South Carolina Beaches
South Carolina beaches invite you to enjoy a quiet walk on miles of crystal white sand, marvel at amazing natural wonders, create the family beach vacation of your dreams, tee off on a world-class seaside golf course, or relax at a romantic island resort. With three distinct regions along the coastline, The Palmetto State welcomes visitors from all over the world to enjoy year round vacations on South Carolina beaches.
South Carolina Beaches South Carolina’s beautiful and historic islands and coastline offer a remarkable variety of stunning beaches - each featuring its own unique culture and attractions. Scroll down the page or click on a link below for descriptions of the inviting white sand beaches and resort islands in the three regions of South Carolina’s scenic coast.
Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand
If you're looking for a great destination for a group or family beach vacation, Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand is the place to be. A 60-mile span of white sand beaches that stretch from Little River to Georgetown, the Grand Strand features incredible seafood, historic tours, unique shops, cruises, two ocean side State Parks, deep sea and inshore fishing, and magnificent Brookgreen Gardens where you'll see the world's largest collection of American sculpture.
The hub of the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach is where the action is. With fun family beaches, over 100 championship golf courses, tennis courts, outlet malls, specialty shops, live musical theatre, nightclubs and a wealth of family attractions, Myrtle Beach is a popular South Carolina vacation destination.
Pawley’s Island
Pawley’s Island is one of the countries oldest beach resorts. The first people known to inhabit the area of Pawley’s Island were the Waccamaw and Winyah Indians. They called the area “Chicora” meaning “the land,” and this term is often used by local businesses today. Later, the island became named after the three sons of Percival Pawley who inherited all the land their father owned “from the Waccamaw River to the sea.” The breezy island soon became a summer retreat for wealthy plantation owners, as well as a refuge from malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
Pawley’s Island was the last part of the Grand Strand to be heavily developed, and with four miles of beach and its classic-style beach homes available for vacation rental, it’s referred to by the natives as “arrogantly shabby.” Offering many village-style shops, wonderful golf courses and fabulous dining, Pawleys Island prompts visitors to return year after year, and Brookgreen Gardens is a magnificent must-see, offering the worlds largest sculpture garden. Pawleys Island offers a laid back atmosphere and attitude benefiting its claim to fame: the original Pawleys Island Hammock.
Litchfield Beach
Litchfield Beach, a quaint, unincorporated community governed by Georgetown County, was settled by rice planters in early 1700s. The area’s name came from Litchfield Plantation, a former rice plantation in the community. In the 1960’s, modern development began. Litchfield Beach is beloved for its miles of wide sandy beaches, world-class golf courses, village-style shops and fine dining. It’s only half an hour away from Myrtle Beach, but it’s more quiet and reserved. There is one hotel on the beach, but visitors usually stay in rental houses or condos.
Murrells Inlet
The historic fishing village of Murrells Inlet has earned the title “seafood capital of South Carolina” because of the fresh seafood drawn from its waters and served at the many restaurants lining the waterfront. Murrells Inlet is also rich in history, with Native Americans, rice planters, pirates, World War II airmen and fishermen all having played a part in Murrells Inlet’s past.
Murrells Inlet offers many recreational activities in a breathtaking inlet setting, including deep sea fishing charters, boat tours, individual boat rentals, scuba diving, kayaking, parasailing and Jet Skiing. Two popular annual events include the Fourth of July Boat Parade and Blessing of the Inlet.
Garden City Beach
Garden City beach is an unincorporated community that straddles Horry and Georgetown counties. Garden City has access to both the ocean and the inlet, so it is great for fishing, crabbing and water sports. The majority of vacationers stay in beach houses or condos, and the community offers a marina, amusements, restaurants, a fishing pier that features live music during the summer evenings and a new Creekwalk that spans the salt marsh.
Surfside Beach
The town of Surfside Beach proudly calls itself “the family beach.” Surfside was incorporated in 1964 and is not only a lively residential community, it is a thriving vacation destination. Along its oceanfront are beach houses, condos, hotels, restaurants and a fishing pier. They also offer several recreational parks and host several annual festivals and events.
