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7 Incredible Hilton Head Sunset Spots (Map Included!)

June 24, 2019 |

If you're looking for some inspiration for your next picture-perfect Lowcountry vacation, I've got you covered with my favorite places to catch a beautiful sunset on Hilton Head Island. I included a map so you can easily find each spot or call ahead for dinner reservations!

A wooden pier and shrimp boat with a yellow and peach toned sunset. Pinnable text overlay reads The Top Sunset Spots on Hilton Head Island.

If you find this post helpful, please share these Hilton Head sunset locations on Pinterest to help other travelers!

FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a small referral fee from purchases at no additional cost to you. You can read our affiliate policy here.

TOC | Skip Straight To:
  • Hilton Head's Best Sunsets
  • Skull Creek Dockside Restaurant
  • Folly Field Beach
  • Squire Pope Community Park
  • Skull Creek Boathouse
  • Shelter Cove Marina
  • Old Oyster Factory
  • Harbour Town Marina
    • Where to Stay in Hilton Head

Hilton Head's Best Sunsets

Due to the way the island is situated, the sun rises on the beach side and sets on the creek side. You can still see some incredible sunsets from the beach, though! I've seen plenty, and you'll find the evidence below.

NOTE: To make things easy for tourists, I've only selected drivable locations. If you're planning a boat or dolphin tour, I suggest looking for one that departs near Calibogue Sound and swings by the Haig Point lighthouse on Daufuskie Island.

Skull Creek Dockside Restaurant

Y'all… I promise you the sunsets don't get much better than the ones at Dockside Restaurant. There's something magical about the lighting at their location that makes the sky look almost like a painting.

Hilton Head Island's Dockside Restaurant's long wooden pier with shrimp boats and a beautiful yellow sunset in the background.
Totally unreal. This is probably my favorite sunset photo I've taken on the island!
Long wooden pier leading to pink and yellow sunset on Hilton Head Island's Skull Creek.
This is the view you'll have from your table if you choose to sit outside at Dockside Restaurant.

I use Opentable to make my reservations in advance and almost always opt for outdoor seating. I'm such a geek that I have the sunset times memorized based on the season, and I always try to make sure I'm seated perfectly in time for golden hour.

You're free to walk out on their dock. You might even see a pod of dolphins swim by if you're lucky!

Wondering which dish to try? You can't go wrong with Dockside's lobster tails or their totally off the charts BBQ. I try salmon dishes at every restaurant I visit, and I also really like their seared salmon with the mustard glaze option.

Location: Skull Creek Dockside | 2 Hudson Road, HHI, SC 29926

Folly Field Beach

Folly Field is a public beach area close to the north end of the island. The parking/restroom area includes outdoor showers, so it's an ideal location to set up camp for the day if you're not staying at a beachfront property. Trust me when I say you're going to want to stick around for the sunsets!

Yellow and orange sunset over the sand dunes at Hilton Head's Folly Field Beach.
The sand dunes are protected, so you have to stay off them when shooting sunsets. (I was standing on a wooden boardwalk to capture this shot.)
Hilton Head sunset beach scene with pinkish-purple tinted skies on Folly Beach.
Folly Field has convenient parking, easy beach access, and cotton candy skies.

Folly Field Beach Sunset Hilton Head Island Sunset Folly Field Beach Hilton Head Sunset Folly Field Beach Hilton Head Island Sunset

The shallow tide pools reflect the sunset at low tide and make for really eye-catching photos.

There are lifeguards posted on duty during the summer season, but the waves in this area are usually small and ideally sized for families with young kids.

Location: Folly Field Public Access Beach | 55 Starfish Drive, HHI, SC 29928

⭐ Insider Tip: Save the sea turtles! If you dig any holes on the beach during the day, always remember to cover them up before leaving. This probably goes without saying, but please make sure you throw away your trash, too.

Squire Pope Community Park

This is my spot! Don't be surprised if you run into me here at some point. I love shooting sunsets from both levels of the dock, plus the area beneath it — which is usually crawling with hundreds of tiny fiddler crabs.

