Burkes Beach, Public beach in Hilton Head Island, United States

Burkes Beach is a public sandy shoreline along the Atlantic coast of Hilton Head Island with natural dunes and native plant growth. The area provides ocean access through an established entry point connected to nearby parking and visitor facilities.

Burkes Beach takes its name from the Burke family, who owned land on this stretch of Hilton Head's Atlantic shore before the island's large-scale resort development began in the 1950s. The beach later passed into public hands and is now reached from Chaplin Community Park, the island's main public park on the south end.

Burkes Beach takes its name from the Burke family, who once owned the surrounding land on Hilton Head Island. Today it is the island's main surfing beach, and local surfers gather here when Atlantic swells build. The beach is reached through Chaplin Community Park, so a visit often combines shoreline time with the park's fields and courts.

Burkes Beach sits on the Atlantic side of Hilton Head Island, reached by a short path from Chaplin Community Park, where parking and restrooms are available. The beach is unguarded, so swimmers should judge surf and currents themselves. The sand is firmest near the waterline, making the walk to the shore easier at low tide.

A specialized sand-path system links the beach directly to bike routes, creating a rare integration of beach recreation with the island's extensive cycling network. This design lets cyclists pedal straight from the beach area onto the wider trail system.