This Small South Carolina Island Has 10 Miles of Pristine Beaches and One of the Best Resorts in the State

Kiawah Island was my first introduction to the beauty of South Carolina’s Lowcountry. Every summer growing up, my family would pile into the car at 4 a.m., making our way from the Virginia mountains to this 10-mile-long barrier island; we’d always arrive just in time for lunch, with the rest of the afternoon reserved for quality beach time. It was during these weeklong visits that I fell in love with the island’s humidity, orchestra of cicadas, and Spanish moss-draped live oak trees. My days were spent successfully hunting for sand dollars and starfish with my sister, crabbing along the Kiawah River, and keeping my eyes peeled for alligators maneuvering between lagoons. While many people associate the island with its world-class golf courses, to me, it’s a destination where time slows, nature is paramount, and the beach is never more than a short bike ride away. 

Although Kiawah has seen an influx of construction over the last couple of decades, it continues to function as a gated private community where you can escape the traffic and crowds of nearby Charleston. “From the very beginning when the island was developed, the master plan included a strong conservation commitment, so a large part of the island is undeveloped,” says Christian Carter, the nature program manager at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. “Even where there is development, there are strictly enforced regulations that ensure [the] buildings harmonize rather than compete with the environment. The island even has strict light ordinances that minimize electric lights at nighttime to preserve the natural activities of our wildlife.”

No matter how you choose to spend your time while on the island — golfing, swimming, kayaking, or lounging on the beach — there’s one thing that remains consistent: It’s the kind of place you can go to “unplug, de-stress, and treat yourself to a luxurious getaway,” says Glenda La Rue, owner of Palmetto Scent Studio. If that sounds like your type of vacation, read on to plan a trip to Kiawah Island, South Carolina. 

Best Hotels & Resorts

The Sanctuary

There are only two hotels on Kiawah Island, and one of them, The Sanctuary, has appeared several times in the World’s Best Awards, most recently as one of Travel + Leisure readers’ favorite resorts in South Carolina. Part of the larger Kiawah Island Golf Resort, the five-star hotel grants its guests access to a wide range of amenities — indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center, a spa, and several on-site eateries. The 255 guest rooms and suites mirror the rest of the property’s careful balance between modernity and traditional hospitality and design; they’re comfortable and luxurious without being stuffy, and spacious balconies make sure you always feel connected to the natural beauty of the island. 

Andell Inn

Andell Inn in Freshfields Village also does Southern hospitality, but on a slightly smaller scale. Still, the property is thorough in its offerings. Each of the villa-style guest rooms features fully equipped kitchens, the 24-hour fitness facilities are outfitted with Peloton bikes, and there’s a saltwater resort pool to relax by when you don’t feel like venturing to the beach. If you are craving some sand, though, the hotel provides free shuttles to nearby Kiawah Beachwalker Park. 

Best Things to Do

Spend a day at the beach. 

“The worst thing you can do here is pack your itinerary so much that you are just trying to make it to the next activity,” says Yasemin Darkanat, Sanctuary Club Lounge supervisor at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. “Soak it in, and let it be your happy place where all you have to do is eat, sleep, breathe, and recharge.” One of the best places to find this level of relaxation is on the beach. Kiawah boasts 10 miles of pristine beaches, including the areas commonly known as East and West Beach. West Beach is where you’ll find the aforementioned Kiawah Beachwalker Park, the only beach on the island open to the public. If you’re staying at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, however, you can access various other private beaches, many of which come with lifeguards and chair and umbrella renting stations.

Tour the island on a beach cruiser. 

On one side of the island, you have the picturesque Kiawah River; on the other, there’s the expansive Atlantic Ocean. This diversity creates a dynamic, interesting island that’s best explored via two wheels.  “You must go on a bike ride both on our 30-plus miles of paved trails or on our 10 miles of beach, where the sand becomes hard packed below the tide line,” says Darkanat. Alligator Bike Shop and the Island Bike & Surf Shop both offer rentals, and resort guests can either reserve bikes online or rent directly from The West Beach Bike Shop or The Sanctuary Bike Pavilion.

Another option is to tour the island with a guide. The Heron Park Nature Center at Kiawah Island Golf Resort offers several island biking tours; Carter suggests going on the Wildlife in the Wetlands tour. “During this tour, participants cover a minimum of seven miles in a loop-style route, providing an intimate exploration of Kiawah's landscapes. This is led by one of our certified naturalists, who offers unparalleled insights into the island's history, local wildlife, and plant life,” he says.

Play a few rounds of golf at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. 

Kiawah Island is so prominent in the world of golf, it’s hosted the PGA Championship a few different times. That said, there’s a high chance a game of golf will be in the cards for you or someone else in your party. “Whether a guest is an avid golfer or has never picked up a club, guests should really try their hand at the sport on one of our five courses. Each is distinctively different and can accommodate every skill level,” says Darkanat, who also recommends brushing up your skills with a lesson at the resort’s Golf Learning Center. 

Spot the different species of wildlife that call Kiawah home. 

