Isle of Palms near Charleston SC is one of the beautiful barrier islands with an incredible beach, oceanfront restaurants, and luxurious vacation homes. It also provides plenty of opportunities for boating, kayaking, and other fun outdoor activities! If you’re thinking about visiting this part of the Lowcountry, keep reading! Our Charleston vacation guide to the Isle of Palms has everything you need to know about exploring the area:
Where is Isle of Palms South Carolina?
This barrier island and beach town is located close to Mount Pleasant and is only a short drive from downtown Charleston and other popular beaches, including Sullivan’s Island! You’ll find miles of white sandy beaches, an oceanfront golf course, a marina, and more!
Isle of Palms Beach
The Isle of Palm beach is 7 miles long, with nearly 60 different beach paths; regardless of where you stay on the island, you’ll find an easy access point to the pristine white beach. You’ll find 2 municipal parking lots on Pavilion Drive as well as more on-street front beach parking. Paid parking is enforced between March 1st and October 31st. There are multiple public restrooms and outdoor showers along the beach, and the Isle of Palms County Park features accessible ramps and boardwalks, sand volleyball, picnic areas and grills, seasonal snack shop, and a playground.
At the beach, you may see sea turtles at the Isle of Palms beach; however, they are an endangered species, so please refrain from interacting with them in any way. Here are a few more IOP beach rules you should know:
- Do not litter! You’ll find trash receptacles on each beach access path.
- Smoking cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or vaping devices is prohibited.
- Motorized vehicles such as golf carts are also prohibited.
- No glass bottles or alcoholic beverages allowed.
- Dogs may be off-leash only from April 1st through September 14th between 5 AM and 9 AM and September 15th through March 31st between 4 PM and 10 AM.
Other Things to Do in Isle of Palms
So, what are some of the other fun things to do in Isle of Palms? The IOP Marina and Marina Market is the place to go for boating or fishing charters and expeditions– you can book a barrier island eco tour, rent a boat, kayak, or paddleboard, and even a sunset cruise! If you want to experience the area’s nightlife, head to The Dinghy or The Windjammer for drinks, live music and entertainment!
Isle of Palms Restaurants
Where are the best places to eat in Isle of Palms? From coastal cuisine to pizza, here are a few of our favorite restaurants:
- IOP Pizza Co.– get your fix of pizza, wings, subs, salads, calzones, and more (the garlic knots are phenomenal!) They also have a full-service bar and offer delivery with DoorDash.
- Acme Lowcountry Kitchen– this traditional Lowcountry restaurant combines upscale dining with a casual atmosphere; a great choice for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. They offer 6 different types of shrimp and grits!
- Lawrence’s Seafood Company– this oceanfront restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating and a bar; we recommend the fish tacos or lobster roll, and trust us, you also have to try the brussel sprouts with bacon and mustard glaze!
Isle of Palms Vacation Rentals
Want to stay at an Isle of Palms resort? Wild Dunes Resort offers access to world-class golf courses, luxury amenities like a health spa, resort-style pools, tennis and pickleball courts, and of course, easy beach access. You can choose from condos with ocean views to beachfront homes with private pools to rentals with views of the IOP marina! Whether you want to bring your dog, a large group of friends and family, or want to be steps away from all the action, we are confident you can find the perfect place to stay in Isle of Palms SC.
So what are you waiting for? Now’s the perfect time to dream up your ideal family beach vacation! Look through all of our Isle of Palms vacation rentals and start planning your trip to the Lowcountry.
