Everything You Need To Know About Kiawah Island Resort- Best Places To Stay, Where To Eat, Things To Do, When To Visit, and More!

Kiawah Island, SC is my family’s “go to” beach vacation. We’ve been coming here as a family for the last 20 years. Kiawah is a favorite family retreat because it is a quiet and beautiful place to enjoy being outside riding bikes, playing cards on your screened porch, and riding the waves on your boogie board.

Kiawah Island is a barrier island off the coast of South Carolina. Developed as a gated resort community, it is known as much for its natural beauty and 10 mile long beach as it is for its championship golf and tennis programs. 

Nature is a main attraction at Kiawah Island with a beautiful mix of maritime forests, lagoons where alligators soak up the sun, tidal salt marshes perfect for sunset photos, and wild dunes leading to the Atlantic Ocean.

Exploring this rare coastal habitat is an activity in itself. The island even has a nature center where families can report their latest sightings of sea turtles or dolphins or learn about all of the wildlife found on the island. We’ve seen alligators and even a bobcat as we meander through its 30 miles of paved trails.

But I don’t want to give the impression that this is a wild, rugged island. Nature is indeed a main attraction here, but the Kiawah Island Resort’s 5 championship golf courses and tennis club are also a main draw.

We also come back for the fun and fast water slides at Kiawah Island’s Night Heron Children’s Pool. I’m not sure our daughters will ever outgrow it.

At Kiawah Island, you can be as lazy as you’d like and stay at the beach all day or be more active with fun outings like kayaking, biking, golf, tennis, or nature tours. 

There’s also something extra special about a vacation where you can park the car for the week and rent bikes to ride to all the activities.

Kiawah Island Weather By Month

Because of Kiawah Island’s mild temperatures, it is a year round destination and we’ve visited in 3 of the 4 seasons. All were terrific, but the month of May and early fall stand out as the best time to visit Kiawah Island. We were able to go during those times when the kids were in pre-school but are now relegated to school break times.

Summer: The months of June, July, and August are considered its peak season (and hottest) and they have lots of activities for families like oyster roasts on the beach, movies in the pool, and more. However, it’s also the busiest the beaches will be. We have visited during July 4 week and it was super fun but more crowded for sure than other times we’ve visited. I also love the last week of May thru the early part of June. It’s not quite as crowded as July and the temperature is still very warm without feeling uncomfortably hot.

Fall: Our favorite time of year to visit Kiawah Island is in the Fall, specifically September and early October. It’s not quite as busy, the pools are still open, and the weather and ocean temps are fantastic. The only downside to fall season is that it coincides with hurricane season, so check your cancellation policy before booking.

Spring: Our Spring Break visits in March have been both great and average weather-wise. Some years have had plentiful sunshine and warm temps, while others have been rainy and cold. The pools open mid-March and they still have activities available including Camp Kiawah during select weeks. The good news is that any rainy weather at Kiawah provides a good opportunity for a day trip to visit one of the many attractions in historic Charleston, SC, just an hour away.

Winter: I have several friends who visit during their family’s Christmas school break in December, and they love it. The ocean water is too cold for swimming, but the air temps are warm enough to enjoy plenty of activities like biking the trails, beach games, and walking the long, quiet beach.

Here is NOAA’s graph of high and low average temperatures at Kiawah Island.

Closest Airport To Kiawah Island

Charleston International Airport (CHS) is the closest airport to Kiawah Island. From the airport, it’s an easy 45 minute drive south to Kiawah Island. Once you turn on the Main Road to Kiawah Island, the remaining drive is lovely.

You’ll know you’re getting close when Spanish moss from the large oak trees lining Bohicket Road drapes above you. This is my favorite part of the drive. And finally, when you drive over the Kiawah Island River with its beautiful tidal marsh, you’ll smell the salty air and know you’ve arrived.

Map of Kiawah Island

Kiawah Island Resort separates itself into 3 main areas that stretch along its wide, 10 mile long beach. You can access the beach from multiple boardwalks throughout the island. Each of these areas offers plenty of lodging choices.

The beach is equally beautiful and accessible from each area. The only main distinction is that East Beach is perhaps the more crowded beach due to the high cluster of lodging and activities found there.

