10 Best Hilton Head Day Trips for Families
The best Hilton Head day trips are a perfect addition to your South Carolina beach vacation!
While we all love hanging out on Hilton Head Island’s beautiful beaches or eating lunch at the famed Salty Dog Cafe, there’s so much to explore around this island, too.
Add in a few days of adventure to your next Hilton Head visit by exploring the ruins, quaint towns, and state parks that are within an easy drive. I’ve particularly focused on areas with trails and outdoor adventures.
As a native South Carolinian, I’ve spent years exploring the area between Hilton Head and Charleston (my home town!), so you’re going to get plenty of local tips and suggestions that you won’t find elsewhere.
These day trip suggestions are great for all ages, so bring the entire family!
10 Best Day Trips from Hilton Head
Jacksonboro
Driving time from Hilton Head: 1 hour 15 minutes
Points of interest: historic ruins, local produce, kid-friendly hiking
Pon Pon Chapel of Ease
My sister and I at the Pon Pon Chapel of Ease
As you approach the turn off to Pon Pon Chapel of Ease, you’ll see a small sign.
Turn on the dirt road just beyond, and the chapel is down on your left.
There is a small parking area in the grass. I doubt it will be too busy, so you should have your choice of spots.
Pon Pon Chapel of Ease is a glimpse into South Carolina’s colonial past, and it’s a great place to learn a bit of forgotten history.
A wooden church was built here in the early 1700s, and was replaced by a brick version seventy years later.
When the brick church burnt down in 1801, the congregation built another brick church in its place--only to have that second brick structure burn down again in 1832.
Blame all of those drafty rooms and uncovered candles.
As you can imagine, the congregation admitted defeat and left the ruins as they were, though they did continue to use the graveyard for new burials, which is kind of strange.
The straw that broke the back of Pon Pon wasn't a straw at all, but rather something much more powerful.
A hurricane took down all but one and a half of the remaining walls in the 1950s.
There aren't any ghost stories associated with this place that I know of, but the solitude of the chapel and the stunning brick ruins create the perfect atmosphere for an overactive imagination to hear things.
Edisto Nature Trail
PIN ME!
This trail is excellent for kids as you can walk the short, approximately 0.25 mile trail along a boardwalk, or you can do the complete 1.5 mile loop if your kids are up for a longer hiking experience.
I will note that the boardwalk is much narrower than those found at Edisto Memorial Gardens or Congaree National Park, so you’ll want to make sure your kids aren’t doing anything crazy.
Along the way, you’ll trace the footprint of an old rice plantation, seeing areas of the old rice field and the old phosphate mine.
If your kids are interested in biology or geology, you’ll be able to see cypress and tupelo trees in the swamp areas, and yellow and loblolly pines in the maritime forest portions.
Parking is free and plentiful. You WILL need bug spray.
Don’t forget to watch out for local wildlife, particularly alligators in any of the water. Stay at least 5 feet from the edges of all water. You don’t want to have an alligator bellow at you (or, worse, try a sneak attack).
Newton Blueberry Farm
Technically, Newton Blueberry Farm is in Hollywood, not Jacksonboro, but it’s close enough for this day trip.
Eat blueberries right off the bush as you gather even more to take home.
Locally grown blueberries are an amazing treat, so stop by here during the summer months to pick your own.
Berry season is typically mid-May to mid-July, but call ahead for specific dates each year.
Blueberry picking is the best!
ACE Basin
Driving time from Hilton Head: 1 hour 31 minutes
Points of interest: vast wildlife refuge
Given how many homes and businesses have sprung up between Hilton Head and Charleston in the last decade, it’s amazing that the ACE Basin’s sprawling lands are still so wild.
It has been protected by the Nature Conservancy’s Last Great Places program, ensuring that generations of day trippers will be able to explore this beautiful place in the future.
Because the ACE Basin is so big, it truly needs multiple visits, but you can get a great overview in just a day.
NOTE: The full name of this location is the Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge, but that’s a lot, so I’ll call it by its more colloquial name throughout.
The ACE in ACE Basin is an acronym for the 3 rivers that help form this area: the Ashepoo, the Combahee, and the Edisto.
Grove Plantation
Start your visit at the property’s welcome center, the historic Grove Plantation.
Here, you can get updates on trail closures or relevant activities available during your visit.
You can also get your Blue Goose passport stamped here. If you haven’t visited many national wildlife refuges, the Blue Goose passport is much like the NPS passport with stamps at each location.
The plantation house also has a small museum with artifacts recovered from this area, which is an interesting way to get your kids talking about the history of ACE Basin.
From the visitors center, you can head straight out onto a trail or have a picnic underneath the large oak trees on the property.
The property is sprawling with multiple sections in various areas between Hollywood and Yemassee. You’ll definitely need a map!
Hiking
The National Wildlife Refuge has more than 25 miles of trails throughout the property, but for your first visit with kids, I’d suggest sticking to a few that are close to Grove Plantation.
