Escape to the sandy shores and stunning natural beauty of Kiawah Island, a private barrier island located just southwest of Charleston, South Carolina. Whether you’re a golf enthusiast looking to hit one of the island’s many championship courses, an adventurer seeking to explore the great outdoors, or a lover of quiet natural beaches, there’s something for everyone here on Kiawah Island.
Kiawah Island is the perfect place to relax and unwind, but with so many options for where to stay on this tropical paradise, it can be tough to decide. That’s where our team at Kiawah Exclusives comes in! Our guide to the neighborhoods on Kiawah Island has all the information and insider tips you need to help you find the perfect place to call home during your vacation.
Kiawah Island encompasses 10,000 acres divided into private club communities and three main neighborhoods: West Beach Village, East Beach Village, and the exclusive gated community of Vanderhorst Plantation. Wherever you choose to stay on Kiawah Island, each neighborhood offers miles of scenic, connected biking trails to get around the island and numerous boardwalks to 10 miles of sandy shoreline at Beachwalker Park!
WEST BEACH VILLAGE
Beach Boardwalk 1 – 15
West Beach Village is Kiawah Island’s oldest and original community and the closest neighborhood to the Main Gate entrance to Kiawah Island and the amenities at Beachwalker Park. West Beach runs from the west end of the island along the iconic moss-draped Eugenia Avenue to East Beach Village with options for beachfront rentals or quiet villa communities lining the fairways of the Cougar Point Golf Course.
Developed in the 1970s, West Beach Village has retained its old-world charm and is more laid-back than neighboring East Beach Village. Aside from convenient access to Freshfields Village and Kiawah Island’s award-winning Beachwalker Park, the Gary Player designed Cougar Point Golf Course and newly designed clubhouse is the standout attraction in the West Beach neighborhood.Â
If you want to have some peace and quiet while still being close to the action, West Beach Village is the perfect balance of peace and convenience and is the perfect spot on Kiawah Island for you!
Villas & Cottages in West Beach Village
Duneside Villas
Oceanfront Kiawah Island Villas – Beach access at Boardwalk #1-2 – Pool access at Duneside Community Pool
Inlet Cove Cottages
Kiawah Island Golf Cottages – Beach access at Boardwalk #1 – Pool access at Inlet Cove Community Pool
Seascape Villas
Kiawah Island Oceanside & Oceanfront Villas – Beach access at Boardwalk #7 – No community pool access
Shipwatch Villas
Oceanfront Kiawah Island Villas – Beach access at Boardwalk #5-6 – No community pool access
Sparrow Pond Cottages
Kiawah Island Lagoon View Villas – Beach access at Boardwalk #1-2 – Pool access at Duneside & Sparrow Pond Community Pool
EAST BEACH VILLAGE
Beach Boardwalk 16 – 30
Anchored by the Forbes 5-star Sanctuary Hotel and Night Heron Park, East Beach Village lies in the heart of Kiawah Island between West Beach Village and Vanderhorst Plantation. If you’re planning an action-packed vacation to Kiawah Island, staying in East Beach puts you in the center of the island’s best nature activities, on-island shops and restaurants, and steps to the beautiful beaches on Kiawah Island.
East Beach Village is home to the Turtle Point Golf Course by Jack Nicklaus, the award-winning Roy Barth Tennis Center, and Night Heron Park, a tranquil 21-acre maritime park with pools, bike paths and nature trails, eco-tours and activities, summer kids camps, and endless family fun!
Between Night Heron Park and the legendary Sanctuary Hotel, you’ll find a variety of shops, laid-back and upscale restaurants, a world-class spa, and a wide selection of villas, coastal cottages, and private homes to stay in the heart of the action on Kiawah Island.
Villas, Cottages & Beach Homes in East Beach Village
Atlantic Beach Homes
Private Beach Homes – Beach access at Boardwalk #28 and 29 – Community pool access
Mariners Watch Villas
Oceanfront Villas near Night Heron Park – Beach access at Boardwalk #17-18 – No community pool access
Night Heron Cottages
3 Bedroom Night Heron Cottages – Beach access at Boardwalks #17-18 – No community pool access
Parkside Villas
Lakeside Villas in Night Heron Park – Beach access at Boardwalk #22 – No community pool access
Tennis Club Villas
Kiawah Island Tennis Villa – Beach access at Boardwalk #27 – No community pool access
Turtle Cove Villas
Kiawah Island Lagoon Villas – Beach access at Boardwalk #27 – No community pool access
Turtle Point Villas
2 & 3 Bedroom Kiawah Island Golf Course Villas – Beach access at Boardwalk #28-29 – No community pool access
Windswept Oceanfront Villas & Windswept Lakeside Villas
Oceanfront & Oceanside Villas near The Sanctuary – Beach access at Boardwalk #18-22 – No community pool access
VANDERHORST PLANTATION
Beach Boardwalk 30 – 42
Vanderhorst is an exclusive gated community beyond Kiawah Island’s second set of gates on the island’s east end. Vanderhorst Plantation is known for its secluded natural setting, pristine beaches, abundance of wildlife, and the Tom Fazio Osprey Point Golf Course and world-famous PGA Ocean Course, boasting the most seaside holes in the Northern Hemisphere.
Situated only a short bike ride from the bustle of East Beach Village, Vanderhorst Plantation is the ultimate destination for a classic Lowcountry island escape. This exclusive neighborhood boasts marshlands, maritime forests, and nature preserves teeming with birdlife and wildlife, fishing ponds and lagoons, beautiful stretches of remote Atlantic Coast shoreline, and elegant private plantation-style homes that set the tone for luxurious Lowcountry living.
Our selection of private Vanderhorst Plantation vacation homes come loaded with sought-after amenities like designer interiors, gourmet kitchens, swimming pools, private docks, and elevators – topped off with breathtaking views of the ocean, marsh, golf course, lagoon, or lush maritime forests to enjoy. It doesn’t get much better than the Lowcountry lifestyle in Vanderhorst Plantation!
Ready to plan your dream vacation to Kiawah Island? Start by browsing our luxury rental properties online or, if you’re still undecided on where to stay on Kiawah Island, give our local on-island team a call at (843) 768-0273.
For an extended stay, check out our selection of monthly Kiawah Island rentals, or if you’ve been dreaming of owning your own Lowcountry retreat on Kiawah Island, our real estate partner Pam Harrington Exclusives can make that dream come true! Just reach out to our team and let us know how we can help plan your experience on Kiawah Island, SC.