• East Beach offers mostly villas ranging from 1-3 bedrooms along with the luxury, oceanfront Sanctuary Hotel.

• West Beach has a good mix of both homes and villas. This was the first area developed on Kiawah Island, so the lodging complexes are older than those found at East Beach and Vanderhorst Plantation.

• Vanderhorst Plantation offers mostly home rentals, many situated on the golf course and some with ocean views. The beaches here are quiet and lovely.

  For an interactive map of the entire island, see Kiawah Island Resort’s website.

No matter the area of Kiawah Island, your vacation home, cottage, or villa will likely be surrounded by a lagoon or shaded by a grove of trees. This makes Kiawah Island extra attractive to us, because it’s so green and lush.

Where To Stay In Kiawah Island

Where is the best place to stay at Kiawah?

Honestly, you can’t go wrong anywhere here, but we generally prefer Kiawah’s East Beach location because of its proximity to the activities of Night Heron Park where we visit the Nature Center, swim at the fun Night Heron Park Pools (open seasonally), go to the playground, and grab food to go from Nest Cafe. If you have kids in tow, this is the area you want to stay.

Important: To have access to the Night Heron Pool, you need to either book directly with the Kiawah Island Resort or book a vacation property thru VRBO that comes with “Resort Privileges.” Resort privileges grants access to many of the resort’s pools and offers discounts for golf, tennis, and some recreation programs. It also includes complimentary shuttle service throughout the resort.

*Note: The lodging recommendations in this guide are our personal list of places that we have stayed in previously, that were recommended by friends we trust, or that we have marked as possibilities for future visits. We do not accept sponsored stays but some of these links are affiliate links, please see Disclosures for a full explanation. 

Tips For Renting Vacation Rentals On Kiawah Island

Tip 1: Because they have chosen not to build hi-rises, true beachfront lodging is somewhat limited. Keep in mind that even if lodging is considered “beachfront”, it doesn’t necessarily translate to ocean views. Conservation of the dunes is important at Kiawah, so large dunes and vegetation often separate the properties from the oceanfront beach.

Tip 2: We have generally found it to be much less expensive by renting a villa through VRBO, but we always compare prices with Kiawah Island Resort as well. If you don’t need access to the Night Heron Pool, I would definitely book a villa or home through VRBO.

Tip 3: If renting through VRBO, remember to look for listings with "Resort Privileges" for Night Heron Pool access. Note that most VRBO listings do not include “Resort Privileges” so you have to look specifically for them. Most will say it in the title of their listing or you can filter listings by “pool access” to narrow it down. 

Tip 4: Keep in mind that one unit in a particular complex may end up being much further away from the beach than another unit in the same complex, so it’s worth knowing exactly where the vacation rental is located.

East Beach Kiawah Island Best Places To Stay

When looking for a Kiawah Island vacation rental, we always look for clean, nicely decorated, recently remodeled villas with a screened porch (which is an absolute must for us).

There are many villas to choose from, but as stated earlier, we generally choose the villas in the East Beach Area: Parkside Villas, Mariner’s Watch, Night Heron Cottages, and Tennis Club Villas are a few of our favorites. Turtle Cove Villas, and Turtle Point Villas can be another good option if you find one closer to the beach access rather than the Kiawah Island Parkway.

All of these are options are described below along with links to a few examples. Because they don’t have screened porches and some units require an elevator to access (one of the few on the island), I did not include Windswept Villas as a desired option despite their great location in East Beach. If it’s an oceanview Windswept Villa with resort privileges, however, I would definitely consider it.

PARKSIDE VILLAS

Parkside Villas are usually my first choice for location. These 2 and 3 bedroom villas are a short bike ride to the pool and Nature Center and are about a 10 minute walk to the beach. They have big screened porches where we love to eat, read, and play games.

If renting a 2 bedroom, look for 2nd floor options to avoid the sound of footsteps above you. The 3-bedroom option on the lagoon has a nice deck in addition to the screened porch. All of the sample vacation rentals below come with resort privileges.

3 BR Premier Parkside Villa on Lagoon with Dock and Resort Privileges. VRBO 150435ha. 3 bedroom, 3 bath. Wonderful lagoon view to watch sea birds and alligators.

