Honest Review of Hilton Head National RV Resort
Let’s get right down to it. Should you visit Hilton Head National RV Resort (HHNRV)? Well, the answer for some people will be yes and for some people it will be no. Read below to learn why this place is great for some but may not be the right vacation spot for others.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you click on it and make a purchases, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Read the full disclaimer here.
The Sites & Resort Map
As you can see from the map below, the resort is large… like REALLY big. We highly recommend that you bring bicycles or scooters. You can also rent a golf cart on site.
NOTE: We did read that you cannot bring your own golf cart or electric scooters. However, we called the campground and they confirmed e-bikes and scooters are allowed but personal golf carts, ATVs, and dirt bikes are not.
We brought our electric scooters and were SOOOO thankful we did. Even with the scooters we still did a lot of walking.
Check In Process
Talk about easy! We walked into the gate house building and were met with smiling faces. They had four stations running for a quick check in for multiple groups at once.
We were given an overview of the park and where things are located, discussed some of the basic resort rules, heard about the hours for certain amenities, and were given a doggy bag for Coco. 💩
Yes, you heard that right. They had a welcome bag for our pup that included some treats, a postcard, pet rules and tips, as well as a bag to clean up after her.
Then we were given our key cards. These are really important because they give you access to all the amenities within the park as well as access through the resort gates. Even better, they are linked to your card on file so you can use it while at the resort retail store, restaurant, or tiki hut/bar.
Then we were assigned our valet who guided us to our spot and helped us back in.
Main Park
The resort has pull-through, pull-in, back-in, and buddy sites available. Each site is a concrete pad with power, water, and sewer hook-ups as well as a fire-pit with a cooking grate and a picnic table.
They also have free Wi-Fi and cable with a ton of choices (two pages worth!) including some premium channels.
Waters Edge (21+ only)
This part of the resort (see the slash through the map) is only available to adults who have reserved a site in the Waters Edge section. There is an additional gate to access this area.
Since there are only 43 sites available and 21+, it is considered more exclusive than the rest of the resort.
Their section has their own pool and cabanas, community firepit, laundry facilities, clubhouse, bar, and the only hot tub in the resort.
The Amenities
This is what you are paying for – amenities, amenities, and more amenities at the Hilton Head National RV Resort. This place has a lot to do during the day but quiets down at night (quiet hours between 10pm and 8am).
Pool & Lazy River
The pool opens at 9am and closes at 8pm. They do not allow you to save chairs or tables overnight or before 9am.
We arrived each day when they opened to grab seats and an umbrella. Morgan NEEDS shade to avoid turning into a lobster. 🦞
There were times that all the chairs and tables were taken by towels and bags. They do allow you to bring your own chairs from your RV if needed.
We spent a lot of time in the lazy river. Our vacation was meant to be relaxing and this was the perfect option. We would visit the Tiki Hut, order a cold beverage (if you are of legal age, we recommend you try the Strawberry Margarita – delicious!), Morgan would reapply sunscreen, and then we would float some more.
There are plenty of clear tubes available; however, they aren’t very comfortable. We recommend bringing your own float or noodle.
There is another pool and hot tub available for the Waters Edge guests.
Pool Cabanas
There are cabanas available for rent by both pools. All of the cabanas were rented at the main pool the entire time we were there.
If you want a cabana, we highly recommend you book in advance.
Playground, Basketball, and Pickleball Courts
The playground, tennis/pickleball courts, and basketball courts are conveniently located right next to the main pool, lazy river, and clubhouse/retail store.
Didn’t bring your sports equipment? That’s ok! You can borrow some in the main clubhouse / retail store.
The playground is fenced and can be accessed from the pool or the parking area.
Firepits
There is a large greenspace known as the back lawn that has a large community firepit. This is one of the common meeting areas for planned events.
While we were there, they had a ton of events for 4th of July. Everything from kickball to a water balloon obstacle course to a glow party and light show.
Walking Trails
We loved our morning walks around the park. There are trails around the edges and through the middle of the resort. Many of them have some shade and privacy – perfect place for Coco to do her business in peace.
If you do have a pet with you, make sure you bring bags to clean up after them 💩 or stop at one of the pet stations which are scattered throughout the park.
Dog Park and Dog Wash
We love campgrounds that have amenities for our four-legged child. Coco had an absolute blast playing with other pups at the dog park. It is centrally located within the resort and has multiple sections for large dogs and smaller dogs.
