Nothing beats walking off your deck and onto the beach. Edisto’s oceanfront rentals run from classic raised cottages to big new homes with elevators and pools, and most of them line one road: Palmetto Boulevard.
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Where Edisto’s oceanfront homes are
Almost all of Edisto’s oceanfront homes are on Palmetto Boulevard, which follows the beach from the state park to the Point. The town’s 37 public beach accesses are numbered along the same road, so access numbers are an easy way to tell the stretches apart. Homes on the ocean side of Palmetto Boulevard have their own dune walkovers to the sand.
North end accesses 1–7
Where Highway 174 meets Palmetto Boulevard, next to the state park’s beach and oceanfront campground. The grocery store, shops and several restaurants are a short walk or bike ride away on Jungle Road and Highway 174.
Best for: walking to dinner and groceries, and long walks onto the state park beach.
Mid-beach accesses 8–20
Block after block of houses, each oceanfront home with its own dune walkover. It’s mostly residential, with shops and restaurants a bike or golf-cart ride away.
Best for: a classic beach-house week with a quieter street.
South end accesses 21–28
The older, denser blocks near Town Hall, closest to Wyndham Ocean Ridge, the golf course and the marina side of town.
Best for: golfers and boaters who still want to be on the beach.
The Point accesses 29–37
Palmetto Boulevard turns north along St. Helena Sound, so homes here face the sound instead of the open ocean, with sunsets over the water. Bay Creek Park and the marina are close by.
Best for: sunsets, boating and fishing.
Jeremy Cay and Edingsville Beach. Outside town, off Highway 174, the gated Jeremy Cay community sits on remote Edingsville Beach. There are only a handful of oceanfront homes, on large lots, and town is a drive away. Best for privacy and space.
Compare the oceanfront stretches
| Stretch | Beach accesses (about) | Close to | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| North end | 1–7 | State park beach, grocery, shops, restaurants | Walking to dinner |
| Mid-beach | 8–20 | Mostly homes | A quieter beach-house week |
| South end | 21–28 | Town Hall, Wyndham Ocean Ridge, golf | Golfers and boaters |
| The Point | 29–37 | St. Helena Sound, Bay Creek Park, marina | Sunsets, boating, fishing |
| Edingsville Beach | Outside town | Jeremy Cay (gated) | Privacy and space |
Oceanfront, ocean view or second row?
- Oceanfront means the lot touches the beach and nothing sits between you and the water.
- Ocean view usually means a second-row home with a view over the oceanfront houses, often from a top deck.
- Second row homes are across Palmetto Boulevard or a street back, with a short walk to a numbered public beach access. They cost much less.
Beach width, groins and high tide
Edisto’s beach isn’t the same width everywhere. A series of groins, lines of rock and timber running into the ocean, slow the sand moving down the coast. Sand builds up on one side of a groin and the other side can erode, so the beach in front of one house can be wide while a few lots down there is little dry sand at high tide. Storms change it too: Matthew in 2016 and Irma in 2017 cut into the dunes and pushed sand onto Palmetto Boulevard, and the beach is periodically renourished with new sand.
- Ask how much beach is in front of the house at high tide. Owners and managers know, and listing photos are often taken at low tide.
- Check the tide chart for your dates. There are two high tides most days; plan beach time around low tide if your stretch is narrow.
- Swim away from the groins. At high tide they can create strong currents and hide submerged rocks, and there are no lifeguards. Read how to stay safe around rip currents.
Tips for renting an oceanfront home
- Book early for summer. Oceanfront weeks in June and July are the first to go, often months ahead.
- Check the beach at high tide. Some stretches get narrow; see beach width, groins and high tide.
- Ask about the walkover and stairs. Oceanfront homes are raised high, and the dune walkover adds more steps. Need help with stairs? See homes with elevators.
- Respect turtle season. From May 1 through Oct. 31, no light may shine on the beach at night. Close oceanside blinds after dark, and give marked loggerhead nests plenty of room.
- Want a pool too? Some oceanfront homes have one; see rentals with a pool.
Common questions
Is an oceanfront rental on Edisto worth the extra cost?
If you want to watch the kids from the deck, take sunrise walks and skip hauling gear, yes. If you’ll be out exploring most days, a second-row home a short walk from a beach access saves a lot.
Are there oceanfront hotels on Edisto Beach?
No. There are no hotels on Edisto, so oceanfront homes and a few condos are the only way to stay right on the beach.
Which oceanfront stretch is closest to restaurants and groceries?
The north end, roughly beach accesses 1 to 7, where Highway 174 meets Palmetto Boulevard. The grocery store, shops and several restaurants are on Jungle Road and Highway 174 nearby. See Edisto restaurants.
Is there beach at high tide in front of oceanfront homes?
In most places, yes, but it varies with the groins, recent storms and renourishment. Some stretches have little dry sand at high tide, so ask the owner or manager and check the tide chart for your dates.
Still deciding? See all our Edisto Beach vacation rentals by type and area.