Best Beaches Near Royal Dunes Resort
The beaches near Royal Dunes (and which one to pick)
Walking distance to the beach sounds great until you realize Hilton Head has a dozen different beach parks, each with its own vibe. From Royal Dunes, you’ve got options most people don’t—quiet neighborhood beaches for morning coffee walks, the island’s main scene at Coligny, family-friendly spots with playgrounds, and even a couple worth the drive when you want something different.
Here’s what you actually need to know about each one.
Islanders Beach: Your backyard option
0.3 miles away (seriously, just walk)
This is the closest beach to Royal Dunes, and it’s the one locals use when they don’t want to deal with parking or crowds. Restrooms, showers, a playground, and picnic tables with grills. Everything you need, none of the chaos.
The Town of Hilton Head charges $3/hour weekdays and $5/hour weekends if you drive, but you’re walking distance from the resort, so that’s not your problem.
Islanders doesn’t get the tourist rush. It’s peaceful—good for morning walks, kids playing without competing for sand space, or reading a book without someone’s Bluetooth speaker ruining the vibe. Dolphins swim past regularly. Sea turtles nest here May through October.
If you need a beach wheelchair, Islanders has three available (free, $25 refundable deposit, reserve online).
Coligny Beach: Where everyone goes
5 miles (15-minute drive)
Coligny is Hilton Head’s main beach, and it earned that status for good reason. Free parking. Restrooms with actual changing rooms. Outdoor showers. Covered gazebos. Free WiFi. Beach chair rentals. A splash pad for kids. Seasonal lifeguards. The works.
Cross the street and you’re in Coligny Plaza—restaurants, shops, ice cream. It’s the obvious choice when you want a full beach day with lunch and shopping built in.
The beach itself is flat and gentle—safe for kids, easy to wade. Named after a French admiral from the 1500s, which is the kind of trivia that impresses exactly nobody but sounds good in a blog post.
Summer weekends get packed. Overflow parking uses the USCB campus with free shuttles. If you show up mid-week in April or October, you’ll have plenty of room.
Driessen Beach: The picnic spot
1.7 miles away
Driessen sits between Islanders and Coligny in both distance and crowd level. Less busy than Coligny, more developed than Islanders. The 365-foot boardwalk through the trees is half the experience—cedars, live oaks, pines, then suddenly beach.
Restrooms, showers, playground, picnic pavilion, grills, vending machines, water fountain, free WiFi. This is where you bring the cooler and spend the whole day.
Parking runs $3/hour weekdays, $5/hour weekends during peak season (March through early September). 168 spaces.
Good choice for family gatherings or when you’re grilling burgers and need shade for lunch.
Burkes Beach: History + warm water
2.1 miles
Burkes Beach carries some weight—it’s significant to the local Gullah community, descendants of enslaved Africans who built a rich culture in the Lowcountry that’s still alive today.
Park at Chaplin Community Park (397 spaces, same rates as Driessen). The beach has outdoor showers and matting. Restrooms are back at the park, which also has tennis courts, basketball, fields, a playground, and a fenced dog park.
What sets Burkes apart: warmer water than beaches farther south, occasionally bigger waves, tidal pools at certain times. Walk north far enough and you’ll hit Coco’s Beach Bar at the Marriott—decent reward for a long beach walk.
Beach rules (the stuff that gets you fined)
The Town of Hilton Head takes beach rules seriously. Here’s what gets people in trouble:
Don’t bring:
- Alcohol (yes, including beer—fines up to $1,092)
- Glass containers
- Fireworks or fires (you need a permit, $500 fine without one)
Don’t dig holes deeper than 12 inches. Fill them before you leave.
Don’t use metal shovels on the beach (plastic or wood under 30 inches only).
Don’t leave your stuff overnight.
Don’t touch live sea creatures—sea turtles, sand dollars, starfish, all protected.
Dogs: Not allowed 10 AM to 5 PM during peak summer (Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside those hours, leash rules vary.
Swim areas (Coligny, Driessen, Islanders, Folly Field) run April-September, sunrise to sunset. No surfboards, boogie boards, fishing, or ball games in swim zones.
Two beaches worth the drive
Hunting Island State Park (50 miles, 1 hour)
South Carolina’s most-visited state park. Five miles of undeveloped beach that feels completely different from resort areas. $8 adults, $5 seniors.
“Boneyard Beach” is the draw—dramatic driftwood formations where erosion created something photographers can’t resist. The 1875 lighthouse is South Carolina’s only publicly accessible one, but it’s currently closed for repairs—check SC State Parks before driving out.
Eight miles of trails, a marsh boardwalk, nature center. Free track chair available for visitors with mobility needs (reserve ahead).
Pinckney Island Wildlife Refuge (10 miles north)
Free admission to 4,053 acres between Hilton Head and Bluffton. Over 250 bird species. Alligators everywhere.
Hike about 2 miles to reach White Point Beach, a secluded stretch you’ll mostly have to yourself.
Important: No restrooms, water, shelter, or shade. Bring supplies. No pets. Day use only.
Best visited early morning or late afternoon when wildlife is active and temperatures are cooler.
How to think about beach choice
You’re in Port Royal, which gives you easy access to multiple beaches. Most visitors get stuck with one option. You’ve got four in 2 miles plus two worth a day trip.
Use Islanders for quiet mornings or when you just want to walk to the beach. Hit Coligny when you want restaurants and shopping nearby. Driessen when you’re packing a cooler for the whole family. Burkes when you want warmer water and don’t mind a short drive.
Over 70% of Hilton Head visitors come back year after year, according to the HHI Chamber of Commerce. Once you find your beach, you’ll get it.
Official info, rates, conditions: hiltonheadislandsc.gov/beach
Planning your visit? Contact us to book or ask about ownership that puts these beaches in your backyard.