Added bonus: they have a dog wash station too! While Coco did not get a bath during our visit, having this available was a huge plus in our book.
Laundry Facilities
Since there are a lot of sites, there are a lot of washing machines. For anyone used to washing clothes in a campground, you know this is helpful.
There are two laundry facilities: one centrally located near the dog park as well as one in Waters Edge, the adults only section of the resort.
Clubhouse & Bathrooms
The resort bathrooms are luxurious! They are upscale and kept very clean. We have seen a lot of campground bathrooms. These get an 11 out of 10.
Arcade
The arcade is not very big but does offer some fun games for kids and adults too! Yes, we spent 30 minutes or so playing in the arcade. We might have aged but we are still kids at heart.
Fitness Center
We did not use the gym equipment while on site but did see a few people exercising. The space is not huge but offers free weights, a few resistance machines, and cardio equipment.
Retail Store
Whether you forgot something at home or ran out of basic groceries, the retail store on site has you covered. They also sell branded items, clothes, and cute things that would make great gifts.
Pro Tip: if you are looking for bags of ice, the ice machine is actually located by the dog park and laundry facilities in the center of the resort.
Other Things to Do at (or near) HHNRV
Luckily, there is enough going on at the resort that you really don’t need to leave. However, if you really want to explore the local area, here are a few options for you.
Eat at Billy Mac’s!
We ate here for lunch three times. We weren’t planning to (we had lunch food in the toyhauler) but it was that good!
The quality of the images above is not great but we did notice the menu (July 2024) was a little different than what they have posted online.
Our recommendations:
- Mega Meaty Pizza
- Bang Bang Shrimp
- Fried Pickles (not listed on this menu but was in the restaurant)
- Turkey Club
On Site Activities
Looking for things to keep yourself, your spouse, and/or your kids occupied during your camping trip?
Check out all the activities that Hilton Head National RV Resort puts on for their guests!
This was the activity schedule during our stay in July 2024.
Go to the Beach
The beach is not that far away on Hilton Head Island. However, the traffic getting to and from can be horrific! On Saturday, it took us 50 minutes to go 12 miles – yikes!
If you do decide to venture to the beach, we recommend the following:
- Plan ahead!
- Arrive early to secure parking
- Go on a weekday instead of the weekend (if possible)
- Come with the right attitude because you may spend a while in the car
Play Golf
Wow! Hilton Head and Bluffton South Carolina are covered in golf courses. They are EVERYWHERE. But if you are looking to play golf while on your camping trip, this resort is ideal with the Hilton Head National Golf Course adjacent to the RV Resort.
With 18-holes, a clubhouse, golf shop, and bar/restaurant, you shouldn’t get bored. But if you do, you can always check out one of the other courses nearby.
Try a Local Restaurant (other than Billy Mac’s)
We loved breakfast at the Palmetto Bay Sunrise Café!
Morgan had the French Toast, bacon, and sausage patties – YUM!
Alan had one of the daily specials – the Country Fried Steak, two eggs over easy, hash browns, and toast. He cleared his plate so it is safe to say he liked it.
The Less Appealing Things About HHNRV
No RV Resort or campground is perfect. So naturally, there were a few things that we were not fond of at this park.
Alligators
This should speak for itself with most people. There are several ponds / lagoons in and around the RV Resort. We saw two alligators in the water which is two too many in our opinion.
Luckily, we did not encounter any on land. We still recommend proceeding with caution especially if you travel with children or pets.
Quiet Hours and Atmosphere
This could be seen as a pro and/or a con. The resort enforces quiet hours between 10pm and 8am. While it is nice to have some peace and quiet at night, many campers were inside by 9pm.
We typically like more lively campgrounds with laid back atmosphere where we can sit by the campfire with music playing well into the evening. Not loud music; just enough for us to enjoy. Unfortunately, it felt like many campers expected others to be inside during quiet hours.
We would prefer to see the quiet hours shortened on Friday & Saturday evenings.
Pool Hours
Contrary to the quiet hours, we would have liked to see extended pool hours. The pool opens at 9am and closes at 8pm. Morgan’s favorite time to swim is at night (remember she burns easily).
Final Thoughts: We Will Be Back!
Overall, the pros far outweigh the cons in our opinion. If you are looking for a beautiful resort-style campsite, look no further.
Now we just have to decide when we are heading back to the Hilton Head National RV Resort. And pick which friends we want to have join us!
Are you looking for more tips and tricks for your next RV Trip? Check out these articles for some great information:
