Calibogue Sound · the May · Port Royal · the Ashley · Shem Creek

On the Water

The best of this coast sits behind a creek mouth somewhere, and creeks do not have car parks. Where to put in, who will take you out, and what the tide is doing about it.

Calibogue Sound · Salt Marsh Sailing

The tide, right now

NOAA predictions · six stations

Six ways onto the water

pick the boat first, the town second

A dolphin surfacing beside a tour boat in a Lowcountry creek

Twenty boats run them

Dolphin & eco trips

What you get out of one depends on the tide as much as the captain. The creeks that hold dolphins at half flood are mud two hours later, and the good trips are booked around that.

See the boats →

A charter fishing boat tied at the dock in Savannah

Twelve captains

Fishing charters

Redfish and trout in the grass inshore, and offshore when the wind allows. Inshore trips are booked around the tide rather than the hour.

Charters →

Kayakers paddling a tidal creek through the salt marsh

Seven guides, twenty-five rentals

Kayak & paddleboard

The creeks behind Shelter Cove, Pinckney Island and Shem Creek are the ones people come back for. A guide is worth it the first time; the tide runs harder than it looks.

Outfitters →

Twelve boats under sail

Sailing

Out of Charleston Harbour, Calibogue Sound and the Beaufort River, from an eighty-four-foot tall ship down to a private catamaran with the sound to itself.

Sailing charters →

The Georgia Queen paddlewheeler on the Savannah River

Six lines, two of them the only way in

Harbour cruises & ferries

Fort Sumter can only be reached by boat and Daufuskie has no bridge, so two of these are transport before they are a tour.

Cruises & ferries →

Boats on their slips at Shelter Cove Harbour on Hilton Head

A hundred and three public ramps

Your own boat

Fifty-two of them have a courtesy dock, which is the difference between launching single-handed and needing a second pair of hands. The complete list is further down this page.

Find a ramp →

Shrimp boats tied up along Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant

Shem Creek, Mount Pleasant

Six boats worth the day

one of each kind, Savannah to Bulls Bay

Coastal Expeditions Mount Pleasant
Kayaks off Shem Creek, and the only ferry to Bulls Island, where the beach is a boneyard of sun-bleached trees.
Barrier Island Eco Tours Isle of Palms
A naturalist runs the boat out to Capers Island, which has no houses on it and a driftwood beach.
Schooner Pride Charleston Harbour
Eighty-four feet of tall ship. Passengers haul the lines, and on the sunset sail somebody gets the helm.
Vagabond Cruise Harbour Town
Working out of Harbour Town since the 1970s: dolphin watches, sunset sails on Calibogue Sound, and the Daufuskie boat.
Outside Hilton Head Shelter Cove
The island's original outfitter, guiding kayak and paddleboard trips into the creeks behind Pinckney Island.
Savannah Riverboat Cruises River Street
The Georgia Queen is a paddlewheeler and the river she works carries container ships. Both are worth watching.

Every public ramp on this coast

103 launches · 32 piers · from the agencies that count them

Everything else on this page is a shortlist. This is the opposite. Somebody towing a boat at six in the morning wants the nearest landing with trailer parking, and a tasteful eight is no use to them, so here is every public launch between the Ogeechee below Savannah and Wambaw Creek above McClellanville.

