Where to Stay in Hilton Head (Best Places & Areas)

👉 Jump to: Best Places to Stay in Hilton Head | Best Neighborhoods & Areas | Tips | FAQ

Are you wondering where to stay on Hilton Head Island? I’ve spent a lot of time there, and I’ll help you figure out the best hotels for you!

If you’re going to Hilton Head on a family vacation, I suggest staying in Forest Beach where you’ll have easy access to Coligny Beach and Coligny Plaza. My top hotel recommendation in the area is Beach House Resort because you can walk right to the beach.

Of course, you’re never that far from the beach on Hilton Head, and there are some other great areas to stay in, too. Keep reading for my honest breakdown of the pros and cons of other good options on the island.

Best Places to Stay in Hilton Head

Just looking for a quick answer on the best places to stay in Hilton Head? Here are my top picks: 

• 🏆 Best Overall Hotel – The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort
• 📍 Best Location – Marriott SurfWatch
• 💎 Best Luxury Hotel – Inn and Club at Harbour Town
• 👪 Best for Families – Marriott’s Grande Ocean
• 💻 Best for Business – Courtyard by Marriott Hilton Head
• 🏨 Best Boutique – Old Town Bluffton Inn
• 🛍️ Best Near Coligny Plaza / Beach – Beach House Hotel 
• 🏖️ Best for Private Beach Access – The Sonesta Resort 
• 🛏️ Best Budget – Home2 Suites by Hilton Hilton Head

Click here to see all top Hilton Head hotels or here for apartments.

Ok, let’s do a deep dive of the best areas and neighborhoods in Hilton Head: 

7 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Hilton Head

As a barrier island off the coast of South Carolina, you’ll never be too far from a beach on Hilton Head Island. You’ll have plenty of opportunities for sunbathing, swimming, and shell collecting whether you end up staying right on the Atlantic Ocean or on the more sheltered Port Royal Sound.

Forest Beach

👉 Best Area For Families | ✨ Best Forest Beach Hotels: Beach House Resort • Courtyard by Marriott • Coral Sands Resort

While much of Hilton Head is made up of gated communities closed to the public, the Forest Beach area is the largest ungated area on the island. It’s a great option for families or anyone who would like to see the hits of Hilton Head easily and without a car.

Forest Beach is home to Coligny Beach, one of the most popular beaches in Hilton Head. Coligny Beach has amazing amenities like swings under shaded pavilions and even a splash pad. Just across the street is Coligny Plaza, a shopping center full of stores, restaurants, and ice cream shops. 

And since there are several resorts like Beach House Resort right on Coligny Beach, it’s easy to get the whole family ready to go into the morning or to have a great vacation even if you don’t have a rental car. Between April and Labor Day, there’s a shuttle on the island that will connect you to other points of interest. There are also lots of bike paths in the area.

Pros of Staying in Forest Beach Neighborhood:

• Largest ungated area on the island
• Serviced by a public trolley between April and Labor Day
• Proximity to famous Coligny Beach and shopping center
• Walking distance to lots of restaurants and nightlife

Cons of Staying in Forest Beach Neighborhood:

• Coligny Beach Park is the most crowded area on the island during the tourist season
• Some of the accommodations are dated

Sea Pines

👉 Best Area For Golfers and Fishing Enthusiasts | ✨ Best Sea Pines Hotels: The Inn and Club at Harbour Town • The Sea Pines Resort • Marriott’s Monarch at Sea Pines

Sea Pines is an area of Hilton Head made up of two “towns,” Harbour Town and South Beach. Both areas have a lot of shopping and attractions, and in general, Sea Pines is one of the more popular areas and also one of the oldest. 

Sea Pines is great for golfers because of its world-famous course, Harbour Town Golf Links. Golfers might want to stay at The Inn and Club at Harbour Town for a luxury stay with easy access to the golf course.

Since there are two marinas in between Harbour Town and South Beach, there are plenty of opportunities to hire a charter cruise to fish. While Sea Pines might not have as much to keep young children occupied, anyone prioritizing golfing and fishing will love it.

Other great attractions include the ruins at Stoney Barnard and the Harbour Town lighthouse.

