Hi, I'm going with some friends to Charleston and would like to spend an afternoon in Kiawah Island. Is there a public beach there? How is it?

All the beaches are public however, you may have a hard time finding a public beach access.

what do you mean by public beach access?

Means, beaches may be public but getting to them may not be. For example, someone's private property. Wish I knew the answer for you, been watching this post myself.

Yes there is public beach access. It is at Beachwalker park, located at the western tip of Kiawah. There is a nominal charge to park there. It is owned and operated by Charleston County Parks and Recreation. There are bathrooms, showers and concessions there. Right before you get to the security gate at Kiawah, there is a convenience store. Turn right and follow this until it dead ends at beachwalker park.

Make sure you check with the Charleston county Parks as to when Beachwalker Park is open. A previous poster went during the week and it was closed. It was off-season so it might be open daily in the summer, but with a 45 min drive from Charleston it's best to make sure...If the park is not open you can't get past the guard booth to get on the island unless you're staying there or a property owner (eg have a pass).

This is true. Good point.