Hilton Head vs Kiawah Island: How the Two Compare
Hilton Head vs Kiawah Island: two South Carolina golf-and-beach islands two and a half hours apart. Kiawah is a private, gated island near Charleston with 10 miles of beach and the Ocean Course; Hilton Head is an open town with 12 miles of public beach, bike paths and 20 golf courses.
Kiawah Island vs Hilton Head: At a Glance
| Hilton Head | Kiawah Island | |
|---|---|---|
| Access | An open town, with gated communities inside it | A private, gated island |
| Beach | 12 miles, with public beach parks | About 10 miles; public access at Beachwalker Park |
| Golf | 20 courses on the island, 24 more in Bluffton | Five resort courses, including the Ocean Course |
| Big tournaments | The RBC Heritage every April at Harbour Town | Ryder Cup 1991, PGA Championship 2012 and 2021 |
| Restaurants and shops | Hundreds across the island | A few in the resort; more in Charleston |
| Nearest city | Savannah, about an hour | Charleston, about 40 minutes |
The short version: Kiawah for a secluded, resort-run stay close to Charleston; Hilton Head for more choice. Kiawah suits golfers chasing the Ocean Course and anyone who wants a quiet, private island. Hilton Head suits families and groups who want restaurants, bike paths, public beaches and a range of places to stay.
The Beaches Compared
Kiawah’s beach runs about 10 miles, wide and quiet, behind a gate. Unless you are staying on the island, you reach it through Beachwalker County Park at the west end, which has parking, lifeguards in season and a long walk of open sand.
Hilton Head’s 12 miles of beach are open to everyone through public beach parks such as Coligny and Islanders, and hard-packed enough at low tide to ride a bike on. See Hilton Head beaches.
Golf: Kiawah vs Hilton Head
Kiawah has five resort courses, and the Ocean Course is the draw: Pete Dye’s links on the dunes, which hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup and the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championships. Hilton Head has more golf and more variety, with 20 courses on the island and 24 in Bluffton, and Harbour Town hosts the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage every April. See Hilton Head golf.
Where You Stay
On Kiawah you stay with the resort, at its oceanfront hotel or in a villa or house in the gated island. Hilton Head has thousands of vacation rentals and resorts, hotels and inns at every price, in communities such as Sea Pines and Palmetto Dunes.
Living on Kiawah or Hilton Head
Kiawah is a private community of second homes and a small year-round population, with Charleston 40 minutes away for everything else. Hilton Head is a town of about 38,000 people, with schools, groceries, hospitals and neighborhoods at many price points, gated and not. See Hilton Head real estate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kiawah Island or Hilton Head better?
They suit different trips. Kiawah is a private, gated island near Charleston with 10 miles of quiet beach and the Ocean Course. Hilton Head is an open island with 12 miles of public beach, 64 miles of bike paths, 20 golf courses and far more restaurants and places to stay.
How far is Kiawah Island from Hilton Head?
About 114 miles by road, roughly two and a half hours.
Can you go to the beach on Kiawah if you are not staying there?
Yes, through Beachwalker County Park at the west end of the island. The rest of Kiawah is gated.
Is Hilton Head gated like Kiawah?
No. Hilton Head is an open town; some communities inside it, such as Sea Pines and Palmetto Dunes, have gates, and the public beach parks are open to everyone.
Local guides like this come standard for Guests of Partner Properties — one small part of what a Partner Property gives every guest.
Book Partner Properties