Best Island Retirement Communities in South Carolina
by Robert Borges on March 25, 2024
Pristine shoreline as far as the eye can see. Natural beauty so breathtaking it’s been environmentally-preserved. World-class tennis facilities, and golf all year long on only the finest championship courses.
It’s all there for you in these coastal South Carolina retirement commuities. Better yet, we’re taking you off the mainland and into your own private paradise with these—the best island retirement communities in South Carolina.
Daniel Island
It’s award-winning, and it’s considered to be among the most sought-after Charleston retirement communities. But much more than just a community, this is a true island town all its own. Complete with restaurants, shopping, schools, churches, professional sports stadiums, and a private country club featuring two 18-hole Daniel Island golf courses designed by Tom Fazio and Rees Jones. Spanning 4,000 acres, Daniel Island boasts 23 miles of shoreline, offering residents access to boating, fishing, swimming, crabbing and other aquatic recreation. With over 10,000 residents, Daniel Island real estate is in demand, but community homes, townhomes, and condos start at just $200,000.
Seabrook Island
With more than 2,000 acres of tidal marshes, maritime forest, and crowd-free Atlantic beaches, Seabrook Island is a quintessential coastal South Carolina retirement community. Active adults delight in two championship golf courses, separate beach and golf clubhouses, a 22-acre equestrian center, a large marina, and a 15-court racquet club ranked among the top 25 in the country. You’ll find a wide range of seabrook island real estate—Lowcountry real estate at its finest from undeveloped lots to new or pre-owned homes and townhomes. As an added bonus, the community is committed to wildlife conservation and environmentally appropriate architecture, preserving the island's attributes for generations to come.
Dataw Island
Dataw Island is a gorgeous 870-acre South Carolina retirement community in the Sea Islands region of the state. Residents bask in exclusivity with access to two private 18-hole golf courses designed by Tom Fazio and Arthur Hills, plus a full-service tennis club, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spacious fitness center, a grand antebellum-style clubhouse and a deep-water marina with access to the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. A limited number of lots are available for purchase, or Dataw Island real estate buyers can choose from an extensive selection of new and existing, finely crafted single-family homes, patio homes and low-maintenance villas—all with water or golf course views.
Fripp Island
The 3,000-acre gated community—which was recently honored as one of Links Magazine's "100 Best Golf Resorts in North America"—is a designated wildlife sanctuary that combines scenic nature areas and private beach access with an appealing array of real estate options, resort services, and recreational amenities. Resort facilities at this coastal South Carolina lifestyle community include a beach club complex, two golf clubhouses, a racquet club and a children's activity program, with multiple dining options, swimming pools, and a grocery store on-site.
Callawassie Island
If you’re in the market for South Carolina Lowcountry real estate, this secluded slice of verdant terrain transformed into a remarkable waterfront golf community is for you. An immaculate 27-hole Tom Fazio-design golf course is the highlight of this 880-acre private oasis, which also features a first-class tennis center, swimming and fitness facilities, a spacious clubhouse and a separate River Club with a community dock. Callawassie Island has been developed in a careful, environmentally sensitive manner that garnered South Carolina's first Community Wildlife Habitat designation.
Haig Point
This gated South Carolina retirement community features a Rees Jones Signature golf course acknowledged as one of the finest in the world. But if you’re looking for Haig Point real estate, keep in mind there are no cars allowed...golf carts and bicycles carry residents down the winding roads, making it one of the most exclusive private golf club communities on the East Coast. Environmental preserves and historic structures are more than just a backdrop to the homes and homesites. Haig Point is a member of the Audubon Society's Cooperative Sanctuary Program, providing numerous habitat and wildlife preservation programs while following a rigorous outline for environmental protection.
Sea Pines
Another top Hilton Head retirement community—this one located on the southernmost tip of the island—Sea Pines features award-winning golf and tennis, a 603-acre Lowcountry nature preserve, five miles of South Carolina beaches, and the famed Harbour Town Marina recognized for its landmark red-and-white-striped lighthouse. This acclaimed South Carolina coastal community covers more than a third of Hilton Head Island, a venerable Atlantic Coast resort destination with four championship golf courses, ocean sports, fishing, horseback riding, and so much more.
