Approximately 2.8 million tourists flocked to Hilton Head Island in 2024, according to their tourism board. It’s the most popular barrier island, but multigenerational family travelers who want more perks and fewer crowds are discovering Fripp Island, South Carolina. Hopping one island north is paying off for families who want more.
Skip the crowds and connect with nature in Fripp Island, the barrier island tourists mistakenly bypass for Hilton Head. Photo credit: Fripp Island Resort.
Looking for championship golf courses? Craving serene oceanfront views and connecting to nature? Fripp Island blends it all: beaches, golf, nature and kids’ activities. Only 50 miles north of Hilton Head Island, Fripp is the quiet beach escape that’s worth the extra drive time.
Nature on Fripp Island loves the seclusion
Fripp Island Resort has isolation that isn’t just a perk for visitors seeking peace; it’s a blessing for the wildlife that calls it home. As one of South Carolina’s designated wildlife sanctuaries, Fripp offers a more natural experience than nearby Hilton Head. Deer roam freely across the island, often seen grazing beside the roads or lounging in the shade beneath palm trees, unbothered by the slow pace of passing golf carts.
Loggerhead sea turtles return each summer to nest on Fripp’s protected beaches. Local conservation groups and volunteers work to ensure the hatchlings make it safely to the ocean, a spectacle visitors can witness during nesting season.
The absence of large resorts and shopping centers allows Fripp’s maritime forests, salt marshes and dunes to thrive. Birdwatchers often spot herons, egrets and ospreys from the walking trails that thread through the island.
It’s the kind of environment where nature takes the lead. The island’s naturalists ensure a safe distance between guests and wildlife, while allowing an up-close view unlike any other. Witnessing a gator sunbathing on your way to the beach becomes a core family vacation memory.
Golf carts over gridlock
There’s no shortage of golf on both of the South Carolina barrier islands, but Fripp Island’s two championship golf courses are the centerpiece of attention. Golf carts replace car keys, and tee times take priority over traffic. The resort’s laid-back rhythm encourages guests to glide from beach to clubhouse in minutes, trading the congestion of larger resorts for quiet, coastal roads and sweeping Lowcountry scenery. Golf isn’t just a pastime; it’s the island’s top recreation.
Fripp Island is home to two championship 18-hole courses that set the standard for coastal golf in South Carolina. The Ocean Creek Golf Course, designed by Davis Love III and Paul Cowley, was the first signature course of the PGA legend’s career. It winds through salt marshes and maritime forest, traces four ancient dune ridges and offers sweeping views of tidal creeks and wetlands.
Ocean Point Golf Links, a George Cobb design, delivers a classic seaside layout with dramatic oceanfront holes and breezy fairways that showcase the island’s natural beauty. Together, the courses provide a world-class golf experience that balances challenge and charm.
The beauty of limited development means less chaos
With multigenerational families traveling together more than ever, vacation homes reign over standard hotel rooms. Fripp Island’s charm lies in what it doesn’t have: traffic lights, crowds and high-rise buildings that block views. Instead, this private island embraces a slower rhythm that feels worlds away from the hustle of commercial resort towns. The absence of overdevelopment gives Fripp an authenticity that’s hard to replicate.
As one of South Carolina’s least developed barrier islands, Fripp offers 3.5 miles of pristine beach, winding marsh trails and quiet neighborhoods framed by live oaks. The island’s gated entry naturally keeps crowds low, allowing families to spread out and truly relax. Bikes and golf carts outnumber cars, and the most common sight on the roads might be a deer crossing.
Luxury rental homes combine with resort amenities. While Hilton Head offers convenience and variety, Fripp Island’s limited development brings calm and clarity. Families find space to reconnect without schedules or congestion. Less truly means more.
Fripp Island, South Carolina, delivers family vacations worth booking again
Fripp Island may be smaller and quieter than Hilton Head, but that’s exactly what keeps families coming back year after year. Its natural beauty, uncrowded beaches and mix of outdoor recreation make it the kind of place that feels timeless. It’s where kids can bike freely, parents can unwind and everyone finds something to love.
From morning rounds of golf on championship courses to sunset walks along the dunes, Fripp offers the kind of balance modern families crave: comfort without chaos, adventure without overplanning.
For travelers seeking a Lowcountry getaway that’s equal parts serene and sophisticated, Fripp Island delivers. It’s a destination that doesn’t just promise relaxation. It guarantees you’ll want to return.
Kimberly Stroh is an Atlanta-based family travel writer and the founder of Savvy Mama Lifestyle. Since 2015, she has been sharing expert travel tips, destination guides and parenting insights tailored for modern families.
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