Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina, Hilton Head
Shelter Cove Harbour from the air
Summer HarbourFest, Tuesday fireworks over the water and free family shows, plus the island’s biggest charter fleet and a ring of waterfront tables.
- Where: 1 Shelter Cove Lane, on Broad Creek
- Satnav: 13 Harbourside Lane
- Parking: free
- HarbourFest: Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend
- Fireworks: Tuesday nights in summer, and July 4
Shelter Cove Fireworks and HarbourFest
Shannon Tanner’s free family shows at Shelter Cove Harbour: two shows a night on summer weeknights, the Oyster Reefers on Thursdays, and how to go.
The King Neptune statue at Shelter Cove Harbour: a 12-foot bronze Neptune whose trident is a working sundial, dedicated in 1983. Free, open any time.
When and where to see fireworks on Hilton Head Island — weekly Shelter Cove HarbourFest shows and Fourth of July displays at Shelter Cove and Harbour Town.
HarbourFest at Shelter Cove Harbour is the harbour’s summer series, and it runs from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. It is free: you walk the boardwalk, find a spot and wait for the evening to start. The Shelter Cove fireworks go up over the water every Tuesday night of it, plus a show on the Fourth of July, and each one starts once the sky is fully dark rather than at a set time. The 2026 Shelter Cove fireworks ran on the Tuesdays from June 9 to August 18, with the Fourth on a Saturday, and the harbour posts the next season’s dates in spring. Drones are not allowed during the shows, and on July 4 there is a free shuttle.
The Shelter Cove concerts are the other half of it. Shannon Tanner has played the harbour gazebo on summer evenings for decades, two free family shows a night at 6:30 and 8 p.m. on most weeknights, and on Thursdays he plays at 7 p.m. with his band, the Oyster Reefers. Cappy the Clown works the boardwalk on weekday evenings from 6 to 9 with balloon animals and face painting. After the summer, Shelter Cove live music moves to Thursday nights in the fall with the harbour’s Music & Taste evenings. Our Hilton Head fireworks guide lists the island’s other displays.
The best way to see the fireworks is from the water. Several of the boats below run fireworks cruises on Tuesday nights and finish out on the water for the show.
Dolphin Tours, Fishing and Boat Rentals
Outside Hilton Head at Shelter Cove Harbour: kayak and paddleboard rentals, guided kayak tours, dolphin tours, fishing and pontoon rentals, how to book.
Dolphin Seafari at Shelter Cove Harbour: a family-run 90-minute dolphin cruise on Broad Creek from $40, plus donut mornings, sunset and fireworks trips.
Native Son Adventures at Shelter Cove Marina: private tiki-boat dolphin tours, fishing charters and custom days on the water for up to six people.
Captain Mark's Dolphin Cruise: narrated dolphin, sunset and Tuesday fireworks cruises on the Holiday from Shelter Cove Harbour, Monday to Saturday.
Bluewater Adventure at Shelter Cove: guided two-hour tours where you drive your own two-seat catamaran, $135 for adults, plus sunset and fireworks tours.
Salt Shaker Yacht Charters at Shelter Cove Harbour: a private crewed yacht for up to 12, from $3,750 for four hours, plus dinner and fireworks cruises.
Salt Marsh Sailing at Shelter Cove: private dolphin, sunset and fireworks sails for up to six on a 27-foot catamaran on Broad Creek, from $359.
Captain Hook at Shelter Cove Harbour: a 70-foot party fishing boat with 5.5-hour offshore trips, inshore shark fishing and a Tuesday fireworks trip.
Palmetto Lagoon Charters, also sold as Palmetto Fishing Charters: Captain Trent Malphrus's Palmetto Dunes lagoon and Shelter Cove inshore trips.
Hilton Head Sport Fishing at Shelter Cove Marina: private inshore and offshore charters on four boats, 3 to 10 hours, from Dock B since 1989.
Bay Runner Charters at Shelter Cove Marina: Captain Miles Altman's inshore, shark and offshore reef fishing charters on three boats, since 1970.
Captain Kidd at Shelter Cove Harbour: a family crabbing boat with 1 hour 45 minute catch-and-release trips from $39, plus Tuesday fireworks nights.
Most people who come to Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina come to get on the water, and almost everything leaves from these docks. A Shelter Cove dolphin tour is the easy one for a family: bottlenose dolphins feed in Broad Creek, and the boats run from short 90-minute cruises to private trips. Shelter Cove fishing charters go inshore, nearshore and offshore, and there is a party boat for anyone who just wants a morning’s fishing. Add sailing charters, a catamaran, yacht charters, dinner cruises, a Shelter Cove sunset cruise, and crabbing trips for children.
To go out on your own, Shelter Cove kayak rentals and paddleboards launch straight into the creek, which is sheltered and calmer than the beach. Shelter Cove boat rentals are pontoons you drive yourself, and the dock also rents boats for water skiing, tubing and wakeboarding. On land, Shelter Cove bike rentals are at the marina too, for the paths that run to the Towne Centre and beyond. Our Hilton Head boating, water sports and fishing guides cover the rest of the island.
Book a Trip from the Harbour
Dolphin tours, fishing, sailing, fireworks cruises and rentals from the Shelter Cove docks, with live availability. Booking opens here, in each operator’s own booking system.
Booked through FareHarbor, the island operators’ own booking system. HHI.com may earn a commission.
Waterfront Restaurants at the Harbour
Shelter Cove restaurants on Hilton Head: waterfront seafood at the harbour, steaks, tacos and pizza at the Towne Centre, plus bakeries and ice cream.