Myrtle Beach
Families began vacationing in Myrtle Beach more than a century ago, traveling by horse, buggy and ferry to spend a day in the sand and sun on the mostly unoccupied beach. Today, the city of Myrtle Beach has a population of approximately 25,000 and is the largest and most developed community of the Grand Strand.
Myrtle Beach is one of the most visited beaches on the East Coast and offers something for everyone! Favorite landmarks include Coastal Grand Mall, the largest mall in South Carolina; Myrtle Beach State Park, the oldest in the state; Broadway at the Beach, with its assortment of shops, restaurants, nightclubs and attractions; the Myrtle Beach Convention Center; the hundreds of world-class golf courses and the ribbon of hotels with beautiful ocean views. Myrtle Beach kicks off each summer season with the excitement of the Sun Fun Festival.
North Myrtle Beach
North Myrtle Beach was founded more than 30 years ago when the communities of Windy Hill, Crescent Beach, Ocean Drive and Cherry Grove united. Each of these communities has its own charm, and generations of vacationers have returned to their favorite milieu year after year. The city has nearly 12,000 residents and is known for its family beach atmosphere, fishing piers and wonderfully wide beaches. It’s famous for being the birth place of the shag, South Carolina’s state dance, but is also home to many fine restaurants and family amusements, as well as Barefoot Landing, a popular shopping, dining and entertainment development. Popular annual events include the SOS Spring Safari and Fall Migration and the Intracoastal Christmas Regatta.
Little River
Little River is a unique town, offering a slightly slower pace of life than the rest of the Grand Strand. The community lies just below the North Carolina border along what is now the Intracoastal Waterway. Because of its numerous tidal creeks and close proximity to the ocean, Little River was a popular harbor for pirates in the 1700s and Civil War blockade-runners in the 1800s. Little River’s most popular event is the Blue Crab Festival, held each May. Arts and crafts, entertainment, and educational exhibits are featured alongside booths offering an assortment of delicious foods such as crab crakes, steamed crab, and other Blue Crab dishes.
Historic Charleston & Resort Beaches
A USA "must-see," Charleston is an Old South city with irresistible charm and beauty. You see it in the lazy trim of her breezy piazzas and feel it in the spirit of her rich heritage. Steeped in history, Charleston is a place visitors rarely want to leave. The city boasts 73 pre-Revolutionary buildings, 136 late-18th century structures and over 600 others built before the 1840s. Idyllic beach resorts at Kiawah Island, Seabrook, Wild Dunes and Edisto Island offer miles of unspoiled beaches and marshlands, posh accommodations, outstanding recreation facilities and fine dining.
Bulls Island
Part of the 60,000-acre Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, Bulls Island offers an exciting day-trip adventure. Meet the passenger ferry at Garris Landing in the morning, and spend the day collecting shells and surf fishing on the deserted beach. Look for trails created by the rare red wolf, which is bred on the island. The afternoon ferry brings you back refreshed from a true wilderness experience.
Folly Beach
Folly Beach is the closest beach to historic Charleston and is arguably "the best beach in South Carolina." Calm and relaxed, Folly Beach is a great place to play in the waves, collect seashells, and walk to the lighthouse. A fishing pier and beautiful views make Folly Beach one of the last, old-timey, "shabby" beaches in the area.
Isle of Palms
In 1898, visitors to Isle of Palms came by way of water or a single railroad bridge. Originally opened as a recreational area for privileged parties at beach homes, this semi-tropical retreat, bordered by beautiful beaches and a network of marsh creeks, has lost none of its original charm. Test your skill at beach volleyball, bodysurfing, shrimping or crabbing. Wild Dunes Resort, on the northern tip of the island, also features outstanding accommodations, golf, tennis, and a marina.
Kiawah Island
With 10 miles of undisturbed Atlantic beach and five world-renowned golf courses, including the site of the 2003 EMC World Cup, it's no wonder so many visitors come to Kiawah (pronounced KEE-a-wah) Island and decide to make it their home. Much of Kiawah Island is privately owned, but Beachwalker Park is open to the public.
