Driessen Beach Park, Hilton Head Island, SC

Also known as

Bradley Beach (the beach at the end of the boardwalk)

Public access

Yes, open to all visitors, no permit needed

Hours

6 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily; 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. after daylight saving time ends

Driessen Beach Park sits mid-island on Bradley Beach Road, just off William Hilton Parkway — and if you’ve heard someone call it Bradley Beach instead, they’re talking about the same spot. The park and its parking lot carry the Driessen name, but the sand at the far end of the boardwalk is Bradley Beach, so both names lead here. It’s also one of the larger public beach parks on the island, with more parking than most of its neighbors, which is why the town lists it as one of the alternatives while Islanders Beach Park is closed for construction through May 2027.

About Driessen Beach Park

Driessen Beach Park is reached off William Hilton Parkway, mid-island between the busier Coligny Beach Park to the south and the quieter Folly Field and Islanders beach parks to the north. A boardwalk just over 1,000 feet long carries visitors from the parking lot, through natural dune growth, down to the sand — long enough that the walk itself is part of the experience rather than just a path to get through.

Driessen Beach Park and Bradley Beach

The two names split along geography, not history: Bradley Beach is the name of the beach itself, while Driessen Beach Park is the name of the town park that gives you access to it. Search either name and you’ll end up at the same address — 64 Bradley Beach Road, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, at the end of the park’s boardwalk.

Parking at Driessen Beach Park

The lot has 168 metered spaces plus 27 more reserved for residents with a beach parking permit, along with 7 ADA spaces and 3 bus/RV spaces — one of the larger lots among Hilton Head’s beach parks. Parking is enforced daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. during peak season, March 1 through Labor Day: $3 an hour Monday through Friday, $5 an hour on weekends. Payment runs through the town’s parking app only — the lot doesn’t take cash. Outside peak season, and year-round for permit holders, parking is free.

Amenities at Driessen Beach Park

Driessen has one of the fuller amenity lists on the island: restrooms, outdoor showers, a playground, a picnic pavilion with grills, beach matting for wheelchair access, seasonal lifeguards, beach chair and umbrella rentals, and Wi-Fi. It’s a good pick for a family group planning to stay most of the day rather than just stopping for a swim.

Nearby Beaches

Folly Field Beach Park is a short drive north, and Islanders Beach Park is just past that — though Islanders is closed for site improvements through May 2027, with Driessen named as one of the recommended alternatives in the meantime. For a busier, more built-out beach with shops and restaurants nearby, Coligny Beach Park is south down William Hilton Parkway. For the full list of Hilton Head’s beaches, start at the Hilton Head beaches guide.