Welcome To

Pawleys Island, S.C.

“America's Oldest Seaside Community”

Area Overview

"Arrogantly Shabby" Pawleys Island is a beach community on the south end of the Grand Strand

The Pawleys Island & Litchfield Beach sections of the Grand Strand are known for their “arrogantly shabby” oceanfront accommodations and laid-back beach lifestyles.

The Town of Pawleys Island, incorporated in 1985, consists only of the island itself and carries a modest population of about 100 proud year-round residents, although locals commonly refer to the area west of the two connecting causeways as Pawleys Island.

Litchfield Beach, located slightly north of the island, includes rows of beach and channels houses along the coast and tidal creeks that separate it from the mainland.

Boat docks and fishing piers are about as common as mailboxes in these two coastal communities. Residents often go fishing, shrimping and crabbing in their own back yards and cook up a seafood feast for dinner.

There are several upscale restaurants on the mainland for those rainy and unlucky days, such as Frankís Restaurant/Frank’s Outback, as well as unique local shops, including the famous Pawleys Island Hammocks Shops.

Golfers are also in luck, with the famous Waccamaw Golf Trail running right through the middle of the two towns. Caledonia, True Blue, The River Club, and the Litchfield Golf and Beach Club are among the top courses on the entire Grand Strand, which boasts more than 100 links.

The mainland areas were once rice plantations from the Colonial era to the Civil War, and Pawleys Island was the summer home of many wealthy plantation owners looking to escape the heat and the disease-carrying mosquitoes of the marshlands.

The area made the transition to full-time settlement in the 1900s, but remains unincorporated except for the island itself.

The Town of Pawleys Island has its own police department, but the mainland communities are serviced by the Georgetown County Police and Fire & Rescue units.

All public school students attend the award-winning Waccamaw schools, and Lowcountry Day Academy caters to private school children.

ABOUT
What to Know

Here's the info you need to know before you go:

Where to stay

Hotels in Pawleys Island, S.C.

Here's a look at some of the best accommodations in Pawleys Island, S.C.:

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Dunes Beach Home Rentals

Dunes Beach Home Rentals

from 3
reviews

Offering quiet beach home rentals in Pawleys Island and Litchfield Beach, Dunes Beach Home Rentals has the solution …

"Amazing Garden City Pier" — Easter Myers

POINTS OF INTEREST

Restaurants & Attractions in Pawleys Island, S.C.

Here's a look at some of the best places to eat and things to do in Pawleys Island, S.C.:

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Brookgreen Gardens
Brookgreen Gardens
from 31
reviews

Registered as a National Historic Landmark, Brookgreen Gardens is a wonder of native flora, fauna, and American scu …

$1 Off Admission to Brookgreen Gardens
FEATURED
Hobcaw Barony
Hobcaw Barony

Everywhere has a past, but not everywhere has people dedicated to preserving the history associated with the place. …
VIDEO

Visiting Pawleys Island, S.C.

Check out some of our favorite staff videos from around this area:

Featured
Atalaya Castle at Huntington State Beach

Take a tour of Atalaya Castle and get a glimpse into the life of Archer M. Huntington, a railroad tycoon, and his wife, Anna Hyatt Huntington, a sculptress, during the mid 20th century.

30 Miles Of Beach In 30 Seconds
30 Miles Of Beach In 30 Seconds
Pawleys Island
Pawleys Island
Sea Star Reality
Sea Star Reality
Pawleys Island Hammock Shops
Pawleys Island Hammock Shops
Ribbit the Exhibit
Ribbit the Exhibit
Murrells Inlet MarshWalk
Murrells Inlet MarshWalk
Brookgreen Gardens
Brookgreen Gardens
Nature Connects Art with Lego Bricks at Brookgreen Gardens
Nature Connects Art with Lego Bricks at Brookgreen Gardens