People have been coming to Pawleys Island, south of Myrtle Beach, since the 1700s because it’s a lovely place to stay. In those early times rice farmers escaped the oppressive heat inland and spent summers with their families on the coast. May to November was the historic time to enjoy this delightful location. Today Pawleys Island is a year-round attraction. Enjoy a relaxed vacation where being shoeless and carefree is expected.
The island is 4 miles (6 kilometers) long and very narrow. Its unique ambiance is immediately discernible upon crossing the causeway from the mainland. The appearance is sometimes described as arrogantly shabby. Enter the Pawleys Island Historic District where 12 early residences still remain. Find a place to park and read the plaques with information about the houses and their inhabitants.
Beach days are common on the wide sand and among the dunes. You may witness the hatching of loggerhead sea turtles in protected areas along the shoreline. Ask questions of knowledgeable volunteers who are often on the beach observing turtle activity.
Purchase one of the unique Pawleys Island Rope Hammocks seen on many island porches. It is a beautiful and functional souvenir or gift for someone back home.
Hotel chains don’t exist on the island, but there are two classic inns. The Pelican Inn was built in the 1840s and the Sea View Inn was built in 1937.
All the conventional conveniences are available on the nearby mainland, in particular Georgetown and Murrells Inlet, 13 miles (21 kilometers) and 10 miles (16 kilometers) away respectively.
Bring your boat and launch it at the public boat ramp or rent kayaks or paddleboards. Fish from Pawleys Island Pier, which extends far out into the ocean. Golf at various Grand Strand courses located within 5 miles (8 kilometers) of the island.
Get to Pawleys Island by traveling south from Myrtle Beach about 23 miles (37 kilometers). Feel your stress slip away as you approach this relaxing getaway destination.
