Daufuskie Island Daily Round Trip Ferry Tickets

Don’t bother going to the island on Monday, because most things of interest are not open. The Captain, Crew and ship make for a pleasant trip. Also, check the weather.

Be on time. They pay close attention to their schedule The boats are big enough for luggage etc if you have it

Boat and crew were great, provided great information about the area.

Very fun family experience. The boat captain was super nice and the island excursion was great. Make sure you rent a golf cart with your ticket, you will not regret it.

This was our 2nd time traveling to Daufuskie, and we had a great time - a nice break from the hustle/bustle of HH. The “ferry” is a large (50’), covered, stable pontoon boat and is the perfect (only), scenic way to get there. We saw lots of dolphins on both trips!

xt: It was almost too hot to enjoy. The island was pretty, but we could have probably discovered more with a guide. The maps were hard to follow. Captain Bob was engaging on the trip over. I probably wouldn’t do it again, or recommend to anyone else to do.

The ferry ride to Daufuskie Island was very enjoyable, the ships crew were all very friendly and polite. We had two different crew in the am and pm and both were great! The ferry left on time in the morning and afternoon. We rented a golf cart and enjoyed the day exploring on the quiet island.

The ferry ride from Hilton Head Island to Daufuskie Island was quick and the crew were great. Try to get back to the ferry a few minutes before they say they are leaving so everyone can leave on time. One woman strolled up at a very slow pace at the exact time we were to leave. The island is very interesting and all the shop owners and locals were very friendly. We rented a 6 seated golf cart from Daufuskie Carts. It is a 3 minute walk from the Harbor. The cart was clean and seemed new. He will give you a ride back to the harbor when you drop it off. Make sure you get coffee at the little coffee shop at the back of the school and ice cream at Scoopasaurus. We ate lunch at Frye’s Corner. It was ok. Small menu but quick service with a few picnic tables.

We booked the “Meals on Wheels” ferry to Daufuskie Island and had a mixed experience. The ride to the island was great—comfortable, scenic, and exactly what we expected. However, the return trip was completely different. Instead of a ferry, we were picked up by a small skiff that felt more like a fast, rough speedboat ride. It was overcrowded, very hot, and honestly uncomfortable. Additionally, the “meal” and “drink” inclusions were not clearly explained. The meal voucher only worked at one restaurant (Old Daufuskie Crab Company), and the drink ticket was limited to a single specific beer (Iron Ale). These restrictions were not communicated upfront and felt misleading. Overall, the lack of clear details and inconsistency in the experience made this feel disappointing. With better transparency and more consistency between trips, this could be a much better experience for future guests.

Good directions on how to get there. We left dock at 11 am and returned from D. Island @ 5 pm. The captain needs a mic so we can hear his historic points. We did the golf cart rental as well. The map of the island they give you on the tour boat was older, has unmarked dead ends and will get you lost. It will make you late getting back to the dock when returning your golf cart. The captain said they hear that complaint all the time. Also the roads on the island are poorly marked for sites to see, any few places to eat, or correct road markers. For the hundreds that rent the golf carts creating accurate better signage on the roads for us is a simple, inexpensive fix. And get whats on the island to match a newer made map please!

Before going there, I recommend reading Pat Conroy book "The Water is Wide", it's all about Daufuskie and as a middle school teacher there. However check the weather before boarding. On March 24 2026, there was a strong wind and a company caring for its customers safety should have cancelled the trip, not for the waves on the way but for the conditions of the dock at Daufuskie. The boat disembarked us on a floating dock far from the harbor and we had to walk on about two dozen of individual floating pieces each having their own ample movement challenging your balance. My wife fell at the start and could go on only with the help of two strong men at her side. the situation was as bad 5 hours later when we reembarked. I heard a fellow passenger lady saying "it is terrifying" before redoing the same "exercise". I asked the first people going to the bot to ask for help for my wife and they sent the captain assistant who was very kind and helpful. When I asked the captain why he did not coast closer he told me that it was too difficult to do this under this weather. I thought a captain priority was the safety of his passengers... I am thinking about posting this complain to the appropriate South Carolina government department.

It was an adventure, loved getting lose an find out way back.

