The Isle of Palms South Carolina boasts seven miles of wide, pristine beaches great for swimming, lounging, fishing, biking and kayaking. Several endangered species call the Isle of Palms home, including the loggerhead sea-turtle and Wilson’s plover.
Turtles nest here during the summer is a unique attraction to the island. There is a good chance of spotting turtles while hanging on the beach (between June & August).
The Isle of Palms is both a residential and resort community with live music and beach volleyball at The Windjammer, ice cream and pizza along front beach, and families kicked back to enjoy it all. Looking for more great South Carolina Beaches? Visit all of the best beaches on our South Carolina Beaches guide.
Isle of Palms Weather – When to Visit
Spring and fall are both great times of year to visit Isle of Palms! Visit in the spring or fall and you’re sure to have no problem finding a spot to spread out on the beach. At this time of year the wind coming off the water can be a bit chilly, so take along a cover up or sweater. During this time you won’t have any problem booking your favorite tour of historic downtown Charleston or other popular attractions. Summer is the most popular time to visit Isle of Palms. Summer here boasts ideal beach weather, water sports, live music and more!
Best Isle of Palms Beaches
Front Beach
Is a very scenic beach that stretches on for miles and miles. Enjoy taking a walk, relaxing on the sand, going for a swim and collecting sand dollars. Fun for everyone, but leave the glass bottles and alcohol at home.
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Best Isle of Palms Tours & Activities by Viator
Isle of Palms/Sullivans Island to Charleston Airport –Departure Private Transfer
Book your Private Departure Transfer from Isle of Palms/Sullivans Island any hotel or address to Charleston Airport (CHS). Don’t go through all the hassle of waiting in a long taxi or shared shuttles queues and use our private, door to door airport transfer. Your driver will be waiting for you at a scheduled time and you will travel comfortably to your destination. Visit here to set up your airport transfer.
Learn to Surf in Charleston!
Surfing is unlike anything else. Only those who have experienced it can truly understand. It’s exciting, surreal, and calming all at the same time. With a locals professional instruction you get a short cut to successfully surfing. Within minutes you go from a complete beginner to showing skills only an advanced surfer could perform. Visit here for more information in Learn to Surf in Charleston.
Charleston’s Old South Carriage Historic Horse & Carriage Tour
Experience more than 300 years of history on this guided carriage tour of Charleston. See the many mansions, churches, and gardens as your horse-drawn carriage tour covers more than 2.5 miles and 30 blocks of historic Charleston. Belgian and Percheron draft horses will you lead you through the streets while you learn about this “Holy City” and its role in the Civil War. Learn more about the Charleston Old South Carriage Tour here.
Charleston’s Tidal Creeks Eco Boat Cruise with Stop at Morris Island Lighthouse
Cruise through Lowcountry tidal creeks and marshes en route to the uninhabited Morris Island on this boat cruise from the Charleston area. A private boat company launches from Bowens Island for the scenic ride through an estuary rich in biodiversity before a soft landing on Morris Island. Spend free time to taking photos of the historic Morris Island Lighthouse, combing for seashells, and looking out for birds, sea turtles, and dolphins before your return. Learn more about this Eco Boat Cruise here.
Undiscovered Charleston: 1/2 Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class
This walking tour and interactive lunch combo provides a two-in-one experience in Charleston. With a celebrated local chef, Forrest Parker, you’ll start with a 1.5-hour historical walking tour about the influences of Lowcountry food in the city of Charleston. Then watch a cooking demonstration from Parker before enjoying lunch paired with wine. Learn more about this Charleston Tour here.
