Exploring Charleston Islands
Downtown Charleston is surrounded by water on three sides as well as barrier islands to the south.
Not only do these islands protect the rest of the city from harsh weather during hurricane seasons, but they’re also home to nature preserves, golf courses, and beaches.
The most popular Charleston islands include:
- Sullivan’s Island
- Folly Island
- Kiawah Island
- James Island
- Isle of Palms
- Seabrook Island
They’re also some of the most overlooked areas of the city.
If you want to visit areas outside of Downtown Charleston and are looking for some sand, sea, and fun, consider exploring Charleston’s islands.
Charleston Islands
Here is a short list of some of the many islands that surround the city of Charleston.
There are so many nearby islands that we can’t possibly mention them all in one article, but we can offer some insight into some of the most popular destinations and the best sites to visit on each island.
Sullivan’s Island
Possibly one of the most visited Charleston islands is Sullivan’s Island — thanks to its main attraction, Sullivan’s Island Beach.
This beach is a little further off the beaten path, so it’s a great place to escape the crowds if you want to relax on the sand during the summer season.
History buffs will appreciate the Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse and Fort Moultrie.
Though you can’t visit the lighthouse itself, you can still admire its modern structure from other areas of the island, including Station 18 Beach.
Yet you can visit Fort Moultrie, which played a major role in the Revolutionary War.
Sullivan’s Island is also home to two of our favorite restaurants, including Poe’s Tavern and the Obstinate Daughter.
We have an entire itinerary dedicated to Sullivan’s Island and Shem Creek if you want to take more time to explore this island and its surrounding areas.
Folly Island & Morris Island
On the other side of the Folly Island Channel from Sullivan’s Island sits two other Charleston Islands, Folly Island and Morris Island.
Folly Island is home to another popular Charleston beach, Folly Beach.
This beach, as well as the Folly Beach Pier, are the biggest draws here to both locals and visitors.
From Folly Island, you’ll get a good view of the Morris Island Lighthouse, which is located off the coast. You’ll get a great view of the lighthouse from the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve.
In addition to the stunning views, you can also enjoy fishing and birdwatching here.
Kiawah Island
The most popular attraction on Kiawah Island is golf, as it’s home to the Kiawah Island Golf Resort.
If swinging the iron isn’t your thing, you might still want to consider a trip to this Charleston island; other attractions include Kiawah Beachwalker Park, the Heron Park Nature Center, and The Sanctuary, a five-star resort.
Kiawah Island is also home to plenty of wildlife and you can spot alligators, whitetail deer, bobcats, and dolphins here.
Freshfields Village is a local shopping mall that offers high-end boutiques, restaurants, and a spa.
James Island
James Island, which is located just across the Ashley River from Downtown, is the best Charleston island to visit if you don’t have enough time to visit the barrier islands, as part of the island is located within the city.
If you’re a history buff, you’ll want to take a trip to James Island — it is home to Fort Johnson and the first battle of the Civil War was fought here.
The McLeod Plantation is located on James Island and has roots in American Revolutionary history.
Isle of Palms
Isle of Palms is a barrier island that sits just to the southwest of Charleston.
Like most other Charleston islands, the top activities here include the beach and golf; however, there’s plenty more where that came from, if you’re tired of all this fun in the sun!
This island is just south of the Mount Pleasant neighborhood. Some of the top sights here include shopping, the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, and Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens.
There are also a lot of top-rated restaurants nearby on Isle of Palms, including Papi’s Taqueria, The Refuge, and Acme Lowcountry Kitchen.
Seabrook Island
The furthest Charleston island from Downtown on this list is Seabrook Island, which sits southwest of the city.
Here, you’ll find Seabrook Island Beach, which is an ideal spot to sun if you want to avoid the crowds during the peak summer season.
If you don’t want to spend your time lounging on the beach all day, you could take a horseback ride instead with the Seabrook Equestrian Center.
The Charleston Tea Garden, which is located nearby on Wadmalaw Island and operated by Bigelow Tea, offers daily tours.
How to Visit Charleston Islands
Since the local islands are a little further off the beaten path than many of the other local activities, you may want to plan a little before visiting.
Here are our favorite ways to visit Charleston’s islands.
By Car
If you want to visit Charleston’s island, you may want to consider renting a car while you’re here.
Some of these islands, such as Seabrook Island, Isle of Palms, and Kiawah Island aren’t as easily accessible from Downtown Charleston.
Luckily, you can reach most of them within a 30-minute drive.
By Boat
You can visit some of Charleston’s islands by taking the local water taxi. If you’re interested in seeing more of the city’s surrounding areas from the water, you can check out our full list of Charleston boat tours.
By Bike
Some of the nearby islands, such as Sullvian’s Island, can be reached by bike.
You can rent a bike in nearby Mount Pleasant and reach the most popular sites on the island within a 20-minute bike ride.
By Tour
Possibly our favorite way to show off Charleston’s island is by walking tour.
Although our popular public tours, including our Charleston History Tour and Alleys and Hidden Passages Tour, won’t take you to any local islands, you can always book a private tour if you want to get off the beaten path.