Search launches

County

Water

Courtesy dock only

Alljoy
May River · Beaufort County
Two lane boat ramp, courtesy dock and gravel parking for approximately 18 vehicle/trailers.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Awendaw Creek Canoe Launch
Awendaw Creek · Charleston County · US Forest Service
Wood ramp, 25 parking spaces, dirt surface.
B & C
Savannah River · Jasper County · SCDOT
One lane boat ramp and paved parking for approximately 20 vehicle/trailers.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Battery Island (Sol Legare)
Stono River · Charleston County
Two lane boat ramp, courtesy dock and gravel parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Becks Ferry
Savannah River · Jasper County · SCDOT
Two lane boat ramp, courtesy dock and paved parking for approximately 21 vehicle/trailers.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Bell's Landing
Hoover Creek · Chatham County
One-lane paved ramp, courtesy dock.
Bennetts Point
Mosquito Creek · Colleton County
Two lane boat ramp and dirt parking for approximately 20 vehicle/trailers.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Bolan Hall
Euhaw Creek · Jasper County · Marshall Field
Two lane boat ramp, courtesy dock, fishing pier and dirt parking for approximately 25 vehicle/trailer…
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Brickyard Creek
Brickyard Creek · Beaufort County
One lane boat ramp and limited grass parking area.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Brickyard Ferry
Ashepoo River · Colleton County · SCDOT
One lane boat ramp and limited gravel parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Broad Creek
Broad Creek · Beaufort County
Gravel boat ramp and gravel parking for approximately 20 vehicle/trailers.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Broad River
Broad River · Beaufort County
Two lane boat ramp and paved parking for approx. 85 vehicle/trailers.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Buck Hall
Intracoastal Waterway · Charleston County · US Forest Service
Three lane boat ramp, two courtesy docks, picnic area and paved parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Buckingham
Mackay Creek · Beaufort County
One lane boat ramp and limited gravel parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Bulow
Rantowles Creek · Charleston County
Boat ramp and paved parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Butchs Island
Wards Creek · Beaufort County
One lane boat ramp and limited gravel parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
CC Haigh Jr
Mackay Creek · Beaufort County
Two lane boat ramp, courtesy dock, and gravel parking for approximately 60 vehicle/trailers.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Capers
Capers Creek · Beaufort County
One-lane gravel ramp, limited parking, grass surface.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Cherry Point
Bohicket Creek · Charleston County
Two lane boat ramp, courtesy dock, fishing pier with gravel parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Chessie
Chessie Creek · Colleton County
One lane boat ramp and limited parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
City Marina (Leeds Ave)
Ashley River · Charleston County · City of Charleston
100+ parking spaces for vehicles, paved surface.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Coffee Bluff Marina
Little Ogeechee River · Chatham County · DNR
Hoist, courtesy dock. Restrooms. Fee.
Colleton State Park
Edisto River · Colleton County · South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
Restrooms.
Not specified: accessible access.
Cooks
New River · Jasper County
One lane boat ramp, courtesy dock, fishing pier and limited dirt parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Corner Lake
Coosawhatchie River · Jasper County
One lane boat ramp and paved/grass parking for approximately 20 vehicle/trailers.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Cuckholds
Cuckholds Creek · Colleton County
One lane boat ramp and limited dirt parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Dawhoo
Dawhoo Creek · Charleston County
Two lane boat ramp, courtesy dock, fishing pier and paved parking for approximately 34 vehicle/traile…
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Dawson Creek
Coosawhatchie River · Jasper County
One lane boat ramp, courtesy dock and limited parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Eddings
Jenkins Creek · Beaufort County
Two lane boat ramp with floating courtesy dock and paved parking for approximately 9 vehicle/trailers…
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Edgar Glenn
Chechessee River · Beaufort County
Two lane boat ramp, courtesy dock and paved parking for approximately 64 vehicle/trailers.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
F.W. Spencer
Wilmington River · Chatham County · DNR
Two-lane paved ramp. Restrooms.
Fields Point
Combahee River · Colleton County
One lane boat ramp and limited parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Folly River
Folly River · Charleston County
Four lane boat ramp, two courtesy docks and paved parking for approximately 57 vehicle/trailers.
Not specified: accessible access.
Fort Pulaski
Savannah River · Chatham County · DNR
One-lane paved ramp. Fee.
Freedom Mall
Beaufort River · Beaufort County · City of Beaufort
One lane boat ramp, courtesy dock and paved parking area.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Garris Landing
Intracoastal Waterway · Charleston County · Cape Romain Nat WLR
Two lane boat ramp, fishing pier and paved parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Good Hope
Edisto River · Colleton County
One lane boat ramp and limited parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Grays Hill
Whale Branch · Beaufort County
*Also known locally as Whale Branch boat landing.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
HE Trask Sr
Colleton River · Beaufort County · SC State Ports Authority
Two lane boat ramp, courtesy dock and gravel parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Harry M. Hallman, Jr.
Shem Creek · Charleston County
Two lane boat ramp, courtesy dock and paved parking for approximately 30 vehicle/trailers.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Highway 45 Bridge
Wambaw Creek · Charleston County
Not specified: accessible access.
Houlihan Park
Savannah River · Chatham County · DNR-CRD
Four-lane paved ramp, courtesy dock. Restrooms.
John P Limehouse
Stono River · Charleston County
Four lane boat ramp,courtesy dock, fishing pier and gravel parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Kings Ferry