“Wildlife thrives throughout Kiawah due to the island’s commitment to conservation,” says Carter. While alligator sightings may have simultaneously been the most exciting and scariest parts of my childhood trips to Kiawah, the island is filled with a wide range of other species — and Carter gave T+L the lowdown on what you can expect to see and where you’re most likely to see them:

“Alligators and yellow-bellied sliders are the easiest to see as they live in almost all of our over 100 freshwater ponds, making them easy to spot. Diamondback terrapins and dolphins reside in the local salt marshes that surround the island. Captain Sam’s Inlet, Rhett’s Bluff, and Mingo Point are the hot spots to get the best views. White-tailed deer and bobcats both enjoy traveling the corridor of vegetation on the back side of the dunes, just a few dozen yards away from the ocean. The beach beyond The Ocean Course is a top spot for shore birds, and I highly recommend bringing a spotting scope or a pair of binoculars to get the best views of the nesting birds. Just be sure to adhere to signage posted and give the nesting birds plenty of space so you don’t disturb their nesting behavior.”

Turtles are also an important part of Kiawah Island’s ecosystem, and Carter offers a few pointers on seeing these majestic creatures on land. “Early mornings and late evenings are an ideal time to be on the beach. I recommend taking a bike to cover more ground, riding up or down the beach looking for female turtles crawling up the beach toward the dune line to lay their eggs. If you are lucky enough to see one, be sure to give them a wide berth as their voyage up the beach is extremely tiring… and their nesting behavior can easily be disrupted,” he says.

Best Restaurants

Wild Olive Restaurant

“Wild Olive on neighboring Johns Island is a local favorite because of the warmth and passion of the staff and relationships they have built with the local community,” says Darkanat. “The majority of their ingredients are sourced locally, which creates the perfect pairing of traditional Italian cuisine with fresh Lowcountry resources. This is not only a great place for a meal with friends but a popular date-night location.”

Jasmine Porch

At Jasmine Porch, located in The Sanctuary, you can expect “iconic Lowcountry cuisine created from ingredients sourced from local farms and fisheries surrounding the island,” explains Darkanat. Plus, its Southern-style porch overlooking the ocean and the property’s butterfly garden give it an extra boost of romanticism. If you’re not sure what to order, follow Darkanat’s advice and get the shrimp and grits, which she says “is the best rendition I have had in my whole life – and I say that as a Charleston native.”

Vincent's Drug Store & Soda Fountain

For something more casual, head to Vincent’s Drug Store & Soda Fountain in Freshfields Village. The locally-owned spot features prescription services as well as a menu with all of the old-school classics. On particularly hot summer days, order a rootbeer float or banana split to cool off. If you need to fill up after a long bike ride, a corn dog or cheeseburger should do the trick. 

The Ryder Cup Bar 

La Rue recommends The Ryder Cup Bar in The Ocean Course Clubhouse for either lunch or dinner. It’s modern pub fare at its finest — with dishes like the Bagger Burger and the signature crispy shrimp serving as menu standouts. The location is also hard to beat; if there’s room, you’ll want to grab an outdoor table on the veranda to watch the sunset.

Best Shopping

Freshfields Village

Freshfields Village is the kind of place where you can find everything — both the essentials (there’s a Harris Teeter grocery store) as well as clothes, books, supplies for outdoor activities, jewelry, gifts, and more. Within the open-air shopping center, you can create your own custom-scented candles and body lotions at Palmetto Scent Studio, pick up a beach read at Indigo Books, grab matching Kiawah t-shirts at Islands Mercantile, or update your wardrobe at Showroom. 

Best Time to Visit

Kiawah Island is a year-round destination, and the best time to visit depends entirely on what you’re looking to experience. For an extra-quiet vacation, La Rue suggests the fall: “You have smaller crowds, the growth and beauty of the island is still lush, and the ocean is still warm enough to enjoy a swim.” Travelers should note, however, that hurricane season does affect the island, so flexibility may be required if you visit between June and late November.

Summer, of course, is common for swimming, but it’s also a good time for potential sea turtle spotting. “Since all of our turtles are wild, there is no guarantee that you will see any; however, the most opportune time is during turtle nesting season which is early May through mid-October,” says Carter. “We typically see our first nest closer to Mother’s Day and the last of the turtles hatch in mid-October near Columbus Day.”

How to Get There

Charleston International Airport (CHS) is the closest airport to Kiawah Island, and it’s served by most major airlines — Delta, American Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest, and United among them. From there, it’s about an hour drive, depending on traffic, to the island’s entrance. Lined by live oaks with branches stretching toward one another, two-laned Bohicket Road is known to back up during the high season and on weekends. While Beachwalker County Park and Freshfields Village are open to the public, access to the rest of the island requires a renter’s pass, owner’s (or owner’s guest) pass, employee pass, or a dining, golf, or hotel reservation. 

How to Get Around

You’ll need a car to get to Kiawah, but you won’t need to drive it very much once you’re on the island. “The bike paths within and around Kiawah are fantastic, so bring your bicycle or plan on renting one to explore the area,” says La Rue. Plus, she says, “You aren’t dictated by the schedule of shuttles, Ubers, or Lyfts, and the locals are very used to and respectful of visitors on bicycles.”