Hilton Head Island in December
Holiday lights over the marina, empty beaches, and the island returning to the people who love it most.
Average High Temp
58° F
Average Low Temp
46° F
Average Water Temp
58° F
Pace of the Island
Festive
December on Hilton Head has two distinct personalities. The first three weeks are the quietest the island gets outside of January — mild, unhurried, and full of the particular beauty that bare trees and low winter light bring to a coastal landscape. Then the final week of the year arrives, schools let out, and the holiday crowd brings a surprising energy to what is otherwise the off-season.
Holiday Magic at Shelter Cove Harbour transforms the marina into a festive destination with lights, entertainment, and events that make it worth a visit even if you’re only on the island for a few days. The combination of the waterfront setting and holiday decorations is genuinely beautiful, and it draws locals as much as visitors. It is one of the few December events where the island feels celebratory rather than quiet.
Golf in December is underrated. The courses are in good condition, green fees are at their lowest, and on a clear December day — the kind that arrives regularly in the Lowcountry even in winter — the experience of playing Harbour Town or Palmetto Dunes with almost no one else on the course is one of the island’s genuine pleasures. Meanwhile, those planning spring and summer trips often spend December researching — and early booking in December is the smartest move for peak season availability.
Events & Festivals
These events recur annually. Exact dates shift year to year — check local event listings before your visit for current schedules.
- Holiday Magic at Shelter Cove Harbour (through December) — festive lights, entertainment, and events at the waterfront marina
- Christmas events across the island — community celebrations, church events, and special restaurant menus
- New Year’s Eve celebrations — several venues host countdown events; Shelter Cove and Harbour Town are the primary hubs
- Holiday week (December 26-January 1) — the island picks back up significantly as families travel between Christmas and New Year
Best Activities This Month
- Golf — lowest rates of the year; clear December days can be extraordinary on the island’s courses
- Holiday Magic at Shelter Cove — the most festive thing happening on the island through December
- Biking — winter morning rides are brisk and beautiful; the trails are nearly empty
- Savannah day trip — Savannah decorated for Christmas is one of the most beautiful things in the South; 45 minutes from HHI
- Holiday shopping — Coligny Plaza, Shelter Cove, and Harbour Town all have seasonal retailers
- Coastal Discovery Museum — quiet, excellent, and a perfect indoor afternoon
- Dolphin watching — resident pods are still active and highly visible in calm winter water
- Bluffton Old Town — local galleries often have special December shows
- Beach walks — December low-tide walks on the hard-packed sand are a completely different island experience
- New Year’s Eve at Harbour Town or Shelter Cove — both offer countdown celebrations with waterfront fireworks or events
