The Ultimate Guide to Biking in Kiawah Island

One of my favorite parts of being in Kiawah Island, South Carolina, is renting a bike and riding around the island. Not only is it easy to bicycle in Kiawah Island, but there is some of the most beautiful scenery around that is completely accessible via the bike paths! In this guide, I will go over how to get your bike, the different bike trails available, the best routes, and how to get around.

Where to Get a Bike in Kiawah Island

When you have a destination that is so accessible for bicyclists, you’re also going to have quite a few options for bike rentals. Here are just some of the most highly rated rental companies in Kiawah Island:

• Seaside Cycles– I can vouch for these guys! They delivered three bicycles and a child carrier to our villa on time, and picked them up on the day we left. Everything was perfect!

• Kiawah Island Bike Rentals– It’s all in the name!

• Island Bike and Surf Shop– If you already own a bike, they offer repairs too.

• Your Rental/Villa- A lot of the rental homes in Kiawah Island provide bicycles for their guests, so be sure to double-check that or ask the rental company before your trip.

How to Get Around Via Bicycle

There are 30 miles of paved bike trails in Kiawah Island, as well as safe, quiet neighborhood streets, and plenty of bikeable beachfront. It can be pretty overwhelming to decide where you want to go, but most people just go! There are plenty of maps and resources to help you get around, but even if you get lost, it’s easy to find your way back. Here are a few maps to help you get familiar with Kiawah Island, the bike routes, and what’s what!

• South Carolina Trails
• Seaside Cycles
• Biking on Kiawah Island

What Are the Best Routes?

The majority of the Kiawah Island bicycle trails are connected to each, although you will also find a few that are not, so just keep that in mind! These are some of the more popular bicycle routes:

• Night Heron Park Trail- This trail is in the ever popular area of Kiawah Island called Night Heron Park, which houses villas, condos, and the Kiawah Island Nature Center. There are also plenty of other activities to find here, including a playground, picnic areas, a tennis court, a swimming pool, and a disc golf course. This trail is perfect for families with children, as it is one of the shorter routes and brings you through the foliage for a shadier and a less strenuous experience.

• Beachwalker Park Trail- This isn’t so much a path as it is a tour of some of Kiawah’s most beautiful beachfront! This portion of beachfront can be easily biked as it is very wide and clean. Kiawah Island tends to be a quiet destination, and you don’t have to worry about this beach being overcrowded, leaving plenty of room for getting around on your bike. This path also passes through some marshland, which means you might very well get the chance to seem some of Kiawah’s famous wildlife!

• West Beach Village Trail is the best of all worlds. Close to and perfectly in between the surrounding Beachwalker Park, Mingo Point, and the Cougar Point Golf Course, you can decide which view you’d like to have that day, or enjoy them all!

• Freshfields Village Trail- Freshfields Village is where it is ALL happening in Kiawah Island! This is where you will find your restaurants and small eateries, shopping, grocery store, and even the post office. This trail runs straight through the village and the outskirts, and makes for the perfect quick ride for that ice cream or breakfast!

• Marsh Island Trail- Kiawah Island isn’t just known for its beaches or beautiful village. Kiawah is actually renowned for its marshland and nature preservation, and because of this, Kiawah Island is teeming with wildlife and natural fauna. Be ready to see heron, osprey, alligators, otters, deer, and more on this trail, amongst other trails! This one is pretty easy too, so I would recommend this one for children.

• Vanderhorst Plantation- There are many places to bike within the Vanderhorst Plantation area of Kiawah Island, but two in particular really stick out for their beautiful scenery. One being Rhett’s Bluff, arguably one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Kiawah Island. These trails offer both wooded and beach views, and different levels of bicycling difficulty from easy to heart-pumping. The second trail leads to the Blue Heron Lookout Tower, which offers beautiful views of the surrounding area and is a great place for bird-watching. This trail is easy, and is a great place to bring the kids.

What is There to See on Kiawah?

When people think of Kiawah Island, they might think of the beach. There is beautiful beach in Kiawah Island, but there is also so much more! Kiawah Island is full of coastline, forest, marshland, and wetland. Here are a few key stop-offs to visit along the bike paths that will help you get a feel for what Kiawah Island is all about:

• The Kiawah Island Heron Park Nature Center is located within Night Heron Park, and consists of the Nature Center, Kiawah Island Nature Program, the Island Outpost, and educational exhibits. They also offer tours providing a closer look at the wildlife and the fauna that call Kiawah Island home.

• Observation Towers- Don’t miss both the Marshview Tower and the Blue Heron Pond Tower, which give you a better view of the gorgeous surroundings, and hopefully a chance to spot some of the birds that call Kiawah Island home.

• The Beach- Honestly, there is no better place to ride your bike on the beach than in Beachwalker Park, where the sand is firm and packed, and the beach is clean, quiet, and uncrowded. And what a beautiful view! Just remember if you are renting a bicycle, make sure you check with the rental company to see what their policy is on taking the bikes on the beach.

• Freshfields Village- The one and only village in Kiawah Island, and a great place to grab a coffee, ice cream, a snack, or even breakfast in the morning!

Getting Around Safely

Kiawah Island is one of the safest places in the USA, and biking is no different. However, there are a few things to consider:

• There are 30 miles of paved pathways dedicated to bicyclists and walkers, but you will have to ride across the busy road every now and then! In my experience, a vast majority of drivers on Kiawah will stop and let you go if they spot you on the side of the road, but just be aware, and look both ways before crossing, especially if you are riding at night. There are always going to be those drivers that are driving too fast and carelessly.

• Be sure to obey signage and traffic rules. Stay in your lane!

• Watch for alligators. No, seriously! I have only ever seen them in the water, but this is alligator territory, after all.

• It goes without saying that you should be wearing a helmet, especially children.

• Wear reflective clothing or install reflectors on your bicycle for night riding if there aren’t already.

• If the kids are still under the age of five, consider the carrier attachment for the bicycles. You know how kids get… tired… hungry…BORED! Put the kids in the back with the snacks! Just remember that the person hauling the carrier is going to have a much more strenuous ride. It’s not as easy as it looks, take it from me!

• When riding through neighborhoods, be sure to signal to traffic when you need to make a directional change.

• Watch for pedestrians!

• Bring your backpack or install a basket for your bicycle. You will be thirsty, hungry, or you may find something that you want to bring home!

• And last but not least, just have fun!

Want to know more about Kiawah Island? Check out my full Guide to Kiawah Island here!