Kiawah Island, South Carolina is a spectacular resort area known for its endless acres of marsh, 10 miles of pristine Atlantic beach, thick forests, and abundant wildlife. Named for the Kiawah Indians who inhabited the islands in the 17th century, it today consists of two resort villages: East Beach and West Beach. There’s fabulous shopping, some of the best golf in the country, world-class tennis, and elegant restaurants, too. Perfect for a family outing, a romantic getaway, or spending time with your golfing buddies, the opportunities for a memorable vacation at Kiawah Island are limitless.

Kiawah has a semitropical climate, with an average temperate of 65°F and an average humidity of 86%. The water temperatures range from a low 46°F in December to a high of 82°F in July and August. In winter, the average temperature is in the high-50s during the day and low-40s at night. In the summer, the temperature peaks in the high-80s during the day, and low-70s at night. (Check the weather of nearby John’s Island here.)

How to Get There

Located 34 miles from Kiawah Island is Charleston International Airport (CHS). From there you can rent a car and drive in, which should take you an hour.

Another option is a charter flight into the private Charleston Executive Airport (JZI) located at John’s Island, South Carolina, about 15 miles from Kiawah Island.

For private jet flight, consider Marquis Jet. If you are an Exclusive Resorts member, you have special access to their Marquis Jet Card, which allows you to arrange travel through their NetJets program.

Getting Around While You’re There

By Car
It’s a good idea to rent a car, not just to get to and from the airport, but for traveling in and around Charleston and the neighboring islands.

By Limo

• Above and Beyond Limousine Service – (843) 402-0600
• Jennings Limousine – (843) 852-0336
• Affordable Limo Service – (843) 406-1515
• Carey-Parker Limousine – (800) 336-4646
• Coastal Limousine – (843) 579-2505

Where to Stay

Destination Clubs in Kiawah Island
(To see a map of all the destination club home locations, check out our map widget.)

Exclusive Resorts (7 homes)
Quintess, The Leading Residences of the World (2 homes)
Portofino Club (Signature) (1 home)
Private Escapes Platinum
The LUSSO Collection (1 home)
The Markers (1 home)
Ultimate Resort

Luxury Resort & Hotel Picks

The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort – This award winning resort – AAA awards Five Diamonds; Travel + Leisure Family Top Family Resort in the East/Southeast and the 9th in the country; among the top 10 North American Resorts and Gold List Award from Conde Nast Traveler – is just 30 minutes away from downtown Charleston. 255 guestrooms and suites, the resort hosts business meetings, conferences, and retreats as well as family vacations, weddings, and golf outings. The Sanctuary is also home to a nature-based luxury spa and some of the best golf in all the state. It will be hosting the 2007 Senior PGA Championship. Rates vary with the view, the season and with occupancy. A garden room starts at $225 during winter, an oceanfront in summer at $535; suites begin at $1,000.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort Villas – The Resort has a diverse collection of villa accommodations located throughout the island. As an added benefit, the resort is now providing its villa guests even more options when selecting accommodations. In addition to choosing units by size and location, guests can now select by quality. Click here to view the villa rates. The Kiawah Island Golf Resort also offers private home rentals.

The resort recently strengthened its maintenance program and also the physical requirements for its villas. Subsequently, villas are now placed in appropriate categories based on each facility and its amenities.

This new and exciting policy makes choosing an accommodation a simple process, and also ensures that guests know what to expect upon arriving at Kiawah.

Where to Eat

All the restaurants listed here are located at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. Call 877.683.1234 for information and reservation.

The Ocean Room at The Sanctuary – Awarded Wine Spectator’s “Best of Award of Excellence” and “Restaurant of the Year” by The Charleston Post and Courier, this fine dining establishment offers an epicurean experience composed of refined cuisine, with an emphasis on seafood, pampering service. and dramatic ocean views. Jackets are required for men. Open for dinner only, reservations recommended.

The Dining Room at Osprey Point - Located in the clubhouse of the Tom Fazio-designed Osprey Point golf course, the Dining Room serves an upscale breakfast and lunch daily and offers evening dining on the weekends. Most tables provide sprawling views of the green. Kid friendly.

Turtle Point Sports Bar & Grill – Housed on the grounds of the Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, dining here is a mix of casual and sophisticated cuisine. It’s an an all-American neighborhood bar and grill in a clubhouse setting. Family friendly.

Shrimpers – Located at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, this casual restaurant features an array of seafood, sandwiches, and salads are available. Recently renovated to become more family friendly and is perfectly located near the island shops. Even small fry have a menu of their own. Outdoor seating available.

What to Do

Best Golf
Kiawah Island Golf Resort – Ranked the number one golf resort in the U.S. by Travel + Leisure Golf magazine, they’re home to five distinctive golf courses including the Ocean Course, scene of the dramatic 1991 Ryder Cup matches and scheduled host of the 2007 Senior PGA and 2012 PGA Championships. Various golf packages available for both men and women. 800-576-1570.

Best Shopping

The Straw Market – Located in West Beach Village, this collection of shops has something for everyone.
Resorting to Sports – Everything you need for a at the beach or pool.
Kiawah Outfitters – Outdoor wear, gear and rentals. You can also get information and make reservations for the Kiawah Island Nature Program’s tours and excursions, recreation programs and Kamp Kiawah.
Kiawah Style & Gourmet – A diverse selection of wine and gourmet items, as well as fun gifts and apparel for kids.
The Turtle Nest – Located in the Straw Market, the shop has a wide selection of field guides, books, gifts, apparel and gear, all focusing on the sea creatures that inhabit the waters around Kiawah Island.
Freshfields Village – Just outside the Kiawah Island Resort, the Village is located next to Newton Farms, an upscale gourmet supermarket. Freshfields Village features over 20 specialty shops that serve the resort community and residents of Johns Island.

Insider Tips
The recreation programs at Kiawah Island Golf Resort are unsurpassed and offer a variety of things to do, such as:

Kamp Kiawah (seasonal) – Supervised fun for children ages three through 11, their days are filled with activities mom and dad will envy – from hula contests to sand sculpting, from relay races to nature crafts, from shell art to parachute games. But parents aren’t left out of everything: Ice Cream Socials, Kiawah Karnival Nights, Magicians, Safari Nights, Basketball, and Oyster Roasts. There are also teen activities and youth activities for kids ages seven to 12.

Nature tours and classes are available throughout the year like canoeing and kayaking tours, walking tours, biking tours, fishing clinics, and boat excursions on and off the island.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort is also known for its world-class tennis. It was ranked the number one U.S. tennis resort by Tennis magazine and the number one tennis resort in the world by Tennisresortsonline.com