Pros of Staying in Sea Pines:

• Great shopping and restaurants at Harbour Town
• Access to world-class golf courses like Harbour Town Golf Links
• Charter cruises available from two different marinas

Cons of Staying in Sea Pines Neighborhood:

• Need a car to navigate; not serviced by the trolley
• Accommodations tend to be expensive
• Not many resorts

Shipyard

👉 Best Area For Tennis Players | ✨ Best Shipyard Hotels: Sonesta Resort Hilton Head

Shipyard is a little isolated and cut off from a lot of general Hilton Head amenities, but many visitors will find that Sonesta Resort Hilton Head makes up for that. The Sonesta is one of the top resorts on the entire island, and many visitors love it enough to return time and time again. 

If you’re looking for a self-contained bubble in which to camp out for the duration of your vacation, Shipyard may be a good option. The Sonesta Resort is especially good if you’re looking for an expansive resort property with multiple swimming pools, eateries, and a spa.

But keep in mind that this area doesn’t have a lot of kid-friendly activities if you’re bringing the whole family and is best reserved for adults who want to live the good life on Hilton Head Island.

If you do stay inside the gates of Shipyard (regardless of whether it’s at the Sonesta or by renting a condo or apartment), you’ll have access to a shuttle that will take you throughout Shipyard Plantation and from the Shipyard Beach Club to the beach. You will also have easy access to the Shipyard Golf Club and the world-famous tennis center.

Pros of Staying in Shipyard:

• Near a world-class tennis facility
• Access to a beach club
• Private beach access by way of a shuttle or from the back doors of the Sonesta
• The Sonesta is consistently a crowd favorite resort on the island
• 2 miles from Coligny Plaza and Sea Pines Forest Preserve

Cons of Staying in Shipyard Neighborhood:

• Primarily timeshares and condos instead of hotels and resorts
• Limited options of things to do and not the most family friendly

Palmetto Dunes

👉 Best Area For Nature Lovers | ✨ Best Palmetto Dunes Hotels: Omni Resort Hilton Head • Hilton Beachfront Resort and Spa • Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort

Palmetto Dunes is part of a hopping area of Hilton Head with plenty of attractions for the whole family, including pirate mini-golf and access to lagoons that are great for kayaking or canoeing. It has three championship golf courses that are all public. 

Palmetto Dunes has two sections: Mariner and Inverness. Although these largely contain houses and condos, the Omni Resort is a crowd favorite resort on the island and is located in this area.

The Shelter Cove shopping center is located right across from Palmetto Dunes and has a lot of shopping, bars, restaurants, and even live performances. Palmetto Dunes has enough variety to offer almost any traveler something to enjoy.

Pros of Staying in Palmetto Dunes:

• All three golf courses are public
• Close proximity to many (less crowded) beaches
• Extensive lagoon system that can be kayaked/canoed

Cons of Staying in Palmetto Dunes:

• Primarily timeshares and condos instead of hotels and resorts
• Limited options of things to do and not the most family friendly

Port Royal Plantation

👉 Best Area For Science and History Lovers | ✨ Best Port Royal Hotels: The Westin Hotel • Marriott’s Barony Beach

Port Royal is a neighborhood on the Port Royal Sound on the northeastern part of the island. Because it is located near the Sound and the coastlines are not just on the Atlantic, the beaches are unique. They contain sprawling tide pools and extensive tidal flats at low tide. Fish Haul Beach is a great example of this phenomenon. 

This area also contains a ton of history, including the Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park, which was a camp for freed people of color during the Civil War. The park has model buildings and a Toni Morrison bench, a special commemorative location to reflect on the impacts of inequity in this country.

The Westin Hotel often wins votes for the best hotel on the entire island, so you won’t be roughing it in Port Royal. Port Royal will be both a fun and educational experience for the whole family.

Pros of Staying in Port Royal:

• Proximity to some amazing cultural attractions such as Mitchellville Historic Park
• Proximity to some of the best beaches for tidal pool exploration and shell collecting
• The Westin is many people’s favorite hotels on the island

Cons of Staying in Port Royal:

• Beaches are on the Port Royal Sand, not the Atlantic, and they are muddier and better for walking rather than swimming
• Far away from amenities like Coligny Beach and the island shuttle

Folly Field

👉 Best Area For Beach Lovers | ✨ Best Folly Field Hotels: Marriott’s SurfWatch • Hilton Head Island Beach and Tennis Resort

Not only is Folly Field a large ungated area that gives Forest Beach a run for its money as a crowd-favorite neighborhood, but it also offers visitors access to multiple beaches that are beautiful and less busy than Coligny Beach.