Named for an Indian tribe, Kiawah is only 21 miles from historic Charleston and offers a variety of recreation and lodging accommodations. Canoe through marsh-lined creeks and waterways or play tennis at the two Kiawah tennis centers, ranked among the top 50 tennis resorts in the U.S. With a variety of restaurants, shopping at the Straw Market and special children's programs, Kiawah Island is a perfect choice for family vacations.
Seabrook Island
Only 23 miles from Charleston, Seabrook Island Resort offers a serene setting where vacationers peacefully coexist with the island's natural wildlife. Stay in a luxurious villa overlooking the Atlantic, tee off on two championship golf courses, or play a set at the excellent tennis facilities. Wander miles of private beach or tour the island on horseback. Don't be surprised if you find yourself face-to-face with a deer. The island offers special children's programs, and nearby Bohicket Marina offers boat rentals for the exploration of marsh creeks or deep-sea charters.
Lowcountry and Resort Islands
Hauntingly beautiful is the best way to describe South Carolina's Lowcountry and Resort Islands. By day the marshes are alive with the calls and rustling flight of birds, and fish leap in the dark clear streams that feed the wetlands. By night, the moon bathes beautiful white sand beaches, a church ruins, moss-bearded palms and live oak groves in slivery light. It is this romantic and haunting ambiance that draws visitors back time and again to the beauty and relaxation of the Lowcountry.
Edisto Island
Evidence indicates that Edisto Island was inhabited by Native Americans at least 4,000 years ago, and is among the older historic settlements in South Carolina. This relaxed island features fantastic restaurants and numerous rental cottages. Edisto Beach State Park is the choice for those guests who want to get back to nature. Stay in well-equipped cabins or in a campsite.
Hunt for shells on the beach or enjoy the views along the salt marsh. Hike to Spanish Mount shell mound, used by Native Americans as much as 4,000 years ago. Many of
Edisto
Island 's plantation houses are open to the public in October during the Island Tour of Historic Plantations and Churches.
Fripp Island
An ancient hunting ground of the Yamessee Indians, Fripp Island was acquired in Colonial times by swashbuckling English Capt. Johannes Fripp, a hero in battles against the French and Spanish. Just 19 miles east of historic Beaufort, South Carolina, Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort offers guests controlled access to the island, three and one-half miles of uncrowded beach, two championship golf courses, tennis courts, kayaking and oceanfront, marsh and golf view accommodations. A seaside waterpark features a children's pool with alligator slides and giant frog fountain. Great restaurants and a new food court await you. Park your car once you arrive. The favorite mode of transportation on Fripp Island is a golf cart, which you can rent by the day or week.
Hilton Head Island
Discovered by English sea captain William Hilton in 1663, Hilton Head Island boasts some of the most luxurious accommodations in the country. The development of the island began in the 1950s, when Charles Fraser developed Sea Pines Plantation.
The largest sea island between New Jersey and Florida, Hilton Head covers 42 square miles of broad beaches, nine marinas, over two dozen championship golf courses, and more tennis courts than any other resort of its size. Shopping abounds on the island. Hilton Head's four main resort communities of Palmetto Dunes, Port Royal Resort, Sea Pines Plantation, and Shipyard Plantation offer a wide variety of accommodations, including villas, houses, inns, and oceanfront hotels.
While on Hilton Head Island, you may wish to explore the Indian shell ring at Sea Pines Forest Preserve. The ring is believed to have been built around the same time as the great pyramids. Scientists believe that it was intended as a refuse heap, with oysters, clams, and mussel shells, as well as the bones of deer, raccoons, bear, and fish. The ring is approximately 150 feet in diameter and several feet deep, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore more than 12 miles of Hilton Head Island's pristine beach, maritime forests and salt marshes. Observe white-tailed deer and more than 125 species of birds. Fish for whiting, spot, bass, and drum. Campsites and cabins are within easy walking distance to the ocean.
Hunting Island
Once used as the hunting preserve for wealthy planters' families, Hunting Island was renowned for hunting parties that lasted several days. The four-mile-long island now serves as a state park. Located near historic Beaufort, Hunting Island State Park is home to dense vegetation and wildlife. Hunting Island Lighthouse built in 1875 is also on the island.