The Bonny Hall Cross Dike Trail is only 3/4 of a mile with a trailhead next to one of the parking lots off of Highway 17. The trail covers several ecosystems in a short time with a fun observation tower along the way.
The Barrelville Moffett Trail is super short—only 0.3 miles—but it takes visitors past working farm fields and an old silo. This trailhead is closer to Edisto Island on Highway 17.
Ask at the visitors center for other trails that your family might be interested in depending on your trail length and difficulty levels.
Savannah
Driving time from Hilton Head: 45 minutes
Points of interest: historic homes, riverfront shopping and dining, outdoor spaces
Head just over the South Carolina-Georgia line to the charming city of Savannah.
Located on the Savannah River, this town is filled with beautifully manicured squares, historic homes, excellent Southern restaurants, and great museums.
With just a day in Savannah, you’ll have to be picky with how you spend your time.
The younger Camping Kiddo on the playground at Forsyth Park
Forsyth Park
Definitely spend some time at Forsyth Park, a large green area within walking distance of the riverfront.
There’s a great playground, restaurant, splash pad, and fountain here. If you’d like to grab a picnic, you can find a Kroger just a few blocks away on Gwinnett Street.
Savannah River Ferry
My kids LOVE riding the free river ferry between the 3 pick-up points: there are 2 on the city side of the Savannah River, and another at the Westin across the river.
It’s a great way to see the city skyline while cooling off.
The free riverboat ride along the Savannah River is one of our favorite activities.
Plus, it’s an excellent alternative if your kids want to get out on the water, but you don’t want to pay for a cruise on the steamboat.
Bonaventure Cemetery
If your family is interested in history with a side of creepiness, a tour of Bonaventure Cemetery is in order.
If you’ve read (or watched) Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, this cemetery shows up multiple times.
It’s also one of the most beautiful places in the Savannah area, thanks to the huge live oaks and landscaping.
Tybee Island
If you just couldn’t get enough beach time in Hilton Head, there’s another place to relax just outside of Savannah.
Tybee Island is known for its 2 lighthouses and cute beach homes, and it’s a place that many people from this part of the South return to again and again for family vacation.
Concentrate your beach day around the Tybee Beach Pavilion and Pier, where you’ll find plenty of places to grab lunch in between splashing in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
Yemassee
Driving time from Hilton Head: 55 minutes
Points of interest: historic ruins, locally made sweets, Frank Lloyd Wright property
Old Sheldon Church Ruins
Old Sheldon Church Ruins in Yemassee
The ruins will be on your right, and a parking area is across the road on your left.
As soon as you get out of your car, you'll feel the stillness of this place.
Even when there are other people around (and there often are--this location is busy despite its rural location), people talk in hushed voices as they walk around the church's ruins.
Some say that you can hear a woman crying at night for her infant child.
Much like Pon Pon Chapel of Ease (above), the Sheldon Church didn’t have great luck. It was burnt during both the Revolutionary War and Civil War.
It was the latter that lead to the appearance of today’s ruins, which was never rebuilt after General Sherman torched it back in 1864.
This destruction led to a gorgeous property surrounded by live oaks. My kids love walking around the ruins and the nearby cemetery, soaking up the local history.
NOTE: I have included a couple of photos from my many visits in this post, including several where I’m next to the ruins. Due to vandalism and a weak infrastructure, the ruins are now surrounded by a fence, and you can’t get that close to the ruins anymore.
Carolina Pie Company
You’ve likely worked up an appetite, so head north on Highway 17 to the Carolina Pie Company, where you can get delicious whole and half pies. My favorite is the pecan pie, but they always have several on display.
You can also get other snacks here, including locally grown pecans, old fashioned hard candy, and Nehis in the glass bottles.
There’s an eclectic mixture of souvenirs, home goods, and artwork for sale if you’d like a unique souvenir.
BONUS: Auldbrass Plantation
Auldbrass Plantation is located in Yemassee, but it’s only opened to the public every other year. This Frank Lloyd Wright designed property is shown via a very limited amount of tickets—and I’ve never been able to get one in time.
Maybe you’ll be luckier than I and snag tickets! They’re sold through the Open Land Trust, and only for kids 12 and up.
Charleston
Driving time from Hilton Head: 1 hour 45 minutes
Points of interest: walkable downtown, historic homes, easy hiking
As a Charleston native, I think you’d need a lifetime to truly explore this area, but a day trip is an excellent way to get the lay of the land.
Kid-friendly Restaurants in Charleston
If you and your family are looking for some souvenirs or yummy food, head into the historic portion of downtown Charleston.
Some of my favorite kid friendly restaurants in Charleston are Fleet Landing (seafood right on the harbor), Ted’s Butcherblock (with freshly made sandwiches, breads, salads, and desserts), and Fuel (Southern-Caribbean fusion with a great back patio).
Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter
The Camping Kiddos and I at Fort Moultrie
If you’d like to explore a National Parks Service site, I recommend Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island. I prefer this fort over Fort Sumter since it has history from every war since the Revolutionary war!
However, the boat ride out to Fort Sumter is very fun for kids, so I might do both if you don’t mind a long day.
