Sullivans Island Vacations

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Featured Vacation Rentals

1111 Middle Street by AvantStay | Charmi...

Charleston was founded in 1670, which makes it one of the most historic cities in our nation. 1111 Middle Street on Sullivan’s Island has been a part of Charleston’s history for just over 150 years! Constructed around 1860 (owned by the same...

  • Sullivans Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
Stunning Coastal Castle on Sullivans Isl...

Gracious living in the 4950 sq ft. , 6 bedroom Mugdock Castle with a pool. This idyllic & opulent property is a block from Sullivan's Island beach just behind Ft. Moultrie.The property has room for everybody in and outside offering 1600 sq ft of...

  • Sullivans Island
  • 6 Bedrooms
  • 6 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 16
30+ Day Stays - Historic coastal charm, ...

Iconic Sullivan's Island Home Available for 30 Day Units. Stay in a part of history listed on the SC Inventory of Historic PlacesThis striking and historic residence offers an exceptional blend of character, comfort, and coastal living. Located just...

  • Sullivans Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Sullivans Island condo, centrally locate...

Live like a local and reserve 30 days or more on Sullivans Island! 20 Island House is located in the heart of Sullivans Island just a few steps away from pristine beaches and great eateries. This condo is ideal for an extended hideaway in a trendy...

  • Sullivans Island
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Stay Salty on Sullivan's Island

This amazing 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
Stay Salty on Sullivan's Island

This amazing 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 Island Tours & Activities

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...

Beaufort Lands End Paddling

Book online
$40.00 - $60.00

duration: 1.5-2 hours meeting_point: Russ Point Landing description: Paddle through paradise on an unforgettable adventure where natural beauty and hidden treasures await. Launching from scenic Hunting Island, this guided tour takes you on the open...

Edisto River Tubing & After Tubing Trip

Edisto River Adventures

Book online
$20.00 - $38.00

Bring your friends and family for an unforgettable experience! Duration 2-3 hours depending on river level. River Levels, Wind, Group Size can all affect the float time. On occasion float times can run over and under these estimates. ...

Paddleboard 101(Intro class)

Nature Adventures LLC

Book online
$145.00

Paddleboarding 101 Classes with Chandler - Up to 3 hours - $145 - Bring your own equipment or rent one Class details: - Learn your equipment - Safety 101 - How to launch properly from various platforms - Proper paddle strokes - Planning your...

Tour Pass ONLY

Nature Adventures LLC

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...

Full Day Deep Sea Blackfin Tuna

Simon Says Charters

Book online
$1,600.00

Duration 10 Hours About You’ll head 25–50 miles offshore to target blackfin tuna, various snapper, gag and scamp grouper, red snapper (seasonal), King Mackerel, African pompano, cobia, amberjack, triggerfish, and many more! Up to 4 people. ...

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...

Backwater Eco Tour

Shem Creek Ecotours LLC

Book online
$775.00

duration: 2 Hours meeting_point: Shem Creek Public Day Dock description: Explore the hidden wonders of the Lowcountry on a peaceful Backwater Eco Tour, where wildlife, scenic creeks, and coastal education come together for the ultimate...

Wingspan: Annual Fall Fundraiser

The Center for Birds of Prey

Book online
$250.00 - $1,750.00

Presented by First Capital Bank **Sunday, October 26th** **4:00 to 7:00 pm** *at the* **Center For Birds of Prey** **$250** ***per person*** **$1,750** ***per table*** You are invited to a magical evening to witness first-hand the beauty, mystery...

Nitrox Specialty

Let's Adventure! Duration 1 Hour About This course will certify you to dive with EANx (Enriched Air Nitrox) up to a max 40% oxygen mix. This gives you more bottom time and shorter required surface intervals.

Inshore Fishing (19’ Key West)

Simon Says Charters

Book online
$400.00 - $500.00

About Our four-hour trip is perfect for those inshore excursions that take you into the backwaters and rivers in search of species like flounder, trout, red drum, and more! Up to 3 people. The three-hour trip is short and sweet, for those days...

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