|

Renting Bikes on Hilton Head Island with Kids

On Hilton Head Island, we love to bike as a family! Don’t worry if your fsmily doesn’t bike much at home-neither do we! Renting bikes is a fun and active way to explore the island. I highly recommend considering renting bikes on Hilton Head during your family’s visit.  

Renting Bikes on Hilton Head Island

You can rent bikes from many different vendors on the islands. We have rented from multiple vendors and had positive experiences each time.  The Marriott Vacation Club property we stay at also has its own bike rental facilities on site, which we have used and are very convenient. 

I would also recommend Island Life Rentals. You can rent online, and choose delivery or “walk up” services to get your bikes. Walk up to their designated locations between 9am-4pm, get your bikes and accessories and go! We opted for walk up. It was an easy process, close to our hotel. We simply walked the beach to the pick up location and rode our bikes back to our hotel. Island Life offers everything from hourly rentals to a 28-day rental period, to accomodate your family’s needs.

What Type of Bike to Rent on Hilton Head?

Most retailers offer both adult and children’s bikes, along with training wheels if needed. We have also rented bikes with baby seats on the back, and my favorite, the tandem bikes. 

Tandem or tag along bikes allow an adult to pedal up front with a second person on the back, with their own pedals.  The front person steers and brakes while the back rider can take breaks from pedaling and enjoy the ride.  Tandem bikes are perfect for our family; each adult has a child on the back of their bike. The backseat rider is on a typical bike seat, not a carrier, so keep that in mind when considering the best match for your child.

Photo of a child biking on the beach in Hilton Head Island. Text overlay: Travel Tips, Tips for Biking on Hilton Head Island with Kids.

Renting Bike Accessories

Each of the bike vendors we have rented from has offered appropriately sized helmets for kids and adults. So you do not need to worry about packing your own helmets, unless you want to.

Bike vendors should include locks for your bike; all of our vendors have thus far provided them. Most also include baskets to hold your water bottles and valuables while you ride. Be sure to take everything with you when leaving bikes outside. 

Why Explore Hilton Head Island by Bike

  • Allows you to enjoy the weather during your travels.
  • Safe and enjoyable exercise for the whole family to do together.
  • You can find new areas that you may otherwise have missed. We love trying new beach paths off the bike trails (yes, even the beach paths have bike racks).
  • You can go further down the beach than you may make it walking with kids.
  • You may see exciting sea life in the tide pools along the beach during low tide, and you can hop off your bikes to check it out.
  • My kids love biking on the beach!  Also, softer for falls if they are learning to ride.
  • Kids can ride in the back on tandem bikes and enjoy the ride without having to pedal.
  • On a hot day, the ocean breeze is wonderful on bikes.

Hilton Head Island Bike Paths

There are 200 miles of bike trails criss-crossing Hilton Head Island, as well as the ability to bike on the beach.  This is far easier at low tide when the sand is hard and packed down.  

Bike paths on the island are often paved and feature their own traffic signals, including stop signs.  They run parallel to many main roads, so there is no reason to bike on those main roads in most instances. There are bike racks everywhere on Hilton Head, including at stores, restaurants, parks, and libraries.  

Some of the bike paths do cross traffic roads, driveways to businesses, and intersections.   I appreciate tandem bikes in those areas, and knowing that we have the kids safely behind us when navigating higher car traffic areas.

Please note that if biking into the Sea Pines area, there is a gate on the bike path, and you will need to pay the daily entry fee, unless you have a pass. 

Tips for Biking on Hilton Head Island with Kids

  • Be sure to rent helmets for the entire family, and be sure they fit and aren’t cracked or broken before you leave the bike vendor.
  • Ask for a bike lock and a basket.
  • Obey bike path signs and traffic signals.
  • Keep your kids close to you when crossing roads and business entrances. Tandem bikes are ideal for this.
  • Stick to low tide when biking on the beach; soft sand is very hard to pedal through, especially for kids!
  • Check the forecast to be sure you aren’t stuck in the rain on your journey.
  • Locate bike racks where you are staying and always secure your bikes when not in use. With so many similar-looking bikes, someone could easily mistake your bikes for theirs, causing a problem when you go to use or return your bikes.
  • Use Google Maps and select the bike as your transportation method for bike-friendly directions.
  • Ask your bike vendor about recommended trails or paths.
Photo of a man biking with a baby in attached seat traveling bike path on Hilton Head Island, surounding by palm trees and foliage. Text overlay: Hilton Head Island Bike OPaths (with kids). Additional text overlay: Check out the post!

Visiting Hilton Head Island with Kids

For more information on visiting Hilton Head Island with Kids, check out my Hilton Head Island page filled with posts about HHI family vacations. I’ve included links to my most popular Hilton Head Island posts below as well.

Similar Posts