These include Burkes Beach, Alder Lane Beach Access, and Singleton Beach. Burkes Beach is very similar to Coligny but with thinner crowds. Since the Folly Field area is also on the trolley route (seasonally), you don’t have to miss out on the fun of the Coligny Plaza area even without a car.

With beachfront resorts like Marriott’s SurfWatch available, it will be easy to mobilize the whole family in the morning or enjoy a glass of wine on the beach as a couple on a quiet night.

Pros of Staying in Folly Field:

• Close proximity to many (less crowded) white sand beaches
• Beachfront properties available
• On the trolley route (when it runs from April – Labor Day)

Cons of Staying in Folly Field:

• Rental properties may be more expensive than the similar Forest Beach Community
• May have to use a car to get to certain nearby amenities or the trolley to the Coligny Beach/Plaza area

Bluffton

👉 Best Area For Couples | ✨ Best Bluffton Hotels: Old Town Bluffton Inn • Montage Palmetto Bluff 

Bluffton is its own town, but it bears mentioning here because Old Bluffton is too historic and picturesque to pass up.

While you’ll really need a car to traverse between Bluffton and Hilton Head, Bluffton is a little quieter (even during the busy summer season). It has an Old South charm, and the main drag is filled with historic buildings with porches and white columns.

While rare in Hilton Head, you can find boutique hotels like the Old Town Bluffton Inn in Bluffton. There’s also world-class golf, excellent restaurants, a truly unique distillery, and a waterfront. If you want a romantic, quiet, and personalized vacation, look into Old Bluffton!

Pros of Staying in Bluffton:

• Quiet and off-the-beaten-path
• True Old South vibe
• Unique hotel experiences

Cons of Staying in Bluffton:

• Need a car to access Hilton Head amenities
• Not actually Hilton Head but a separate town
• Have to travel for beach access

Tips for Staying in Hilton Head

Know How to Escape a Rip Current

Rip currents are common at beaches on the Atlantic Shore and in Hilton Head. Make sure your whole family understands how to escape a rip current by swimming perpendicular to – not against – the current.

Be Cautious of U-Turning Vehicles

Due to building codes in Hilton Head, the buildings tend to have a uniform appearance and signage can be subtle. Therefore, lots of drivers overshoot their destinations and then are forced to U-Turn on divided highways. Be aware that cars in front of you may suddenly slow to U-Turn, or cars may U-Turn into your lane.

Pack Sun Protection

Hitting up the beach is one of the best things to do in Hilton Head. But the sun and heat can be intense on the island, so pack smart sun gear like brimmed hats, sunscreen, and a water bottle to help you stay hydrated.

Carry Some Quarters

A few of the best beaches on the island (like Alder Lane Beach Access) have parking meters that only take quarters. Make sure you have some available so you don’t have to change your plans or risk being towed.

Plan a Day Trip to Savannah

Savannah is only 45 minutes away from Hilton Head and makes an amazing day trip. Since Savannah is a spooky city, consider planning an evening trip so you can fit in a Ghost Tour or an after-hours stop to the bar at the National Prohibition Museum.

FAQs

What are the best areas to stay in Hilton Head for first-timers?

Forest Beach is the best place to stay in Hilton Head for first-timers because of the access to Coligny Beach and Coligny Plaza.

What are safe areas to stay in Hilton Head?

Hilton Head is very safe and all the neighborhoods including Forest Beach, Sea Pines, Shipyard, and more are safe to stay in.

What’s the best area to stay in Hilton Head for families?

Forest Beach and Folly Field are the best areas to stay in Hilton Head for families due to the beaches, trolley access, and lots of family-friendly attractions.

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Thanks for reading my guide! Whether you plan on staying in one of the luxury hotels or near one of the championship golf courses, I hope you have a wonderful time in Hilton Head!

Looking for more South Carolina recommendations? See our guide to where to stay in Myrtle Beach next.