Boat was on time and easy to find. Crew was great. The island was very cool just watch out for gnats

The island is interesting. The historic locations and roads ( trails) are poorly marked. Best historic spot was the lighthouse. Might not be worth the $60 each price tag or the $80 fee for golf cart.

The carts are noisy, street signs are questionable and the map is lousy. We booked on Christmas eve so there was only ONE restaurant open. ...it was relaxing and enjoyable!!!!!

Troy was great on the boat rides to and from, giving three stars because they should inform you when you’re booking that most shops, attractions, restaurants are CLOSED on Sundays and Mondays. Place was a ghost town.

Rent a golf cart, it’s impossible to walk the island and you will want to explore. Speak to the residents and BE KIND. They live here and know all the places to hide a body. Spend local and please stop by and visit Jessica and Summer!

Fantastic. Nate Nate kind and fun to talk with. The ride was smooth and comfortable. Nate was controlling the music and he did a great job mixing it up and keeping it lively. Definitely recommend the service. We showed up as instructed. We left on time. Will use them every time we are here

Visiting Daufuskie Island was an incredible and eye-opening experience. I had no idea how much rich, deep history was rooted in this small, quiet island until I explored it firsthand. The stories of the Gullah people, their resilience, and their connection to the land were both humbling and inspiring. One of the most memorable parts of my visit was learning about Sarah Hudson Grant, the island’s physical, and her husband, who served as the undertaker. Their lives reflected the strength and dignity of generations who built and sustained this community long before modern development ever touched it. Equally moving was discovering that the Bible’s New Testament has been translated in both English and the Gullah language—a powerful reminder of how faith, culture, and language intertwine to preserve the identity and heritage of the Gullah people. Hearing the Scriptures spoken in Gullah brought the island’s history to life in a way that words alone can’t describe. Daufuskie is more than just a scenic escape—it’s a living museum of culture, faith, and perseverance. It’s disheartening to see how some of that history is being overshadowed by developers eager to clear trees and expand golf courses. I hope future visitors come not just to relax, but to learn, reflect, and help preserve the sacred spirit of this extraordinary place.

Quick way to get to Daufuskie Island. On our return trip we lucked out & "Capt. Wild Bill" took us back on a faster boat....really appreciated that so much!

Rented a golf cart is was very slow, roads were in very poor condition. The map that they gave us was hard to follow and some of the attractions were not open. Bar at the marina was ok. Two and from boats were ok.

Rent golf cart ,it is fun.The food(wings)at distillery are great!!!Drive back to the Oyster Restaurant

The ferry ride was OK, but the metal bench seats were pretty uncomfortable. We had to be there 30 minutes early and then left 25 minutes later than we were supposed to and there is NO where to sit while you wait. We did a meals and wheels ($99/person) deal which meant we arrived around 10:30. Got our golf cart which was fine. The provided map was very difficult. Many of the "stops" were unable to be found - and some were closed. There is lots of natural beauty on the island and that was quite enjoyable. The roads are terribly bumpy - but the weather is probably rough on them. We did have a good lunch at the Dufuskie Crab restaurant. ($20 vouchers per person were included in our booking. We also got a beverage coupon for something similar to a Long Island Iced Tea). The ferry left for our return trip at 3:15. I'd say our visit there was about 2-3 hours too long. I really don't feel most of this was the fault of the ferry company we booked with - other than making us stand waiting so long in the morning. Dufuskie Island was just not worth the trip.

Very relaxing day on Daufuskie. Lots of Gullah history. Must rent a golf cart- really no other way to get around, but it is almost $100 for 5 hours! Would not recommend the island for children. Not enough interest for them.

We had a fabulous time, we will definitely be booking another excursion for next year. Everyone was very helpful.

Good communication from the host prior to arrival. We had a great experience. Smooth ride and dolphin sightings along the way were not expected but enjoyable :)

Don’t go on a Sunday. Everything is closed! We went swimming in the ocean, was a lot of fun. No gluten free food available for my family.

Very laid back and helpful. They took care of everything and were very knowledgeable about the island. Ferry drivers even made sure that the visitors who wanted to see dolphins saw them.

The island is on its way out. What is left there is nice and friendly. It is obvious it was once a different place.

