Pawleys Island named one of Southern Living’s Best Beach Getaways of 2026

What do you get when you combine a pristine beach, beautiful scenery, and a laid-back atmosphere? You get Pawleys Island, one of the most beloved coastal retreats in the country.

In fact, national publications often include Pawleys Island in their best-of lists, especially when it comes to beaches. The latest example of this is Southern Living, which named our local beach No. 16 in the 20 Best Beach Getaways of 2026.

In a recent article by Tara Massouleh McCay in Southern Living’s spring issue, she wrote, “From the Gulf’s emerald waters to the Atlantic’s windswept barrier islands, the South is home to some of the prettiest stretches of shoreline in the country.”

“Whether you’re after a lively boardwalk, a quiet marsh-lined retreat, or a seafood shack with a sunset view, there’s a coastal escape that fits the bill,” she wrote.

For this contest, an online survey was conducted by a third-party agency, Proof Insights, among Southern Living consumers, asking them to rate their favorite places across the South. The survey was fielded from July 9, 2025 to Sept. 9, 2025, and had over 17,000 respondents. The reader-voted favorites offer more than beautiful beaches, she stated.

With charming downtowns, fresh-caught fare, and plenty of ways to get out on the water, each destination offers its own brand of seaside magic. If the coast is calling, start with the beach getaways Southern Living readers love most.

Pawleys Island has its own special magic

McCay writes that South Carolina beaches have their own special magic, and Pawleys Island is a prime example. Nature is the big draw of this quiet community.

Pawleys Island Mayor Brian Henry said he is grateful but not surprised that the island made this prestigious list by Southern Living.

“Our barefoot paradise has a national brand and is loved by generations of visitors,” he said. “Pawleys Island offers a quiet getaway with all the modern conveniences only minutes away.  You can completely disconnect from the world and rejoin it within minutes.”

He said not only does Pawleys have a pristine beach that is never crowded, but it also has a scenic marsh for fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding and more.

“With the pelicans cruising overhead, dolphins routinely swimming back and forth along the shoreline, and large tide swings on uncrowded beaches, you just can’t beat it,” Henry said.

Beth Stedman, president/CEO of the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce, said the beach on Pawleys Island is one-of-a-kind.

“We love our beautiful beach on Pawleys Island,” she said. “Many of our visitors come back year after year, and some families have been coming here for generations.”

About Pawleys Island

Pawleys Island has long claimed to be the oldest seaside resort in America. It has attraced vacationers since the 1700s when inland plantation owners would move their families, livestock and workers over to the island to escape mosquitoes during summer months.

The history of this “blessed isle” goes back to Percival Pawley, the first European settler to develop plantations on the thin strip of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Waccamaw River, known as the Waccamaw Neck. He received land grants in 1711 of a type that became the norm on the Neck: the land ran from the river to the sea. It’s not certain if Percival had an island getaway. But historians say that the island itself was named for Percival’s sons George, Anthony and Percival Jr. Because of the loss of property records during the Civil War, it’s not certain if any of the Pawleys had a house on the island, but tradition says the historic Pawley House on the island was owned by a family member.

Lee Brockington, a well-known local historian who has co-written several books on the history of Pawleys Island, said the island is famous as one of the nation’s first East Coast seaside resorts. In fact, it was the early economic boon created by plantation owners that led to the first sought-after vacations to the seaside, many times to escape from diseases like malaria.

Several major hurricanes have changed the face of the island, but it still retains the nickname “arrogantly shabby.” In fact, the architectural makeup of Pawleys has not changed much since the 1700s — historic homes are intermingled with more modern homes that have been built much in the same look of homes built long ago. On Pawleys, you will see several signs with a brief history of the antebellum homes, most of which are available for summer rental. Many of these homes are still owned by 3rd, 4th or 5th generations of the same families. In 2012, Liberty Lodge celebrated ownership by one single family for 100 years! The former owner of Liberty Lodge is said to be the inventor of the Pawleys Island Rope Hammock, unchanged and still sold just off the island today. While visiting Pawleys Island take a drive-by of some of the historic homes and learn about their history.

Over the years, a few inns opened to accommodate vacationers, but there was never a large hotel. Today the Sea View Inn, built in 1937, is still operating, as is the Pelican Inn, built in 1858. There is no other commercial business on the island. When property owners heard talk of large chain hotels considering vacant land on the island, they incorporated as a town in 1986 and passed ordinances forbidding commercial establishments. The slogan was “Keep Pawleys as it is,” to not spoil the feel of the island and what makes Pawleys Island so special.

Today, the beach is peaceful and pristine, and renowned for its surf. Within five miles of the island there are a dozen first-rate golf courses and a large tennis complex. Fishing is available both in the surf and from two marsh bridges. On the island are three fine-launch boat ramps. Pawleys is a family beach where you can enjoy crabbing off a crab dock, shelling, biking and canoeing or kayaking.

By Clayton Stairs / tourism manager for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce