Update: Do you visit Hilton Head every summer? Here’s why this year will be different
This story was updated Monday morning.
Each summer, thousands of families from all over the East Coast load up their minivans with beach towels, umbrellas, and make the trip down to the Lowcountry to enjoy a beautiful vacation on Hilton Head Island.
If you’re one of the many visitors who flock to the island every year, there are some things you should know before planning your trip. Here’s what’s new in 2025.
Is parking free on Hilton Head Island? Not anymore
Gone are the days of free parking at all of the island’s beaches. This summer, visitors will need to pay to park.
The new rules went into effect March 1. Parking is enforced from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can vary by the day.
As of March 28, parking is free at public lots near Coligny Beach. At all other public beaches, parking costs $3 per hour with a daily maximum of $15, and a flat $20 on Saturdays and Sundays.
.png "pay for parking islandpacket (1).png")
The town council is considering whether to charge for parking at Coligny, raise the rate to $5 per hour, and eliminate the daily maximums. This story will be updated if that goes into effect.
Don’t bother searching your couch cushions for spare change — you’ll need a charged phone and a debit or credit card to pay. Read more on how to pay for parking here.
How much does it cost to rent an umbrella on Hilton Head in 2025?
Need some relief from the hot South Carolina sun? You’ll need a couple more bucks this year: the fee to rent an umbrella and two chairs from Shore Beach Services is now $46 for a single day, up from $44 last year. Each extra chair costs $18.
Are Hilton Head beaches wheelchair-accessible?
Free beach wheelchairs are available at certain Hilton Head beaches, with wide tires designed for maneuvering easily across the sand. However, wheelchair users will need someone to push them in order to move around.
Three wheelchairs are currently available at Islanders Beach Park and three at Coligny Beach Park. Reservations can be made through the town’s website. A $25 deposit by credit card is required.
In about a month, beach wheelchairs will be available at Fish Haul, Folly, Driessen, and Burkes Beach, according to town beach operations manager Mike DeMaria. Two wheelchairs will be stored at each location.
All public beach parks also have non-slip beach matting that extend to the high-tide line, making it easier for everyone to get close to the water.
Will beaches be closed for beach renourishment?
Starting in June, beachgoers may see large bulldozers and other heavy machinery dredging sand from the ocean floor and adding it back to Hilton Head’s beaches.
The process, called beach renourishment, will add about 2.2 million cubic yards of sand to replenish acres of coastline lost to erosion. The work will begin on the north end of the island by the Port Royal Sound, and make its way clockwise along the coast.
As the construction moves along the shoreline, up to 1,000 feet sections of the beach may be closed at a given time, for about three to four days at a time.
Visitors to the island’s most popular beach, Coligny Beach, and other beaches on central island, won’t notice anything this summer. Work on these sections is anticipated to start in November.
What places have closed in the past year?
Some longstanding establishments on Hilton Head have shut their doors for good:
- Aunt Chilada’s on Pope Avenue permanently closed in September. The spot is now a parking lot.
- The Lucky Rooster Bar & Kitchen on 841 William Hilton Pkwy closed in October. Its sister restaurant Lucky Beach Bar Kitchen on Folly Field Road closed in December. A new Caribbean-inspired restaurant called Nala’s Beach is slated to open at that location on June 28.
- Stacks Pancakes & More off of William Hilton Parkway shut down without warning in September
Feeling something new? These restaurants are bringing new flavors from around the world to Hilton Head:
- Masala Mantra: Craving tikka masala? Hilton Head’s only Indian restaurant opened at the end of July 2024.
- 843 Korean BBQ & Hot Pot: Korean food addicts no longer have to travel off-island to score some all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ. This restaurant on Matthews Drive opened its doors in April.
This story was originally published May 29, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
