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Featured Vacation Rentals

Sullivan's Island 5 Bdrms/4 Baths

Perfectly suited to accommodate 2 families, with 2 master bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, there are 3-4 bedrooms and 2 baths on the ground floor and two bedrooms and 2 baths one floor up. Appreciate ocean breezes from the sundeck or enormous...

  • Sullivans Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
Stay Salty on Sullivan's Island

This striking home is difficult to describe in words so check out the video to the left by clicking on the video icon over the picture (double-click on the video itself for a bigger version). Breathtaking ocean vistas are only part of the appeal of...

  • Sullivans Island
  • 6 Bedrooms
  • 5 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
Historic Captain's Quarters on Sullivan'...

1766 Ion AveIf you're ready to experience one of the most unique stays on Sullivan's Island, look no further than 1766 Ion Ave, one of six historic residences in the Bachelor Officer's Quarters property on Station 18! This 3-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom...

  • Sullivans Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Stay Salty on Sullivan's Island

This striking home is difficult to describe in words so check out the video to the left by clicking on the video icon over the picture (double-click on the video itself for a bigger version). Breathtaking ocean vistas are only part of the appeal of...

  • Sullivans Island
  • 6 Bedrooms
  • 5 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
Sullivans Local! | 1307 Cove Avenue by A...

Please note that this home is available for 28+ nighttime stays only.Escape to 1307 Cove Avenue, a dreamy coastal hideaway tucked on the cove of Sullivan’s Island. With a chic design and plenty of space, this home provides the ideal blend of...

  • Sullivans Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
Sullivan's Island 5 Bdrms/4 Baths

Perfectly suited to accommodate 2 families, with 2 master bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, there are 3-4 bedrooms and 2 baths on the ground floor and two bedrooms and 2 baths one floor up. Appreciate ocean breezes from the sundeck or enormous...

  • Sullivans Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12

Sullivans Island Tours & Activities

Gift Certificates

Greenville Glides

Book online
$69.00

Purchase the perfect gift: a gift card with a value of your choosing and no expiration date!

3/4 Day Offshore Grocery Store

Simon Says Charters

Book online
$1,400.00

Duration 8 Hours About Don’t want to go way out in the ocean but want to still fill up the cooler and have fun 25 miles off the coast? Embark on our nearshore trip! Up to 5 people. More info We'll launch from Charleston Harbor Resort and...

Fireworks for Freedom Show on the Charleston Harbor

duration: 2 Hours meeting_point: 1407 Shrimp Boat Lane, Mount Pleasant, SC. 29464 group_size: Up to 6 Passengers description: Watch the 4th of July fireworks show from your own privately guided Cruisin Tiki! what_is_included: Enjoy your beverages...

City Lights Harbor Cruise (Daniel Island)
Book online
$18.00 - $38.00

duration: 1.5 Hours meeting_point: description: This special harbor cruise from the Daniel Island Ferry will take you from the Daniel Island dock, down the Wando River, under the Ravenel Bridge and around the battery. Couples can enjoy a a quiet...

4 Hour Charter

Burnt & Sandy

Book online
$100.00 - $450.00

Get out on the water! Duration 4 hours Every adventure is different! Depending on tides and your preference we may have the opportunity to hunt for sharks’ teeth, cruise the harbor, and many other adventures! Please include requests and...

Selfie Addict Studio - Private Party

Selfie Addict Studio, LLC

Book online
$300.00

Treat Yo' Selfie! Duration & Rate **1 Hour** - $300 About SAS all to yourself when you book a private party for your group for one hour at a discounted per-ticket rate. Pricing includes 1 to 12 guests, but three additional add-on guests (for...

Bachelor/Bachelorette Cruise

Saltgrass Charters

Book online
$195.00 - $492.00

duration: 1 - 4 Hours meeting_point: Shem Creek Marina Boat Ramp description: Celebrate your Bachelor or Bachelorette party with a private cruise along the scenic Intracoastal Waterway or the charming shoreline of downtown Charleston. Enjoy a lively...

