▾Notable features
The Residence
A custom beachfront residence set directly on the ocean inside Port Royal, Hilton Head Island's private, residents-only gated oceanfront community — four bedrooms, four full baths and a powder room across roughly 5,428 square feet on a half-to-one-acre lot. An exceptional interior transformation has left it in a like-new premium state, a state-of — the-art beach home as considered as its oceanfront backdrop. The entire main living area was reconfigured for light and for the ocean itself: kitchen, living and dining now flow together as one, anchored by an oversized granite island, custom cabinetry and statement lighting. Walls of windows frame the water, while extensive custom millwork, built-ins and wood floors give the home a level of character you simply don't find everywhere. An elevator serves the floors and a home gym is built in. Private beach access, golf and racquet facilities sit inside the gate — with no obligation to join a club.
The Highlights
Ocean views carry across 5,428 square feet designed to live outward, where balconies, porches, and a shaded patio give every hour of the day its own setting. Multiple primary suites and five baths allow the house to host without crowding, while the private pool anchors a homesite of nearly an acre behind Port Royal's gates. Built in 2002 on Hilton Head Island's north end, it is a residence shaped by the Atlantic it faces.
The value
At this level, value rests less on square-foot comparison than on what can't be reproduced — ocean views in Port Royal. Offerings of this kind are genuinely limited, which is what sustains their position in the market.
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Gallery
Exterior & Grounds
On the Water
The Living Spaces
Bedrooms & Baths
The Residence
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The Setting
Port Royal Plantation is a gated residential enclave on the northern end of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, extending from the Atlantic Ocean shoreline across a landscape of maritime forest, freshwater lagoons, and golf fairways. The community is known for its roughly three miles of oceanfront beach and a naturalistic setting that has shaped its low-density, wooded character since development began decades ago.
Distance & access
Community amenities
Realtor · eXp ICON Agent, Co-Founder, COAST
Co-founder of COAST, Brokered by eXp Realty and one of Hilton Head Island's most trusted names in deepwater, oceanfront, and waterfront luxury homes. An eXp ICON agent serving Hilton Head, Bluffton, and the Lowcountry.
COAST · brokered by eXp Realty · eXp Luxury
COAST is an eXp Luxury member team, and qualifying luxury listings are marketed through eXp's international luxury program — not only to the local market. That reach spans eXp's global network of 80,000+ agents in around 30 countries, layered on top of COAST's own Hilton Head marketing engine (dedicated listing pages, cinematic media, and AI-era search visibility).
Questions
Primary residences and year-round ownership are the dominant pattern inside the gate — Port Royal Plantation is one of the island's established residential communities rather than a resort or rental enclave. Second homes exist here, but they are the secondary pattern.
No. Short-term rental is not permitted inside the gate under Port Royal POA covenants. Third-party sites advertising "Port Royal Plantation" vacation rentals are marketing the Wimbledon Court villas outside the gate, which sit under a different regime entirely.
Minimum lease terms inside the gate run from 90 days to six months, depending on the governing covenant. That framework is what keeps the community residential in character; nightly and weekly stays are not an option here.
There is no single Port Royal dues figure — dues differ by section, and Ocean Point homes carry an additional POA charge plus an elected refuse charge. A transfer fee does apply at closing, assessed as a percentage of sale price. The POA publishes current rates, and your agent will confirm the exact amounts for this address.
No. The golf is semi-private and club membership is not required to purchase here — a real distinction from communities like Wexford, where golf is bundled into the POA. You choose whether to join.
The community holds roughly three miles of shoreline along the Atlantic and Port Royal Sound, reserved for residents and their guests, with 19 beachwalk paths. The Beach Club, completed in January 2019, adds a catering kitchen, sound system, and an Olympic-sized pool with a kiddie pool overlooking the Sound.
Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club — three 18-hole courses, Barony, Planter's Row, and Robber's Row — is operated by Heritage Golf Group, a separate operator from the POA. The club also carries 16 tennis courts, a croquet court, and a recently renovated clubhouse with dining.
At that size, position is what sets the number. This home is 5,428 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 5 baths set directly on the ocean, offered at $7,800,000 — oceanfront placement inside the gate is a separate tier from interior or golf-view homes of comparable square footage.
They share a name and almost nothing else. Inside the gate is single-family residential under Port Royal POA covenants, with 90-day-to-six-month minimum leases. The Wimbledon Court villas outside the gate are condominiums with no Port Royal POA fee, and short-term rental is permitted there.
Yes — a 24-hour staffed gatehouse with regular patrols controls entry on the island's north end. The community holds approximately 970 homesites ranging from a quarter acre to over an acre, which is what gives it its low-density, wooded character.
Your annual carry is POA dues for your specific section, plus the additional POA and refuse charges that apply to Ocean Point homes, plus Beaufort County property taxes. Because dues are section-specific, there is no island-wide number — your agent will pull the current POA schedule for this address before you go under contract.
Long-term leasing is permitted with a minimum term of 90 days to six months, so a seasonal or annual tenancy works while nightly stays do not. Many owners here simply hold the home for their own year-round use, which is the dominant pattern inside the gate.
Yes. At 5,428 square feet set directly on the Atlantic, with a fully reconfigured main living level, private pool, elevator, home gym, and multiple primary suites, it is priced for true oceanfront inside a gated residential community — the island's scarcest category, where $1M+ inventory has tightened while closings rose.
Client Reviews
“Tristan's knowledge and experience was invaluable. He guided every one of our vacation-rental properties to a successful close. I would highly recommend Tristan.”
Get in touch
Whether you're buying, selling, or simply exploring the market, COAST brokered by eXp Realty is here to help — with the local knowledge and discretion luxury deserves.
Private inquiry
Request a private showing or more on 52 N Port Royal Drive. Tristan O'Grady will respond personally — in-person and live-video showings both available.