14 Best Hotels in Hilton Head and the Low Country, South Carolina

This 1960s-era motel was cleverly transformed by its hip owners to reflect their minimalist style. The central location in the heart of downtown Beaufort is ideal for exploring this charming town. The California-queen-size beds have a stash of plush pillows, fine linens, and fluffy duvets, and bathrooms are chic, with soaking tubs, separate rain showers, and high-quality toiletries. You can get breakfast or lunch delivered from the gourmet coffee shop on the first floor, and there are bottles of wine for sale. Request a second-floor room, as you are less likely to hear guests drive away early in the morning.

This European-style boutique hotel located within the Sea Pines Resort pampers guests with British service and a dose of Southern charm—butlers are on hand anytime, and the kitchen delivers around the clock. The spacious guest rooms, decorated with neutral palettes, have luxurious touches like Frette Italian bed linens and spa bathrooms with large soaking tubs. The landscaped patio, dotted with upscale furnishings, backs up to the first tee of the Harbour Town Golf Links. The Harbour Town Clubhouse, just next door, is a beautifully designed building that houses the golf pro shop for all three Sea Pines courses. The on-site restaurant serves a stellar breakfast and is also suitable for a romantic date night.

A 30-minute drive from Hilton Head, the Lowcountry's most luxurious resort sits on 20,000 acres that have been transformed into a perfect replica of a small Southern town, complete with its own clapboard church. Located on the banks of the May River, Palmetto Bluff allows guests to escape the hustle and bustle and enjoy the scenery amid the sprawling property. Upscale amenities include an acclaimed spa, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, and a variety of restaurants and dining options. There's also no shortage of activities, including tennis, biking, horseback riding, a sporting clay shooting club, kayaking, scenic cruises, multiple pools, and even a bowling and game room. Accommodations range from hotel rooms to cottages to spacious home rentals. All of the cottages are generously sized—even the one-bedrooms have more than 1,100 square feet of space—and the decor is coastal chic, with sumptuous bedding, gas fireplaces, surround-sound home theaters, a screened-in porch, and marvelous bathroom suites with steam showers. Whether on a day trip or a weekend-long stay, this is an experience you won't want to miss.

This 1890s Victorian inn charms with its handsome gables and wraparound verandas. Pine-floor guest rooms have period reproductions, striped wallpaper, and comfy chairs, and several have fireplaces and four-poster beds. The landmark inn is right in the heart of the downtown historic district, and most rooms have views of the surrounding buildings, courtyards, and gardens.

The vast majority of the overnight guests at the Sea Pines Resort rent one of the more than 400 villas, condos, and beach houses through the resort itself. Staying within this gated community allows guests access to all the amenities Sea Pines has to offer—golf, tennis, a beach club, fitness center, restaurants, marinas, shopping, and 15 miles of biking trails. There's a wide selection of properties to meet your needs, whether it's a two-bedroom villa in Harbour Town or a five-bedroom oceanfront home. Prices depend on location and the length of your stay.

Located along one of the island's busiest stretches of sand, this resort is within walking distance of Coligny Plaza's shops and restaurants. The hotel emphasizes laid-back comforts in its spacious guest rooms. Oceanfront rooms usually have to be booked months in advance, particularly if you're planning to visit in summer. 

This well-maintained hotel in the heart of the historic district puts you within walking distance of many shops and restaurants. The views are lovely, and you can see the water from the front terrace. Ample rooms have two queen or king beds. There's also free parking and an outdoor pool in a secluded courtyard.

This 1790 home is filled with 18th- and 19th-century heirlooms and retains the original Federal fireplaces and crown and rope molding. Guest rooms and oversize suites have endearing architectural details, made comfortable with hand-knotted rugs on the pine floors and commanding beds piled high with quilts. Choose one that looks out on the Beaufort River and the glorious sunset. The Mariner's Suite has a veranda, too.

On the island made famous in Pat Conroy's Prince of Tides, with 3½ miles of broad, white beach and unspoiled scenery, this private resort has long been known as a safe haven where kids are allowed to roam free, go crabbing at low tide, bike the trails, and swim. There are more than 150 individual villas and homes here instead of a hotel, though there is a variety of small efficiencies. It's a good getaway for sporty types who like to kayak and canoe, play golf or tennis, and go fishing out of the marina. Families love the narrated nature cruise and the nature center, not to mention all the activities for teenagers. There's a pavilion with shops and a choice of restaurants, often with live entertainment, from the rollicking Bonito Boathouse to the sophisticated Beach Club.

At this beachfront hotel with a Caribbean sensibility, the spacious accommodations range from studios to two-bedroom suites. The rooms have tasteful tropical decor and balconies, many of them facing the ocean. Located in Palmetto Dunes, the hotel has three large pools (including an adults-only pool), and a kids' splash zone. There are several dining options including a restaurant, a café with to-go items, a sports bar, and outdoor bars serving poolside drinks.

This property located just off William Hilton Parkway has private balconies and full kitchens in each suite. Affordable and pet-friendly, the hotel has a pool, hot tub, fitness center, and guest laundry room. The public beach is 2 miles away.

Set in a luxuriant garden that always seems to be in full bloom, the Sonesta Resort is the centerpiece of the Shipyard private community, which means guests have access to its amenities, such as golf and tennis. Inside, Sonesta has an elegant lobby with towering windows that let in lots of natural light. Outside, guests can swim in the zero-entry pool, stroll across a latticed bridge that crosses lagoons, or relax at the beach pavilion that has seen many an island wedding. The family-friendly resort also has a supervised kids' club.

A circular drive winds around a sculpture of long-legged marsh birds as you approach this beachfront resort inside Port Royal. The lush landscape enhances the beautiful location that lies on the island's quietest stretch of sand. All of the rooms, most with water views from private balconies, feature the chain's signature beds and were reappointed and renovated in 2023. Guests will enjoy the sprawling outside areas, pools, dining options, diverse activities for kids, and the resort's 8,000-square-foot Heavenly Spa.