Outdoor Experiences
On a particularly nice day, you might want to add in one of our picks for the best hikes in Charleston.
A stroll along the Battery walls near White Point Gardens in downtown or a picnic in Hampton Park above the Crosstown are great choices, too.
Beaufort
Driving time from Hilton Head: 45 minutes
Points of interest: riverfront downtown, outdoor sports, literary history
While it’s growing, Beaufort still retains some of its small town charm. Note that it’s pronounced “Be-you-furt,” and residents will not like it if you say “Bo-fort” (like the North Carolina city of the same spelling).
Downtown Beaufort
Stroll the beautiful, oak lined streets of the downtown area, and see why author Pat Conroy was so inspired by this place.
Beaufort has been the setting for many movies and books, and you can even take a media-themed tour of the city if that interests you.
Get closer to the wildlife and marshes of this area with a kayaking tour of Port Royal Sound.
Highway 21 Drive-in
The Highway 21 Drive-in is one of the few remaining drive-ins in all of South Carolina, and the experience is worth a late night drive back to Hilton Head.
You’ll get a double feature with your admission ticket. Kid-friendly fare is up first, with PG-13 and R movies later in the evening.
While you could pack your own snacks, I think it’s more fun to grab hot dogs, popcorn, burgers, and drinks from the snack bar onsite.
St. Helena’s Island
Driving time from Hilton Head: 55 minutes
Points of interest: historic ruins, Lowcountry charm, possible ghosts
St. Helena Chapel of Ease
Take 21 all the way through Beaufort.
After you pass Beaufort, turn right onto State Road S-7-45, also known as Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.
The road will fork; bear to the right onto Land's End Road.
The chapel ruins will be on your left almost immediately past the fork in the road.
Wander the ruins, which are interesting unto themselves since they're made of tabby (an oyster mortar) and see the shattered mausoleum door in the graveyard.
Land’s End Light
While the ruins themselves aren't haunted, the road is.
The Land's End light shows up down Land's End road, and most people think its an oncoming car until they realize that there's only one light.
As it gets closer, the light grows in size and will actually pass by any cars waiting on the side of the road.
Unlike the other two spots on this road trip, the Land's End light is consistent--no one knows if it shows up every night, but rumor has it that, if you wait long enough, you'll see it.
But what is it: ghost or some sort of lightning ball?
Legend has it that it's the spirt of a runaway slave or a private stationed at a nearby fort who died after a scuffle.
Some people have reported an electric shock when the light passes near them, which has led some to believe the light is actually St. Elmo's fire or another natural phenomenon.
A word of warning: if you go out to see the light, don't attempt to drive through it or chase after it.
Land's End road is a tight two lane road through a residential area, so use caution.
Hunting Island State Park
Driving time from Hilton Head: 1 hour 5 minutes
Points of interest: driftwood beach, historic lighthouse, coastal hiking
Hunting Island is South Carolina’s most visited state park, thanks to the historic lighthouse, beautiful driftwood beach, and great coastal hiking.
Additionally, there’s beachfront tent camping and secluded RV camping in the attached campground. The spots for this campground are highly sought after, but their proximity to the nearly deserted beach is worth the trouble of securing one.
Check out the best things to do at Hunting Island State Park here.
Daufuskie Island
Driving time from Hilton Head: 1 hour ferry
Points of interest: Gullah culture, empty beaches, island history
A ferry ride away from Hilton Head Island, Daufuskie Island only feels as if it is a million miles away.
Rent a golf cart to explore this secluded island’s dirt roads, unspoiled beaches, and laidback way of life.
Check out our complete guide to visiting Daufuskie Island with kids here.
Bluffton
Downtown Bluffton’s shops and restaurants
Driving time from Hilton Head: 15 minutes
Points of interest: cute shopping and dining areas, walkable small town
South Carolina’s best kept secret is out, and Bluffton has been discovered by the rest of the world.
I can’t blame them, as places don’t get much cuter than Bluffton.
There are really 2 sides of Bluffton: the original town and Montage Palmetto Bluff, and I think you should visit both if you have time.
Downtown Bluffton
The adorable little town of Bluffton is filled with coffee shops, boutiques, and cute houses that are seeped in traditional Lowcountry charm.
Watch boats go by at the Bluffton Oyster Factory Park, then grab a coffee at the eclectic Corner Perk.
Let you kids run off some steam at Dubois Park before you head to our second spot in town.
Palmetto Bluff
Palmetto Bluff is a planned community but it doesn’t feel like it. Compared to similarly planned luxury communities like Kiawah Island, Palmetto Bluff feels as if it’s been here for a long time.
Part of that feeling comes from the fact that the developers left many of the massive oak trees and the ruins of an early 20th century mansion in the heart of the property.
You don’t need to be a homeowner or vacation renter to explore here, and it’s well worth a couple of hours exploring the pretty streets and shops.
>> If you want more information on this part of coastal South Carolina, check out this piece I wrote for Matador Network on why Bluffton is such a cool place! <<