Best Isle of Palms Restaurants
Coda del Pesce $30 & Up
Most every dish at Coda del Pesce features fresh, locally or sustainably caught seafood in primi, secondi and piatti selections that change daily based on what’s fresh and available. Enjoy the popular house-made pasta in this downtown establishment. Wines, all Italian, are extensive and mostly comprised of hard to find varieties. Telephone: 843-242-8570 Web: Coda del Pesce
The Boathouse $11 – 30
A local favorite that offers casual dining both inside and outside on the screened porch (cooled by fans in summer) overlooking the water. Local seafood stars on the menu, which offers signatures such as steak and lobster tail or crab cakes and lobster tail combinations along with daily fresh-catch specials. Telephone: 843-886-8000 Web: The Boathouse
The Obstinate Daughter $11 – 30
Infused with Mediterranean-inspired cuisine at this casual eatery, which is couched in an attractive nautical ambience. Pizza, pasta and small plates rule the menu, where “Geechie frites” translate to fried sticks of soft polenta, and lamb collar comes dressed with yogurt, cucumber, almond and mint. Telephone: 843-416-5020 Web: The Obstinate Daughter
Acme Lowcountry Kitchen $11 – 30
Acme Lowcountry Kitchen combines upscale, yet casual elements of traditional coastal cuisine with classic fare. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in a casual beach atmosphere with flavor profiles that exemplify fresh local ingredients and sustainable seafood. Telephone: 843-886-3474 Web: Acme Lowcountry Kitchen
High Thyme Cuisine $11 – 30
High Thyme has been tempting guests with a taste of the good life since 2003. Their laid-back, come-as-you-are approach to fine dining is a convenient option for beach goers, local families and foodies from all walks of life. Telephone: 843-883-3536 Web: High Thyme Cuisine
Best Isle of Palms Bars
The Dinghy
Sometimes nothing suits you more than a cold beer, a juicy hamburger, and a game on the television above the bar, and if the mood strikes you during your Isle of Palms vacation, the Dinghy is where you want to be! Telephone: 843-242-8310 Web: The Dinghy
Dunleavy’s Pub
For the Irish in all of us, Dunleavy’s Pub on Sullivan’s Island (literally just a hop and a skip away from Isle of Palms) offers an authentic Guinness pour, along with some of the best craft beers in town. Telephone: 843-883-9646 Web: Dunleavy’s Pub
Poe’s Tavern
Charleston’s legendary Poe’s Tavern serves fresh burgers and fries, delicious fish tacos and inspired salads in a laid-back oceanfront environment. Their multi-national beer selection is perfect for a night after work or ducking out of the hot sun from a day at the beach. Telephone: 843-883-0083 Web: Poe’s Tavern
Rooftop Bar at Coconut Joe’s
aka Tequila Ted’s Rooftop Bar, offers a fully panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean. Tequila Ted’s Rooftop Bar is also one of the best music venues in the Charleston Metro Area. During our season, live music is available Wednesday through Sunday at various times. Telephone: 843-886-0046 Web: Rooftop Bar at Coconut Joe’s
The Windjammer
Located at Front Beach on the Isle of Palms, The Windjammer is Charleston’s premier live music beach venue for the last 49 years. From local bands to big name artists, guests can enjoy the best in live music. Telephone: 843-886-8596 Web: The Windjammer
I’m not big on travel. But your review of Isle of palm is alluring. I didn’t even know South Carolina had such beautiful beaches. And what a treat to be able to see live turtles! From your pictures, the beach looks teal blue – gorgeous. I love carriage drawn horse rides, so Charleston’s Old South Carriage Historic Horse & Carriage Tour would be a true delight for me. Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll be sure to come when it’s not too hot or too chilly.
It sounds like I might have changed your mind on travel 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed your visit to my Isle of Palms South Carolina guide.
Wow! I have been trying for a long time to actually find an article like this one that will actually go over everything about the Isle of Palms South Carolina but none have actually been as thorough and concise as this one has been. You have certainly outdone other reviews with this one because I definitely like what I’m learning about it. Thanks so much for this review. May the force be with you
Great! I am glad you enjoyed! Thanks for visiting beach travel destinations.
Isle of Palms South Carolina really looks like a fun place to be. I’ll love to take my spouse there for some alone time. What I find really interesting is the fact that I can get to see endangered species that are never seen in my country. Also the rates are very friendly for any tourist.
I’ll definitely plan my next holiday and include the Isle of Palms South Carolina in my tourist destination spot.
Great Jude! You will have a blast. Please let me know if you need any additional information.
Looks so inviting and the sea is so blue! You seem to have left no stone unturned with what to do, where to go, where to eat out and where to stay. If I had the money I would book and be on the next flight!
What piqued my interest is the horse carriage ride and historic possibility. I like to learn about the culture and history of a place to learn more about the people and their ways.
The horse carriage ride is pretty popular, and well worth it. I am glad you enjoyed my Isle of Palms South Carolina review. I appreciate you taking the time to leave me comments.
