Best Beaches in the Southeast USA: Kiawah Beachwalker Park – Charleston, South Carolina

ByLisa Dworkin Hours

Beach Personality: A Rare Combination Of Natural Beauty And Outstanding Amenities

Kiawah Island is a popular resort destination with golf, tennis, a spa, and lots of other recreational options. Although all these options are privately owned (you can still enjoy them for a fee) one thing isn’t, Kiawah Beachwalker Park! If I lived near, or were visiting, Charleston and wanted to feel like I was on a beach vacation, even for the day, I would head to Kiawah Beachwalker Park. It’s a delightful beach with inviting sand, warm water, and plenty of room to relax or play or both. It’s also a gathering place for shore birds and dog friendly; two things you don’t encounter together very often.

Kiawah Beachwalker Park has the only public beach access on Kiawah Island, although all South Carolina beaches are public so you are welcome to enjoy any beach on Kiawah Island if you are willing to walk to it. However, in my opinion that would be an unnecessary waste of energy since Kiawah Beachwalker Park offers everything you could want from a beach.

Visit the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission’s Kiawah Beachwalker Park web pages for further information.

Beach Activities:

  • Lounging
  • Swimming
  • Boogie boarding
  • Paddle boarding
  • Walking on the beach
  • Skim boarding
  • Kite flying
  • Bird watching
  • Surf fishing (license required)

Beach Amenities:

  • Public bathrooms – Yes.
  • Showers – Yes.
  • Parking – Yes, for a fee.
  • Food – Yes, a snack bar is open seasonally (see lifeguard schedule below).
  • Lifeguard – Yes, Memorial Day to mid-August. Weekends only in May and mid-August to the end of September.
  • Dogs allowed on the beach – Yes, leashed only.

Beach Rentals:

Chairs and umbrellas are available for rent at the beach seasonally (see lifeguard schedule above).

Directions:

Kiawah Beachwalker Park is approximately 45 minutes drive from Charleston, South Carolina. Its address is 8 Beachwalker Drive, Kiawah Island, SC 29455. To get here from Charleston take Route 17 South to Maybank Highway (Route 700). Turn left at Bohicket Road/Betsy Kerrison Parkway (State Road S-10-20). At the traffic circle take the 3rd exit onto Kiawah Island Parkway. At Beachwalker Drive, turn right and follow it to the end of the road.

To many joyful beach experiences!

— Lisa Dworkin

Photos courtesy of Lisa Dworkin. More photos available on Flickr.

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