Sullivan's Island Beach
Sullivan's Island Beach
4.5
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4.5
438 reviews
Excellent
259
Very good
119
Average
34
Poor
7
Terrible
19
Mar 2021 • Couples
BEWARE the town is not a tourist friendly destination and is not the standard for South Carolina. We found out the hard way, we were celebrating my birthday and decided to check out the nature walk with our dog. We checked the hours and if dogs were allowed on the beach not seeing the small print (a visually disabled or anyone wearing sunglasses would not see) saying a dog permit was required. Within minutes we were stopped and given a $260 ticket for having our small behaved and leached dog without a permit. We explained we did not know and offered to leave an the beach, did not matter now have a $260 ticket. Honestly what we saw in the short time we were there was sad vegetation and unimpressive dirty water. Highly recommend the friendly, beautiful and hidden gems such as Garden City Beach with the intracoastal and Murrels Inlet Marshmalk much more pleasing area if you want to visit coastal SC
Written 5 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oct 2020
PARKING has become an issue at IOP due to Mayor Jimmy Carroll and City Counsel. The Mayor used Covid-19 as an excuse to eliminate free parking, which has been in place for years then Jimmy and counsel made a move to start charging for it. The Mayor does not want victors to 'his" island as quoted - "Isle of Palms Mayor Jimmy Carroll said his job isn’t necessarily to make them happy. But he does say that since the island can’t handle the sheer volume of visitors it gets every summer, it might be a good idea for some to vacation elsewhere".
Wonder how the shop owners and Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau feel about this?
Wonder how the shop owners and Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau feel about this?
Written 3 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aug 2020 • Couples
You can’t stop here for more than ten minutes without being made to feel like a criminal. We hadn’t walked 20 feet from the car park and sat on the sand to watch a ship passing by. My wife was holding our small dog on her lap and we hadn’t planned to stay any length of time , We waived at the female beach patrol on an orange gator and said “thank you for your service”. She stopped and immediately grilled us about a dog license...$50 fee or $500 fine. A dog license to stop on the way back to Charleston for ten minutes? We have been approached every time we stop at this ticket farm for one reason or other and this was the last straw. The Town of Sullivan’s Island government should consider regulating the restaurants who clearly don’t worry about social distancing or serving alcohol to drunks. I guess it’s easier to pick on families who just want to enjoy public space. It’s shameful how they treat people here.
Written 17 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nov 2020
Just an update since my last post this summer. I live just over the bridge in Mount Pleasant and try to go to the Sullivan's Island beach 3-4 times per week. Parking tickets as well as dog tickets (not having an island dog collar; $50 per collar) are still being handed out in mid-November. Last Friday I met some visitors walking their 2 dogs and they were given 2, $80 tickets for not having the local dog collars. They were warned that each ticket could have been over $1k. I stopped by the town hall to buy my new puppy a collar and they wanted me to pay for a full year when the new 2021 collars would be available in just over 2 weeks. Sorry...but if the city is that incompetent and not able to run a simple residual fee calculation for the remaining days, I don't give them much hope to fix much of the larger issues on the island, such as long-time, local business closings, etc.
Written 17 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laurie V
Raleigh, NC
Apr 2021
Nice place to visit, but a little tricky if you are not a resident or lodging over night. Just KNOW before you GO!
We cycled 4 days (April 2021) through the SC Islands, including Isle of Palms & Sullivan's Island. These two islands are quite pretty, but not so into day visitors. By the sheer number of warning signs, they’ve obviously had some issues...lots and lots of NOs, NOTs, Prohibited, KEEP OFF, Not Allowed, NO umbrellas or beach chairs, and pretty much zero free parking as well as a time schedule for dogs to be out and about. We slid into one of 6 free parking spots along Palm Blvd, but be absolutely sure, NO wheels on the pavement! Don’t even try to park at the grocery store, church or any business-TOWING very much enforced. That said, what a beautiful, leisure ride! We started at Isle of Palms and rode to Fort Moultrie at the end of Sullivans and back. Sullivans seems to have a little more side street parking but double check signage because they are ticket serious! If you can find a place to park, I highly recommend the Obstinate Daughter for dinner. Reservations suggested as we popped in on an early Wed night and it was standing room only. Luckily we were able to eat at the bar and the food was excellent! Somehow we escaped the island without a fine.
