Not Myrtle Beach, Not Hilton Head: The Best Beaches In South Carolina Are On This Tucked-Away Barrier Island

The best beaches in South Carolina aren't in Myrtle Beach, the iconic yet affordable destination named America's favorite getaway for 2025. They're not on Hilton Head Island, one of the state's top resort getaways, either. According to a survey, the dreamiest stretch of coastline in the Palmetto State is on Pawleys Island, a barrier island tucked away on the Hammock Coast.

The island community — both the small town and the island itself have the same name — took first place in the "Best Beach in South Carolina" category in the USA Today 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards in 2025. With a selection of beaches nominated by an expert panel, and then voted on by readers, the awards highlight some of the top places in the state to enjoy the sun, sand, and sea. According to the website, Pawleys Island earned top honors thanks to a few factors: easy beach access; a small year-round population; and optimal conditions in the warmest months for swimming, surfing, and sunbathing. 

The island is located on the southern end of the Grand Strand, a 60-mile section of the Atlantic coast near Myrtle Beach, and separated from the mainland by salt marshes and accessible by a pair of causeways. Pawleys Island is a small place, less than 4 miles long and "mostly 1 house wide," according to the town's official website. But due to its calm atmosphere and beautiful beaches, the destination has attracted many famous names over the years, including George Washington and Winston Churchill, and calls itself one of the oldest resorts in this part of the country.

Luckily for travelers, Pawleys Island is easy to get to: It's about a 45-minute drive south of Myrtle Beach and less than a two-hour drive north of Charleston, a charming city full of activities to do with kids. Once you're on the island, head to the public beach access point on 2nd Street, a favorite among visitors and locals alike. The white-sand beach here is broad and generally uncrowded, according to visitors who left comments on Google Reviews. "A great location to take in the sights and sounds of the ocean without the crowd," wrote one person. Others mentioned the beach is family-friendly and the perfect place to take a surfing lesson (try a one-hour session for $75 with Surf the Earth, which also rents body boards, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and more). There are eight other public beach access points on the island, all with parking spaces and trash receptacles.

Dine on fresh seafood at one of several restaurants on the island, including Pawleys Island Tavern, specializing in classic dishes from South Carolina's Lowcountry, and the elegant Bistro 217, serving gourmet plates like blackened swordfish with grilled corn and roasted poblano cream. Stay overnight at one of two inns on the island, both open seasonally: Sea View Inn, a shabby-chic bed-and-breakfast on the oceanfront, or The Pelican Inn, an eight-room B&B that dates back to the 1840s.