Explore Charleston's Picturesque Barrier Islands On This Epic Multi-Day Road Trip
By AnneMarie|Published June 21, 2023
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AnneMarie
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South Carolina has been home for AnneMarie since 2001. Her favorite part of the state is Lake Jocassee. An App State alumna, it's always the mountains; the lake bonus makes it heavenly. When not writing about the state, she may be spending time with family, relaxing by the pool, or out somewhere enjoying nature.
Everyone loves Charleston. It’s like the crown jewel of South Carolina, having been voted for 10 straight years by Travel + Leisure readers as the #1 city to visit in the United States and the only one in America included in the top 25 best cities in the world. That’s quite the recognition in the travel industry! And those who have been to Charleston certainly understand its allure. From beautiful sights to delicious restaurants to historical charm and southern hospitality, what’s not to love? Not to mention, there are always so many fun things to do in Charleston and its surrounding area. We’ve got a fabulous road trip for you to take that will get you a little farther out from downtown when you’re ready to branch out and explore more beyond, specifically, the stunning barrier islands of Charleston.
This road trip filled with Charleston fun is also flexible. You could start out and even stay in Charleston as your base to explore from each day! The last island on our trip, Seabrook, is the farthest from Charleston but just about a 40-minute one-way drive.
A couple of options for Charleston accommodations include The Loutrel, which was named Charleston’s best hotel and one of the world’s best hotels in Travel + Leisure’s 2022 World’s Best Awards, or if you prefer a Vrbo type, we recommend this charming carriage house also in the historic district.
If you were to simply drive straight through this road trip route, it would take you just over 2.5 hours. But you really can personalize this trip to accommodate your needs or interests. If you have the time, we'd recommend making it a five-day road trip and spending a day fully enjoying each island.
But you could pick and choose the top sites you want to visit and complete the trip in a few days instead if that better suits you!
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We chose the northernmost barrier island of all five, the Isle of Palms, to begin our adventure and then will work our way down along the coastline. To get to this friendly small town from Charleston, you'll be traveling through Mount Pleasant and across the famous Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge, one of the tallest bridges in America.
Each of Charleston's barrier islands has its own personality and remarkable charm. The Isle of Palms, just 12 miles from downtown Charleston, is popular for surfing, fishing, swimming, and other recreational activities, with six miles of public beach. You'll also find a wide variety of shopping, dining, and entertainment options. Rent a boat from the Isle of Palms Marina and explore the island’s gorgeous bays or go out on a canoe or kayak through the marshes, backwaters, and creeks on the inland area of the island. Paddleboarding, paragliding, and skiing on jet skis are also popular activities.
Cafe Paname on Palm Boulevard is a great spot to grab fresh, roasted local coffee, breakfast, or lunch.
Stay at Wild Dunes Resort for luxurious overnight accommodations, vacation rentals, and beach condos as well as on-site dining options and award-winning golfing and tennis.
Sullivan's Island treasures you'll want to explore include the lighthouse, known as "Charleston Light," Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, and the beautiful Stella Maris Roman Catholic Church, which was built in the early 1870s to serve Irish immigrants who came to the island to work on projects for the Army Corps of Engineers.
Of course, you can spend some time on the beach or at least get your toes in the Sullivan's Island sand and water while you're here as well! Paddleboarding and kiteboarding are popular beach activities here. Sealand Adventure Sports offers kiteboarding, SUP yoga, and surfing lessons if you're newer to these activities. As you can see, you will not run out of fun things to do while exploring this Charleston barrier island!
Most people just refer to Folly Beach rather than Folly Island, known as a mecca for surfers and those seeking a laid-back beach lifestyle. It's also a great spot for hunting shark's teeth.
Of course, not everyone surfs. Swimming, fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, wakeboarding, and flyboarding are also popular at Folly Beach. Watch for dolphins while out exploring!
There is also an abundance of places to eat and shop at Folly Beach. The Lost Dog Cafe is a fun eatery with dog-of-fame walls inside, a must-visit for all doggy lovers. Check out the Beachside Boutique Inn for a neat, quirky place to spend the night at Folly Beach after a day full of fun activities.
Just as Charleston is consistently ranked a top city, Kiawah Island has been ranked for 14 consecutive years among the top 10 beaches in the country by Dr. Beach. You can stay at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort where you'll enjoy five-star accommodations, delicious dining, including award-winning mac 'n cheese at Cherrywood BBQ and Ale House just for starters, 10 miles of private beach shoreline ...
... and championship golf courses, one designed by Tom Fazio. If you're not planning to stay at the resort, however, you can still enjoy the island at the Kiawah Beachwalker Park, which is located on the island's south end and made the Condé Nast Traveler 10 Best Beaches in the U. S. list. There are also 30 miles of walking and biking trails on Kiawah Island.
Finally, we reach the southernmost of the Charleston Barrier Islands: beautiful Seabrook. Primarily a private, residential community, you can stay on Seabrook in a vacation rental if you'd like. With three miles of pristine stretches of sand, you'll generally find a quieter, more tranquil atmosphere than on the neighboring islands. It also hosts a full-service equestrian center, a tournament-grade tennis center, two championship golf courses, and a fitness and aquatics complex. Check out the little-known nature trail on Seabrook Island if you especially enjoy hiking.
Fishing is one of the more popular activities on Seabrook Island, and you may see lots of wildlife, including deer, sea turtles, Bottlenose dolphins, alligators, and many types of birds.
Make sure you enjoy a breathtaking sunset on your last night, the perfect wrap-up to this picturesque road trip experience.
We only included the inhabited islands in our trip. Morris Island is a sixth barrier island of Charleston that’s uninhabited.
If you’d like to stay on each of the islands overnight, be sure to check on whether or not any of the places you’re looking at have a minimum number of nights required. That may be the case especially if your trip is during peak travel seasons, in such case, you may have to choose one location as your base to explore from.
Have you been to any of Charleston’s barrier islands? Which is your favorite if you’ve been to more than one, and why?
If you’re looking for other fun things to do in Charleston, check out the nighttime award-winning tour where you can see some of the city’s incredible sites while learning some fascinating things about the history of this popular locale!
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