Visiting Daufuskie Island with Kids
Going to Daufuskie Island with kids should be on every family’s radar when visiting coastal South Carolina!
This isolated and stunning location on the South Carolina-Georgia border is accessible only by ferry, but don’t let that stop your family from planning a day (or more) here.
Here, you’ll find a taste of what South Carolina used to be before the current boom of development and population occurred.
It’s a place of dirt roads, outdoor living, pristine beaches, and rich history.
If you’re looking for a family vacation destination in coastal South Carolina where you can get away from it all, look no further than Daufuskie Island.
The old Daufuskie Lighthouse and private homes on the ocean
Where is Daufuskie Island?
Daufuskie Island is located on the South Carolina-Georgia border, but juuuust enough of it is on the South Carolina side that SC claims it. That wasn’t always the case as you’ll learn at the island’s museum.
The island is sandwiched between Tybee Island, Georgia, and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, making it convenient from Savannah, Georgia, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina.
It is also one of the Sea Islands where Gullah-Geechee culture thrives to this day. (If you ever watched Gullah Gullah Island on Nickelodeon as a child, the writer and actor on that show is from nearby St. Helena Island!).
How to Get to Daufuskie Island
To get here, you’ll either need:
to take the twice daily ferry from Hilton Head Island, or
to call up a friend with a boat.
Unlike many of the other coastal South Carolina islands (Kiawah, Seabrook, and Edisto come to mind), Daufuskie Island does not have any access roads or bridges.
While you can buy a ticket the day of, I’d recommend purchasing ferry tickets ahead of time to ensure that your day trip or Daufuskie Island vacation runs according to schedule.
The ferry ride over takes about 60 minutes, give or take. There will be some variability according to the weather. (Side note: we were caught in an intense thunderstorm on the ferry ride once, and I never thought we’d get back to land!)
Thankfully, the vast majority of ferry crossings are easy and quick.
For your kids, the ferry ride to and from the island is likely to be one of their favorite things about this trip!
Leaving the ferry dock and heading to Daufuskie Island!
You can purchase official Daufuskie Island ferry tickets here.
Day trip tickets come with multiple options for your departure from Hilton Head: 7 AM, 10 AM, 1 PM, and 4 PM. You can return from Daufuskie at 8:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 2:30 PM, and 5:30 PM.
The tickets are the same price, regardless of your morning departure time and afternoon return time. Parking is included for day trippers.
For families who are planning to stay one or more nights, you’ll pay around $10 more per adult for your round trip ticket. You’ll also have to pay for overnight parking for each night you’ll be on Daufuskie.
Kids 7 and under are free for both ticket types.
NOTE: There are other outfitters offering day trips from Hilton Head to Daufuskie. These are more expensive and offer less flexible return times than the official ferry noted above.
>> Get more ideas for the best Hilton Head day trips here! <<
Best Things to Do on Daufuskie Island with Kids
The morning rush, Daufuskie Island-style
While Daufuskie Island is remote, it still has (just about) everything you need for an excellent family trip.
There are pristine, nearly empty beaches, interesting museums and historical buildings to explore, dirt roads to roam around on your golf cart, and more.
What you won’t find is consistent cell service or an abundance of cars.
To this day, Daufuskie Island is one of those places where no one locks their doors, kids make friends instantaneously, and time seems to move a bit slower.
It’s also far less commercialized than other coastal retreats in both South Carolina and Georgia—and that’s why it’s one of my favorite hidden gems in the Palmetto State.
Poke around in Freeport General Store.
The biggest store on the island, Freeport General Store has a little bit of everything.
The biggest hub on the island. Freeport General Store is the large yellow building in the distance.
You’ll find a small (and pricey) selection of groceries, snacks, and drinks. If you didn’t bring your own picnic, you’ll want to pick up a few things here.
Stock up on water, particularly if you’re visiting in the summer.
The heat and humidity in June, July, and August can be brutal, and you don’t want your day ruined by overheating.
The store also has tumblers, shirts, postcards, hats, and other souvenirs.
Sit for a spell on the wide front porch of the store—the breeze kicked up by the outdoor ceiling fans is greatly appreciated during the summer months!
