Hilton Head Island Attractions
Ten of the best-known places, then the island’s history, nature and family stops.
The best-known attractions on Hilton Head Island are a lighthouse, a beach park, a museum on a former plantation, a forest preserve and a handful of family favorites. The list below starts with ten of the best known, then adds history, nature and family stops. For boats, golf and the full activity index, see things to do on Hilton Head Island.
Top 10 Attractions on Hilton Head Island
Harbour Town Lighthouse in Sea Pines: climbing the 114 steps, the museum inside, tickets, hours, the Sea Pines gate fee, and the story behind the tower.
Coligny Beach Park: parking, ADA access, restrooms, and shuttle info for Hilton Head’s most popular beach, steps from Coligny Plaza shopping.
The Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn: free admission, hours, tours and cruises, the farmers market and how to visit this Smithsonian Affiliate.
Sea Pines Forest Preserve on Hilton Head: 605 acres, trails, the Shell Ring, Fish Island, alligator tours, hours, parking, and the gate fee.
Shelter Cove Community Park, Hilton Head: the playground, free summer concerts and films, the Veterans Memorial and the sculpture trail on Broad Creek.
Pirate's Island Adventure Golf on Hilton Head: two 18-hole pirate-themed mini golf courses with waterfalls, open daily to 10 pm. Reviews, directions.
Legendary Golf on Hilton Head: two 18-hole mini golf courses, Professional and Championship, open daily under shade trees. Hours, prices and reviews.
Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park, on the site of the first self-governed town of freed people in the US: free trail, exhibits and guided tours.
Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge: free, open sunrise to sunset, with 14+ miles of trails, wading birds and no dogs allowed. Directions and tips.
The Sandbox Children's Museum on Hilton Head: exhibits for ages 1 to 12, hours, closures and why to reserve ahead, especially on rainy days.
History, Culture and Museums
Gullah Geechee culture on Hilton Head: who the Gullah people are, their language and food, the Gullah Museum, Mitchelville, and Gullah heritage tours.
Hilton Head Island history from 4,000-year-old shell rings and Captain William Hilton to the Civil War, Gullah Geechee communities and Sea Pines.
Fort Mitchel is a Civil War earthwork on Skull Creek in Hilton Head Plantation. Its history, why it was built and how to visit by gate pass or tour.
Movies filmed in Beaufort, SC and the Lowcountry: Forrest Gump, The Great Santini, The Prince of Tides and more, plus a day trip from Hilton Head.
Hilton Head museums: the free Coastal Discovery Museum, The Sandbox Children's Museum and the small museums inside the lighthouse and clubhouse.
Parks, Nature and Wildlife
Hilton Head SC parks worth a visit: a pirate-ship playground, Pinckney Island trails and Mitchelville, plus every Town park, address and amenity.
Lowcountry Celebration Park at 94 Pope Ave: a pirate-ship playground, wading pool, lawn and the Sandbox children's museum, open sunrise to sunset.
Hilton Head wildlife and nature, answered: dolphins, alligators, birds, Spanish moss, pluff mud and butterflies, and where to see them safely.
Are there alligators on Hilton Head? Where you see them, how far to stay back, whether they go into saltwater, and who to call about a nuisance alligator.
Every named beach on Hilton Head Island — Coligny, Driessen, Folly Field, Burke's, and more — with parking, amenities, and which one is right for your trip.
Family Fun and Tours
Every mini golf course on Hilton Head Island, plus two in Bluffton: hours, themes, an arcade and the indoor option, with reviews and directions.
Adventure Cove on Hilton Head: two 18-hole mini golf courses, Paradise Falls and Lost Lagoon, plus a video arcade, open daily. Hours, reviews, directions.
Hilton Head dolphin tours and cruises compared: shared boats from about $40, private boats, drive-your-own tours and kids' pirate cruises, with prices.
Book Hilton Head Helicopter Tours: beach, lighthouse, eco and Bluffton flights from the island airport, with live dates and ratings.
Guided Segway tours on Hilton Head from Honey Horn and Mitchelville: lengths, starting prices, ages and how to book.
Escape Island is Hilton Head's escape room on Main Street, with three themed rooms for 2 to 8 players. Rooms, hours, booking and what to know.
Attractions Near Hilton Head
Beyond the island, Bluffton’s Old Town and Daufuskie Island are the closest places to add to a trip.
Things to do in Bluffton, SC: May River dolphin and kayak trips, Old Town's history and galleries, parks, bowling and mini golf, golf and festivals.
Daufuskie Island, SC: getting there by ferry, getting around by golf cart, where to eat, Gullah history, Haig Point, beaches and golf, from Hilton Head.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top attractions on Hilton Head Island?
Harbour Town Lighthouse in Sea Pines, Coligny Beach Park, the Coastal Discovery Museum, the Sea Pines Forest Preserve, Shelter Cove Community Park and the island’s mini golf courses are the best-known places to start.
Is there an aquarium on Hilton Head Island?
No. Hilton Head has no aquarium. The nearest is the Tybee Island Marine Science Center in Georgia, and the island’s dolphin tours and the Coastal Discovery Museum cover the marine life closer to home.
What museums are on Hilton Head Island?
The Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn and The Sandbox Children’s Museum, plus smaller museums at the Harbour Town Lighthouse and in the Gullah Geechee story.
What is the Gullah museum on Hilton Head?
The island’s Gullah Geechee heritage is told at the Gullah museum and at Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park. Our Gullah guide covers both.
Which Hilton Head attractions are good for families?
The Sandbox Children’s Museum, the mini golf courses, Lowcountry Celebration Park and the beach at Coligny all work for kids. The rainy-day guide lists the indoor choices.
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