Ogeechee River · Chatham County · DNR-CRD
Four-lane paved ramp, courtesy dock. Restrooms.
Lake Mayer
Lake Mayer · Chatham County
Restrooms.
Lazaretto Creek Marina
Lazaretto Creek · Chatham County · DNR-CRD
Two-lane paved ramp, courtesy dock.
Line Canal Canoe Access
Combahee River · Colleton County
Not specified: accessible access.
Live Oak
Big Bay Creek · Colleton County · SCPRT
Two-lane concrete ramp, courtesy dock, 10 parking spaces, gravel surface.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Long Creek
Edisto River · Colleton County
One lane boat ramp and limited parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Louis Scott Stell Lake
Louis Scott Stell Lake · Chatham County
Restrooms.
Lowndes
Edisto River · Colleton County
One lane boat ramp and limited parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Mars Oldfield
Edisto River · Colleton County
One lane boat ramp and limited parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Martins
Edisto River · Charleston County
Two lane boat ramp and limited parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
McLellanville Landing
Jeremy Creek · Charleston County · City of McClellanville
Two-lane concrete ramp, courtesy dock, 10 parking spaces for vehicles with trailers, paved surface.
Not specified: accessible access.
Millstone
Savannah River · Jasper County · Town of Hardeeville
Two lane boat ramp, courtesy dock and paved parking for approximately 21 vehicle/trailers.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Minnie Gruber Rumph Landing at Stokes Bridge
Edisto River · Colleton County
Not specified: accessible access.
New River
New River · Jasper County
One lane boat ramp and paved parking for approximately 8 vehicle/trailers.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Northbridge Park
Ashley River · Charleston County · City of Charleston
Accessible access. Restrooms.
Old Chehaw
Chehaw River · Colleton County
One lane boat ramp, courtesy dock, and limited parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Paige Point
Huspah Creek · Beaufort County
Two lane concrete boat ramp with courtesy dock and limited gravel parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Paradise
Wando River · Charleston County
One-lane concrete ramp, 10 to 15 parking spaces, gravel surface.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Parris Island
Battery Creek · Beaufort County · US Marine Corp
Two lane boat ramp, courtesy dock and gravel parking for approximately 45 vehicle/trailers.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Penn Center Dock
Cowen Creek · Beaufort County
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Penny Creek
Penny Creek · Charleston County
One lane boat ramp and limited parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Pier Point
Ashley River · Charleston County · SCDOT
One lane boat ramp and paved parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Pigeon Point
Beaufort River · Beaufort County · City of Beaufort
One lane boat ramp, courtesy dock and gravel parking for approximately. 14 vehicle/trailers.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Pitt Street Bridge
Intracoastal Waterway · Charleston County
Not specified: accessible access.
Port Royal
Port Royal Sound · Beaufort County
Three lane boat ramp, courtesy dock and paved parking for approximately 34 vehicle/trailers.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Prices Bridge
Horseshoe Creek · Colleton County
One lane boat ramp, courtesy dock and limited dirt parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Public
Combahee River · Colleton County
Two lane boat ramp, courtesy dock and limited parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Public Boat Dock Facility
May River · Beaufort County
*Public boat dock and limited parking. No boat ramp.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Public Boat Dock Facility
May River · Beaufort County
Not specified: accessible access.
R. M. Hendrick's (Virginia Av. Park)
Cooper River · Charleston County · City of North Charleston
One lane boat ramp and gravel parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Remleys Point
Wando River · Charleston County
Three lane boat ramp, 2 courtesy docks, fishing pier and paved parking for 45 vehicle/trailers.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Riverland Terrace
Elliot Cut · Charleston County
Two lane boat ramp, courtesy dock and gravel parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Roxbury Park
Toogoodoo Creek · Charleston County · Town of Meggett
Not specified: accessible access.
Salt Creek
Salt Creek · Chatham County · DNR-CRD
One-lane paved ramp. Restrooms.
Sams Point
Lucy Point Creek · Beaufort County
Two lane boat ramp, courtesy dock and limited gravel parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Sea Cloud Landing
Ocella Creek · Charleston County · South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Not specified: accessible access.
Seabrook
Whale Branch · Beaufort County
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Skidaway Narrows Community Park
Skidaway River (ICW) · Chatham County · DNR-CRD
Four-lane paved ramp, courtesy dock. Restrooms.
Station 26 Landing
Unnamed Tidal Creek · Charleston County · Town of Sullivan's Island
Gravel ramp. Limited, tide dependent. Gravel surface.
Station Creek
Station Creek · Beaufort County
Three lane boat ramp, courtesy dock and paved parking for approximately 20 vehicle/trailers.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Steamboat
North Edisto River · Charleston County
Two lane boat ramp, courtesy dock, fishing pier and gravel parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Steel Bridge
Combahee River · Beaufort County
Two lane boat ramp, courtesy dock and gravel parking for approximately 14 vehicle/trailers.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Stills
Wambaw Creek · Charleston County · US Forest Service
Unimproved boat ramp with limited parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Sugar Hill
Combahee River · Beaufort County
One lane boat ramp with grassed parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Sullivans Ferry
Edisto River · Colleton County
One lane boat ramp and limited parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Sunrise Park
Charleston Harbor · Charleston County · City of Charleston
Dirt parking. Restrooms.
Thunderbolt
Wilmington River · Chatham County · DNR-CRD
One-lane paved ramp, courtesy dock. Restrooms.
Toogoodoo
Toogoodoo Creek · Charleston County
One lane boat ramp and limited parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Turn Bridge
