Hilton Head Communities & Plantations

There are dozens of gated communities on Hilton Head Island, a handful more past the bridge to the mainland, and plenty of un-gated neighborhoods scattered in between. A large Hilton Head Island gated community is frequently referred to locally as a “plantation”. Shipyard Plantation, Palmetto Hall Plantation, Wexford Plantation, Port Royal Plantation, and Hilton Head Plantation are some examples. Other plantation communities have either recently dropped the plantation designation from their official titles or left it off in the first place; Long Cove Club, Palmetto Dunes, and Sea Pines Plantation are a few of these. Other gated communities include Indigo Run, Windmill Harbour, and Spanish Wells.

Small less-famous gated communities, like their larger counterparts, have privately owned and maintained streets and amenities reserved for exclusive use by the property owners within. The island's other neighborhoods without gates are interspersed among the gated communities. The waterside Forest Beachsection is bisected by Coligny Circle; North Forest Beach reaches to the tip of Shipyard Plantation and South Forest Beach ends at Sea Pines Resort's Ocean side gate. Folly Field, Singleton Beach, Burke’s Beach, and Shelter Cove are a few other open communities.

Off-island, privately-gated golf club communities include Moss Creek Plantation, Colleton River Plantation, The Crescent, Belfair Plantation, Rose Hill Plantation, and others. Del Webb's Sun City (for active seniors) is further away from Hilton Head, located closer to I-95, but still a short drive away.

Hilton Head Island is justifiably famous for golf and tennis venues. A large percentage of these facilities are located within the gated communities. And though a few allow public play, because their communities may or may not permit general access, only those living or vacationing at properties within certain plantations can use those courses and courts.

Because Hilton Head Island is relatively small in size, nearly every neighborhood is close to the water. When looking at these areas, remember that “waterfront” and “oceanfront” indicate that the property touches the water; but “waterside” and “oceanside” indicate that you can’t necessarily see the water from the property—it’s just within walking distance.