Boating is a favorite pastime in Isle of Palms, whether you prefer a manual watercraft like a kayak, canoe, or sailboat or you get energized by the hum of a fishing boat motor or a jet ski. Take a break and head over to Wild Dunes, a fixture of Isle of Palms for decades. Wild Dunes offers tennis and world-class golfing plus other resort amenities.
Beyond the beach, you'll find a small boardwalk complete with surf shops and quick eateries (think pizza slices and ice cream cones). Folks come here to hit the sand and relax, do some wave boarding, and watch the kids play. It's a manageable beach where kids won't get lost, and a beachfront playground offers further variety. For couples, Isle of Palms offers a quieter scene for a romantic getaway or beach wedding, as close as you can get to the tropics without leaving South Carolina.
When are the best times to visit Isle of Palms, SC?
There's no bad time to visit Isle of Palms, SC. When you come depends on what you intend to do during your stay. Beach bums should come between May and August, which coincides with peak season. The beaches will be more crowded, and parking may be a challenge, but you will be glad to cool off when the humid temps hit the upper 90s and low 100s.
Isle of Palms enjoys a semi-tropical climate, so you can expect a lot of rainfall at any time of year, but the rains can be regular and brief, lasting only a half hour. This lull offers a good time for a restroom break, a shopping interlude, or treating yourself to an ice cream sundae.
If you're planning a beach wedding at Isle of Palms, you're in luck. The beaches are public, so there is no cost associated with your wedding. You just need to plan ahead with vendors like photographers, who are required to obtain an Isle of Palms business license to shoot. You should also be careful to take any items like flowers or chairs with you. Since it is a public beach, essentially, anyone can be a guest of your wedding — even if they're in a bikini! Privacy might not be optimal, but the ocean view definitely will be.
It's wise to plan your Isle of Palms beach wedding for late spring through the fall, though you should still watch the forecast for rain or even the occasional hurricane. It's also a good idea to monitor the tide tables, to make sure you don't get washed out during an evening ceremony! Winters are fairly warm, typically in the 60s, but the winds can get quite breezy. You wouldn't want your veil (or your guests) to blow away!
Below is a chart of the current pricing seasonality of hotels and motels in Isle Of Palms, SC:
Isle Of Palms, SC: Prices by Star Rating Class
Below are 3 charts illustrating avg. price trends by star rating class in Isle Of Palms, SC. Browse these line graphs to calculate the most cost effective dates to stay in Isle Of Palms for your upcoming travels.
Where are the luxury hotels near Isle of Palms, SC?
4 Star Average Prices: $248.39
For a luxurious stay after your beach day, head into downtown historic Charleston, only 9 miles away. You'll feel you are staying in a gracious, historic Southern home from the moment you enter the courtyard of the Belmond Charleston Place with its tinkling fountain. The doors open to a grand double staircase, marble floors, and chandeliers.
The Belmond Charleston Place's guest rooms, where you can indulge in 24-hour room service at your leisure, are elegantly appointed in velvets and classical luxury furnishings. Step outside for a meal in one of the hotel's three restaurants, have a cocktail at the indoor or poolside bar, or quench your thirst at the hotel coffee shop. Its grand ballroom and over 39,000 sq ft of meeting space are ripe for conferences and large meetings. Just outside the hotel, you are steps away from museums and other Charleston landmarks, and it's only a short drive to Isle of Palms.
What affordable hotel options are around Isle of Palms, South Carolina?
3 Star Average Prices: $171.57
If you don't want to sacrifice distance or amenities but still want an amazing hotel rate near Isle of Palms, then Sleep Inn Mount Pleasant is the hotel for you. This hotel is a gem that guests love for its convenience to both Charleston and Isle of Palms. Parents love its classic kidney-shaped outdoor pool and free breakfast. Kids love lounging in the seating area of the rooms to watch television or get on the free Wi-Fi, just like at home. Business people appreciate the 24-hour concierge service and proximity to the Charleston regional airport. All in all, Sleep Inn Mount Pleasant is a great hotel that's close to everything you need.
2 Star Average Prices: $133.76
Which hotels in Isle of Palms, SC offer the best discounts?
If you're headed to Isle of Palms and you're a AAA member, you're in luck. The highly rated Holiday Inn Express & Suites Charleston NE Mount Pleasant US17 offers great value and proximity to the beach. The hotel's AAA discounts aren't limited to a one-room layout; in fact, the hotel management pledges to try to accommodate your preference upon arrival. This is great news for those who need accessible room options like roll-in showers or ground floor access.
The Holiday Inn Express & Suites lies only about 3 miles from Isle of Palms, in Mount Pleasant. You don't have to go out to enjoy your stay, however. An indoor pool offers the opportunity to refresh and relax without ever driving anywhere. If you're traveling on business, the concierge and dry-cleaning services and the business center are amenities to appreciate here, as well. The hotel offers free breakfast each morning to get your day started, whether you plan to spend it on the sand or in the hotel's meeting room.