Wright River · Jasper County
One lane unimproved boat ramp and limited dirt parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Turners Creek
Turner Creek · Chatham County · DNR-CRD
One-lane paved ramp, courtesy dock.
Tuten
Boyd Creek · Jasper County
One lane boat ramp and limited parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Tybee Creek
Tybee Creek · Chatham County · DNR-CRD
Paved ramp.
Not specified: restrooms.
WO Thomas, Jr. Boat Landing
Ashley River · Charleston County
Two lane boat ramp, courtesy dock, fishing pier and paved parking for approximately 50 vehicle/traile…
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Wallace
Haigh Creek · Beaufort County
One lane boat ramp with a floating courtesy dock and limited parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Wappoo Cut
Wappoo Creek · Charleston County
Three lane boat ramp, 2 courtesy docks and paved parking for approximately 56 vehicle/trialers.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Warf Street
May River · Beaufort County · Town of Bluffton
This is a single lane boat ramp with no courtesy dock. There is a grassed parking area for approxim…
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
West Bank
Edisto River · Colleton County
Two lane boat ramp, courtesy dock and dirt parking for approximately 15 vehicle/trailers.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
White Hall
Factory Creek · Beaufort County
Four lane boat ramp, courtesy dock and paved parking for approximately 16 vehicle/trailers.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Willtown Bluff
Edisto River · Charleston County
One lane boat Ramp and limited parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Winbee Creek
North Winbee Creek · Beaufort County
One lane boat ramp with floating courtesy dock, fishing pier and gravel parking.
Not specified: accessible access or restrooms.
Bolan Hall Landing Pier
Euhaw Creek · Jasper County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
Breach Inlet Bridge Pier
Breach Inlet · Charleston County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
Brittlebank Park Pier
Ashley River · Charleston County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
Broad River Pier
Broad River · Beaufort County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
Charles C. Haigh, Jr. Pier
Mackay Creek · Beaufort County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
Charleston Waterfront Park Pier
Cooper River · Charleston County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
Cherry Point (Bohicket Creek) Pier
Bohicket Creek · Charleston County
15 parking spaces with room for trailers, dirt surface.
Not specified: accessible access.
Cooks Boat Ramp Pier
New River · Jasper County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
County Farm Pier
Ashley River · Charleston County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
Crosby's Seafood Dock Pier
Sol Legare Creek · Charleston County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
Daufuskie Island Dock and Float Pier
New River · Beaufort County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
Dawhoo Pier
Pond · Charleston County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier
Atlantic Ocean · Charleston County · Charleston County Parks
Concrete ramp, pay parking available, gravel surface. Accessible access. Restrooms.
Garris Landing Pier
Intracoastal Waterway · Charleston County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park Pier
Beaufort River · Beaufort County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
Higgins Pier
Ashley River · Charleston County
Wood ramp, 8 parking spaces, gravel surface. Accessible access.
James Island County Park Pier
Stono River · Charleston County
There's a parking lot a short distance from the pier, ( approx 1/4 mile). Paved surface. Accessible access.
Knowles Island Fishing Pier
Broad River · Jasper County
Wood ramp, 20 parking spaces, dirt surface. Accessible access.
Lobeco Pier
Whale Branch · Beaufort County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
Mount Pleasant Pier
Charleston Harbor · Charleston County
Concrete ramp. Available at Mt. Pleasant Waterfront Park. Paved surface. Accessible access. Restrooms.
Nebo Bank
Pond · Charleston County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
Old Chehaw Pier
Chehaw River · Colleton County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
Old House Creek Pier
Old House Creek · Beaufort County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
Palmetto Islands County Park Pier
Wampacheone Creek · Charleston County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
Pitt Street Bridge Pier
Charleston Harbor · Charleston County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
Remleys Point Pier
Cooper River · Charleston County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
Santee Coastal Reserve Pier
Santee River · Charleston County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
Sol Legare Fishing Pier and Crabbing Dock
Stono River · Charleston County
20 parking spaces, gravel surface.
Steamboat Pier
Steamboat Creek · Charleston County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
The Battery Pier
Ashley River · Charleston County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
Virginia Avenue Pier
Cooper River · Charleston County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
Wimbee Pier
North Winbee Creek · Beaufort County
Accessible access.
Not specified: restrooms.
Botany Bay (surf fishing)
Atlantic Ocean · Charleston County · State of South Carolina
30 parking spaces, dirt surface.
Colleton State Park Bank
Edisto River · Colleton County · SCPRT
15 parking spaces. Restrooms.
Goose Creek Municipal Complex Bank
Pond · Charleston County
20 parking spaces.
Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve
Atlantic Ocean, Lighthouse Inlet · Charleston County · Charleston County PRC
Paid ($1) and unpaid (wheels must be fully off paved surface). Parking is limited. Dirt surface.
Not specified: accessible access.
Nebo Ponds Bank
Nebo Ponds · Charleston County · USFWS
30 parking spaces. Restrooms.
Old Georgetown Road Pond Bank
Old Georgetown Pond · Charleston County · USFS
5 parking spaces.
Ossabaw Island WMA
Newell Creek · Chatham County · DNR
Rhem's Church Bank
Pond · Charleston County
Not specified: restrooms.
Twin Ponds Bank
Twin Ponds · Charleston County
Not specified: restrooms.
Twin Ponds Bank
Twin Ponds · Charleston County · USFS
5 parking spaces.
Willow Lake Bank
Willow Lake · Charleston County · USFS
5 parking spaces.

