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The Johns Islander

Curated by Mike Olson · eXp Realty

Online · Johns Island, SC · Seabrook · Kiawah

Sunset over the wide, flat beach on Kiawah Island

Guest guide · Kiawah Island

Your Kiawah Island guide

Today's tide and sunset, getting on the beach, where to eat, things to do with kids, the island's rules and who to call — each line from the official page named beside it.

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Photo by Johannes Beilharz on Unsplash

Your island guide

Staying on Kiawah Island?

Today’s tide and sunset are below, then the beach, places to eat, things to do with kids, the island rules and who to call. Add this page to your home screen and it opens like an app — no download, and it keeps working offline.

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Kiawah is gated: your host authorizes you through KICA's gate system, which sends you a QR code. Renters use the private beach accesses behind the gate; Kiawah Beachwalker Park, before the gate, is the island's one public beach access. Sea turtle season runs May 1 to October 31 — red light only on the beach after 9 pm.

Live on your phone · check it each morning

Today on Kiawah

Island Today

 

Weather

Asking the National Weather Service…

National Weather Service, Charleston

Tide · Kiawah River

Asking NOAA…

NOAA station 8667062, feet above mean lower low water

Sun & moon

Worked out on your device (NOAA solar method)

Dolphins · Captain Sams Inlet

Asking NOAA…

Town of Kiawah Island · Town of Seabrook Island

The ocean

— water

Asking the buoys…

Water: NOAA Charleston Harbor. Waves: NOAA buoys; forecast: NWS. Wind —.

High water watch

Asking NOAA…

At the Charleston Harbor gauge, the National Weather Service counts minor coastal flooding from 7.0 ft, moderate from 7.5 ft and major from 8.0 ft.

NOAA predictions, station 8665530; flood levels set by the National Weather Service

On Kiawah today

Sea turtles and dogs

Sea turtle season runs May 1 to October 31.

…

Source: Town of Kiawah Island, Lights Out for Turtles · Town of Kiawah Island, leash law

Rip currents

Today's beach forecast and rip current risk (National Weather Service) →

Check it each morning before you swim.

Getting on the sand

The beach

Getting through the gate

  • Your host (the owner or rental manager) authorizes you through KICA's gate system, which sends a QR code by text or email.
  • No QR code? Give KICA Security your host's name and address, your name and your dates. KICA Security and the Main Gate: (843) 768-5566.

Source: KICA, member & guest gate access, checked October 13, 2026.

Behind the gate

  • Owners, their guests and renters use the private beach accesses behind the gate: your rental's own path or a community walkover. Don't cut across the dunes.
  • Bikes are allowed on the beach but are walked across the boardwalks. E-bikes are not allowed on the beach.

Sources: Town of Kiawah Island, Lights Out for Turtles · Town of Kiawah Island, beach regulations, checked October 13, 2026.

Captain Sams Inlet and the dolphins

  • No wading or swimming in Captain Sams Inlet, at the island's west end — ever.
  • Strand feeding happens mostly near Captain Sams Inlet, about a mile's walk west of Beachwalker Park, usually within 3 hours of low tide. Keep 75 ft away.

Sources: Town of Kiawah Island, beach regulations · Kiawah Town Code §15-314 (Municode) · Town of Kiawah Island, marine mammals, checked October 13, 2026.

The full beach rulebook — parking, the Gold Pass, dogs (and whether they can be off-leash right now) and alcohol: beach access.

Coming in by Uber, Lyft or taxi, or getting around by golf cart, LSV or e-bike? The gate rules and getting around, island by island.

From the island directory

Eat, shop, rent, golf

Listed A to Z, never ranked — nobody pays to be here. Tap Directions for the live hours.

Where to eat20
Groceries, wine & spirits6
Coffee & treats4
Bikes, beach gear & boats7
Golf6
  • Cougar Point Golf CourseKiawah IslandBehind the security gate

    Gary Player course near the resort's front gate; open to the public, tee times by phone.

    DirectionsCallWebsite

    Source: kiawahresort.com

  • Osprey Point Golf CourseKiawah IslandBehind the security gate

    Tom Fazio course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort; open to the public, tee times by phone.

    DirectionsCallWebsite

    Source: kiawahresort.com

  • The Golf Learning CenterKiawah IslandBehind the security gate

    Golf lessons, clinics and schools at Kiawah Island Golf Resort.

    DirectionsCallWebsite

    Source: kiawahresort.com

  • The Ocean CourseKiawah IslandBehind the security gate

    Pete Dye course on the island's east end; Kiawah Island Golf Resort's courses are open to the public.

    DirectionsCallWebsite

    Source: kiawahresort.com

  • Turtle Point Golf CourseKiawah IslandBehind the security gate

    Jack Nicklaus course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort; open to the public, tee times by phone.

    DirectionsCallWebsite

    Source: kiawahresort.com

  • Oak Point Golf CourseJohns Island

    Clyde Johnston course run by Kiawah Island Golf Resort; open to the public, tee times by phone.

