fairly priced. On Kayak, the cheapest room rated 3 stars or better on Wednesday, January 13, 2027, was $85 a night with tax, and on Wednesday, July 14, 2027, it was $167. On the same July date, Key West's cheapest 3-star room was $197 and Nantucket's was $709.
At a glance
- Best for
- Families with young children, multi-generation groups in villas, golfers and cyclists
- Skip it if
- You want clear turquoise water, snorkeling or a lively nightlife scene
- Getting there
- Fly to Savannah (SAV) or the island's own small airport (HHH), or drive; bridge access
- Hotel, mid-January
- $85 a night with tax (cheapest 3-star), $167 in mid-July
- Island size
- About 69 square miles (179 km2), much of it gated resort communities
In this guide
How Hilton Head Island scores
Six factors, scored 0 to 10 the same way for all 64 islands. There is no island-level visitor count we trust, so crowds are left out and the other five factors are re-weighted. How we score
- WeatherData · 20%6.5
- Beaches & seaEditors · 25%7.0
- Things to doEditors · 25%6.5
- Getting there from the USData · 10%10.0
- ValueData · 10%7.1
- Room to breatheData · 10%Not scored
Weather month by month
Best months by our weather score: April, May, June. Daytime highs, rain and sunshine are 2016–2025 averages at Savannah Hilton Head International Airport (Open-Meteo historical weather archive); sea temperatures are 2022–2025 averages for the nearest sea area (Open-Meteo marine archive). Months marked in the storm row fall in the Atlantic hurricane season (June 1 to November 30); the score takes that risk into account.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 61 | 67 | 72 | 77 | 83 | 88 | 90 | 88 | 85 | 78 | 69 | 64 |
| Sea °F | 53 | 56 | 62 | 70 | 77 | 82 | 87 | 86 | 81 | 73 | 66 | 57 |
| Rain (in) | 2.8 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 5.8 | 6.1 | 7.6 | 5.3 | 3.9 | 2.8 | 4.2 |
| Weather score | 3.5 | 3.7 | 4.9 | 7.1 | 8.6 | 7.7 | 6.7 | 5.4 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 3.9 | 2.7 |
| Storm season | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
The numbers behind the score
- Gateway airport
- Savannah Hilton Head International Airport (SAV)
- US nonstops
- ATL, ATW, BDL, BNA, BOS, BWI, CAK, CLT and 31 more
- Distance
- 2,147 mi from Los Angeles, 718 mi from New York
- Passport
- Not needed for US citizens
- Hotel, one night
- $85 on Jan 13, 2027 · $167 on Jul 14, 2027 (Hilton Head Island)
- Visitors a year
- 118,471 overnight visitors (2025)
- Bringing a dog
- Easy: No quarantine. South Carolina asks for a health certificate (valid 30 days) and proof of rabies vaccination; the Town allows dogs on the beach any time October to March and only before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.
Hotel prices: Cheapest 3-star-or-better double, 1 night, 2 adults, Kayak 'stay total' including taxes and fees, member-only and private deals excluded, checked 2026-10-20. January: Spark by Hilton Hilton Head Island. July: Hilton Garden Inn Hilton Head.. Visitor figures: FAA, CY2025 commercial service enplanements (Hilton Head Airport, HXD/HHH).
Where Hilton Head Island ranks
Who Hilton Head is for, and who should skip it
Hilton Head is built for families. The beaches are wide and gently sloped, the Town staffs seasonal lifeguards at its main beach parks, and a paved path network makes bikes the way to get around. Grandparents, toddlers and teenagers can share a villa and all find something to do.
Skip it if your idea of a beach is clear water over reef. The Atlantic here carries river sediment from the Lowcountry marshes and looks green-brown. Skip it too if you want nightlife beyond a few bars around Coligny and Harbour Town. For blue water without a passport, compare St. Thomas and Puerto Rico. Compare it on our list of the best islands to visit with kids.
Where to stay and what it costs
- Coligny and South Forest Beach: the busiest strip, with the public Coligny Beach Park, shops and casual restaurants. The best base without a car.
- Sea Pines: the gated resort at the south end, home to Harbour Town and its lighthouse, golf and quiet beaches. Mostly villas and rentals.
- Palmetto Dunes and Shipyard: mid-island resort communities with oceanfront hotels, villas and golf.
- North end and Folly Field: cheaper condos, Folly Field and Islanders beach parks, and quick access to the bridge.
Our Kayak check on October 20, 2026, one night, two adults, taxes and fees included: $85 at Spark by Hilton for January 13, 2027, and $167 at the Hilton Garden Inn for July 14, 2027. We excluded member-only deals. The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber reports average annual occupancy of 55% and an average daily rate of $313, so the oceanfront resorts cost far more than these entry prices.
Beaches: which are calm, which are not
All of the beach is public up to the high-water mark, but access is often through private resorts. The Town's public beach parks are your way in:
- Coligny Beach Park: the main public beach, with free parking, seasonal lifeguards, beach wheelchairs and rentals.
- Driessen Beach Park: mid-island, with a playground, picnic pavilion and seasonal lifeguards. Good with small children.
- Islanders Beach Park: playground and pavilion, with permit parking reserved for residents.
- Folly Field Beach Park: north end, seasonal lifeguards and rentals.
- Fish Haul Beach Park: on Port Royal Sound, quieter, with no lifeguards listed. Better for walks and birds than swimming.
The surf is usually gentle, but the Town publishes rip current warnings and designated swimming areas, so swim near a lifeguard. From March 1 to September 7, visitors pay $3 an hour on weekdays and $5 an hour on weekends to park at beach parks, except Coligny, by phone app only. The free, seasonal Breeze trolley is the way around that. Our beach score is 7: good, safe family sand, ordinary water.