Rent a golf cart.
My sister escorts the family around in our golf cart rental.
There’s no better way to see the island than by golf cart.
While Daufuskie isn’t huge, you’re not going to be able to walk to much beyond the few stores next to the ferry dock at Freeport Marina.
You’ll have a couple of options right there next to the dock, but I’d recommend Tour Daufuskie.
They’re conveniently located within walking distance of the ferry drop-off/pick-up point, and they have full and half day rental options.
Plus, they’re much more reasonably priced than other outfitters on the island. I especially like that they have options for 4 and 6 person carts.
(And, no, I’m not being paid to say any of this! We’ve used this company before on our trips to the island, and I’m happy to recommend them.)
Learn something new at the Daufuskie Island Museum.
My sister and mom outside of the history museum.
My entire family loves history, so we started out by visiting the Daufuskie Island Museum, where we learned about the island’s history, geography, culture, and wildlife.
You’ll find displays on the earliest European settlements, learn about the arguments over who owns the island (as it is close to the South Carolina / Georgia border), and delve into Pat Conroy's early teaching career on Daufuskie Island.
Outside, your family can learn about old pre-mechanized farming and see some of the vintage equipment.
The museum is small, but well done. It's also a fantastic way to dive into the incredible history and culture here on the island.
The docents are highly knowledgeable about all things Daufuskie Island, so feel free to ask questions.
Stopping here first is a great way to give your kids an overview of what the island was like, and how it continues to change today.
Get schooled at Daufuskie Island Library.
The front of the Daufuskie Library and former Jane Hamilton School
Armed with some new knowledge, you can hop back on your golf cart and continue your exploration around the island.
Stop at the island’s current library, which also served as the one room schoolhouse many years ago.
Your kids will enjoy scooting into the tiny desks and seeing the etched in graffiti of past students.
There’s also (bizarrely) a fake coffin, a wall of beautifully colored glass bottles, and other trinkets in here.
This building makes for some great conversations on what school used to be like and how it is is vastly different for kids today than it was 100 years ago.
It's incredible to think that Pat Conroy--the revered South Carolina writer who wrote many novels, including Prince of Tides--got his start teaching in this tiny spot.
Another fun fact that's only tangentially related, but is still fun: my husband's great-aunt was once Pat Conroy's high school English teacher!
Head back in time at First Union African Baptist Church.
The exterior of the First Union African Baptist Church
This historic church is another must-stop for your family while you’re on Daufuskie Island.
This beautiful building was actually built on the site of an earlier church which was built in 1881--and then burned down in 1884.
Like many of the island's properties, the church has served in many capacities over the years as the needs of the community changed. After the church was rebuilt, worship services were held for over 20 years, while it simultaneously served as a schoolhouse in the early part of the 20th century.
By the 1950s, the population of Daufuskie Island had fallen so steeply that there was no need for the church to remain active. It stayed shuttered for over a decade, until 1968 when the population had been bolstered enough to require gathering space once more.
In the last 40 years, the church has once again became a thriving part of the Daufuskie Island community, and it now serves as an active church and a historical reminder of the island's history.
The interior of the church as seen from the choir loft
The church, along with pretty much every other building we visited, was open to the public.
Other than at the museum, we didn't need a ticket, there weren't any lines or crowds, and everything was done on the honors system. The buildings were unlocked and unmanned, and visitors are asked to be respectful and not damage anything.
Kids will enjoy climbing the steep stairs to the choir loft, and then peering down to the main congregation area below.
It’s also an excellent example of what life was like without air conditioning (which my kids think was approximately when the dinosaurs existed!).
Play on the Daufuskie Island Playground.
Let your kids burn off some steam at the Daufuskie Island playground, located just a few steps from the Freeport ferry dock.
Your kids can run on the wooden bridges, dive through the tires, and wear themselves out before you have to return to Hilton Head on the hour long ferry.
The playground is within easy walking distance of Freeport General Store, so you can grab some ice cream to help your kids cool down after their play session.
