Pawleys Island

Pawleys Island is a small, undeveloped barrier island about 25 miles south of Myrtle Beach that offers families the beach experience that the Grand Strand once was before the hotels arrived. There are no high-rise condos, no commercial attractions, no boardwalks — just a quiet stretch of beautiful beach backed by sand dunes, sea oats, and a handful of weathered beach cottages. For families overwhelmed by the sensory overload of Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island is the reset button: a place where the biggest decision is whether to build a sandcastle or go shelling.

The shelling at Pawleys Island is widely considered the best on the South Carolina coast. The island's position at the convergence of tidal currents concentrates shells along the waterline, and because far fewer people visit compared to Myrtle Beach, shells remain intact and available. Kids routinely find olive shells, lettered olives, whelks, moon snails, and sand dollars.

Occasional shark teeth wash up along the southern tip. Low tide is the prime shelling time — check tide charts before your visit and plan to arrive as the tide retreats.

The island has two distinct water environments that serve different family needs. The ocean side faces the Atlantic with typical beach waves and open water, suitable for swimming, boogie boarding, and beach play. The creek (inlet) side faces the mainland across a narrow tidal channel, offering calm, shallow, warm water that is ideal for toddlers and young children.

At low tide, the creek side reveals tidal pools, mud flats, and sandbars where kids discover small crabs, minnows, snails, and other creatures. This dual-environment feature means families with mixed ages can find appropriate water for everyone.

The atmosphere on Pawleys Island is deliberately unhurried. The town has actively resisted commercial development, maintaining a quiet residential character. There are no shops, restaurants, or attractions on the island beach — you bring everything with you and you take everything home.

This simplicity is the point. Families spread out across the wide beach with plenty of space between groups, and the soundtrack is waves, wind, and seabirds rather than competing music and vendors.

Practically, public beach access on Pawleys Island is available at several marked points, but parking is limited. The town manages this intentionally to prevent overcrowding. Arriving before 10 AM on summer days is essential for parking.

Once on the beach, however, you will rarely feel crowded. The island is about 4 miles long, and walking along the waterline is a pleasant family activity that doubles as a shelling expedition.