Sources: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources · Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division · distances are straight-line, and the road to a landing up a creek is often several times longer · neither agency guarantees a landing is open on the day

Sand you can drive to

fourteen public beaches, Tybee to Sullivan’s

Tybee Island Beach & PierTybee Island
Three miles of sand, a pier and a pavilion, with the dunes and the lighthouse at North Beach.
Daufuskie Island BeachDaufuskie
Nearly three miles of undeveloped strand facing Tybee's light. Often nobody else's footprints.
Coligny Beach ParkHilton Head
The island's busiest public beach: swinging benches, a fountain, boardwalk access.
Folly Field Beach ParkHilton Head
The locals' mid-island beach, and the island's best bodysurfing swell.
Driessen Beach ParkHilton Head
A long boardwalk over the dunes to a wide family beach on the east side.
Burkes BeachHilton Head
Mid-island access beside the Chaplin wetlands. Egrets in the lagoons at sunrise.
Islanders Beach ParkHilton Head
Quiet sand near Port Royal Sound, with picnic shelters and a playground.
Fish Haul Creek ParkHilton Head
Boardwalk to a wild Port Royal Sound beach beside Mitchelville. Horseshoe crabs, few people.
Hunting Island State ParkBeaufort
South Carolina's most-visited state park: beach, lagoon and maritime forest on one island.
Edisto Beach State ParkEdisto
Shell-strewn sand and maritime forest, with some of the largest shell middens on the coast.
Botany Bay PlantationEdisto
A boneyard beach of sun-bleached trees beside old plantation ruins.
Kiawah Island Beachwalker ParkKiawah
The only public way onto Kiawah's ten miles of hard-packed sand.
Folly BeachCharleston
Charleston's surf town, with the pier and the Morris Island light at the east end.
Sullivan’s Island BeachMount Pleasant
Wide, quiet sand beside Fort Moultrie, reached through maritime-forest paths.

