Edisto Beach, SC: The Complete Visitor’s Guide
Visiting the Edisto Island Museum: Hours, Admission & What to Expect
Spending Thanksgiving on Edisto Beach
The Most Significant Hurricanes to Impact Edisto Beach
Edisto Beach Rules & Regulations
Where to Stay
There are no hotels on Edisto, so most visitors stay in a beach house, cottage or villa. Start with the kind of place you want, then check dates and prices on each page.
Plan your days
Things to Do on Edisto Beach
Edisto is an outdoor island: long beach walks, shark teeth at low tide, quiet creeks to paddle and some of the wildest coastline in South Carolina.
Edisto Beach State Park
Oceanfront camping, cabins and trails through maritime forest at the north end of the beach.
Park guideBotany Bay
A wild beach of bleached, fallen trees, best at sunrise. Everything on the beach stays there.
Visiting Botany BayShark teeth & shells
Look for small black fossil teeth in the shell line at low tide, one of Edisto’s favorite pastimes.
How to find themOn the water
Kayak the tidal creeks, fish the surf, go crabbing or take a sunset boat ride into the ACE Basin.
Boating, fishing & crabbingSea turtles & dolphins
Loggerheads nest here May through October, and Edisto’s dolphins strand feed on the creek banks.
Wildlife guideHistory & culture
Old churches, plantations and Gullah heritage, starting at the Edisto Island Museum.
Island history
Coming Up on Edisto
Eat & drink
Where to Eat on Edisto
Edisto’s food scene is small, casual and heavy on seafood: local shrimp, raw bars and marsh views by the marina, Southern breakfasts, pizza, tacos and ice cream close to the beach. Every restaurant in our guide has its own page with the menu, hours and location.
Edisto History
Edisto’s Storied Past
Stories From Edisto: Family Reunions, McHaney Style
Life in Lost Village of Edingsville Beach
Remembering Mayor Burley Lyons
Edisto’s Haunted Tomb
Know before you go
Edisto Beach Safety & Beach Tips
What to know about the ocean, wildlife and the beach itself before you set up for the day. For dogs, alcohol, golf carts, parking and other local rules, see the Edisto Beach rules.
Rip Current Safety
How to spot a rip current and get out of one. There are no lifeguards on Edisto’s beach.
Sharks & Swimming
How common sharks are off Edisto, and simple ways to lower your risk in the water.
Sea Turtle Season
Lights off, holes filled and nests left alone: how to help nesting loggerheads, May through October.
Groins & Beach Erosion
What the rock and timber structures along the shore do, and why Edisto’s beach depends on them.
Hurricane Season
What to pack and how to plan for an evacuation if a storm heads for the coast during your stay.
Beach Etiquette
Turtle-season manners, golf cart rules and other things first-time visitors often miss.
Good to know
Edisto Beach FAQ
Quick answers to the questions visitors ask most.
How far is Edisto Beach from Charleston?
About an hour’s drive, close enough for a day trip into the city. See our Charleston day-trip ideas.
Are there hotels on Edisto Beach?
No. Visitors stay in beach houses, cottages and condos, or in the cabins and campsites at Edisto Beach State Park.
Are dogs allowed on Edisto Beach?
Yes. Dogs are welcome on the town beach and must be leashed from May 1 through October 31. They aren’t allowed on the beach or causeway at Botany Bay. See all beach rules.
Can you drink alcohol on the beach?
No. Open containers aren’t allowed on the beach, and glass is never allowed. Open-container laws also apply on golf carts.
Are there lifeguards?
No. Edisto’s beach has no lifeguards, so swim at your own risk and learn how to handle a rip current. Check the tide chart too: high tide can leave only a narrow strip of sand.
When is sea turtle season?
May 1 through October 31. No lights may shine on the beach at night, holes must be filled in, and nests, eggs and hatchlings must be left alone.
Can you take shells from Botany Bay?
No. Collecting shells, fossils, driftwood or anything else at Botany Bay isn’t allowed. It is open from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset, closed on Tuesdays, and needs a free day-use pass from the kiosk.
Can you drive a golf cart on Edisto Beach?
Yes, during daylight only and never on Palmetto Boulevard or the beach. Drivers must be licensed. See golf cart and bike rentals.