Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina named “Best”

Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina has been named the “Best Harbor in the Southeast” by US Harbors, marking the fourth time in five years the Hilton Head Island marina has earned the regional honor. The deep-water marina also climbed to No. 4 in the national rankings, up one spot from its fifth-place finish in 2024.

The 2025 Best Harbor contest drew a record number of votes across 230 coastal locations in the United States, according to US Harbors, a Maine-based organization that provides marine weather, tide charts and boating information for more than 1,500 harbors in 30 states.

Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina, operated by Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, features 178 slips and serves as a major waypoint on the Intracoastal Waterway between the Northeast and the Caribbean. Opened in 1983, the Mediterranean-style marina is the largest deep-water facility on Hilton Head Island. The harbor is surrounded by a retail and dining village, as well as charter operators offering a variety of water-based experiences such as fishing, sailing, pontoon rentals, dolphin cruises, sport crabbing, and kayak eco-tours. The site is also home to the long-running HarbourFest series, which features fireworks and live entertainment during the summer.

Brad Marra, chief operating officer of Palmetto Dunes, credited the marina’s recognition to a combination of upgraded amenities and customer service. “To be voted the Southeast’s best — and climb higher on the national list — underscores how strongly boaters and locals feel about Shelter Cove,” Marra said in a statement.