Hi Lea,
Wow, the Isle of Palm, South Carolina, looks beautiful. We are planning a trip in May, which I think is the best time to visit there. My husband loves fishing, and I love biking and the beach:) So everyone will be happy. I’ll show this article to my husband to decide where we’ll be staying. I like the Seaside Inn. It looks pretty awesome. Just a question, please. How long would you suggest to visit and enjoy all the isle of Palms South Carolina? Is one week enough?
Thanks a lot!
You could definitely visit the Isle of Palms in one week and still see, do and relax plenty. I am more of a 2 week vacation type of person 🙂 I truly enjoy the beach life 😀 May would be a great time to visit Daniella! Thanks for the visit.
Your website is great! So many little useful tips.
I agree about the fun of organising a holiday. If I have the time for it, it’s really great.
I would recommend you add a section about car hire as it’s something a lot of people need.
Really great website.
Yes, I do need to add car rental 🙂 I have been looking into the best option. Thanks for taking the time to visit and leave me comments.
Hi Leahrae. Another great post on your blog. In these cold and complicated times is so good to forget for a moment about all troubles and covid and focus on something so beautiful. Isle of Palms seems to be perfect place for holidays, beautiful beaches abut also historic downtown and other attraction. Time for quiet relax and for some fun with family. Definitely adding it to my ‘have to visit’ places.
Great! You’ll enjoy! Thanks for visiting Beach travel destinations.
I have never come across a website like this before! I think this is a brilliant idea, if you go straight to the travel companies they can be a bit bias as they want you to purchase what they have on offer however you are here to offer information to help everyone make their own decision, I really like this website. This is very informative for anyone who reads it. Thank you
Thanks so much Ben…and for taking the time to leave me comments. I am glad you enjoyed your visit to beach travel destinations. Please come back when you are ready to make your vacation plans.
Hi there,
Great post about the Isle of Palms in South Carolina. A friend of mine recently moved down to south Carolina about a year ago and I’ve been thinking of planning a visit down there. Being from the east coast, I know fall/winter months are not the time to be visiting, though Fall can be good for avoiding crowds.. So perhaps I’ll wait until Spring so that we can enjoy the beautiful Isle of palms beach. Thanks for the great idea and post!
You are welcome Dev! Have a great time there. And yes, a bit chilly in the fall/winter. Just don’t go during spring break lol, then you should be fine. Thanks for visiting beach travel destinations.
Thank you for your post. It is useful for me. We have been locking down due to corona for a while now. I am confident that soon we will win the war against the deadly disease and have freedom to enjoy our vacations. Beaches are my number one choices. I think about the upcoming vacations, but never take time to do the research.
Here comes your article, which introduc my favorite beach, South Carolina beach. I haven’t to South Carolina beaches for a while now. Isle of Palms South Carolina is definitely my top choice. I bookmarked you webpage and will do more research on it.
Great! Yes, things are looking up. Just waiting to get my Covid shot. I not too high on the list, but looking forward to traveling again for sure! Thanks for visiting beach travel destinations.
wow, just reading your article on Isle of Palms makes me want to pack up my beach wear and go right now! It definitely is one to look forward to by the look of it and I really hope we can visit somewhere as beautiful as this as soon as the travel restrictions in our area are lifted. The main reason I want to go now is because of the baby turtles lol! Thanks for this article and I am adding it to my fly list as soon as possible! 🙂
Great Sophie! Yes we have the turtles here as well and they are a sight! Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks for stopping by.
I’df heard of South Carolina previously, but not this location. So when I looked at the blog, I was amazed to see how beautiful it is and what a great location it is. You can almost feel the sea lapping round your legs, from reading the article.
Equally the reader gets a detailed overview of the activities, history and places to dine, which in keeping with this great location, are affordable, so you can eat and dine, in total relaxation which is what you want from a tourist or holidat location.
I watched the video a couple of times because, along with the music, it is just theraputic.
Lovel article which I enjoyed reading
Thank you so much Dave! I am glad you enjoyed 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to leave me comments as well!
Thank you for sharing About the beaches in South Carolina with us. I live in NYC so a trip to South Carolina won’t take that long. With this pandemic, I do not think that I will get to fly without having to quarantine anytime soon. Spring is just right around the corner, this will be a perfect time for me to visit Isle of palms!
Rooftop Bar at Coconut Joe’s sound like a great place to visit. I will have to share your post with my husband.
Have to stop at the Rooftop Bar for sure! And yes, as more get vaccinated….I see traveling in the very near future without the stress of worrying about getting sick. Thanks for visiting my Isle of Palms South Carolina guide.