Kiawah Island Park Side Villa - 3 bed / 3 bath with all Resort Amenities. VRBO 1328938. 3 bedroom, 3 bath, sleeps 8. Surrounded by trees and close to Night Heron Park, this villa looks clean and airy with high ceilings. On the top floor.

Deluxe Parkside on Lake with Resort Privileges included. VRBO 170313ha. 2 bedroom, 2 bath lower level villa but great location with lagoon view.

MARINER’S WATCH

Mariner’s Watch Villas are super close to the beach (3 minute walk) with nothing but vegetation and sand dunes separating you from the ocean. They come in 1 and 3 bedroom options and some of the 3 bedrooms have an ocean view. Most also have a nice screened porch, and all have good proximity to the biking trails and boardwalks to the beach.

When our daughters were young, we always rented the 1 bedroom for its price point and they slept on the pullout sofa bed. The one bedrooms have a full kitchen that shares a space with the living room giving it somewhat of a studio feel. Though somewhat small, it was a good trade-off to be so close to the beach as we hauled our girls, coolers, boogie boards, beach toys, and chairs. You know the drill!

Tip: 2nd floor preferred if you can get it.

Premier 1 Bedroom Villa. - Just Feet from the PRIVATE Beach and Pool access! VRBO /2033144. 1 bedroom, sleeps 4 with King bed and pullout sofa. Lower level, nice screened porch with dining area. Resort Privileges included.

TENNIS CLUB VILLAS

The Tennis Club Villas are further away from Night Heron Park, but you can easily bike to it. Beach access is close by as well. You can usually find a nicely decorated, less expensive option here. The villas are still close to the beach but just slightly further than Parkside Villas.

Nicely renovated 1 bedroom villa. VRBO 744595. 1 bedroom with sleeper sofa and resort privileges.

Beautiful Serene Lagoon Oasis Tennis Club 4763. VRBO 1260478. 2 bedroom, 2 bath with 1 King and 2 singles. Screened porch with lagoon views is a bonus. Lower level. Has resort privileges.

NIGHT HERON COTTAGES

The Night Heron Cottages are stand-alone 3 bedroom cottages that offer a bit more space and are located across from Night Heron Park. The location is very good as its close to the beach (some are closer than others), and it’s nice not to share a wall with your neighbors. The sampling of vacation rentals below have resort privileges.

Premier Kiawah Night Heron Cottage, Resort Privileges, 4 min walk to beach. VRBO 3219798. Recently updated, sleeps 10 with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, and has a fantastic screened porch. The outdoor shower is a bonus for sure.

Night Heron Cottage, 4121 Summer Duck Way, Kiawah resort privileges. VRBO 337291. Sleeps 6. Updated and a terrific screened porch.

3 Br New Renovation! Resort Privileges (pool, etc), very close to Ocean VRBO 274864. 3 bedrooms,2 baths, 1 King, 1 Queen, and bunks for the kiddos .

TURTLE POINT VILLAS

We stayed at Turtle Point Villas recently and while it’s just a wee bit further away from the Night Heron Pool as compared to those above, we actually prefer its beach area as it’s less crowded than the others. It’s still an easy bike ride to both pool and beach. With older kids with good biking ability, the location isn’t a problem. I like that these feel a bit less “busy” than the villas near Night Heron Park.

EAST BEACH HOME RENTALS

Kiawah Island has plenty of beautiful homes, but a few always stand out to me on each visit. They are on my “one day” wish list and I always bike past them with envy. We really like the location and vibe of the homes on Muirfield Lane, Turtle Beach Lane, and Atlantic Court. The homes are super close to the beach, are spacious, and have big Southern front porches as well as terrific outdoor space in the back.

7 Atlantic Beach: Community Pool, 2 Min Walk to Beach, Beach Gear/Bike Credit. VRBO 9682660ha. 5 bedroom, 4 bath, sleeps 12.

45 Muirfield: 4 Bedrooms, Community Pool, Close to Beach, Beach Gear/Bike Credit. VRBO 3515745ha. 4 bedroom, 4 bath, sleeps 8. You had me at the lagoon view screened porch!

