St. Phillips Island Beach
Beaufort, SC
A once privately owned barrier island, previously belonging to media mogul Ted Turner, now open to the public through South Carolina State Parks by guided tour only. The limited access is exactly why the beach and the maritime forest behind it have stayed this untouched.
Guided tour only access has kept this genuinely untouched, the tradeoff is you can't just show up, tours have to be booked ahead through the state park.
How we score beachesTours are limited and must be booked ahead through South Carolina State Parks. You cannot visit on your own.
Dogs are not allowed on the guided ferry tour that is the only way to reach the island, so pets cannot visit this beach.
Lowcountry South Carolina runs hot and humid by June, with hurricane season stretching all the way to November. Guided tours follow the same weather patterns as the rest of the coast, so spring and fall trips tend to be the most comfortable.
More Atlantic Coast beaches
Coast Guard Beach
Eastham, MA · Atlantic Coast
A National Seashore beach backed by grassy dunes and a tidal marsh, with clean Atlantic surf and one of the Cape's most scenic approaches on foot from the parking area.
Surfside Beach
Nantucket, MA · Atlantic Coast
Open Atlantic swell and a wide sandy shoreline about three miles from Nantucket town, popular with locals for its bodysurfing waves and quieter, less commercial feel.
Jones Beach State Park
Wantagh, NY · Atlantic Coast
A classic Long Island beach with six and a half miles of shoreline, a landmark water tower, boardwalk, and a large outdoor amphitheater that hosts concerts through the summer.