We cycled 4 days (April 2021) through the SC Islands, including Isle of Palms & Sullivan's Island. These two islands are quite pretty, but not so into day visitors. By the sheer number of warning signs, they’ve obviously had some issues...lots and lots of NOs, NOTs, Prohibited, KEEP OFF, Not Allowed, NO umbrellas or beach chairs, and pretty much zero free parking as well as a time schedule for dogs to be out and about. We slid into one of 6 free parking spots along Palm Blvd, but be absolutely sure, NO wheels on the pavement! Don’t even try to park at the grocery store, church or any business-TOWING very much enforced. That said, what a beautiful, leisure ride! We started at Isle of Palms and rode to Fort Moultrie at the end of Sullivans and back. Sullivans seems to have a little more side street parking but double check signage because they are ticket serious! If you can find a place to park, I highly recommend the Obstinate Daughter for dinner. Reservations suggested as we popped in on an early Wed night and it was standing room only. Luckily we were able to eat at the bar and the food was excellent! Somehow we escaped the island without a fine.
Written 30 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sally W
Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Jun 2020 • Family
Obviously, the town is trying to keep the beach private. I have been on Sullivans for 58 years and my family owned a beach house on station 27 for 30 years. You can't take a family with children to a beach without umbrellas for shade. Shane on you all. I'm sure this will be challenged legally at some point. Hopefully sooner than later.
Written 6 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jun 2021
The good: A beautiful island, full of charming homes, and with several excellent restaurants. The beach is clean and not too crowded, and it's very close to Charleston. The not so good: There is a large sandbar that runs from the Isle of Palms side to the water tower, so that at the hours surrounding low tide there are no waves near shore. It feels more like being on the shore of a large, windy lake during those times, and with the strong currents, swimming out to the sandbar is difficult and potentially dangerous. Sullivan's a very popular place for kite surfing, since the sandbar forms an area with high wind and no waves. So instead of playing in the waves, we found ourselves spending time by what looked like a murky lake, watching kite surfers and waiting for high tide, when we could finally feel like we were at the ocean.
Written 2 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jun 2020
I live in Mt. Pleasant, which is just over the intercoastal waterway. I go because it’s close but recently many visitors are getting tickets for using beach chairs and coolers. Even “shade devices” will earn you a ticket. Also, if your car wheels are parked barely touching the road you will be ticketed. Just this morning while taking my dog (Sunday at 6:30am!) I received a $50 ticket because my wheels were not completely off the road. During the day they have 4 vehicles driving the beach and will ask to see what’s in your bag. The nice couple next to me 2 weeks ago was given a $260 ticket for having 1 can White Claw. My advice is to go elsewhere.
Written 15 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
eaglesnesttraveler
Hammonton, NJ
Jul 2021
We were there at dusk and as a NJ shore native, I was disappointed at the beach. I would not enjoy it because it is so very remote. Some would love that, but not me. It felt dangerous, no lifeguards, many signs about the danger. Very natural, but loads of children and families inthe water at night. Very difficult to find ANY parking,even at dusk. VERY narrow roads too. Beautiful homes. More of a walking community. I wouldn't want my grandchildren swimming here.
Written 3 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jun 2023 • Solo
I had a great time, it felt very safe as a solo traveler. I’ll definitely say that I’m glad I went in the morning! I probably got there around 8:30 and left about 12:30. The tide had come in and a ton of people were on the beach at the end- I had had no trouble finding a spot close to the beach, but by the time I left someone was sharking my spot HARD and I couldn’t even be mad because the line to get on the island was long and barely moving. Even so, the weather was gorgeous and the waves were calm and the people at the beach were respectful. Go in the morning!!
Written 10 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We will be staying at Bulls Bay Golf in Awendaw. Does anyone know about a car service to take us to Sullivans Island for dinner?
Written 31 January 2022
Susan AW
Pontiac, Michigan
Is it feasible to ride bikes from Charleston/King Street area, to Sullivan's?
Written 30 September 2021
Jill E
Easley, South Carolina
The distance is a little more than 9 miles. It could be done, but there are some very busy highways to travel. Also, you should be a strong and experienced cyclist as you will have to cross the Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge, which has a very steep grade.
Written 3 October 2021
_jamietgwood
Buffalo, New York
Coming from historic district on Saturday 7/17 for a few hours and i see pictures of people that rented mopeds and relaxed on the beach…then I’ve seen people say there are a lot of restrictions and no beach chair rentals etc…what’s the best way for us to enjoy a few hours on a quiet beach before lunch?
Written 30 June 2021
Randall W
Ankeny, Iowa
We didn’t rent any scooters or bikes. We found a parking spot and laid on beach towels
Written 1 July 2021
Redheadedlass
Morgantown, West Virginia
I mean certain times to take your dog to the beach.
Written 3 September 2019
Claudette D
New York City, New York
We went in the late afternoon with a Great Dane and had no problems. Also saw other dogs on the beach while we were there.
Written 13 August 2019
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