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Harbour Town lighthouse on Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head Island is a city and barrier island in South Carolina, just across the border from Savannah, Georgia. With an approximate population of 40,000, it is on a beautiful, sub-tropical 12-mile (19-km) barrier island. Hilton Head Island is a vacation playland with famous beaches and great golf courses that overlook the Atlantic Ocean.

Understand

Hilton Head Island was originally occupied by Native Americans, with Europeans first making contact in 1521. In 1663, Captain William Hilton came to the island and named it for himself, "Hilton's Head". The island was later settled, and activity on the island primarily consisted of farming, with the island serving as a base of operations for the Union blockade of the Confederacy. After the war, ex-slaves flocked to the island to work on plantations, with this legacy most prominent in the naming of communities on the island, which are known as plantations (though this naming convention is controversial given the ties the word "plantation" has with slavery). The first resort development occurred in 1956 with the development of Sea Pines Resort, with additional development coming over the following decades. Hilton Head Island remains a popular resort destination, and now boasts several resorts and other tourist accommodation.

Get in

By car

US Route 278 is the only road on and off the island. An interchange with Interstate 95 is along US 278 about 40 minutes west of the island. Between the island and I-95, US 278 intersects with South Carolina Route 170, which provides access to and from Beaufort and Savannah. Traffic onto the island can be particularly heavy on the weekend, when many arrive to and leave the island, so consider arriving and leaving on weekdays if you'd like to avoid the heaviest of traffic.

By plane

Hilton Head Island is served by two airports.

Air taxi and air charter companies such as Jetset Charter[dead link] fly a variety of private charter aircraft, such as pistons and turbo props, for small groups and individuals into Hilton Head Island Airport (KHXD). Generally, private jet aircraft must fly into Savannah/Hilton Head Int'l (KSAV).

Get around

Map
Map of Hilton Head Island

By car

Once entering the island, US 278 becomes known as the William Hilton Parkway. After traveling about a mile on the island, the road splits in two.

William Hilton Parkway continues as US 278 Business, a surface road around the eastern end of the island. US 278 Business is a four-lane divided highway, but most businesses on the island are along the road, making for a slow, 25- to 30-minute drive to the southern end of the island. US 278 branches off onto the Cross Island Parkway, a grade-separated expressway. While the Cross Island Parkway was previously a toll road, the toll has been removed and you can now drive the entire length of the Parkway for free. The parkway reduces the journey from the split to the south end of the island to five minutes.

US 278 and US 278 Business terminate at the Sea Pines Circle at the south end of the island. From this circle, cars can continue south on Greenwood Drive to enter the gated Sea Pines plantation, or east on Pope Avenue to head towards Coligny Beach, the major public beach on the island.

By bicycle

Hilton Head is quite cycling-friendly. All main roads and most major roads in the resort plantations have a companion bicycle path, and there are a few miles of paths that cut their own trail away from the roads. Although not lit for night riding, they are the perfect way to traverse the island during the day time hours. Bicycle rental stores are plentiful, although they may be expensive. Some golf courses may open up their cart paths to bicycles during non-playing hours (in the morning and at night), but other than this it is generally not a good idea to stray off the paths.

By bus

The Breeze Trolley is a public transportation service open seasonally around summertime. It operates two routes in the central part of the island, and it is free for all passengers. The trolleys arrive every 30 minutes.

See

  • Harbour Town. Visit to see how the upper class lives. Admire the multi-million dollar yachts in many different marinas and sailing in the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Jenkins Island. Right between the bridges from Bluffton to Hilton Head Island.
  • Shelter Cove. The Island's largest deepwater marina. During the summer enjoy live music and weekly fireworks.
  • Tiki Hut, 1 S Forest Beach Dr, ☏ +1 843-785-5126. Happening "barefoot" bar at a resort offering sand volleyball, beach lounge chairs & live music. Located on Coligny beach and is the only bar on the beach on Hilton Head Island. The only contact for email is via the Facebook page for the bar. (updated Jan 2017)