Easy trip. It was a nice sunny day. Great staff! They were wonderful helping people on and off the ferry. Saw some dolphins on the way.

Unfortunately, my friend became I'll before we left the house to go to Hilton Head, so we could not go on the trip and had to forfeit our fee.

Staff was polite, informative and courteous. The trip was smooth and relaxing, we even saw dolphins and a stingray! We needed a little extra help for an elderly parent and they were accommodating and went above and beyond, thank you!

Nice boat ride to the island. The 2 staff members were very professional. Our golf cart, labeled with our name, was waiting for us when we got off the boat. If you plan a trip to Daufuskie, be sure to rent a golf cart and get a map!! We enjoyed the peaceful ride on the back roads as we rode from place to place, using the map to navigate. The Spanish moss hanging from the trees was beautiful. Very peaceful time riding around the island with very little traffic to contend with! A very pleasant, peaceful day!

My family and I booked a 6 hour trip to Daufuskie Island through Island head. I wouldn’t highly recommend them! Great staff, very pleasant, helpful, and knowledgeable. Overall it was a fun trip to do for the day!!

The trip to the island was longer than expected, with much of the trip at "no wake" speed, while the return on the same route was 15 minutes shorter. Also, be prepared, the walk from the parking lot to the boat is a long haul, including a very long boardwalk over the marshy area. Trip included a golf cart rental on the island, but the front end on the cart was so bad that we couldn't do more than 10 mph for fear of ending up in the ditch. Daufuskie Island was disappointing, with very little to do there.

We flew into Hilton Head from DFW and had multiple delays, we weren’t sure when we would get in and we’re more than a little stressed about getting a ferry to Daufuskie Island, and then I talked with Courtney. She assured me that we would be able to get to Daufuskie Island, and made herself available to discuss as more information became available, she was wonderful to work with.

The staff on the ferry ride were great. Beautiful ferry ride! But, the golf carts provided on Daufuskie Island were old, slow, and meh. Check-in/Check-out process was quick and efficient.

There is nothing of any interest on this island. It was a waste of $300 to get there and back, $130 for a golf cart, and over $100 for lunch. We took the earliest boat back as there was literally nothing to see or do,

We purchased the bundle, which included a ferry ride, a golf cart, and a meal with a drink. Everything was good, with the exception of the map that was in our package. We were only able to see 3 things the entire day because of this map. Come to find out, it had not been updated in 9 years! It was very frustrating, and we will not be back.

Friendly captains. Got us to the island and back on time with no issues. Answered all our questions and the dinner suggestion for The Fish Camp was appreciated.

It was a very smooth process from booking to getting on the ferry. Expectations were explained and the boat driver and crew were excellent . The crew provided info on the island and points of interest

Beautiful island, accessible by ferry boat ride with dolphins, escorting us. Friendly people on the island, interesting history, beautiful beach, good food. Worth a visit.

Everything was smooth with this round trip. They leave at the exact times so don’t be late coming or going. Staff were friendly and good at their jobs. Pro tip: most of the people on my boat were getting their golf carts (which you need) as a bundle deal. The carts were right at the landing and there were people around to help. I got my cart from another place about 10 minutes away which was self service. It was slightly cheaper as I only needed one cart for the two of us but slightly less convenient.

Very courteous and accommodating. We had a teething 18 month old, who required us to cut our day trip short. The captain of the boat came back early to pick us up and was early. We greatly appreciated the service.

Very rural and quiet experience. Had a relaxing time while cruising around island in rented golf cart. As others have mentioned it’s a bit tricky reading the map but that is part of the fun. The beach was great. Slow paced but that is what we were looking for.

We have a very pleasant day trip. Boat operator was friendly and the other passengers were friendly.

Great staff, beautiful scenery. Would highly recommend their services. This review requires 100 characters so blah blah

The ferry ride was smooth and really friendly staff. I would have enjoyed more narrating of the ride and our surroundings

Loved exploring the rustic island, beautiful scenery, sitting by the pond at the distillery was lovely and the shrimp tacos at the Old Daufuskie Crab Co. were delicious! The scrap iron drinks weren’t bad either🥰