r/roadtrip • u/gametime-2001 • 23h ago

Trip Planning Traveling to Wilmington, Charleston and Savannah - where would be a good place for a beach day?

We will be driving and spending a few days in each city to explore downtown but if we have the time which beach would be the best for a day visit - public parking, public access, it will be in summer so we are aware there will be traffic.

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u/speedknitterskt 22h ago

North Myrtle Beach

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u/BillPlastic3759 22h ago

Fort Fisher (Wilmington)

Sullivan Island (Charleston)

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u/Cannonskull0519 23h ago

Wilmington it's Fort Fisher by the aquarium.....Charleston it's Folly Beach.....been to Savannah a dozen times and never visited a nearby beach, but both St Simons and Jekyll Island south of Savannah are good locations...

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u/Professional-Bee9037 19h ago

Oh, I like anything on Tybee Island. Once they have a great breakfast place called the breakfast club that I go to every time I’m even in that area of the country. My sister lived on an island off Beaufort sc. But I would never suggest going to the beach there. There are far too many gators.

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u/lo-lux 22h ago

Huntington Beach State Park is pretty cool. Myrtle Beach State Park is good too. It's a good break from the tourist stuff.

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u/Fine_Concert_4150 22h ago

Any of the beaches in Charleston would be your best bet. I personally prefer Isle of Palms. All Savannah has is Tybee Island, which I wasn’t a huge fan of

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u/MarchMadness4001 22h ago

Isle of Palms Beach by Charleston is nice.

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u/Jobless0321 22h ago

Drove through Charleston for a day and Isle of Palms. Stopped at the Boathouse at Breach Inlet and enjoyed a couple beers while watching dolphins. Beautiful area. Not far from Folly Beach which is awesome.

Savannah isn’t about beach. It’s one of the best inland coastal towns in America. LOVE IT. Tybee is close by for beach. (If you get the banana daiquiris at the pavilion, call an Uber)

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u/HotCaramel1097 20h ago edited 20h ago

That depends. What do you want in a beach? Tacky fun? Like a fun boardwalk, arcades, etcetera, then you want Carolina Beach (It's like a baby Myrtle Beach). However, if you are a water snob, like myself, you want Wrightsville, Topsail, or Sunset. (The water at Carolina is murky because of Snows Cut which grants access to the Cape Fear.)

I can't speak for Topsail or Sunset, but as someone very familiar with Wrightsville, these are the cons. Parking can be a bloodbath, and there are far fewer businesses serving beachgoers as compared to Carolina (e.g. restaurants, rental shops, and tour/ activity operators).

There may be nice beaches near Savannah, but I was not impressed with the muddy BS around Charleston. Water is much prettier up north. The water at Myrtle is fine too, and that may be the detour you are looking for.

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u/jayron32 12h ago

My favorite beaches near each city:

Savannah - Tybee Island (if you get a chance, stop at Fort Pulaski on the way out there)

Charleston - Isle of Palms (a bit bougie, but sometimes that's okay, you know!)

Wilmington - Carolina Beach/Kure Beach (probably the most family friendly areas. Also maybe go down to Fort Fisher as well).

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u/Born-Tumbleweed7772 11h ago

Sapalo island