    DirectionsCallWebsite

    Source: kiawahresort.com

Everything else — pharmacies, pets, fishing charters, home services — is in the island directory.

Who can use each one is on its card

Things to do with kids

  • Camp Kiawah

    Open to the public · behind the security gate

    Resort day camps for ages 3–15 and Kid's Night Out; reservations required, open to non-guests at a standard rate.

    Source: kiawahresort.com, checked October 13, 2026.

    DirectionsCallWebsite

  • The Treehouse Activity Center

    Open to the public · behind the security gate

    Bowling, golf simulators, arcade, art studio and nature center; visitors not staying show a reservation at the gate.

    Open daily: 8 bowling lanes, 2 golf simulators, an arcade, an art studio and the Nature Center. Visitors from off the island book an activity and show the confirmation email at the gate; bookings open 60 days ahead.

    Source: kiawahresort.com, checked October 13, 2026.

    DirectionsCallWebsite

  • The Nature Center at Kiawah Island Golf Resort

    Open to the public · behind the security gate

    Wildlife exhibits and guided land and water nature tours, inside the Treehouse.

    Guided land and water tours need a reservation; under-14s come with an adult.

    Source: kiawahresort.com, checked October 13, 2026.

    DirectionsCallWebsite

  • Walk with the Turtle Patrol

    Through the Town of Kiawah Island

    From May through October the volunteer Turtle Patrol checks the beach each morning, and visitors may shadow a patrol informally. Ask the Town first.

    Source: Town of Kiawah Island, Turtle Patrol, checked October 13, 2026.

    Call

  • Kiawah Island Golf Resort Beach Services

    Open to the public · behind the security gate

    Beach chairs, umbrellas, towels, carts and beach toys set up on Kiawah's beach; open to all by reservation.

    Source: kiawahresort.com, checked October 13, 2026.

    DirectionsCallWebsite

  • Kiawah Island Golf Resort Bike Rentals

    Open to the public · behind the security gate

    Bikes, trikes and trailers; free delivery on rentals of 2+ days, or pick up at The Sanctuary Bike Pavilion.

    Anyone can rent by phone; online booking is for resort guests.

    Source: kiawahresort.com, checked October 13, 2026.

    DirectionsCallWebsite

  • Kiawah Island Golf Resort Paddling & Kayak Rentals

    Open to the public · behind the security gate

    Guided kayak and paddleboard tours, kayak rentals from Mingo Point, and a paid launch pass for your own kayak.

    Source: kiawahresort.com, checked October 13, 2026.

    DirectionsCallWebsite

  • Kiawah Beachwalker Park

    Open to the public

    County beach park outside the gate: Kiawah's only public beach access; lifeguards in season, chair rentals, parking fee.

    Source: ccprc.com, checked October 13, 2026.

    DirectionsCallWebsite
American alligator crossing a fairway on Kiawah Island

Stay 60 ft from alligators.

Cliff N (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons

What a renter needs to know

Island rules

How many can stay

  • 2 people per code-compliant bedroom, plus 2 — children under 2 aren't counted. A 4-bedroom house holds 10.
  • A rental's ads must show its Town license number, its vehicle limit, its approved bedrooms and its maximum occupancy.

Sources: Town of Kiawah Island, short-term rentals · Town of Kiawah Island, FAQs · Kiawah Town Code §§14-501 to 14-510 (Municode), checked October 13, 2026.

Noise

  • Residential nighttime starts at 9 pm, with a 60 dBA limit at night and 70 by day.
  • A loud event at a rental needs the Town's special-event approval. Fines run up to $100, then $250, then $500, and the Town can revoke the owner's rental license.

Source: Kiawah Town Code §§15-801 to 15-808 (Municode), checked October 13, 2026.

Sea turtle lights, May 1 – October 31

  • No white light on the beach from 9 pm to dawn — red light only, and that means phones, flashlights, headlamps and bike lights too.
  • Beachfront rentals turn their seaward outdoor lights off 9 pm–8 am from May 15 to October 31. Other rentals turn outdoor lights off 11 pm–7 am.
  • Stay out of staked nests, fill your holes, and take everything off the beach at night. Hatchlings follow light.

Sources: Town of Kiawah Island, Lights Out for Turtles · Town of Kiawah Island, FAQs · Kiawah Town Code §§16-701 to 16-705 (Municode), checked October 13, 2026.

Dogs on the beach

  • Never in the critical-habitat areas at either end of the island, and never on the dunes.
  • Leashed March 1 – October 15. Off-leash October 16 – February 28, dawn to dusk.
  • The Dog Use Area, between the East Beach Club and the Ocean Course vehicle access, is off-leash all year, dawn to dusk.
  • From April 1 to July 1 at most, leashes go back on seaward of posted bird-nesting areas. No e-collars; carry a leash.

Sources: Town of Kiawah Island, leash law · Kiawah Town Code §16-501 (Municode), checked October 13, 2026.

Golf carts, scooters and bikes

  • Golf carts, low-speed vehicles, mopeds, Segways and motorized scooters aren't allowed on Kiawah's roads or leisure trails.
  • Resort rental bikes are not licensed for Seabrook or Johns Island.