32 Turtle Beach: 4 bedroom Oceanfront home, Village at Turtle Beach. VRBO 3278148. 4 bedroom/3.5 bathrooms, 4 king beds and absolutely unobstructed views of the ocean and 15th fairway of the Turtle Point Golf Course.

West Beach Kiawah Island

If staying on West Beach, I would strongly consider one of the oceanfront villas at either Shipwatch Villas, Seascape Villas, or Duneside Villas (if you need more space- some offer 5 bedrooms). I’ve also imagined a wonderful stay at a riverfront Inlet Cove Cottage watching sunsets over the Kiawah River, but my family can’t imagine being that far from the super slides at Night Heron Children’s Pool!

Kiawah Island Vacation Rentals With Ocean Views

If you want to splurge for the beauty and convenience of an ocean view home, Kiawah Island has plenty to choose from. Here is a sampling, but you’ll find a complete listing on VRBO. Note that most stand alone homes will not have pool access but many of the ocean view villas will.

Ocean front villa! Oversized deck with beautiful views! VRBO 570358. 2 bedroom, 2 bath with ocean views. 1 Queen and 2 singles in this nice updated villa. Located in the Windswept villas and does NOT offer resort privileges so no pool access.

OCEANFRONT views from every room! Newly Updated!! VRBO 586770. 2 bedroom, 2 bath sleeps 6. 1 K and 2 doubles. Updated with great views. In West Village, no pool access.

Beachside Treehouse, spectacular ocean view on popular Surfsong Rd. VRBO 2172981. 4 bedrooms, 4 bath, sleeps 10. Expansive decks and your own private boardwalk to the beach. Magical!

UNBEATABLE River Views at Inlet Cove! Community Dock and Pool. VRBO 3507044. Although this property isn’t an ocean view, I think there’s something special about a riverfront Inlet Cove Cottage. They have access to a private pool, great sunsets, and good proximity to Captain’s Inlet to see the dolphins. This is a 3 bedroom 2 bath, sleeps 6. The river views are stunning and the sunsets will be amazing. A potential negative of Inlet Cove is that your closest beach access will be at the public beach, so it’s going to be a bit more crowded.

Vanderhorst Plantation Vacation Rentals

To reach the large, beautiful homes in the Vanderhorst Planation, you’ll pass through one more gated entry after the main entrance to Kiawah island. After the 2nd gate, Kiawah Island Parkway becomes Governor’s Drive which weaves through Vanderhorst.

You’ll find plenty of large homes here (4-7 bedrooms), some with pools. This is a quiet, residential area of Kiawah Island with all single homes. No multi-unit complexes here. Tip: Look at the map to make sure the house is reasonably close to a beach access as some of them will require a much longer walk or bike ride. Here’s a sampling of homes closer to the beach:

5 BR beach house off boardwalk 32. VRBO 2301078. 5 bedroom, 2.5 bath, sleeps 10. Open and airy, the boardwalk to the beach is super close. Bunk beds for the kids but no pool.

161 Flyway Drive: 5BR Home with Private Pool & Spa, Beach Gear/Bike Credit. VRBO 9419308ha. 5 bedroom, 5+ bath, sleeps 12. Close to beach on the 18th fairway of Osprey Point Golf Course. Plenty of room for a multi-family vacation.

Hotels On Kiawah Island

And finally, Kiawah Island has only one hotel but it’s a beauty. The luxury, oceanfront Sanctuary Hotel sits right on the beachfront. You would honestly never need to leave the property as it has everything: a swimming pool, just a few steps to the beach, restaurants on site, fitness center, and more! It’s a splurge but a worthy one!

Things To Do In Kiawah Island

1. The Beach

10 miles of beach to explore! Say no more. Bring the beach chairs, a shade umbrella, boogie boards, and a bucket and shovel and have fun in the sun. You can also rent chairs and an umbrella from Kiawah’s beach rental services. We usually bike to the beach and park the bikes in the racks provided at the boardwalk.

An added bonus of the beaches at Kiawah Island is that you can almost always find dry sand even at high tide, so you have beach access any time of day.

