Edisto Beach, SC at a glance
- County
- Colleton County (the town); most of Edisto Island is in Charleston County
- From Charleston
- About 48 miles by road
- Road access
- SC 174 only, about 24 miles from US 17
- Botany Bay
- Closed Tuesdays; nothing may be taken, including shells
- State park camping
- Two campgrounds, 120 sites, plus 7 cabins
Getting There
Edisto Beach is the small town at the seaward tip of Edisto Island, about 48 miles by road from Charleston. SC 174 is the only road in: it leaves US 17 and runs about 24 miles across the island's farmland, marsh and live oaks to the beach. The town is in Colleton County, while most of the island is in Charleston County. It feels much farther from the city than the mileage suggests, and that is the point: it is the least developed of the beach areas around Charleston (see the Charleston guide for the others).
The Town
The town of Edisto Beach is mostly beach houses and a few condo and villa complexes, with a small number of restaurants and shops. Most rentals are houses along or just behind the beach, or on the creeks and marsh on the inland side.
Edisto Beach State Park
Edisto Beach State Park borders the town and covers both a stretch of ocean beach and the marsh and maritime forest behind it. As of October 2026 the park lists:
- Hours of 7 am to 6 pm, extended to 8 pm during daylight saving time, and a day-use fee for adults (South Carolina seniors and children pay less; children 5 and under are free).
- Two campgrounds with 120 sites for RVs or tents, and seven saltmarsh cabins.
- An Environmental Learning Center with exhibits on Edisto and the ACE Basin, fossils and live animals; the park suggests it as a first stop.
- More than 4 miles of trails, including the 1.7-mile Spanish Mount Trail to a shell midden left by Native Americans about 4,000 years ago, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
- Beach Access 2 and Beach Access 3 are closed because of hazardous high-tide conditions.
Check southcarolinaparks.com/edisto-beach for current fees and alerts.
Botany Bay
Botany Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve, on the island a short drive from town, is a state preserve run by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. A driving and cycling tour runs past old plantation buildings, marsh and impoundments, and a walk leads to Boneyard Beach, where dead trees stand in the surf. The rules matter here:
- The preserve is open during daylight hours but closed on Tuesdays and on scheduled hunt days.
- Nothing may be taken, including shells, fossils, pottery and plants, and that includes the beach.
- No alcohol, metal detectors or drones; only vehicles up to 15-passenger vans.
- The beach is reachable only around low tide.
Check the SCDNR managed lands page for Botany Bay for the current closure calendar.
The ACE Basin and Beyond
Edisto sits at the edge of the ACE Basin, the estuary of the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto rivers, about 350,000 acres of protected marsh, forest and farmland. Kayaking and fishing the creeks is the main activity off the beach. South of the basin are Hilton Head Island and Savannah; there is no bridge across St. Helena Sound, so the drive goes back inland to US 17.
Safety
Rip currents are common along this coast and the water near the inlets and the river mouth runs fast, so swim only in calm conditions and well away from them. Storms and high tides keep reshaping the shore; obey closed-access signs, like those on the state park's beach accesses in October 2026.
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Search stays on CielStay →Frequently asked questions
How far is Edisto Beach from Charleston?
Edisto Beach is about 48 miles from Charleston by road. SC 174 is the only road onto the island; it leaves US 17 and runs about 24 miles to the beach.
Can you collect shells at Botany Bay?
No. At Botany Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve on Edisto Island, nothing may be collected or removed, including shells, fossils, pottery and plants, and the rule covers the beach. The preserve is also closed on Tuesdays and on scheduled hunt days.
Can you camp at Edisto Beach State Park?
Yes. As of October 2026 Edisto Beach State Park has two campgrounds with 120 sites for RVs or tents, most with 50-amp electric service, and seven saltmarsh cabins. Reserve through South Carolina State Parks.
Is Edisto Beach in Charleston County?
The town of Edisto Beach is in Colleton County, but most of Edisto Island, which you drive across to reach it, is in Charleston County.
What is the Spanish Mount?
Spanish Mount is a Native American shell midden in Edisto Beach State Park, about 4,000 years old and listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974. The Spanish Mount Trail to it is about 1.7 miles.
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Nearby landmarks & attractions
Key destinations and attractions in the Edisto Beach, SC area.
Edisto Beach State Park ↗ Maps
State park with ocean beach, two campgrounds, cabins and the Spanish Mount shell midden.
Botany Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve ↗ Maps
SCDNR preserve with Boneyard Beach; closed Tuesdays, and nothing may be taken.
This guide was assembled from the local knowledge of hosts with properties throughout Edisto Beach, SC, as indexed by CielStay. The descriptions of restaurants, trails, swimming holes, and local tips reflect what hosts share with guests in their listings — not the observations of a travel journalist or guest reviewer. Photos are sourced from host listing images and are credited to their respective listings. Information about permits and trail conditions may change; always verify with official sources before your trip.