The Lowcountry’s best beaches are waiting for you
Beaches, beaches and more beaches. Hilton Head Island’s official beach season runs from April 1 through Sept. 30. Parking meters cost 25 cents (quarters only) per 15 minutes. Lifeguards are stationed at designated areas. Restrooms, water fountains and soda machines are available at most beaches. All beaches are public, but access to the beach may be private in plantations or other residential areas.
▪ Alder Lane: Alder Lane Beach is off South Forest Beach Drive. There are 24 metered spaces. The designated swimming area is 100 feet to the north, and 100 feet to the south. The park has restrooms, parking meters and beach matting for wheelchairs.
▪ Burkes Beach: Located at the end of Burkes Beach Road, this park has beach access and a few parking spaces.
▪ Chaplin Community Park: Off William Hilton Parkway between Burkes Beach and Singleton Beach roads, this beach park has sports fields, a dog park, restrooms, a playground, showers and parking.
▪ Coligny Beach: The entrance to Coligny Beach, located off Coligny Circle at Pope Avenue, has a fountain where children and adults can cool off. There is a bathhouse with restrooms and showers. Parking is across the street in the 374-space lot in front of The Beach House hotel. Facilities include seasonal rentals of beach equipment and beach matting for wheelchairs. Lifeguards work the beach in season.
▪ Driessen Beach Park: Driessen Beach Park is located mid-island, at the end of Bradley Beach Drive. The paid parking lot has 212 regular spaces and six handicapped spaces. Services include seasonal lifeguards, beach equipment rental in season, rest rooms, showers, a boardwalk and beach matting for wheelchairs. It also has a playground, picnic shelters and grills.
▪ Folly Field: Folly Field Beach Park is located at the end of Folly Field Road. There is metered parking for 52 vehicles with two handicap spaces. Features include lifeguards in season, beach matting for wheelchairs, restrooms with showers and a boardwalk.
▪ Fish Haul Creek Park: Beach access is located next to Fish Haul Creek at 284 Beach City Road. Facilities include a bathroom, picnic pavilion, trails leading to Port Royal Sound and an observation deck.
▪ Islanders Beach Park: Off William Hilton Parkway on Folly Field Road. Facilities include beach matting, picnic pavilion, playground, boardwalk, outdoor showers and restrooms.
▪ Mitchelville Beach: Off Beach City Road. Facilities include beach matting, outdoor showers and restrooms.
▪ Hunting Island Beach Park: Located in northern Beaufort County, the park includes five miles of sandy shores, bike rentals, a fishing pier and campsites. Admission to the park is $5 a person for adults, $3 for ages 6-15, ages 5 and under are free. Visitors can also climb the lighthouse.
▪ The Sands: Located at the end of Paris Avenue in Port Royal. The Sands is a peninsula jutting into the Beaufort River. The site includes a boardwalk stretching along the marshy shore and a boat ramp. The beach also is a great place to look for sharks teeth.
Our beaches are dog friendly
Don’t deprive your dog from enjoying the ocean. Pets on the beach must be on a leash between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. from April 1 through the Thursday before Memorial Day and after Labor Day until Oct. 1. Animals are not permitted on the beach between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. from the Friday before Memorial Day through the Monday of Labor Day weekend. From Oct. 1 to March 31, dogs and other animals must be on a leash or under positive voice control. Help keep our beaches beautiful and please pick up after your pet.
This story was originally published March 25, 2016 at 12:29 PM with the headline "The Lowcountry’s best beaches are waiting for you."