Purple and orange sunset viewed from the deck of a wooden pier at Squire Pope Community Park in Hilton Head.
This has traditionally been one of the best-kept “secret” spots on the island to catch an amazing sunset.
Silhouetted boats in the water with a peachy-lavender sunset as seen from a wooden pier on Hilton Head Island.
Those boats remain anchored, so they're always there and add a nice touch to sunset shots.

Squire Pope Community Park Sunset Hilton Head Sunset at Squire Pope Park Best Hilton Head Island Sunsets Fading Hues of a Hilton Head Sunset

I have so many sunset photos taken from that pier! It's relaxing to sit there and watch them from beginning to end. Click to see any photo larger.

The park has public restrooms, covered picnic tables, and even a couple well-placed benches overlooking the water.

Location: Squire Pope Community Park | 137 Squire Pope Road, HHI, SC 29926

⭐ Insider Tip: Take lemongrass spray! It's environmentally friendly, and it'll help keep the sand gnats away. Unfortunately, the dock is usually swarming with them.

Skull Creek Boathouse

Ahhh, good ol' Skull Creek Boathouse. It's an island favorite, as evidenced by the insanely long lines most any night of the week during the summer months. (My entire family once waited on their porch for 2 hours during a massive downpour — but at least we made some new friends in the process!)

A docked shrimp boat and old dock pilings in the foreground with a purple and lavender sunset fading into yellow and orange over the horizon.
If that boat looks familiar, it's because Skull Creek Boathouse and Skull Creek Dockside are located next door to each other and have nearly identical sunset views.

Skull Creek is totally worth the wait. The sushi bar is incredible, and I love their Ahi Tuna Salad. (It's not always on the menu, but ask for it anyway.) I can also throw back some of their delicious hushpuppies if you put a basket in front of me. They're addicting!

The outdoor patio area is always fun and often features live music. You can walk out on the dock at this location, just like you can next door at Dockside.

Location: Skull Creek Boathouse | 397 Squire Pope Road, HHI, SC 29926

⭐ Insider Tip: Since this spot is so crowded, my family almost always opts for the early bird dining. Also, don't miss the Skull Creek General Store in the parking lot!

Shelter Cove Marina

If you like having boats in the foreground of your sunset shots, you'll be a fan of Shelter Cove Marina.

The sun sets behind Broad Creek, which feeds into the marina, so you can capture boats silhouetted against the water as the sun fades into the background. It's such a beautiful area!

Golden rays of sunshine blanket the sailboats in Hilton Head's Shelter Cove Marina.

The Disney Resort is located on the far side of the marina. I always enjoy sitting under an old Southern live oak at the far northwest edge of the property. It's a great place to watch the fishing boats and kayakers come in as the sun sets.

You can sit on the tree's sturdy low-hanging branches, in the two Adirondack chairs always conveniently located beside it, or at one of the picnic tables to the left of the tree.

Location: Shelter Cove Marina | 1 Shelter Cove Lane, HHI, SC 29928

⭐ Insider Tip: If you stay at the Disney Resort, be sure to request a room overlooking the creek instead of the marina. The marina view is obstructed by trees and the parking lot.

Old Oyster Factory

The Old Oyster Factory is another restaurant that offers incredible sunset views. What can I say: Dinner + Sunset = Magic! It's the best time to venture out for a bite to eat.

Wide shot of The Old Oyster Factory on Hilton Head Island as a massive wave-shaped storm cloud looms overhead.
I realize you can barely see the pink-hued sunset along the horizon, but I had to include this photo because the clouds look so cool! Consider the restaurant a great place to catch a sunset or to watch the storms roll in.

I kid you not when I say the steak and shrimp option at Old Oyster Factory is about as close as a restaurant can get to food perfection. I ordered it last time I went, and the steak was so tender I couldn't believe it! Their hush puppies might be my current favorite on the island. (Can you tell I love taste-testing hush puppies?)

Location: Old Oyster Factory | 101 Marshland Road, HHI, SC 29926

⭐ Insider Tip: If you go during low tide you can walk around the side of the restaurant to access the back deck, where you can enjoy live music and watch kayakers floating by in the creek. (It's accessible from indoors, too.)

