Barrier island park offering beaches, maritime forest, a historic lighthouse, and abundant wildlife for outdoor recreation and coastal exploration.
General Information
Lighthouse Visitor Center: 10am to 5pm
SC Seniors: $5
Children (6–15): $4
Children under 5: Free
How to Get There
From Savannah, GA (75 mi): Take US-17 North to SC-315 North, continue on SC-170 East toward Beaufort, then follow US-21 South to Sea Island Parkway and continue to the park entrance.
Overview
Hunting Island State Park is South Carolina's most visited state park, drawing over a million visitors a year to five miles of undeveloped beach, palmetto-lined maritime forest, and a historic lighthouse. A nature center covers local wildlife including alligators and sea turtles. Storms and erosion continually reshape the shoreline, and the park has one of the Southeast's most popular oceanfront campgrounds, steps from the beach.
Things to Do
Climb the Lighthouse
It is the only publicly accessible lighthouse in South Carolina; 167 steps lead to panoramic views over the ocean, forest, and marsh.
Spend a Beach Day
Swim, beachcomb, and walk miles of pristine Atlantic shoreline.
Explore the Maritime Forest and Lagoon
Palmettos and live oaks draped in Spanish moss shade the trails, and deer, alligators, and sea turtles live in the park.
Camp Oceanfront
Stay steps from the surf; kayaking, paddleboarding, and educational programs round out the trip.
Top Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lighthouse Trail | About 0.5 miles round trip | Easy | Short walk to the lighthouse and marsh views |
| Lagoon Trail | About 1.5 miles round trip | Easy | Maritime forest around a freshwater lagoon |
| Maritime Forest Trail | About 2 miles loop | Easy | Palmettos and live oaks with interpretive signs |
| Beachfront Walking Route | Up to 5 miles | Easy | Long shoreline walk |
This article uses material from official tourism pages for Hunting Island State Park, released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