Where are the best budget hotels in Isle of Palms, South Carolina?
If your vacation goal is to truly get away, you can't do better than a stay at The Palms Oceanfront Hotel. The hotel just underwent a major renovation, and its cheerful and spacious rooms are decorated in beachy pastel tones that are more sophisticated than cheesy. Families can stay comfortably here, and the hotel allows two children to stay with parents free of charge using existing bedding. Most rooms feature an oceanfront or beachfront view, so you can watch the sunset over the waves from your own balcony.
The value continues with the free continental breakfast served each morning from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Free Coffee, tea, and newspapers also help you save money, so you won't need to find a coffee shop for your daily caffeine fix. An in-room fridge is a perfect spot to stow late-night snacks and other treats for the kids after a long day playing in the surf. On the beachfront, guests can enjoy the hotel's lounge chairs or opt to splash around away from the sand in The Palms Oceanfront Hotel's outdoor pool.
What attractions are around Isle of Palms, SC?
From colonial beginnings to the Revolutionary War, Antebellum period, Civil War, and Reconstruction era, Southern history centers in and around Isle of Palms — especially in Charleston, SC. History buffs can't miss a tour of Fort Sumter. The first shots of the Civil War were fired here, and you can marvel at its cannon-marked façade up close when you take a boat tour through the Charleston Harbor right to the fort.
Isle of Palms began its residential period in the mid-20th century as a Charleston, SC, bedroom community. For years before that, the island was uninhabited, but it is said that pirates once buried their treasure on Isle of Palms, though none has been found — yet!
The first submarine ever to sink an enemy vessel, a Confederate vessel from the Civil War era known as The Hunley, departed from the beach of Isle of Palms. Though the submarine and crew were lost at sea, the sub was recently recovered nearby, and you can see the original on display in Charleston.
While you are in Charleston for the day, stroll into the Charleston City Market and shop Gullah handcrafts like sweet grass baskets or munch on some fresh pralines (roasted sweet pecans.) Go on foot for a walking tour, including the city's famous Rainbow Row houses, take a carriage tour, or head out to explore the historic plantations that surround the city, like Boone Hall. There's so much to discover in Charleston. Be sure to end the day with some of the best crab cakes or shrimp and grits you'll ever taste in your life at nearby Shem Creek.
Despite the city's front-row seat to history, these days, a visit to Isle of Palms is more about kicking back in a lounge chair. Answer the call of the unspoiled oceanfront, and a low-country South Carolina welcome will await you at Isle of Palms.
FAQs about hotels in Isle Of Palms
How much does a cheap hotel in Isle Of Palms cost per night?
In the last year, a 2 star hotel in Isle Of Palms can be as cheap as $133.76 per night. (based on HotelPlanner prices)
How much does a 3 star hotel in Isle Of Palms cost per night?
In the last year, the average 3 star hotel in Isle Of Palms has been $171.57 per night. (based on HotelPlanner prices)
How much does a higher-end hotel in Isle Of Palms cost?
In the last year, the average 4 star hotel in Isle Of Palms has been $248.39 per night. (based on HotelPlanner prices)
Recent traveler guest reviews of Isle Of Palms, SC
Below are reviews of the city of Isle Of Palms, SC from an actual visitor's perspective.
"Very nice"
Score
5.0 / 5
Jane T., from 19-Apr-2026
"Nice beautiful town"
Score
4.0 / 5
Nice, beautiful town. Lot of great places to walk. Also some gift shops in area. Not far at all from Fort Moultrie, Sullivan Island and Mount Pleasant.
Melissa L., from 14-Mar-2026
"Beach is nice"
Score
4.0 / 5
Thomas D., from 27-Sep-2025
"Beautiful, quaint SC treasure!"
Score
5.0 / 5
Burt S., from 20-Aug-2025
"So Pretty & Clean!"
Score
4.0 / 5
The beach area and the center was lit up so pretty. Very clean everywhere we walked!
Kathryn B., from 11-Mar-2024
"The Beach!!!"
Score
4.0 / 5
Loved hearing the waves crashing on the beach as we walked along listening to the ocean sounds. Very relaxing.
James B., from 15-Jan-2023
"Clean, family friendly, safe and classy!"
Score
5.0 / 5
Family friendly with a safe atmosphere. Litter free. Well maintained & classy decor. We even saw two deer in the main neighborhood street at night!
Osbia W., from 22-Dec-2022
"Walking Distance to ACME Low Country Seafood Restaurant"
Score
4.0 / 5
I love the ACME Low Country Seafood Restaurant and being able to walk to it. I like here better than Folly Beach.
Linda T., from 02-Sep-2022
"Family Atmosphere"
Score
4.0 / 5
Family atmosphere.
Dave P., from 24-Aug-2022
"Sweet"
Score
4.0 / 5
Isle of Palms is a sweet city, quaint and enjoyable!
Barbara H., from 05-May-2014
The average traveler rating of the city of Isle Of Palms, SC shown above is
4.3 out of 5 based on 10 reviews