With its majestic live oak trees, long stretch of sandy beaches, and endless bike trails, exploring the best things to do one Kiawah Island is one of the most beautiful ways to spend a summer vacation in South Carolina.
This private island is full of charm, and if you’re spending a week on Kiawah Island, you’ll find plenty of things to do to keep you and your family entertained.
Soak up the sun in this little piece of paradise, just a half hour outside of Charleston, with these 10 best things to do on Kiawah Island.
Where is Kiawah Island?
Kiawah Island is on the coast of South Carolina, just south of Charleston. It’s known for its surrounding marshlands, golf courses, long sandy beaches, and private properties.
It’s one of the best beach towns in South Carolina and it really packs that exclusive feel, being a private barrier island.
Kiawah is part of Charleston County, and Charleston to Kiawah Island takes a little over half an hour by car.
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Best Kiawah Island Things to Do + Activities
Get excited for an amazing Kiawah Island vacation! These things to do will maximize your time and make your trip more meaningful. Let’s get into the best activities on Kiawah Island.
Rent bikes
Renting bikes for the week is one of the best Kiawah Island activities to take advantage of during your trip. Cycle beneath live oak trees drooping with Spanish moss to get from your hotel or rental house to the beach, to scenic ponds, and to the sanctuary. You can even cycle along the beach for a truly picturesque experience.
Depending on where you’re staying, it might be a long journey if you wanted to cycle to pick up coffee or lunch on the island. Most shops are on the west side of the island, so if you’re staying in neighborhoods on the east side then you’ll be about a half-hour cycle away.
You can rent bikes on Kiawah Island from Seaside Cycles (we used this one and it was $50/week), Alligator Bike Rentals, Island Bike & Surf, and more. Most also sell attachments for the bikes like baskets, cargo trailers, kids’ seats, etc.
Most bike rentals on Kiawah Island are single-speed cruiser bikes, but you can also find adult tricycle styles, tandem bikes, and kid’s tricycles.
Spend time on the beach
The whole point of a beach vacation, beyond relaxing and spending time with the family, is to visit the beach. Luckily, when it comes to things to do on Kiawah Island, you can enjoy long stretches of sandy beaches. The amount of space means that the beach never feels too busy or crowded.
Remember to bring along these best things to pack for a beach trip and wear a water-resistant, reef-safe sunscreen like Raw Elements (trust me, the UV rays are strong here).
We also brought along some beach activities like Bocce ball, a portable speaker, and a weighted frisbee for extra fun. The weather can also be a bit windy some days, so a colorful kite is another awesome thing to bring to the beach.
Visit a local coffee shop
There are a few lovely places to get coffee on Kiawah and Johns Island! I recommend heading to The Hemingway for delicious specialty coffee paired with a biscuit, croissant, or a sandwich. They also have cans of local craft beers and a wine room to sample or bring back drinks to your vacation home.
There’s also Java Java in the Freshfields Shopping Village, which is a great choice if you’re wandering around the shops and restaurants on the island.
Stay in a Kiawah Island vacation home
While there are several nice hotels on Kiawah Island, nothing makes a family vacation sweeter than bunking up in a picturesque beach house together. The houses on Kiawah Island are an attraction in themselves. Each is unique yet connects seamlessly with the others; staying in a local house is one of the best things to do on Kiawah Island, hands down.
Wake up and prepare a homemade breakfast together, enjoy BBQs on the porch, and pile in the living room together for popcorn and games nights. You won’t get the same experience staying in a Kiawah Island hotel.
Check out this gorgeous 5-bedroom rental house on Kiawah Island that sleeps up to 12 guests and this charming 1-bedroom villa, and this 4-bedroom holiday home that sleeps up to 9 with a private pool. You’ll get a good idea of the house styles on Kiawah Island and what you can expect.
Visit Rosebank Farms Market
Just a few minutes off Kiawah Island, Rosebank Farms Market is an open-air market perfect for stocking up on fresh, local produce for a week or weekend on Kiawah Island. Or, as we did, we bought some South Carolina peaches, heirloom tomatoes, and boiled peanuts on our way home as a short-lived souvenir.
There are also a couple of food truck vendors, fresh flowers, woven souvenirs, and more goodies to discover here. Even though it’s not right on the island, this is still must for best Kiawah Island activities.
Stop by Indigo Books on kiawah island
Indigo Books is the local bookseller on Kiawah Island. Well, technically this is on Johns Island (as is the entirety of the Freshfields Village) but it’s all the same at this point.
The building itself is adorable with a clocktower and you’ll find a decent selection of books inside. You’ll see popular classics, new releases, South Carolina-related books, and others as you wander the shop.
It’s very close to Java Java, so grab a new book and read the first chapter or two over a cup of coffee – yum!
Sample wine at Freshfields Village
If you’re a wine-o, you’ll love Forty Eight Wine Bar & Kitchen in the shopping village! They have 48 wines by the glass, served from two sampling machines. You simply get a SmartCard from the bar that’s linked up to your debit/credit card and then choose a 1 oz, 3 oz, or 6 oz pour.
You can see a description of each wine, where it’s from, and a run-down of its flavor profile and best pairings before you try. Then, you make your selection and slide your glass under the spout and the machine pours out the perfect portion.
The 1 oz pours are all pretty much under $2 and the 3 oz pours are around $4, so it’s a fun and cheap activity, and one of the best things to do on Kiawah Island in the evening.
Look for local wildlife
This part of South Carolina is home to a plethora of lizards, birds, deer, alligators, dolphins, and other wildlife. You’re bound to see at least a couple of these creatures during your visit to Kiawah Island.
Deer are often running along the beach in the early morning or walking through neighborhoods and munching on greenery throughout the day. Alligators are typically near the ponds or marshlands but can also be seen walking in the neighborhood on a rarer occurrence.Dolphins can be spotted in the ocean upon close inspection, otherwise the inlet is a great place to stake out in hopes of seeing one of those majestic mammals jumping out of the ocean.
Cycle through the lovely neighborhoods
Seeing the gorgeous houses is one of the best Kiawah Island activities to enjoy on a bike. The houses are so unique with live oaks, palm trees, stunning landscaping, and luxurious facades. So, hop on your bike and take a casual ride and enjoy house hunting through the winding neighborhood streets.
By the way, since you’re planning a trip to Kiawah Island, check out my guide on packing for a tropical vacation.
See the famous Angel Oak Tree
While technically in Charleston, the 60 ft. tall historic tree is only about 15 minutes off the island and makes for a wonderful day trip.
The legendary Angel Oak Tree is believed to be at least 500 years old with some suggesting it is closer to 1,000 – 1,500 years of age. Either way, it’s a sight to see with its numerous branches reaching up, down, and around.
Other things to do on Kiawah Island
These are just a fun of the best Kiawah Island activities to enjoy this summer! There is also the Kiawah Island Golf Resort & Course, if you’re into the sport. I would also recommend waking up early one morning to watch the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean.
You’ll also be just 40 outside of Charleston and 2 hours from Savannah. If you have extra time in the area, definitely consider spending a couple of days in Savannah to soak up more of the historic southeastern coast.
You can also do guided tours in Charleston or other beach towns near Kiawah Island for activities to fill your itinerary! Here are some recommendations:
Thanks for reading this guide on the best things to do on Kiawah Island, SC. This lesser-known barrier island is a gem, and I hope you enjoy your trip. Drop any comments or questions down below and I will get back to you. <3