2. Night Heron Park Pool

Night Heron Park Children’s Pool features two open flume slides, a splash zone, interactive spray features, dumping buckets, etc. Our girls love the pool slides, and we love the poolside food and drink service. Your children will go down the super slide no less than 500 times during your visit, and yes, adults can go down the slides too!

The Children’s Pool generally opens for the season in mid-March and closes around mid-October while the adjacent Family Pool closes in late November. See the link above for exact dates and times of operation.

Note: Children must be at least 44” tall to go on the slides, but it has a shallow beach-entry area for the little ones. A regular Olympic size pool is next door if you want to swim laps or float around.

The pool is open seasonally, generally from Memorial Day weekend through early-October, but be sure to check when they close for the season if you’re looking at booking near those beginning and end dates.

The Nature Center, basketball courts, playground, disc golf, and Nest Cafe are also found in Night Heron Park.

3. Disc Golf 

If you like to play disc golf or have never tried, Kiawah has a nice course in Night Heron Park. Bring some cold drinks to enjoy and bring your own discs or rent from the Nature Center.

4. Playground

Night Heron Park also has basketball courts for all ages and a playground for the young ones. This is a good biking destination too.

5. Kiawah Recreation Guide

When you check-in, you will be provided with a Kiawah Recreation Guide listing restaurants and activities by day. Kiawah Island Resort provides many classes, programs, and activities for all ages such as kayak tours, a junior naturalist program, alligator walking tours, fishing expeditions, night time beach walks, and more. You can view today’s activities here. They also provide “Camp Kiawah” for the kids if that appeals to your family.

Our girls like attending the afternoon craft of the day at Night Heron Park. We have brought home many keepsakes from these: shell necklaces, tie-dyed t’s, stepping stones, etc. We’ve also taken a kayak tour which was fantastic but a bit pricey.

6. Bike Rental on Kiawah Island

Biking the flat, paved trails and on the beach is one of our favorite activities at Kiawah Island. We bike everywhere--to the beach, the pool, to marsh towers that you can climb up, to fishing piers, ice cream cones, everywhere! Bring your Kiawah Island Map along (provided at check-in) and explore the entire island.

My favorite bike ride takes you past Bass Pond and its fishing pier to the Rhett’s Bluff neighborhood to view the southern architecture of the homes and see the Kiawah River. We also like to bike to the marsh towers scattered throughout the island as well as to the Nest Cafe & Market for a snack, lunch, or to pick up some basic provisions at their small grocery area. 

You can rent bikes directly from Kiawah Island Resort, but it is less expensive to rent bikes from outside vendors, so we usually rent from Seaside Cycles. You can book online and they’ll deliver the bikes to your villa. All villas have bike racks located near the parking area, and the bikes come with locks to secure them when not in use.

Since many of the villas are off-beach, we sometimes rent bikes with a pull-behind caddy to haul our chairs and toys to the beach, but you can also reserve chairs on the beach through Kiawah Island Resort's beach rental services.

7. Kiawah Island Nature Center

We visit the Nature Center multiple times during our stay. The Night Heron Nature Center is located in Night Heron Park next to the pool. It is a fun stop to learn about the island’s wildlife and get information on recreation activities and recent nature sightings, and kids can report times and locations of animals they see during the day on a white board on the wall.

They also have tanks of live turtles and baby alligators as well as other wildlife on display. You can also find some Kiawah Island swag to purchase here as well.

8. Dolphin Stranding on Kiawah Island

Make your way to Captain Sam’s Inlet at low tide to see dolphins “strand feeding.” This is the most remarkable sight where a group of dolphins herd a school of fish onto the shore of the Kiawah River. The dolphins then beach themselves onto the shore to feed. Your best chance to witness this event is at low tide, so check the tide tables. 

It’s a long bike ride from East Beach to Captain Sam’s Inlet. Depending on wind direction, it’s often easier to bike on the bike path rather than directly on the beach. You can also drive or take the Kiawah Shuttle to Beachwalker Park (the public beach access) and walk the mile to get to Captain Sam’s Inlet.

You can view a video filmed at Kiawah to get an idea. Just don’t get as close as the person filming this video or the kayakers in the background. You must stay 50 yds away from any dolphins per federal law and plus, you really mess up the coordination and work it takes for them to accomplish herding the fish onto shore when you are too close.

