What are the best neighborhoods on Hilton Head Island?

The most popular neighborhoods on Hilton Head Island include Sea Pines (home to Harbour Town), Palmetto Dunes (resort amenities and beach access), Hilton Head Plantation (large gated community on the north end), Port Royal (golf and tennis), and Forest Beach (walkable to Coligny Beach). Each has a distinct character and price range.

What is the difference between Sea Pines and Palmetto Dunes?

Sea Pines is the island's original planned community, home to Harbour Town Golf Links, the iconic lighthouse, and a village-style shopping area. Palmetto Dunes is a resort-focused community with three golf courses, tennis, and direct beach access via the Omni Hotel. Both are gated and offer vacation rentals.

Which Hilton Head Island neighborhood is best for families?

Palmetto Dunes and Sea Pines are consistently popular with families for their resort amenities, safe bike trails, and beach access. Forest Beach and Folly Field offer more affordable options with easy beach access and a relaxed neighborhood feel.

Know the island

Hilton Head neighborhoods

Hilton Head has 35 distinct communities — gated plantations, oceanfront villages, and quiet residential areas. Understanding the differences is the first step to finding your place on the island.

Aerial view of a Hilton Head Island neighborhood

35 communities

Find your neighborhood

Each community guide covers the character of the neighborhood, what to expect from the real estate market, rental options, and what makes it different from the rest of the island.

Sea Pines

Sea Pines is part of the wider Hilton Head Island community map, where the best choice depends on how you want to spend time on the island.

Palmetto Dunes

Palmetto Dunes is part of the wider Hilton Head Island community map, where the best choice depends on how you want to spend time on the island.

Forest Beach

Forest Beach is part of the wider Hilton Head Island community map, where the best choice depends on how you want to spend time on the island.

Shipyard

Shipyard is part of the wider Hilton Head Island community map, where the best choice depends on how you want to spend time on the island.

Folly Field

Folly Field is part of the wider Hilton Head Island community map, where the best choice depends on how you want to spend time on the island.

Shelter Cove

Shelter Cove is part of the wider Hilton Head Island community map, where the best choice depends on how you want to spend time on the island.

Harbour Town

Harbour Town is part of the wider Hilton Head Island community map, where the best choice depends on how you want to spend time on the island.

Coligny

Coligny is part of the wider Hilton Head Island community map, where the best choice depends on how you want to spend time on the island.

Complete index

All Hilton Head Island neighborhoods

80 named communities, subdivisions, and residential areas — from large gated plantations to small historic neighborhoods.

Allenwood Ashton Cove Barony Woods Baygall Beach City Beach City Commons Beach City Place Bermuda Pointe Big Hill Big Stoney Bradley Beach Brighton Bay Brittany Place Broad Creek Landing Burkes Beach Carolina Isles Chaplin Chinaberry Ridge Coligny Crosswinds Daufuskie Island Folly Field Forest Beach Gardner Graham Lane Plantation Grassland Hammock Breeze Hanahan Place Harbour Town Hilton Head Off Plantation Hilton Head Plantation Hilton Head Resort Indigo Run Jarvis Jarvis Creek Club Jonesville Leamington Little Stoney Long Cove Long Cove Club Mariners Cove Marsh Side Marshland Middleton Place Mitchelville North Forest Beach Oakview Old House Creek Old Plantation Paddocks Palmetto Bay Palmetto Commons Palmetto Dunes Palmetto Hall Peregrine Pointe Point Comfort Port Royal Port Royal Plantation Sandcastles by the Sea Sea Pines Shelter Cove Shipyard Singleton Beach Singleton by the Beach South Forest Beach Spanish Point Spanish Wells Squire Pope Squiresgate Summer House Summerfield Tabby Walk The Estuary The Paddocks at Jarvis Creek The Spa at Port Royal Sound TidePointe Victoria Square Wexford Windmill Harbour Yacht Cove

Ready to explore

Browse all neighborhoods

Every community on the island has its own guide — sales data, rental options, and the local knowledge that makes the difference between a good stay and a great one.

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