Eco-tour/Dolphin Sighting

Saltgrass Charters

Book online
$393.00

duration: 3 Hours meeting_point: Shem Creek Marina Boat Ramp description: Embark on a 3-hour Eco-tour through Charleston’s natural habitats, where you’ll encounter dolphins, sea birds, crabs, oysters, and more. This tour offers the chance to...

Half Day Offshore Grocery Store

Simon Says Charters

Book online
$1,200.00

Duration 6 Hours About Want to fill the cooler and your freezer? Common catches include amberjack, vermilion snapper, cobia, king mackerel, black sea bass, triggerfish, and many more! Up to 5 people. Fuel surcharge is approximately $200. ...

Birds of Prey Photography Day

The Center for Birds of Prey

Book online
$25.00 - $100.00

These highly popular 4-hour programs allow for unfettered photography of nearly 15 species of birds of prey from around the world both in static perching shots and also in untethered free flight. Photographers will have the unique opportunity...

Harbor Sunset Cruise

Saltgrass Charters

Book online
$294.00

duration: 2 Hours meeting_point: Shem Creek Marina Boat Ramp description: Experience Charleston's waterfront like never before with this private 2-hour Harbor/Sunset Cruise. Enjoy a leisurely tour along the beautiful coastline, offering incredible...

Tour Pass ONLY

Nature Adventures LLC

Sullivans Island, SC

Sullivan's Island is a small barrier island just outside Charleston, South Carolina, known for its quiet beaches, historic landmarks, and relaxed, upscale vibe.

With wide sandy shores and gentle ocean breezes, Sullivan's Island offers a peaceful coastal escape steeped in history. The island is home to Fort Moultrie, a key site in both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, and offers panoramic views of Charleston Harbor. Visitors can enjoy beachcombing, paddleboarding, and exploring the charming village area, which features local shops, restaurants, and cafes - all within walking distance of the shore.

Lodging on Sullivan's Island is primarily made up of private vacation rental homes, many with ocean views and easy beach access. The island maintains a quiet, residential feel, making it ideal for visitors seeking a more laid-back experience just minutes from the culture and excitement of downtown Charleston. Whether you're exploring local history, biking along quiet streets, or relaxing on a nearly empty beach, Sullivan's Island offers a refined and tranquil South Carolina coastal getaway.

Sullivans Island SC

Sullivan's Island is arguably a South Carolina beach lover's paradise. With a laid-back atmosphere and little development, the town is a Mecca for busy Charleston urbanites, part-time resident retirees and vacationing families from all over the East Coast. Though just 3.3 square miles in area, with little commercialization besides a handful of galleries and restaurants, this small barrier island nonetheless has a big reputation as one of the best family-friendly destinations along the Carolina coastline, and thousands of visitors or part-time residents flock to the area every year for a refreshing day trip, or a much needed weeklong break from the daily grind.

With few distractions from the clear blue ocean beaches and local sites, many regular vacationers to Sullivan's Island attest that when it comes to good times in a great natural environment, Sullivan's Island is hard to beat.

Sullivans Island SC

Sullivan's Island is located just south of Charleston, connected by the short Ben Sawyer Bridge, and separated slightly from the mainland by a series of coves and inlets. The island jets out into the Atlantic Ocean and borders the wide opening of the Charleston Harbor - a geographic locale that has made this otherwise discreet barrier island instrumental to early American history.

Sullivan's Island was first discovered by English explorers in the 1670s, when a British Captain and new colonist Florence O'Sullivan descended on the area to start a new colony. This new "Sullivan's Island," named in his honor, would gradually become one of the main port towns of entry for fleets of ships accessing the low country area. Sadly, this notable role came with a cost, as in the 1770s, it was estimated that 40% of slaves traded to the North American colonies first arrived at Sullivan's Island - a fact that have made many historians to liken the region to a lesser-recognized Ellis Island for America's African Americans.