The Nature Center also offers dolphin tours with a naturalist.

9. Kiawah Island’s Championship Golf and Tennis Programs

You have your choice of 5 championship golf courses at Kiawah Island. The 2021 PGA Championship was held at Kiawah Island’s famed Ocean Course in 2021. With mild temperatures all year round, you can always find a day to play golf.

You can also schedule private or group tennis lessons or reserve court time for a match. Although we don’t play golf, we have enjoyed tennis lessons in the past and playing on their nice Har-Tru courts at the Roy Barth Tennis Center. 

10. Angel Oak Tree

When you drive to Kiawah Island from the Highway 17, you will drive right past The Angel Oak Tree. This magnificent, old tree is thought to be 400-500 years old and measures 66.5 feet high and 28 feet in circumference. I’m a sucker for an old tree and it’s free to visit this one. 

A visit here could be a good idea for a rainy day or on your way to Kiawah or upon your return. It’s only a few hundred feet off of Bohicket Road (the main road leading to Kiawah and Seabrook Islands). If driving from Kiawah, it’s about a 25 minute drive. Remember to bring your camera!

11. Kiawah Island To Charleston 

Day trip! Kiawah is a 50-60 minute drive from Charleston, SC depending on traffic. If the beach weather is looking iffy or you have some history buffs in the family, you could easily spend a full day here. 

Take a horse drawn carriage ride, visit the Historic City Market, go to the Aquarium, tour Civil War sites such as Fort Sumter, or eat at wonderful restaurants. Charleston has it all. See the Charleston Visitor Bureau website for info on activities, dining, and lodging in Charleston.

Restaurants On Kiawah Island

Kiawah Island Resort offers many restaurants, so you never need to leave the island. If you like to dine out, I would suggest Jasmine Porch in the Sanctuary Hotel (walking distance from East Beach lodging) featuring low country cuisine. 

Another choice is the Ryder Cup Bar at the Ocean Club. It’s located on the Island but you will need to drive or shuttle there. It offers an amazing view of the 18th hole and the Atlantic Ocean along with good burgers and pub food. We saw an amazing sunset here.

Click here for a full list of restaurants found on Kiawah Island.

The Nest Market & Cafe

Our family likes to cook simple meals in our rental villa or get takeout from the Nest Cafe/Market. They have terrific she-crab soup (we are big fans of this sherry-infused delicacy), salads, sandwiches, and select entrees as well as a kids menu. Breakfast is also available. Slightly expensive but reasonably priced for not getting back in your car and not cooking while on vacation. 

We usually call ahead and then bike over to pick it up so we can dine on our screened porch which is much more relaxing than dragging the kiddos to a restaurant.

Tip: Basic grocery supplies, wine and beer, and Kiawah souvenirs can also be found here.

Grocery Store Kiawah Island

Harris Teeter Grocery is conveniently located just 10 minutes from the East Beach area of Kiawah. Located in Freshfields Village off the roundabout at the entrance to Kiawah, Harris Teeter has a super deli with all kinds of hot and cold takeout including take and bake pizzas, sandwiches, takeout entree options, and a salad bar.

Harris Teeter also sells local shrimp, crab cakes, beach toys, and has a good selection of craft beers and wine. In other words, everything you might possibly need. Tip: We order their handmade crab cakes in the seafood department and cook them at home for a quick and simple meal.

Note: If you don’t need many groceries and just require a few basics, the Nest Cafe/Market should have what you need at a slightly inflated price of course.

Freshfields Village

Freshfields Village itself is worth a stop with several shops, restaurants, and a great bookstore in addition to the large full-service grocery store. 

Hege’s and La Tela Pizzeria are reportedly very good restaurants at Freshfields Village, and we love the quaint and cozy Indigo Books for a good read at the beach. You’ll get great recommendations from their staff.

Hope this “Insider’s Guide To Kiawah Island” was helpful! You will have a great family vacation at Kiawah as you can’t surpass the natural beauty, the activities and things to do, the variety of lodging (all are good!), and just the quiet calm of this special place. Happy Trails!- Amy

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