Harbour Town Marina

That red and white lighthouse is easily the most recognizable landmark on the island. You'll find it at the Harbour Town Marina, and it makes for yet another incredible sunset destination.

My entire family loves stopping in nearby Cinnamon Bear for tasty ice cream cones. We'll sit in the rocking chairs lining the marina to enjoy them while looking out over the water. Talk about some good family memories!

An aerial view of Harbour Town Marina as the sun sets over the creek.

Hilton Head Island Pier Sign at Harbour Town The Famous Harbour Town Lighthouse Flags Lining the Harbour Town Pier

The lighthouse looks pretty when it's decked out in plaid for the annual RBC Heritage Golf Tournament. Click on any image to view it larger.

⭐ Insider Tip: There's a fee to enter Sea Pines Resort, which is where Harbour Town is located. It's approximately $5 per vehicle (no matter the number of passengers).

While you have your Sea Pines parking pass, you might want to drive around that end of the island to check out all of the beautiful homes and landscaping. Don't miss the beautiful 300-year-old Liberty Oak! You can learn more about it at the bottom of this post I wrote about Charleston's famous Angel Oak.

Location: Harbour Town at Sea Pines Resort | 149 Lighthouse Road, HHI, SC 29928

Here's where to find some of the prettiest sunsets on Hilton Head Island! #hiltonhead #southcarolina #vacation Click To Tweet

Where to Stay in Hilton Head

If you're visiting the Lowcountry for the first time and aren't sure where to stay, I suggest Sonesta Resort, Sea Pines Resort, Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort, or the Omni. Search here for the best rates on Hilton Head Island.

Booking.com

If you prefer a home rental, you're welcome to use my Airbnb discount to receive up to $55 off your first rental or experience with them.

Continue reading more of my posts about the Lowcountry:

  • What To Do on a Day Trip to Old Town Bluffton
  • 5 Family-Friendly Hilton Head Activities for the 4th of July
  • 21+ Truly Helpful Tips for Savannah First-Time Visitors
  • How to Rent a Vacation Home You'll Absolutely Love
  • 50 Walkable Things To Do in Savannah's Historic District

Still Have Questions? I answer fastest over on Instagram!

Pin It for Later: The Best Hilton Head Sunset Spots (Map Included!)

Signature reading XOXO, Erin

PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE

Photo Sources: Harbour Town Aerial ©WoolworthImagery | Adobe Stock | Purchased

Blue sky with wispy white clouds fades into a peach-toned sunset over a white sandy beach. Pinnable text overlay reads Hilton Head Island Sunset Spots - Map Included!
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Filed Under: TRAVEL, UNITED STATES |

About ERIN

Erin Clarkson is an award-winning photographer, Savannah-based blogger, and author of the Savannah First-Timer's Guide. She spends her days exploring the Lowcountry and writing about its unique beauty. A true Southerner, she'll stop to chat with anyone, and that gift of gab has led to many off-the-beaten-path discoveries. Learn more and connect on Pinterest.

Comments

  1. Kay says

    June 29, 2019 at 11:30 PM

    Wowww I would’ve never guessed this was Georgia! It’s absolutely beautiful!

    • Erin | Sand Sun & Messy Buns says

      July 2, 2019 at 6:38 PM

      It’s actually just north of Georgia, in South Carolina. (Super close, though! It’s an easy day trip.)

  2. Josy A says

    June 28, 2019 at 11:34 PM

    Gorgeous sunsets Erin! You must have had so much fun finding all of these spots.

    I love the idea of visiting the Skull Creek Boathouse, but woooah, I am not sure I’d be able to get my husband to wait for two hours for a seat! That sushi better have been amazing!

    • Erin | Sand Sun & Messy Buns says

      June 29, 2019 at 4:13 PM

      It’s a popular place! The downpour didn’t help — people didn’t want to leave their comfy seats inside to run to their car in the rain (I don’t blame them). It’s not usually that long of a wait, but everyone made the best of it. 🙂

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