Hilton Head, the Lowcountry island of beaches and golf
My Hilton Head travel guide. The RBC Heritage golf week in April, the Lowcountry food, the beaches, and pairing it with Savannah.
- Updated
- Jul 3, 2026
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Typical highs around 28°C, lows around 26°C. Also the wettest months.
Typical highs around 16°C, lows around 12°C.
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Hilton Head Island is a resort town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. It is a barrier island within the South Carolina Lowcountry, located 20 miles (32 km) northeast of Savannah, Georgia, and 95 miles (153 km) southwest of Charleston. The year-round population was 37,661 at the 2020 census, although during the peak of summer vacation season the population can swell to 150,000. It is the principal city of the Hilton Head Island metropolitan area, which had an estimated population of 232,523 in 2023.
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My Hilton Head travel guide. The RBC Heritage golf week in April, the Lowcountry food, the beaches, and pairing it with Savannah.
Hilton Head is a South Carolina barrier island with a wide flat Atlantic beach, pine forest behind it, golf, and Lowcountry food. Savannah sits about an hour away.
Hilton Head Savannah/Hilton Head International (SAV) is served by a small regional airport (HHH) and by Savannah/Hilton Head International (SAV) about 60 km away. SAV handles the bulk of inbound flights and is the practical gateway.
| Mode | Time | Cost | When to use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rental car from SAV | 60 to 75 min | From $45/day | The default. Hilton Head is car-dependent. Rent at SAV and drive over the bridge |
| Hilton Head Airport (HHH) | On-island arrival | Limited flights from Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington Dulles | A direct option if you can find a route. Very limited schedules |
| Lowcountry Adventures shuttle | 60 to 75 min | $60 to $100 per person | Pre-booked shuttle from SAV. Useful if you are not renting a car |
| Uber / Lyft from SAV | 60 to 75 min | $120 to $180 | A late arrival. Pricier than the rental but works for a quick transfer |
Keep the Hilton Head itinerary loose: one beach walk, one water outing, one Lowcountry meal, and enough blank space that the island can feel slow. The beach is wide and flat enough for long walks or bikes at low tide, while the creeks and sound are the better half-day if you want the marsh side of the island instead of another resort pool.
Dolphin cruises are the easiest way to see the island from the water here, and they pair well with a late lunch or early dinner near the marina. Go earlier in the day for calmer water and less heat, especially outside winter.
Hilton Head's biggest hotel week is the April PGA tournament. Summer holiday weekends are the other price spikes.
| Event | When | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| RBC Heritage | Mid-April | PGA Tour event at Harbour Town. Island hotels can double or triple |
| Wine & Food Festival | Mid-March | Tastings, chef events, and the Public Tasting at Honey Horn |
| Concours d'Elegance | Early November | Classic-car events around Sea Pines |
| Memorial Day Weekend | Late May | Start of summer pricing and busy beaches |
| Independence Day | July 4 | Fireworks over Shelter Cove and Skull Creek, with peak hotel rates |
| Labor Day Weekend | Early September | End-of-summer crowds and peak rates |
| Spring break | March | Family and college travel, especially near South Beach |
| Savannah St Patrick's Day | March 17 | Savannah fills first, then Hilton Head sees spillover |
| Christmas and New Year | December 24 to January 2 | Slightly higher off-season prices |
| Gullah Geechee events | Variable | Cultural programming often centered on Mitchelville Freedom Park |
Hilton Head food runs through the Low Country style: shrimp and grits, fresh oysters, blue crab, the Gullah heritage in the seasoning. Plus the resort-town imports (Italian, Greek, the brewery rotation) that any beach destination ends up with. The picks below cover both threads.
| Spot | Rating |
|---|---|
| Congress Street Social Club | Pinned |
| Hilton Head Brewing Company | Pinned |
| It's Greek To Me | Pinned |
| Jamaica Joe'z | Pinned |
| Kenny B's French Quarter Cafe | Pinned |
| Lincoln and South Brewing Company | Pinned |