Secluded Local Beaches
Hilton Head Island’s world-famous beaches start filling up with tourists this month. If you’re looking for a more intimate experience, spend a day relaxing at one of these secluded local beaches, far away from the hustle and bustle of our most popular attractions.
Photography by Maddie Terry
Sound decision
Braddock Point Beach
Located near the southernmost tip of Hilton Head, this clean and narrow beach offers great views of Calibogue Sound and Daufuskie Island. It is a popular walking beach for Sea Pines residents and visitors but is relatively quiet most of the time. It’s a great spot to see dolphins and other wildlife.
Float your boat
Bloody Point Beach
Daufuskie Island offers three miles of amazing, mostly empty public beach. The most pristine section is Bloody Point, the southernmost point of the island where historic battles between colonists and the Yemassee Indians once took place. It is a quiet retreat these days, offering unobstructed views of Hilton Head and Tybee islands. Getting there is an adventure in itself.
Nature calls
Mitchelville Beach
This beach is so far off the beaten path, many longtime locals don’t even know it’s there. You have to drive down a winding dirt road just to get there. You’ll find plenty of free parking, clean restrooms and a short walk from the parking lot to the water. At low tide, the water goes out farther than any other beach on the island. The nearby Spartina grasses also make it a great backdrop for photos.
Walk this way
Pine Island Beach
This quiet public beach overlooks Port Royal Sound and is a popular route for Hilton Head Plantation dog walkers. The beach was greatly improved following Tropical Storm Irma with a $100,000 sand renourishment project. It is also much safer to access now, thanks to the recently completed 500-foot boardwalk. If you can’t get into HHP, you’ll need a boat to get there.
Free for all
Freedom Park Beach
You have to trek through a patch of woods to get to this untouched beauty, but you’ll learn about historic Mitchelville and Hilton Head’s Gullah heritage along the way. It’s a little hard to get to, but once you do, it’s totally worth it. The beautiful beach is brimming with birds, seashells and other wildlife.
Other Quiet Beaches
If you’re looking for a good excuse for a road trip, it’s a great time to visit one of these secluded beaches, just a short drive away.
Jekyll Island, Georgia (1 1/2 hours)
Edisto Island, South Carolina (2 hours)
Kiawah Island, South Carolina (2 1/2 hours)
Cumberland Island, Georgia (2 hours, 42 minutes)
Vilano Beach, Florida (3 hours, 46 minutes)
Canaveral National Seashore (5 hours)
