14 perfect Daufuskie Island rentals for the perfect vacation (2023)

FAQs

Is Daufuskie Island expensive? ›

Daufuskie Island, SC Housing Market

The median listing home price in Daufuskie Island, SC was $975K in April 2023, trending down -13.3% year-over-year. The median listing home price per square foot was $340. The median home sold price was $825K.

The crowded beaches of Hilton Head Island might be too much for some visitors. Life on Daufuskie Island, whether visiting for the day or staying overnight, is quiet and goes on at a snail's pace. After all, there are only between 200 and 500 permanent residents spread on 5,000 acres.

Daufuskie isn't very walkable; there isn't a downtown area. To see all the sites in a short time frame you would need a golf cart.

Since Daufuskie Island is accessible only by boat or passenger ferry from Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, getting here is part of the fun!

John Mellencamp's island getaway

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer purchased land on Daufuskie around 30 years ago, but the land sat empty for more than a decade. Check out his amazing detailed island home at Architecture Digest. Mellencamp still lives on the remote island you can only access by boat.

Singer-songwriter John Mellencamp at his retreat on South Carolina's Daufuskie Island; he stenciled the wall with lyrics from one of his songs.

A: Daufuskie has its fair share of tiny biting bugs, locally known as "no see 'ums." It doesn't really matter what they are. The most important thing to know is that they can (and should) be stopped from making a meal of you.

The Gullah language, a rhythmic blend of southern English and native African dialects, can still be heard on Daufuskie today just as certain aspects of the Gullah culture can be observed.

From Daufuskie

The trip duration is approximately 45 minutes long. The ferry runs the same schedule every day except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Days.

Called a Marsh Tackie, this is one of the island's own wild horses - Picture of Daufuskie Difference, Hilton Head.

Can I drive my car on Daufuskie Island? ›

Many people believe cars are not allowed on Daufuskie. This is a common misconception. There are some car restrictions within the private communities, but many folks outside of the resorts drive cars. That being said, 99% of all visitors to Daufuskie rent golf carts.

In 2021, the median household income of Daufuskie Island households was $136,413.

One of the other conveniences the Daufuskie Difference offers, is FREE PARKING at Freeport Marina on Daufuskie Island once we've moved your car off of the Daufuskie Island Barge.

The western part of the island is unincorporated land. About 100 residents live in a variety of accommodations, from cabins and small houses to waterfront homes with private docks. This section of the island received federal designation as a historic district in the early 1980s.

It was purchased by Brian McCarthy, a Daufuskie Island property owner, for $1.64 million.

According to Daufuskie locals, there was one positive sighting of a black bear around dusk in August. Another Daufuskie local, Mary Bryan said, “I saw a large black animal in the woods while walking my dog. The dog stopped and turned in the other direction.” Mary, not knowing what it was, decided to follow suit.

Witherspoon can sometimes be spotted in Charleston, shopping along the popular King Street or perusing the Spoleto Festival in the charming downtown. She owns a property on the Sullivan's Island beach there.

Seymour

Monroe Lake

Mellencamp owns a home on Daufuskie. The mansion, which has soaring ceilings, broad ocean views and peaked windows reminiscent of a church, has been featured in Architectural Digest.

Brian and Pam Cobb – Owners.

What famous person lives on Tybee Island? ›

The entire isle is only 3 square miles, with less than 3,500 people occupying it year-round. Past notable residents include John Mellencamp, Sandra Bullock, and best-selling author Mary Kay Andrews. Stars like Miley Cyrus, John Travolta, and Ben Affleck, have also been drawn to vacation at Tybee's peaceful shoreline.

A: Wildlife is everywhere on Daufuskie Island! American alligator, loggerhead sea turtles, right whales (the rarest of all large whales), snowy egret, and wood storks are just a sampling of the animals you can expect to see on your visit to the island.

Daufuskie itself didn't fare as well. The storm hit them from the north, Veit said, so the north end of the island was most damaged. Melrose Landing and the Haig Point community dock were both destroyed, she said, adding the Haig Point ferry survived, as did Freeport Marina.

Cockroaches are among the more common insect pests that you'll find in the Hilton Head area.

During the Civil War, plantation owners and slaves fled Daufuskie Island as Union Troops occupied the island. Once the war ended, the Gullah people (freed slaves) returned to the island to work in oyster canneries and the logging industry.

When we visited Daufuskie Island a few years ago, a local real estate agent explained that the costs to build a home in the Haig Point golf community were around $450 per square foot. The community is served by ferry service; no vehicles are permitted on the island.

Denny Jaskowiak is one of approximately 400 full-time residents that dwell across the 2.5-mile-wide and 5-mile-long strategically designed island of Daufuskie, which is only accessible by boat.

Your captain will take you through the beautiful creeks and marshes between Bluffton and Daufuskie Island, and drop you off at the Public Dock (also known as the “County Dock”).

