St. Phillips Island
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- $8 per adultAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- None listedAlso cabins
- Official site
- southcarolinaparks.com(803) 904-6220
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Alert Park NewsMore info about St. Phillips Island coming soon on this page!
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
St. Phillips Island is a state park in Beaufort County.
Things to do include historic sites and hiking. There are also cabins for rent.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office | Not stated | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | — |
| Not stated | 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. | — |
Official wording
Hours and days of operation vary with tours and rentals.
St. Phillips Island is managed through Hunting Island State Park. Hunting Island's office hours are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. M-F, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sa-Su.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park.
Pets
Pets are allowed in most outdoor areas provided they are kept under physical restraint or on a leash not longer than six feet; not allowed in or around lodging facilities (park-specific exceptions on each page).
Statewide rule from South Carolina's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| $8/adult; | $8 · adult |
| $5/SC seniors; | $5 · senior |
| $4/ child age 6-15; | $4 · child |
| Free for children 5 and younger. | Free |
Official wording
$8/adult; $5/SC seniors; $4/ child age 6-15; Free for children 5 and younger.
South Carolina park passes
- ALL Park Passport — $99 Details
From the South Carolina state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- SC State Parks reservation system (reserve.southcarolinaparks.com)
- Phone
- 1-866-345-PARK (7275)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Things to do
Historic sites and toursHiking
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airplane Pond Trail | 0.1 mi | Easy | Length: 0.1 milesHiking Trail |
| Beach Trail | 0.5 mi | Easy | Length: 0.5 milesHiking Trail |
| Halfway Trail | 0.7 mi | Easy | Length: 0.7 milesHiking Trail |
| High Bluff Trail | 0.3 mi | Easy | Length: 0.3 milesHiking Trail |
| Long Pond Trail | 1.3 mi | Easy | Length: 1.3 milesHiking Trail |
| Marsh View Connector | 0.3 mi | Easy | Length: 0.3 milesHiking Trail |
| Marsh View Trail | 0.5 mi | Easy | Length: 0.5 milesHiking Trail |
Trail descriptions from the park
AIRPLANE POND TRAIL
Length: 0.1 miles
Type: Hiking Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Description: This short trail ends at the west side of a brackish pond. Be on the lookout for egrets, herons, wood storks, alligators and the remains of a small airplane that crash-landed in our pond. This trail sneaks between two sloughs, so be prepared to get mud on your boots.
BEACH TRAIL
Length: 0.5 miles
Type: Hiking Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Description: This trail provides the only access on the island to our beach during high tides. The hike takes you southwest from the main road, through wetland habitats and ends in our beach boneyard.
HALFWAY TRAIL
Length: 0.7 miles
Type: Hiking Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Description: This trail begins and ends at the trailhead beside the main road and will take you to the most western part of the island accessible by foot. It is a moderate hike that will take you over several ancient sand dune ridges providing beautiful views of the freshwater ponds and a great salt marsh vista.
HIGH BLUFF TRAIL
Length: 0.3 miles
Type: Hiking Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Description: This horseshoe-shaped trail has multiple entrance points on the main road. This short but moderate hike is packed with three distinct ecosystems including an expansive saltmarsh that overlooks the beach, an intimate saltwater creek and a picturesque interdunal swale. Watch your step—there are a lot of saw palmetto roots on this hike.
LONG POND TRAIL
Length: 1.3 miles
Type: Hiking Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Description: Beginning at the main road, our longest trail takes you deep inside our maritime forest. One of the best opportunities to see wildlife, this trail passes by osprey nests, towering oaks, magnolia trees and several open vistas of the pond. Watch out for saw palmetto roots and mud as you get closer to the pond.
MARSH VIEW CONNECTOR
Length: 0.3 miles
Type: Hiking Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Description: Beginning at the main road, this short trail connects at the center of the Marsh View Trail and nears a freshwater swale. Bring your binoculars to take advantage of the many opportunities to spot wildlife.
MARSH VIEW TRAIL
Length: 0.5 miles
Type: Hiking Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Description: This trail is accessible by the Long Pond Trail or the Marsh View Connector trail via the main road. Enjoy views of our maritime forest of live oak trees as you walk to the end of our salt marsh at the edge of Trenchards Inlet.
Amenities
Lodging
- Cabins
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Address
- 2555 Sea Island PKWY
Hunting Island, SC 29920 - Phone
- (803) 904-6220
Sources and freshness
- South Carolina State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- South Carolina State Parks Park Finder (JSON embedded in #park-finder-component data-parks)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology