⚠️ Alligators are present in and around lagoons throughout Hilton Head Island and Bluffton. Keep your dog away from all lagoons, ponds, and water edges at all times.
Hilton Head Island and Bluffton have some genuinely great spots for dogs and their people — from dedicated off-leash dog parks to scenic walking trails and beach access points. This page covers parks, preserves, and green spaces where dogs are welcome. Always check posted signage for current rules, as policies can change.
Hilton Head Island
Chaplin Community Park – Best Friends Dog Park
11 Castnet Dr., Hilton Head Island
🐾 Fenced off-leash dog park with separate small and large dog sections, water fountains, and shaded areas. The surrounding park includes walking trails, basketball and tennis courts, a playground, and beach access.
Audubon Newhall Preserve
55 Palmetto Bay Road, Hilton Head Island
A peaceful nature preserve with walking trails through maritime forest. Dogs are welcome but must be leashed at all times — as unleashed pets can disturb the wildlife the preserve protects.
Betsy Jukofsky Xeriscape Garden
1 Town Center Ct., Hilton Head Island
A quiet garden showcasing native and drought-tolerant plants, with a walking trail and community room. A calm spot for a leisurely stroll with your dog.
Burkes Beach Access
60 Burkes Beach Rd., Hilton Head Island
Public beach access with showers, restrooms, and paid parking. See the Beaches & Dogs page for seasonal dog hours and rules.
Coligny Beach Park
1 Coligny Circle, Hilton Head Island
A popular and well-equipped beach park with showers, free parking, and wheelchair-friendly beach mats. See the Beaches & Dogs page for seasonal dog hours and rules.
Compass Rose Park
4 St. Augustine Place, Hilton Head Island
A small, charming park at the corner of Pope Avenue and St. Augustine Place featuring public art and free parking. A nice spot for a short walk.
Crossings Park
4 Haig Point Circle, Hilton Head Island
An 85-acre recreation park with baseball fields, a playground, sports arena, walking trails, and a skate park. Plenty of room to roam with your dog.
Driessen Beach Park
64 Bradley Beach Rd., Hilton Head Island
Beach access with showers, restrooms, a playground, and paid parking. See the Beaches & Dogs page for seasonal dog hours and rules.
Folly Field Beach Park
55 Starfish Dr., Hilton Head Island
Beach access with showers, restrooms, and wheelchair-friendly beach mats. See the Beaches & Dogs page for seasonal dog hours and rules.
Green Shell Park
99 Squire Pope Road, Hilton Head Island
A scenic park with an observation deck, basketball court, picnic pavilion, playground, and free parking. A nice stop for a walk with your dog.
Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park
40 Harriet Tubman Way, Hilton Head Island
A small but significant historic park preserving the legacy of Mitchelville, one of the first self-governed freedmen’s communities in the United States. Walking paths through a peaceful, shaded setting.
Honey Horn / Coastal Discovery Museum
70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island
A beautiful 68-acre property on Broad Creek featuring gardens, boardwalks, a butterfly enclosure, an apiary, walking trails, and a museum. Dogs are welcome on the grounds and trails. A genuinely special place to explore with a well-behaved dog on leash.
Islanders Beach Park
Off Folly Field Rd., Hilton Head Island
Beach access with a playground, grill, wheelchair-friendly mats, and free parking. See the Beaches & Dogs page for seasonal dog hours and rules.
Jarvis Creek Park
100 Jarvis Park Rd., Hilton Head Island
A 53-acre park with a 1.1-mile lake loop trail, additional walking trails, a playground, and a basketball court. A great circular walk with your dog — just stay well back from the water’s edge.
Old Schoolhouse Park
152 William Hilton Pkwy, Hilton Head Island
An open green space with two tennis courts, a basketball court, picnic tables, and free parking. Simple and relaxed — good for a casual outing with your dog.
Shelter Cove Community Park
39 Shelter Cove Ln., Hilton Head Island
A lovely waterfront park with a playground, performance pavilion, picnic shelters, a boardwalk with views of Broad Creek, and public art. A nice spot for an evening walk with your dog.
Bluffton
Oscar Frazier Park – Bluffton Dog Park
77 Shults Rd., Bluffton
🐾 Fenced off-leash dog park with separate small and large dog sections, water fountains, and shaded picnic tables. The go-to dog park for the Bluffton area. Note: Oscar Frazier park rules prohibit food of any kind (dog or human) inside the dog park.
Francis Marion Stanton Park
984 U.S. Route 17 South, Bluffton
A small riverfront park with a sand beach, fishing pier, and a paved walking path. A quiet spot for a walk with your dog along the May River.
John Graham Park
1045 U.S. Route 17 South, Bluffton
A riverfront park with a beach, playground, picnic shelters, and a basketball court. A relaxed spot for a walk with your dog along the water.
May River Park
896 South Okatie Hwy, Bluffton
A scenic riverfront park with a sand beach, kayak launch, playground, and picnic shelters. Beautiful views of the May River — a great spot for a walk with your dog.
Riverview Park
1186 North Okatie Hwy, Bluffton
A riverfront park with a beach, fishing pier, boat launch, and walking trail. A peaceful spot for a walk with your dog along the water.