Sullivans Island SC

Sullivan's Island would, however, become a source of pride for South Carolinians in the 1770s as well, as on June 28th, 1776, the not-yet-completed Fort Moultrie would be bombarded by British Troops during the initial stages of the Revolutionary War. These attacks would prove to be unsuccessful, however, and after a full day of battle, the 400 American soldiers stationed at Fort Moultrie would wind up triumphant over the British invasion. This victory is still celebrated on Sullivan's Island and Charleston County today, and is known regionally as the "Carolina Day" celebration.

The fort, which was named "Moultrie" after the commander who headed this initial victory, would later have a secondary role in American history as the temporary home of famous American writer Edgar Allan Poe, who was stationed at Fort Moultrie from November 1827 to December 1828.

Sullivans Island SC

Despite its roots tied to the initial colonization by Florence O'Sullivan, the town, which saw little traffic besides the local fort soldiers and lighthouse keepers, was initially divided into distinct communities, and was known as Moultrieville and Atlanticville, respectively. It wasn't until the two towns merged that the community, as a whole, was finally referred to as Sullivan's Island.

In 1862, Charleston Light, or Sullivans Island Lighthouse was built, making it one of the newest lighthouses in the country, and development gradually blossomed over the ensuing decades, turning the beachside town into a veritable vacation destination.

In 2006, Sullivan's Island made waves and national headlines when it became the first municipality in South Carolina to ban smoking in all public places, and today, the island is a collection of vacation rental homes and small businesses that cater to their seasonal vacationing or day-tripping clientele.

Sullivans Island SC

Arguably, the most popular attraction on this island is not the lighthouse or the historic fort, but the beach itself, and with a few miles of shoreline but relatively few residents and commercialization, Sullivan's Islanders will find plenty of elbow room to enjoy the quiet scene. The area is well known for its seashells, especially the sand dollars that wash up along the shoreline on a regular basis. (Visitors are advised to keep the white, sun bleached sand dollars, and throw the gray, fuzzy ones back into the water, as they are still alive and well.)

Entertainment seemingly revolves around the water, in fact, as Sullivan's Island is a popular spot for surf fishing, crabbing, surfing, kayaking and even stand-up paddle boarding. Out of the sun, the town also features an eclectic collection of art galleries and gift shops that are sure to keep visitors entertained for an afternoon or two.

Sullivan's Island also boasts a renowned restaurant district, which is essentially a block or two of famous local BBQ joints, pubs, and even fine dining establishments, all conveniently located in a small center-of-town region. With ample front porch seating and late night hours, the restaurant district is essentially the place to go for a good meal or a late night out on the town.

Visitors will soon discover that Sullivan's Island is selectively limited in accommodations, and there are no major hotels, motels or inns on the island. (Although weekend visitors should note that there are plenty of options in Charleston, just a few minutes' drive away.) Instead, the island is comprised mainly of vacation rentals and primary residents, and visitors have the option to stay at over 200 of these individual homes. Generally rented in a weekly basis, these rental homes can range from inlet-bordering cottages to 6 or 7 bedroom oceanfront estates, making it easy for parties big and small to find a relaxing and accommodating place to call a temporary home.

Sullivan's Island has always had a place on the national map as a groundbreaking historical landmark, and one of the initial settlements and battlegrounds of the Revolutionary War, but today the region is clearly known more for its shore side landscapes and miles of sand than for its military exploits.

As a result of years of limited development ad careful preservation of its local landmarks and pristine beaches, visitors will enjoy ample sunshine, plenty of room on the shoreline, and small collection of shops and restaurants that invite patrons to pull up a picnic table, grab a cold drink, and stay a while. As to go-to destination for busy Charleston professionals who need a break from city life, and visitors in search of a family-oriented beach vacation destination, Sullivan's Island is clearly a gem along the South Carolina coastal scene.

Sullivans Island Vacation Guides