Sources: KICA Rules & Regulations (2024) · Kiawah Island Golf Resort, bike rentals, checked October 13, 2026.

Drones

  • Banned anywhere in Town without a Town permit, the beach included.

Sources: Town of Kiawah Island, beach regulations · Kiawah Town Code §7-302 (Municode), checked October 13, 2026.

Feeding wildlife

  • Under a Town ordinance adopted February 3, 2026, no one may feed wildlife or leave food out for it on Kiawah, on public or private property. Clean bird feeders are the exception.
  • Alligators live in most of the island's roughly 150 ponds — stay 60 ft away, and don't fish or crab next to one.

Sources: Kiawah Town Code §15-505 (Ord. 2026-06) (Municode) · Town of Kiawah Island, American alligators · Town of Kiawah Island, FAQs, checked October 13, 2026.

On the sand

  • No glass. Holes 12 inches deep at most, no metal shovels, and fill everything in before you leave — no later than 30 minutes before sunset.
  • Nothing left on the beach overnight; Beach Patrol tags and removes it. Fireworks are banned in Town (sparklers are fine off the beach).

Sources: Town of Kiawah Island, beach regulations · Kiawah Town Code §§16-306, 16-902 to 16-913, 15-209 (Municode), checked October 13, 2026.

Parking

  • Park only where the rental license allows, on paved or gravel spots — never on grass. No RVs, trailers, boats, buses or large pickups overnight anywhere on the island.

Source: Town of Kiawah Island, FAQs, checked October 13, 2026.

Pools

  • KICA's Sandcastle (pools and fitness) does not admit renters.
  • The resort's Night Heron Park and West Beach pools are for resort guests and Governor's Club members, who show an amenity or club card.

Sources: KICA, Sandcastle member & guest access · Kiawah Island Golf Resort, pools, checked October 13, 2026.

Fishing and crabbing

  • Anyone 16 or older needs a South Carolina saltwater fishing license, and it covers clams and oysters too.
  • No license is needed on a licensed public pier, on a charter you've hired, or with 3 or fewer drop nets, fold-up crab traps or hookless lines.

Sources: SC hunting & fishing licenses (eRegulations) · SCDNR, buy a license, checked October 13, 2026.

Hazards, and who to call

Safety

Emergency room and urgent care

  • MUSC Health Emergency Room – Kiawah Partners PavilionSeabrook Island Rd

    24-hour freestanding emergency room on Seabrook Island Road; the building also holds MUSC doctors' offices.

    DirectionsCallWebsite

    Source: euc.muschealth.org

  • Roper St. Francis Express Care – Maybank HwyMaybank Hwy

    Walk-in urgent care.

    DirectionsCallWebsite

    Source: rsfh.com

Rip currents

  • Check the National Weather Service's Charleston beach forecast each morning — it rates the day's rip current risk.
  • Caught in one? The Weather Service's page shows how to get out.

Sources: National Weather Service Charleston, beach forecast · National Weather Service, rip currents, checked October 13, 2026.

Lightning

  • When a storm builds, get off the beach and out of the water.

Source: National Weather Service, lightning safety, checked October 13, 2026.

Cuts and salt water

  • Keep open cuts out of salt and brackish water — Vibrio bacteria can infect wounds. See a doctor fast if a wound turns red or swollen after a swim.

Source: CDC, Vibrio and wounds, checked October 13, 2026.

Hurricanes (June 1 – November 30)

  • Kiawah is Evacuation Zone A, among the first areas called to leave. The route out: Bohicket and Main Road (S-20), US-17 south, SC-64 to Walterboro.
  • Once the governor orders an evacuation, the Mayor closes the island and the gate stops letting people in. Utilities may be shut off, and no police, fire or medical help stays behind — leave early.

Sources: Town of Kiawah Island, evacuation & re-entry · SCEMD, 2026 evacuation zones (PDF), checked October 13, 2026.

Going out on a boat, a kayak or a paddleboard? The five rules for every trip on the water.

More from the guide

The Ocean Course →Kiawah's Pete Dye course, hole by holeBeach access →Beachwalker parking by month, the Gold Pass, Seabrook's rulesThe island directory →Every place, with its sourceFlood zone →FEMA's zone for any addressSeabrook Island guide →The same guide, for Seabrook IslandJohns Island guide →The same guide, for Johns IslandWadmalaw Island guide →The same guide, for Wadmalaw IslandExcursions →Dolphin, sunset, shelling and kayak trips, A to ZGetting here and around →The airports, the gates, carts, LSVs, e-bikes and shuttlesFarms and stands →The farms you can visit or buy from on Johns Island and WadmalawSea Island Farmers Market →When and where it runsThe Johns Island tomato →The story, and where to buy them nowOwn or manage a rental? →Make a free printable guest card for it

Keep going

Weathered wooden walkover crossing the dunes to the beach on Kiawah Island

Photo by lorimcm on Unsplash

Two ways in

Talk it through with Mike, or ask Val — the guide’s AI assistant, answering from this site’s sourced facts.

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