It’ll cost tourists a little more to visit the beach on Hilton Head Island this summer as a new parking fee structure will go into place for most of the area beaches.
Starting on March 1, anyone that isn’t a resident will have to pay to park at most of the island’s public beaches. The fees will range from $3.00 per hour on weekdays to a flat $20.00 fee on weekends. It is worth noting the fees only run from March first through September seventh and will stop being enforced at 5:00 p.m. daily. Residents of Hilton Head Island will be exempt from the new fees as they can have parking passes for up to two vehicles per household.
The only public beach that won’t be affected is the popular Coligny Beach, which will continue to have free parking but will certainly fill up much faster. New parking spaces for Coligny Beach are expected to be completed eventually and should also remain free. Parking citations issued for failing to pay for parking can range from as low as $50.00 and all the way up to $500.00. Repeat offenders could even find their vehicles being towed.
Given the island's popularity with tourists, the increased fees will help officials manage the large numbers as well as offset the costs of damages brought by the high level of level of traffic. Increased fee structures are becoming common around the world in regions that draw in large numbers of travelers as well as other control measures such as limiting the number of visitors per day. Such a measure has not been implemented in this situation.
Hilton Head Island is known for its marshes, resorts and golf courses as well as 12 miles of pristine beaches on the Atlantic Ocean. It’s been voted the best island in the United States by Conde Nast Traveler multiple times, most recently in 2024. The island sees roughly 2.5 million visitors each year, mostly during the spring and summer months.