Coligny Beach Park

Coligny Beach Park is Hilton Head Island's most popular public beach and one of the best-designed family beach parks on the East Coast. Located on the island's east shore near the bustling Coligny Plaza shopping area, it provides free parking, clean facilities, and a beautifully landscaped entrance that makes every beach visit feel special.

The park amenities set Coligny apart from other beach access points on the island. A covered pavilion provides shade for picnics and rest. Clean restrooms and outdoor showers are available throughout the day.

A splash fountain near the entrance gives younger kids a warm-up play area before hitting the ocean. And the boardwalk entrance — lined with native plantings and decorative lighting — creates a sense of arrival that elevates the beach visit from casual to memorable.

Hilton Head's beaches are unique on the East Coast for their hard-packed sand at low tide. The beach at Coligny becomes extraordinarily firm when the tide goes out, creating a surface that's ideal for biking, running, walking, and pushing strollers. Many families rent bicycles and ride for miles along the waterline — an experience that's quintessentially Hilton Head and unlike anything available at other Southeast beaches.

The swimming conditions at Coligny are excellent for families. The waves are typically gentle, the water is warm from May through October, and the gradual slope creates a wide wading zone for young children. At low tide, shallow tidal pools form along the beach, revealing sand dollars, hermit crabs, small fish, and occasionally starfish.

These natural aquariums captivate kids and provide hours of exploration.

Coligny Plaza, the shopping and dining center directly across from the beach park, provides convenient access to food, supplies, and entertainment. Families can walk from the beach to a restaurant, grab supplies at the grocery store, or browse shops — all without driving. The combination of excellent beach facilities, free parking, hard-packed sand, and adjacent dining makes Coligny the most complete family beach experience on Hilton Head Island.