ELA's on the Water, Hilton Head: waterfront seafood and steaks on Shelter Cove Harbour, plus Sunday brunch. OpenTable reservations, hours, menu, phone.
Bistro 17, HHI: French bistro dining on the Shelter Cove marina, with duck confit, sea scallops and sunset views. Reserve online; menu, phone.
Scott's Fish Market, HHI: seafood and steaks at Shelter Cove Harbour on one of the island's biggest waterfront decks since 1988. Walk-ins only; menu.
San Miguel's Mexican at Shelter Cove Harbour: fajitas, margaritas and live music on a deck over the marina since 1977. Walk-ins only; menu, hours.
Top Dawg Tavern & Pizzeria at Shelter Cove Harbour: burgers, wings and pizza on pet-friendly patios over the marina, with football on the TVs. Menu, phone.
Frosty's Ice Cream at Shelter Cove Harbour on Hilton Head: scooped ice cream, Italian ice, Hershey's soft serve and sundaes by the marina. Location, phone.
Hilton Head Social Bakery's original shop at Shelter Cove Harbour: French croissants, tarts and cakes with coffee by the marina. Hours, menu, parking.
The harbour side of the district is the waterfront one. Ela’s on the Water sits upstairs over the ship’s store, and Bistro 17, San Miguel’s, Scott’s Fish Market, Top Dawg and Frosty’s Ice Cream are around the same basin, so dinner before the fireworks is a short walk. The Towne Centre’s restaurants are across the street, and our Shelter Cove guide covers both sides.
Harbour Shops and Services
The Shelter Cove Harbour shops & restaurants directory: every restaurant, shop and service around the marina basin, with parking and satnav tips.
Neptune's Niche, a gift and souvenir shop at Shelter Cove Harbour on Hilton Head: T-shirts, sandals, beachwear and keepsakes, plus address and phone.
Nash Gallery Hilton Head: a family-run gallery of North American fine craft at Shelter Cove Harbour since 1989, and host of the Memorial Day art festival.
Treasure Island Hilton Head, a surf and beachwear shop at Shelter Cove Harbour with family clothing, hats, gifts, souvenirs and toys. Address and phone.
Tradewinds Trinkets and Treasures, a small gift boutique at Shelter Cove Harbour: souvenirs, collectibles, beach bags, cover-ups and jewelry.
A Coastal Christmas Hilton Head, a year-round Christmas shop at Shelter Cove Harbour: ornaments, Santas, nutcrackers and coastal holiday decor.
The shops around the basin are the browsing kind: gifts, an art gallery and a Christmas shop. Among the harbour services there is a hair salon, Salon Shelter Cove; a nail salon with a view of the boats, Luxury Nails; a salt-room and sauna studio, Pure Salt Studios; and the gallery of a beach-portrait photographer, Memory Lane Portraits. For clothing, groceries and the pharmacy, cross the road to the Towne Centre.
Live from the Harbour
Two live cams watch the harbour: one over the marina basin and one down Broad Creek where it feeds the harbour. They are the quickest way to check the weather on the water, or how busy the boardwalk is, before you drive over. Every other cam on the island is on our Hilton Head webcams page.
The Marina for Boaters
For boaters, Shelter Cove Marina (Hilton Head, SC) is the island’s deep-water harbour: 178 slips on 15.5 acres, taking boats up to 145 feet. The slips have 30- and 50-amp power, cable TV and free Wi-Fi; ashore there are restrooms, showers, a free laundry and a fish-cleaning station. The fuel dock sells diesel and marine gas, there is pump-out, the harbourmaster is on call around the clock, and the marina runs 24-hour security. The ship’s store is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day, and pets are welcome.
Slips, dockage and yacht services (detailing, maintenance and painting) are booked through the marina office. Our Hilton Head boating guide covers boating around the rest of the island.
There is no hotel called the Shelter Cove Resort and Marina. The marina belongs to Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, across William Hilton Parkway, and the places to stay at the harbour itself are Marriott’s Harbour Point and Sunset Pointe, Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort and the condominium villas around the basin, which our Shelter Cove rentals page goes through building by building.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the Shelter Cove fireworks?
On Tuesday nights through HarbourFest, from early June to mid-August, plus a show on the Fourth of July. Each one starts when the sky is fully dark rather than at a fixed time. They are free to watch from the boardwalk, and several boats run fireworks cruises from the harbour.
What is HarbourFest at Shelter Cove?
The harbour’s free summer series, from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend: the Tuesday fireworks, Shannon Tanner’s family shows at the gazebo on summer evenings, his Thursday night shows with the Oyster Reefers, and Cappy the Clown on the boardwalk on weekday evenings.
Is parking free at Shelter Cove Harbour?
Yes. There is no gate and no charge to park, and on the Fourth of July there is a free shuttle. For satnav, use 13 Harbourside Lane.
Can you rent a boat at Shelter Cove Marina?
Yes. Pontoon boats you drive yourself, kayaks and paddleboards, and boats for water skiing, tubing and wakeboarding all rent from the docks, alongside the dolphin tours, fishing charters, sailing trips and cruises.
How many slips does Shelter Cove Marina have?
178, for boats up to 145 feet, with 30- and 50-amp power, cable TV and free Wi-Fi on the slips, a fuel dock with diesel and marine gas, pump-out, showers, a free laundry and a harbourmaster on call around the clock.
What do visitors say about Shelter Cove Harbour?
Its Google reviews average 4.7 from about 1,500 ratings. Reviewers treat the harbour as a departure point first — dolphin trips and boat rentals are what they name, ahead of the restaurants and shops — and they mention the boardwalk and the views from it repeatedly, and describe the facilities as clean and well kept.
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