Daufuskie Island vacation rentals

Tiny, five-mile long Daufuskie Island is nestled in the South Carolina Lowcountry — which stretches from Savannah, Georgia, up to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina — where it meets the dolphin-rich waters of Calibogue Sound. People come to the island to leave their cars behind — it’s all about bikes and golf carts here — and try their luck fishing for speckled trout at Bloody Point. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, Daufuskie Island blends Spanish moss-strewn branches, unpaved woodland roads, and spongy marshes surrounding ponds home to alligators and snowy egrets.

Daufuskie Island is also known for its strong Gullah culture — traditions maintained by the descendants of West Africans. The legacy of the Gullah people can be seen and felt in historic cottages with painted blue windows as protection against evil spirits, dishes including stone-ground grits and shrimp, and the sculpture, basket weaving, and painting showcased at local art galleries.

The summer months are the busiest here, and an ideal time to book a rental on Daufuskie Island. Fall is when temperatures start to cool down, and an occasional, cool breeze can be felt here and there. Visiting during this season, you get the added benefit of enjoying the annual Fall Fest with live music, arts and crafts, and an all-you-can-eat oyster roast. Winter is temperate enough to be outside and visitors can enjoy a bug-free night on the beaches or in town. Come spring, the sunny weather picks up again and the island’s rivers and saltwater creeks are excellent for kayaking. Three miles of white-sand beach also beckon for sunny wanders past pastel-hued beachfront homes on stilts.

Bloody Point Lighthouse

This historical landmark is not your typical lighthouse. Looking more like a keeper’s cottage, the light was operated via a dormer window. Now out of commission, Bloody Point Lighthouse is a museum where you can learn about the island’s history and the major role it played in naval trade for centuries.

Rob Kennedy Trail

Named for the first president of the Daufuskie Island Historical Foundation, this self-guided route crisscrosses the island, but you can start at any point. There are 20 listed sites of interest, from Mt. Carmel Baptist Church — home to a museum dedicated to the island’s history — to the Oyster Union Society Hall, which dates from the late 19th century.

Daufuskie Island Museum

People have inhabited this tiny island for more than 9,000 years, and there’s no place better to learn about its complicated history than at the Daufuskie Island Museum. A mix of informational displays and artifacts help trace the island’s history, from Indigenous conflicts to European settlers to it becoming a center for the Gullah community. Before you go, pick up a walking map of the island’s historic sites.