2119 Pettigrew St, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482, USA 
6 miles from Charleston, SC
So beautiful and soothing, Sullivan’s Island Beach is wide, long, and rarely gets crowded. It is more like a residents’ beach where you can see locals strolling, jogging, and playing with their dogs each morning.
Location and Access
Sullivan’s Island Beach stretches parallel to Atlantic Avenue and you can access the beach at various spots where the avenue crosses other streets. There is no parking lot but there is free on-street parking available – please pay attention to the signs indicating places to park.
You’ll need to walk to the beach for a couple of minutes. There are wooden boardwalks leading down to the ocean. Not handicap-friendly. Overall, there is little parking so it is recommended to go early.
Amenities
There are neither restrooms nor rinse showers and visiting with small kids can be a bit tricky. There are no places to eat either so bring your own snacks. For a restroom or restaurant, you’ll need to walk several blocks.
Swimming Conditions
The beach is very flat and long, offering more than enough space for everyone. The sand is soft, with few shells. The water is warm and somewhat murky but people tend to like swimming here. However, you should be extremely careful – there are no lifeguards on duty and there are strong currents, deep holes, and drop-offs near sandbars.
Other Activities
Strolls along the beach are breathtaking; the lighthouse in the background adds to the scenery. Biking is another good option – the sand is hard-packed enough. Fishing is allowed.
Beach Rules
Sullivan’s Island Beach has strict rules and they will eagerly give you a ticket for a violation so please pay due attention to this information. You are not allowed to bring alcoholic beverages or any glass containers. Any kind of smoking is prohibited. Coolers, beach chairs, and umbrellas are prohibited as well.
Dog Rules
Only dogs with current Sullivan’s Island license are allowed on the beach (for licenses, contact the town hall).
From May to September, you can bring your dog off-leash from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.; dogs are not allowed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and they must be on leash from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m.
From October to April, during the offseason, you can bring your dog off-leash from 5 a.m. until noon and on a leash at any other hour. Don’t forget to pick up after your furry friend to keep the beach safe and clean!
Driving Time
- 20 minutes from downtown Charleston, SC
- 1 hour 55 minutes Myrtle Beach, SC
- 2 hours 5 minutes from Savannah, GA
Hotels and rentals
If you're considering staying for one or even a few nights, there are plenty of options available near the beach. Chose your preferred accomodation type and your favourite room provider:
- Nearby rentals from VRBO.
- Nearby rooms and properties from Booking.com.
Beaches nearby
Additionally, there's a number of beaches near Sullivanās Island Beach which you can visit:
- Fort Moultrie Beach (1 mile)
- Isle of Palms Beach (3 miles)
- Morris Island Beach (5 miles)
- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve Beach (6 miles)
- Folly Beach (9 miles)
Drag and zoom the map to view lodging options near the beach.
1 mi away