Do

  • Biking. The Hilton Head Island area offers over 25 crossing bike paths, and many shops rent bikes. 
  • Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center. Regarded as one of the best in “The 50 Greatest U.S. Tennis Resorts” by Tennis Magazine, this resort offers 25 courts, instructional programs, and tournaments. 
  • Beaches - Nearly 9 miles of Atlantic Ocean surf and beautiful beaches, all publicly accessible. There are several public parks that provide beach access. From there, you can walk or bike the length of the island. Recommended spots are South Beach, Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort area.
  • Golf courses - There are almost too many to count. Among the best:
    • Harbour Town Golf Links - While it has one of the most expensive greens fees in the Hilton Head area, here you can play the same course as the pros, as Harbour Town hosts the Verizon Heritage golf tournament every April. Among the best public golf courses is Hilton Head National in Bluffton one mile from the bridge to Hilton Head. Greens fees and rates are very affordable for all.
    • George Fazio Golf Course. Designed by the revered golf designer, George Fazio, this 18-hole course is the only par-70 course on Hilton Head Island. 
    • Arthur Hills Golf Course. Ranked 4.5 by Fodor’s Golf Digest, this course takes advantage of the natural beauty of Hilton Head Island’s marshland and ocean surroundings. 
    • Robert Trent Jones Course. Golfweek readers regard this course as one of the best in the region. This course was named 2003 Golf Course of the Year by South Carolina Board of Directors of the NGCOA. 
  • Bottle-nosed dolphins - Take a boat tour. Seeing dolphins is virtually guaranteed; getting a good picture of one is another matter.
  • Kayaking
  • Island Explorer, 101 Marshland Rd, ☏ +1 843-785-2100. Dolphin and nature boat cruises. 

Buy

  • Hilton Head Outfitters, ☏ +1 843-593-9110. Offers boat, kayak, canoe, surf board, and various other watersport equipment rentals. Palmetto Dunes Outfitters also offers instructional programs for watersports like kayaking and surfing. 

Eat

Ask some service employees for their recommendations for great Hilton Head restaurants. Well-known or busy does not necessarily mean good food. Coupons and menus are available in local tourism magazines.

To get started:

  • HH Prime, 23 Ocean Lane (in Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort at Palmetto Dunes), ☏ +1 843-842-8000. Provides beachside dining with culinary flair including USDA Prime Grade beef selections and fresh seafood along with decadent dessert creations, serving up classics like New York Strip to a savory Filet. For a lighter fare, enjoy island seafood. The grand interior and exterior fireplaces, dinner hour music, and the island's ultimate wine room, offering the island's largest collection -- more than 100 selections. 
  • Kenny B's, 70 Pope Avenue Suite A, ☏ +1 843 785-3315. New Orleans-style cuisine. Great for lunch. (updated Sep 2022)
  • Amigos Cafe Y Cantina, 70 Pope Ave Suite I, ☏ +1 843 785-8226. Great burritos and BBQ Grilled Chicken salad. (updated Sep 2022)
  • Santa Fe Cafe, 807 William Hilton Pkwy #700, ☏ +1 843 785-3838. Mexican/American. Nice lunch combos. Try the Painted Desert Soup. If you're feeling flush (and haven't eaten for two days), the Cowboy cut rib of Aberdeen Angus beef takes some beating. (updated Sep 2022)
  • British Open Pub, 1000 William Hilton Pkwy D3, ☏ +1 843 686-6736. Excellent overall menu. (updated Sep 2022)
  • The Sea Shack, 6 Executive Park Rd, ☏ +1 843 785-2464. Tasty seafood, cheap prices. Arrive early. (updated Sep 2022)
  • Palmetto Bay Sunrise Cafe, 86 Helmsman Way, ☏ +1 843 686-3232. Great breakfasts. (updated Sep 2022)
  • Woody's, Palmetto Bay Marina, south end of the Cross Island. Tasty and generally fairly priced with a nice atmosphere.
  • The Quarterdeck and Topside at the Quarterdeck, 160 Lighthouse Rd. +1 843-842-1999. Great views of Harbour Town, fantastic sunsets and outstanding food and service.
  • Tapas Restaurant, 11 Northridge Plaza, +1 843-681-8590. Cozy locals place. Incredible food.
  • Alexanders, take the entrance to Palmetto Dunes and it's further down on the right. Popular seafood restaurant, but also does a great fillet mignon.
  • Stacks, past the entrance to Palmetto Dunes on William Hilton Parkway in the direction of Sea Pines. Excellent for breakfast, diner-style, fast, friendly service. Be prepared to queue if you're not an early riser.
  • Salty Dog Cafe, 232 South Sea Pines Dr, ☏ +1 843-363-2198. 11AM-10PM. Outdoor cafe that is especially popular with tourists. It's in the gated Sea Pines resort plantation, so you must pay $5 at the visitor's center to get in if you are not renting in the plantation. On the back of the temporary pass is a map to guide you to the area of the restaurant. Live music plays most nights in the summer. As with most restaurants on the island during the summer, you must arrive around 5:45-6PM if you don't want to wait for a table. After that time, the wait usually jumps to 30-45 minutes and slowly increases from there. This is especially true for popular restaurants such as the Salty Dog. A t-shirt from the accompanying store is a common souvenir. $10-20. 

Drink

Sleep

Being such a popular vacation destination, Hilton Head has many lodging choices. There are several hotels on the island, however a great and widespread accommodation alternative is the vacation rental. Vacation rentals are available in many types, from large condo buildings to quaint homes, new and old.

Go next

Routes through Hilton Head Island
Augusta ← Bluffton ←  W  E  → END


This city travel guide to Hilton Head Island is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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