Camping, Fishing, And Coastal Fun Await At This South Carolina Beach State Park

South Carolina boasts a staggering 2,876 miles of coastline, dotted with gorgeous sandy beaches, peaceful barrier islands, and crystal-clear waters, yet doesn't always get the recognition it deserves as a beach vacation destination. It might not have the blazing sunshine, palm trees, and the luxury tropical escape vibes of spots like Sunset Key in Florida can boast, but it's a wonderfully relaxing and diverse place to soak up the sun. Its pristine beaches offer great shelling and fossil-hunting opportunities, and it brings a combination of wildlife, history, luxury resorts, and all-round fun that is hard to find elsewhere. Tucked away just south of the historic, cultural, and foodie vacation destination of Charleston, Edisto Beach State Park is one of South Carolina's hidden gems.

Often overlooked in favor of the Palmetto State's more famous oceanfront destinations like Myrtle Beach, Hunting Island, and Huntington Beach, Edisto Beach State Park is a peaceful, picturesque treasure. It's located on Edisto Island, along the Atlantic between the stunning East Coast beaches of Hunting Island and Seabrook Island. It is delightfully remote yet easily accessible from Charleston, just over an hour away by car, or from Savannah, Georgia, just under two hours away. The nearest international airport is Charleston, about 50 miles away, which takes about an hour by car.

Edisto Beach State Park is an ideal seaside destination for anyone who loves outdoor activity alongside their beach vacation. The park is criss-crossed by a fabulous network of multi-use trails ideal for hiking and biking, and its diverse landscapes reward exploring on foot or by bike. Two of the most popular routes are the Spanish Mount Trail and the Bache Trail. The Spanish Mount Trail runs for 1.7 miles along flat, well-laid paths to a 4,000-year-old "trash heap" of oyster, mussel, and turtle shells, originally constructed by the Indigenous people who called this part of the world home. The Bache Trail is a far shorter option, ideal for younger families, and ends at the impressive monument which marks one end of a survey line used to measure the U.S. coastline in the 1800s. For cyclists, the Edisto Bike Trail is ideal, linking the town via a causeway to the beach.

Edisto Beach State Park is a fantastic place for outdoor adventurers who love to spend the night under canvas. Two splendid campsites, one right by the sea, the other further inland, offer 120 pitches for both RVs and tents, and the peace and quiet of the park is the ideal backdrop to a night under the stars. For anyone who craves just a touch more luxury, there are seven fully furnished wooden cabins on the edge of the salt marsh. And if you are planning on camping in Edisto, don't forget to pack your fishing pole! Scott Creek Inlet and the salt marshes offer exceptional angling opportunities, with flounder, whiting, and spot tail the main prizes.

The beauty of Edisto Beach State Park as a beach vacation destination goes far beyond the beach itself. That's not to say that the beach isn't a dream — it boasts 1.5 miles of almost untouched golden sand, ideal for lazing the days away just watching the waves by the water's edge. But it offers a whole lot more on top of just a standard day at the beach. It's a fantastic beach for shelling, as well as for fossil hunting, with all sorts of fascinating specimens found here, including petrified mammoth bones and saber-toothed tiger tusks!

The natural world is a huge part of the attraction as well, with trees, scenery, and an abundance of wildlife to enjoy. The maritime forest that fringes the picturesque salt marshes is home to some of South Carolina's tallest palmetto trees and showcases the wonderful biodiversity of this gorgeous little corner of the world. It is an exceptional destination for wildlife-lovers, with raccoons, white-tailed deer, and opossums all sighted regularly. Most charmingly, it is a nesting sanctuary for loggerhead sea turtles, so if you visit during the summer months, chances are you'll see some of these fabulous creatures as well.