Things to do
- Golf. The island's resorts hold many courses, and Harbour Town Golf Links hosts the PGA Tour's RBC Heritage in spring.
- Biking. Paved leisure paths and firm low-tide sand let you ride most of the island.
- Harbour Town Lighthouse in Sea Pines, with the marina and shops below it.
- Dolphin, kayak and paddleboard tours in Calibogue Sound and Broad Creek.
- Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge just off the bridge, for walking trails and wading birds.
- Savannah, a day trip across the state line, with its historic squares and riverfront.
That adds up to a 6.5 for things to do: several varied days, though most visitors come mainly for the beach and the pool.
When to go
The Town's official beach season runs April 1 to September 30. Late spring and early fall are the sweet spots: warm water, fewer crowds and lower prices than July. Summer is hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms and the highest rates. Winter is cool and quiet, too cool for swimming for most people, and the cheapest time to stay. Our 12-month weather table below gives the numbers.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center, peaking around September 10. The Chamber keeps a hurricane resources page for visitors. See our hurricane season guide for timing and insurance.
Getting there from the US: SAV and HHH
We checked both airports. Savannah/Hilton Head International (SAV), in Georgia, is the main gateway, with nonstop flights from 39 US airports on Allegiant, American, Avelo, Breeze, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, Sun Country and United, seasonal routes included. Hilton Head Airport (HHH), on the island itself, takes regional jets: American Eagle from Charlotte year-round, plus seasonal flights from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago-O'Hare, Newark, New York-LaGuardia, Philadelphia and Washington-National. Every HHH city is also served from SAV, so HHH saves you the drive but adds no new options. The FAA counted 118,471 boardings at HHH and 2,064,691 at SAV in 2025.
No passport is needed. To fly you need a REAL ID-compliant license or a passport, and TSA now charges $45 without acceptable ID.
Bringing a dog
Hilton Head is one of the easier beach islands for dogs. South Carolina asks for a health certificate valid 30 days and proof of rabies vaccination, with no quarantine. On the beach, the Town allows dogs at any time from October to March, on leash or under voice control. From the Friday before Memorial Day to Labor Day they are banned from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., so plan early-morning and evening walks. Compare other options on our best islands to visit with a dog list.
Tickets and tours you can book
Hilton Head Island Dolphin Boat Cruise
Gratuities are included and the operator advertises guaranteed dolphin sightings. Kid rates are discounted, which makes it one of the cheapest family outings on the island.
Rating as shown on Viator
Daufuskie Island Guided History Tour from Hilton Head
Boat, golf cart, guide and lunch are included. A plain round-trip Daufuskie ferry is cheaper if you just want to explore on your own.
Rating as shown on Viator
Hilton Head Island: America’s Cup Afternoon Sail
Drinks are sold on board, and the Sea Pines Resort gate fee for your car is extra. Sailing instruction is part of the trip.
Rating as shown on GetYourGuide
Booking through these links supports this site at no cost to you. Prices move by date, so we do not print them here; the official prices we checked are in the page above.
Frequently asked questions
Is the water clear at Hilton Head?
No. The Atlantic off Hilton Head is greenish-brown from marsh and river sediment. It is safe for swimming near lifeguards, but it is not clear like the Caribbean.
Which airport is best for Hilton Head?
Savannah (SAV) has far more choice, with nonstops from 39 US airports. Hilton Head Airport (HHH) is on the island but has only regional flights, mostly seasonal, all to cities SAV also serves.
Is Hilton Head good for kids?
Yes. Coligny, Driessen and Folly Field beach parks have seasonal lifeguards, Driessen and Islanders have playgrounds, and the beaches are wide and flat.
Do you have to pay for beach parking on Hilton Head?
From March 1 to September 7, yes, at $3 an hour on weekdays and $5 an hour on weekends, by app, except at Coligny Beach Park, which has free parking.
Are dogs allowed on Hilton Head beaches?
Yes, with seasonal hours. From October to March dogs are allowed any time. In summer they are banned from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Further reading
Official sources
- Kayak hotel search, Hilton Head Island, January 13-14, 2027 (2 adults, 3 stars and up) – Cheapest stay total with taxes and fees $85 (Spark by Hilton); July 14-15, 2027: $167 (Hilton Garden Inn); member-only deals excluded; checked October 20, 2026
- Town of Hilton Head Island, Beach Parking – Fees $3/hour weekdays, $5/hour weekends, March 1 to September 7, except Coligny; free Breeze trolley; checked October 20, 2026
- Town of Hilton Head Island, Public Beach Parks and Access – Beach parks and amenities (lifeguards, playgrounds, wheelchairs); checked October 20, 2026
- Town of Hilton Head Island, Our Beach and Animals on the Beach – Official beach season April 1 to September 30; dog hours by season; checked October 20, 2026
- Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Transparency – Average annual occupancy 55%, ADR $313; no annual visitor count shown; checked October 20, 2026
- Wikipedia, Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport and Hilton Head Airport: Airlines and destinations – 39 US nonstop airports at SAV; HHH routes (Charlotte year-round, seven seasonal); checked October 20, 2026
- FAA, CY2025 commercial service enplanements – HHH (listed as HXD) 118,471 and SAV 2,064,691 enplanements in 2025; checked October 20, 2026
- Clemson University Livestock-Poultry Health (South Carolina state veterinarian), Canine import requirements – Health certificate valid 30 days and rabies vaccination; checked October 20, 2026
- TSA, REAL ID – Enforcement since May 7, 2025; $45 ConfirmID fee; checked October 20, 2026
- NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Climatology – Atlantic season June 1 to November 30, peak September 10; checked October 20, 2026
