Top Hilton Head Island Resort Communities for Vacationers

Deciding where to stay during your Hilton Head vacation can be a bit confusing without a clear understanding of the various resort communities and the hotels around them. Modeled after the Sea Pines Resort, the first planned resort development on the Island, eleven gated communities or plantations plus several un-gated neighborhoods offer a diverse selection of accommodations, services, and recreational facilities.

Many resort communities feature on-site golf courses, tennis facilities, beaches, shopping hubs, restaurants, and a mix of private homes, rental properties, and hotels. Some communities are geared towards vacationing visitors, while others focus on permanent or part-time residents.

Within these resort communities, accommodations typically include villa, condo, vacation club, and house rentals, along with full-service resort hotels. The premier hotels on the Island include:

• Hilton Head Marriott Resort and Spa
• Holiday Inn
• Inn at Harbour Town
• The Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort
• Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island
• Westin Resort and Spa
• Main Street Inn

The Sea Pines Resort

Established in 1956 by Yale graduate Charles Fraser, The Sea Pines Resort pioneered eco-planned resort destinations, setting a precedent for upscale resort communities in the United States. From the outset, Fraser ensured that at least 25 percent of the resort acreage would remain undeveloped and that no buildings would exceed the height of the tallest magnolia or oak tree. Other noteworthy developments by Fraser include Kiawah Island Resort and Amelia Island Plantation.

Accommodations

Accommodations are extensive, ranging from villa and vacation home rentals to the upscale 60-room Inn at Harbour Town.

Resort Highlights

Covering 5,000 acres at the southern tip of Hilton Head Island, the resort features:

• Three world-class golf courses
• Five miles of pristine beaches
• Tidal marshes and over 50 lakes and lagoons
• Top-ranked tennis facilities
• Twenty miles of bike and nature trails
• An Equestrian Center
• A variety of unique and convenient on-site shops
• A 605-acre Forest Preserve with boardwalks through natural habitats
• A 4,000-year-old Indian Shell Ring
• The Harbour Town Yacht Basin and iconic Harbour Town Lighthouse

Restaurants

With more than 20 restaurants, bakeries, snack shops, and diverse dining options, popular choices include the Harbour Town Grill serving continental cuisine, Surfside Grille (the Island’s only open-air oceanfront restaurant), and Salty Dog Café, a much-loved seafood spot.

Palmetto Dunes Resort

Palmetto Dunes is a sprawling 2,000-acre resort, conveniently located mid-island with three miles of stunning Atlantic Ocean beach, three renowned golf courses, award-winning tennis facilities, and an 11-mile network of peaceful lagoons, lush landscapes, and picturesque bike paths.

Shelter Cove Harbour features the Island’s largest deep-water yacht basin and serves as the hub for boating, water sports, and excursions. Additionally, Shelter Cove is known for its shopping, restaurants, seasonal entertainment, and fireworks that captivate visitors. The Palmetto Dunes Buggy offers courtesy transport throughout Palmetto Dunes and Shelter Cove.

Accommodations

An array of accommodations is available in Palmetto Dunes, including villas, condos, vacation homes, and oceanfront hotels. Options feature:

• Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort
• Hilton Head Marriott Resort and Spa
• The Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort

Additional Recreational Activities

In addition to the aforementioned amenities and activities, Palmetto Dunes provides:

• Canoeing and kayaking
• Palmetto Dunes Learning Centers for skill-building in golf, tennis, fishing, and surfing
• The Dunes House, a beach access facility featuring a deck and resort restrooms
• 28 swimming pools scattered throughout Palmetto Dunes Resort

Restaurants

On-site dining options are plentiful at the hotels, golf course clubhouses, shopping areas, and more. Popular restaurants include centrally located Alexander’s at 76 Queen’s Folly Road, Conroy’s at the Marriott, and Mostly Seafood at the Hilton. Shelter Cove also boasts a variety of popular dining establishments.

Forest Beach

The Forest Beach area, characterized by three miles of prime beaches, is strategically located between Sea Pines Resort and Shipyard Plantation. Most properties in Forest Beach are within walking or biking distance to the vibrant Coligny Plaza, which offers shopping, dining, cinema, and free seasonal entertainment. Other family-friendly activities include mini-golf and a water park.

Accommodations

Forest Beach presents a variety of villas, condos, and houses, many of which offer oceanfront or ocean view options. The Holiday Inn, positioned on the beach and adjacent to Coligny Circle, is a favored gathering spot and a preferred choice for visitors who wish to be in the center of activity.

Restaurants

Beyond the dining establishments in Coligny Plaza, there are several options at the Holiday Inn, including the notably popular beachside Tiki Bar.

Port Royal Plantation Resort Area

The Port Royal Plantation resort community, located along the northeastern curve of Hilton Head Island, borders both Port Royal Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. Renowned for its tranquility, Port Royal Plantation was the second resort community developed on Hilton Head Island. Special attributes of the Port Royal area include pristine beaches, three championship-level golf courses, and the award-winning tennis complex of the Port Royal Racquet Club. Nearby shopping areas featuring boutiques, galleries, and two major grocery stores enhance accessibility, along with the Hilton Head Airport. Other attractions include the Coastal Discovery Museum and Adventure Cove, a favorite amusement center with two 18-hole miniature golf courses and an arcade.

Accommodations

Port Royal accommodations consist of villa and condo rentals, which are separate from the private gated residential community of Port Royal Plantation. The Westin Resort and Spa, located alongside the beach and adjacent to the Port Royal Racquet Club, embodies an Old South ambiance and is among the top-rated hotels in South Carolina.

Restaurants

Several popular dining options are available at The Westin Resort, including the AAA four-diamond Barony Grill, which operates evenings from March to November.

Shipyard Plantation Resort

Shipyard Plantation is an 800-acre gated resort community, centrally situated adjacent to North Forest Beach near Coligny Plaza. Offering a serene environment amidst moss-draped live oaks, Shipyard is particularly celebrated for the Van der Meer Shipyard Tennis Resort, regarded as one of the top-tier tennis facilities globally.

For beach enthusiasts, a small access point and a beach club are located at the northeastern edge of the resort property. Golfers can enjoy the Shipyard Golf Club, which offers 27 holes of golf. Additional features of Shipyard include extensive biking trails and a scenic lagoon system.

Accommodations

Visitors to Shipyard Plantation can choose from a range of rental properties or the Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island, positioned on Shipyard’s small stretch of beachfront, adjacent to both the tennis center and the golf club.

Restaurants and Shopping

Apart from the various restaurants within the hotel, numerous dining and shopping options are readily available at Coligny Plaza, Harbour Town, and Shelter Cove.