MOM TIP: Grab a drink at School Grounds Coffee, located in the historic Mary Fields school on Daufuskie Landing Road.
Walk through history at the Gullah cemeteries.
As I mentioned earlier, the island is seeped in the Gullah-Geechee culture, and many of the island's original slaves have descendants remaining on Daufuskie who keep the language and traditions alive.
While you're visiting Daufuskie Island, I encourage you to talk to the people you'll meet along your way. They're typically welcoming. We’ve also found that locals will share stories and tips with you—and even point you onto your next stop!
After you learn from the living, it's time to head to the cemeteries to learn a bit about those who once called the island home.
There are 6 Gullah cemeteries on the island, and all incorporate the wild, untamed approach that's vastly different than the carefully maintained burial plots you're probably used to.
The original headstones were made of wood, so the earliest burials are no longer evident.
What you can see date from the 1920s to the present, and most still allow for contemporary burials.
The uninhibited greenery that you see all of the cemeteries doesn't mean that no one is taking care of them; it's quite the opposite, in fact!
Originally, the Gullah people were buried in the shaded forest areas without much regard for perfectly lined up graves.
It was a return to nature, so there was no need to have parallel lines among the plots.
Daufuskie Island's Gullah cemeteries remain in this tradition, so local plants and vines are allowed to grow among and over the established graves.
If you're as fascinated with Gullah burial traditions as I am, you'll definitely want to include time to carefully wander through at least one of the island's cemeteries.
Stop at Francis Jones Community Park.
PIN ME!
You’ll find a second playground in the heart of Daufuskie Island off of the same stretch of Church Road as the First African Baptist Church (above).
This tree lined play area is the perfect place to cool down and take a midday break while exploring the island.
The park is newer than the one next to the Freeport dock, with plastic slides, a section of kid-friendly climbing wall, and covered play areas.
You can also complete the 0.2 mile Daufuskie Trail here, which is flat and nearly completely shaded.
There are also public bathrooms here, which is a rarity once you’re out and about on the island.
Relax at Bloody Point Beach.
You won’t find empty beaches like this in Charleston or Hilton Head!
Don’t let the name deter you from visiting!
The unfortunate name dates back from a brutal encounter between the European settlers and the local Yemassee tribe.
Today, it is a beautiful beach at the southern most tip of Daufuskie Island.
From here, you can see Turtle Island, as well as Tybee Island just across the South Carolina-Georgia border.
The public beach access point for Bloody Point Beach is on Beach Road’s easternmost end.
When the road ends, you’ll see a wide path to the beach.
You’ll have plenty of options on where to set up for your family beach day as Daufuskie Island rarely gets busy on any of their beaches.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Daufuskie Island
While your trip 'round the island will leave you sticky in the summer heat and covered in dust from your golf cart travels, it is easily one of the best places for a family vacation in South Carolina.
Because of the isolation, you get to experience a little slice of Southern life--dirt roads, beautiful live oaks, old clapboard houses-- that is quickly disappearing as more people move to the area.
So, the next time you're near the South Carolina/ Georgia border, plan your family’s next incredible beach day, and catch the ferry to Daufuskie Island for an experience you won't soon forget.
This building, the old Oyster Union Society Hall on Daufuskie Island, has since been completely renovated, but I love this picture, so it stays.
Daufuskie Island FAQs
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You’ll find a small store, 1 restaurant, and plenty of empty beaches here! If at all possible, bring your own food with you as the store has a limited supply—and the prices are much higher (close to double) what you’d pay in Hilton Head.
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There aren’t any rental cars on the island, so you’ll need to either walk or rent a golf cart.
If you plan on going anywhere beyond the ferry dock, I highly recommend a golf cart as the places and activities noted in this post are too far to walk comfortably, especially with kids in tow.
You will see the occasional vehicle on the island, but these belong to the island’s full-time residents. Whenever possible, even the locals ride around on golf carts because they are so much better on gas, and the imported gas from the mainland is SO expensive.
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If you’d like to enjoy the beaches without too many bugs, the spring and fall are the best times to go. South Carolina has a mild climate, which means that you’ll have beach-going temps in the 70s and 80s even in April and October.