Pool access is free to visitors staying in Melrose rental residences on Daufuskie. If you are staying outside Melrose on Daufuskie, you can purchase pool access passes daily or weekly.

Palmetto Breeze in conjunction with Daufuskie Island Ferry offers island residents a paperless Ferry Ticket System. It works like a transponder car pass on toll roads. The QR code sticker on your ID card will be scanned every time you ride the ferry.

What is the best time of year to go to Hilton Head? ›

The best time to visit Hilton Head is April and May as well as September and October. Spring and fall offer fewer crowds and lower lodging rates all the while maintaining temperatures that are still beach-friendly. Summer is also a great time to visit the island, as the weather is perfect for swimming in the ocean.

Daufuskie Island is a very pet friendly community.

If you're renting a condo or vacation home, be sure to check with the rental company on their pet policy. Pets are allowed at the outdoor areas of the island's restaurants. Keep your dogs away from all standing bodies of water, lagoons, lakes.

Board games and cards are a perfect form of entertainment on this lazy Island. You will have tv, cell service and Wifi, but Daufuskie is a place to unplug. A spirited game that includes everyone will surely make memories. These tips should help you in your planning process.

Book online or call 843-842-9449 to book your tour of Daufuskie Island, a special and beautiful place you will not soon forget.

Daufuskie by Pedal

With the purchase of a ferry ticket, bikes are $8/one way or $16/round trip per seat. Rent bicycles or electric bicycles for a day of exploring, exercising or relaxing fun.

Here's how we did it | Kiawah Island, SC.

The minimum combined 2023 sales tax rate for Daufuskie Island, South Carolina is 7%.

Hilton Head Island's housing expenses are 23% higher than the national average and the utility prices are 1% higher than the national average. Transportation expenses like bus fares and gas prices are 9% lower than the national average.

Wildlife is everywhere on Daufuskie Island! American alligator, loggerhead sea turtles, right whales (the rarest of all large whales), snowy egret, and wood storks are just a sampling of the animals you can expect to see on your visit to the island.

What are some fun facts about Daufuskie Island? ›

The island is also home to the First Union African Baptist Church, which is Daufuskie's oldest building, and is still in use today as a place of worship. There are two historic lighthouses on Daufuskie Island. The Bloody Point Lighthouse, built in 1883, and the Haig Point Lighthouse, built ten years earlier.

Accessible only by boat, Daufuskie Island offers a unique experience for visitors. Our water taxi departs from Bull River Marina located in beautiful Savannah, Georgia. The route takes you through scenic waterways and marshes between Savannah, GA and Daufuskie Island. The ride is offered ONLY during daylight hours.

Daufuskie's population had dwindled to about 60 when developers began buying large tracts on the 12-square-mile island in 1984. Now antebellum-style houses and developments line the shore, and 150 people, one-third of them black, call the island home.

On April 15 1715, three skirmishes at this site between the Yemassee Indians and settlers took place on Bloody Point. It was said that there was blood in the water from the dead and injured – and the name Bloody Point has been engraved upon this beautiful shoreline ever since.

Overall, Daufuskie Island Club has an extreme risk of flooding over the next 30 years, which means flooding is likely to impact day-to-day life within the community.

1. Musha Cay, Bahamas. Owned by the magician David Copperfield, Musha Cay is the most expensive Caribbean island you can visit. In fact, it costs from $50,000 per night for 1 to 12 people to stay here, with a 5 night minimum!

Which is the richest island country in the world? In terms of GDP per capita, Bermuda is the wealthiest Caribbean country and one of the richest island countries in the world.

Musha Cay, Bahamas

Considered the most expensive Caribbean island to stay in, Musha Cay in the Bahamas is a 100-acre secluded spot where you'll be provided with everything you want. This magical Caribbean island is owned by the magician David Copperfield.

A cluster of low-income apartment complexes in the area near the intersection of Mathews Drive and William Hilton Parkway have been considered a crime trouble spot for decades, say town officials. That includes Hilton Head Gardens, Sandlewood Terrace, The Oaks and Woodlake Villas.

With one of the top 10 family beaches in the U.S., an array of world-class golf courses, abundant natural beauty and a spirit you won't find anywhere else, Hilton Head Island offers a relaxing, laid-back and welcoming vibe that makes it a perfect vacation destination.

Is Hilton Head like the Hamptons? ›

The Hamptons on Long Island are known for seaside villages, long stretches of beach and as a summer getaway for the rich and famous. Hilton Head is the “new Hamptons,” according to Zillow Chief Economist Skylar Olsen.

Our landmark artisans have received national recognition for their hard-to-get-to galleries with island-inspired art. Much of Daufuskie's land is undeveloped and roads are unpaved which gives the island its characteristic “are we still in the United States” feel.