Before you go

tides, licences, and what a blank field means

Six hours out, six hours back

A Lowcountry tide runs about six hours each way, and how far it moves depends on where you are. The May River swings eight feet between high and low; the Ashley barely five. A creek that floats a boat at half tide is mud at the bottom of it, and the ramp you launched from can be a gravel slope ending in nothing when you come back. Read the station nearest the ramp, not the one nearest the house.

A blank field on this page means nobody wrote it down

The state agencies record accessible access on 18 of the 103 ramps and restrooms on 27. The rest are blank. Blank means unrecorded, and this page will never print it as a no, because the person most affected by that distinction is the one least able to absorb a wasted drive. If you need either, ring the county office that owns the landing before you set off.

Licences

Both states sell saltwater fishing licences online, by the day or by the year, and both make exceptions: a charter captain’s licence normally covers everyone aboard, and some public piers are licensed so the anglers on them are not. The rules move, so buy from SCDNR or Georgia DNR directly and read what the licence you bought actually covers.

No wake is a law, not a courtesy

Marked zones around marinas, landings and moored boats are enforceable in both states, and the wake you leave is yours whatever the sign says. Bottlenose dolphins here strand-feed, driving bait up onto a mud bank and going after it; a wake arriving at the wrong second washes them off the bank.

Launching alone for the first time

Rig the boat in the parking area, not on the ramp, and take the tie-downs off before you back down. Two in five ramps on this coast are single-lane, so whatever you do next, the queue behind you is watching. If you have never done it, pick one of the 52 with a courtesy dock: you can tie the boat up and go and park the truck like a normal person.

More on the waterMarinas & boat slips Tours & charters Beaches Dogs on the beach Wind & kite report Coastal weather

On the Water

The tide, right now

Six ways onto the water

Dolphin & eco trips

Fishing charters

Kayak & paddleboard

Sailing

Harbour cruises & ferries

Your own boat

Six boats worth the day

Every public ramp on this coast

Alljoy

Awendaw Creek Canoe Launch

B & C

Battery Island (Sol Legare)

Becks Ferry

Bell's Landing

Bennetts Point

Bolan Hall

Brickyard Creek

Brickyard Ferry

Broad Creek

Broad River

Buck Hall

Buckingham

Bulow

Butchs Island

CC Haigh Jr

Capers

Cherry Point

Chessie

City Marina (Leeds Ave)

Coffee Bluff Marina

Colleton State Park

Cooks

Corner Lake

Cuckholds

Dawhoo

Dawson Creek

Eddings

Edgar Glenn

F.W. Spencer

Fields Point

Folly River

Fort Pulaski

Freedom Mall

Garris Landing

Good Hope

Grays Hill

HE Trask Sr

Harry M. Hallman, Jr.

Highway 45 Bridge

Houlihan Park

John P Limehouse

Kings Ferry

Lake Mayer

Lazaretto Creek Marina

Line Canal Canoe Access

Live Oak

Long Creek

Louis Scott Stell Lake

Lowndes

Mars Oldfield

Martins

McLellanville Landing

Millstone

Minnie Gruber Rumph Landing at Stokes Bridge

New River

Northbridge Park

Old Chehaw

Paige Point

Paradise

Parris Island

Penn Center Dock

Penny Creek

Pier Point

Pigeon Point

Pitt Street Bridge

Port Royal

Prices Bridge