10 Most Beautiful Beaches In South Carolina

Aarti
Contributing Writer
Updated
| 4 min read
beautiful beaches in south carolina

A popular destination for travelers from all over, South Carolina, is nestled in the southern-eastern side of the United States. Whether you’re planning a vacation here because of its beaches or for its entertainment options, this beach destination with stunning shorelines and islands will make you taste the excitement in the air. Boasting bountiful beaches, it makes this a renowned spot to spend an amazing summer. There are lots of beautiful and serene beaches that are spread across the state including Myrtle Beach, Litchfield Beach, and Hilton Head among others. You can chill at one of the secluded beaches with pristine views of the ocean, spend your time at one of the family-friendly beaches around the area, or visit the unexplored beaches with a handful of population. You will find your kind of beaches in South Carolina. Let’s check out some of the most beautiful beaches in South Carolina, USA.

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1. Litchfield Beach


Located 3 mi (4.8 km) north of Pawleys Island and just a 30-minute drive from Myrtle Beach, Litchfield Beach is popular for its recreational activities including fishing, surfing, boating, kayaking, and swimming. This serene beachside town offers privacy and 1.5 mi (2.4 km) of white sand beach, which is a perfect place to unwind, relax and let go.

Litchfield Beach

Address: Litchfield Beach, SC

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

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2. Surfside Beach

Sunrise
Source: Photo by user Timothy Balogh used under CC BY 2.0

One of the most family-friendly beaches in South Carolina, Surfside Beach in Horry County offers a 2-mile-long (3.2 km) coastline, along with a long stretch of boardwalk, a line of beachfront bars, restaurants, and fishing spots. You will also find plenty of vacation rentals close to the beach, making it a perfect opportunity to enjoy an evening walk or an early morning walk by the beach. Other than this, there are other attractions near the area such as a water park, entertainment venues, and a mini-golf park.

Surfside Beach

Address: 11 S Ocean Blvd, Surfside Beach, SC 29575-3633

Website: Surfside Beach

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

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3. Folly Beach

Folly Beach, SC
Source: Photo by user Ren Buford used under CC BY-ND 2.0

A popular beach on the block, Folly Beach on Folly Island is situated just 11 miles (17.7 km) south of Charleston. Home to the famous Folly Pier that stretches over 1000 feet (304.8 meters) into the ocean, this beach is home to rich wildlife species and pelican rookery. Ideal as a day-trip destination, one can bask in the sun, go surfing or souvenir shopping, witness stunning sunsets, and indulge in good food at the beachfront restaurants.

Folly Beach

Address: Arctic Ave., Folly Beach, SC 29439

Website: Folly Beach

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

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4. Seabrook Island

Seabrook Island... lovely for a Sunday!

Posted by Catherine Murray on Sunday, 11 August 2019

Comprising two main beaches - Pelican Beach and North Beach, Seabrook Island offers a four-mile-long stretch of Atlantic Ocean. The most popular beach on Seabrook Island, Pelican Beach, is loved by visitors for its stunning sunsets, whereas the North Beach boasts the rolling sand dunes and better opportunities for swimming. Although it is nestled close to Charleston, this island is still quite serene, peaceful, and charming.

Seabrook Island

Address: Seabrook Island, South Carolina 29455, USA

Website: Seabrook Island

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

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5. Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach ferris wheel
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user The ed17 used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Myrtle Beach steals the limelight for being a popular beach destination in South Carolina. Along with boasting 60-mile-long (95.5 km) stretch of the coastline, this location has a plethora of activities for solo travelers, families, and couples to have fun. Visitors can explore and enjoy famous attractions like Ripley’s Aquarium, SkyWheel, Family Kingdom Amusement Park, Broadway theaters and tons more.

Myrtle Beach

Address: Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

Website: Myrtle Beach

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

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6. Mitchellville Beach

beautiful beaches in south carolina | mitchellville beach
Source: instagram

Nestled in Hilton Island, Mitchellville Beach Park is a family-friendly beach, famous for beachcombing, kayaking, picnicking, swimming, and observing the wildlife. Offering free parking spots, outdoor showers, and restrooms by the beach, this beach can get quite crowded in the afternoons, because of its popularity. And if your kids get tired of other recreational activities, let them have their fun getting muddy by building their magnificent sandcastles.

Mitchellville Beach

Address: Mitchellville Rd, Hilton Head, SC 29926-2806

Website: Mitchellville Beach

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

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7. Cherry Grove Beach

20150818-IMG_3988_HDR-2
Source: Photo by user Rain0975 used under CC BY-ND 2.0

Looking for a beach to spend time with family? Cherry Grove Beach is your spot. Located near North Myrtle Beach, this low-key destination boasts a stunning white sand beach. The saltwater channels that nestle around the community offers plenty of opportunities for boating, kayaking, and canoeing. And if that wasn’t all, you can head to any of the popular landmarks such as the Cherry Grove Pier and OD Pavilion Amusement Park.

Cherry Grove Beach

Address: N Ocean Blvd and Sea Mountain Hwy, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582

Website: Cherry Grove Beach

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

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8. Isle of Palms

Isle of Palms, South Carolina
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user DiscoverWithDima used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Located north of Sullivan’s Island, Isle of Palms is famous for its beaches and sea turtles that nestle in the area. This small community has a line of restaurants and condos near the beach, making it easier for you to get to the beach, to have a fun-filled day ahead. This beach boasts a lot of recreational activities for one to indulge in such as picnicking, windsurfing, swimming, boating, and many other water sport activities.

Isle of Palms

Address: Isle of Palms, SC 29451

Website: Isle of Palms

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

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9. Burkes Beach


Another Hilton Head Island beach, Burkes Beach is situated in Chaplin Community Park and is known for being one of the best family-friendly beaches in South Carolina. This long stretch of serene beach offers metered parking spots and outdoor showers. But, the best way to get to this beach is via cycling. You will find trails that lead you up to this beach. Be it sand or paved. The journey to the beach will be totally worth it. When you want to take a break from the beach, you can head to the Chaplin Community Park that features a playground where your dogs can play around, and a basketball court where you and your friends or family can play around.

Burkes Beach

Address: 60 Burkes Beach Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, United States

Website: Burkes Beach

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

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10. Edisto Beach

beautiful beaches in south carolina | edisto beach
Source: instagram

Located in Colleton County, South Carolina, Edisto Beach is a perfect spot if you want to spend a beach day with your family, by yourself or with your loved one. One of the non-commercialised destinations in South Carolina, this beach is serene and secluded. As you walk around this town, you are sure to find beautiful attractions, cute and quirky vacation rentals, and amazing restaurants. You will also find plenty of recreational options such as fishing, golfing, boating, kayaking, beachcombing, swimming, camping, hiking, and so many more.

Edisto Beach

Address: 8377 State Cabin Rd, Edisto Island, SC 29438-6834

Website: Edisto Beach

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

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Explore the beaches and the surrounding attractions of South Carolina

Known for its stunning shorelines, beaches, and multiple sea islands, South Carolina steals the crown for being one of the best subtropical destinations in the world. Although it is filled with a plethora of beaches, one mustn’t forget about the other famous attractions nearby, which are also steeped in a rich culture, heritage, and history. So, if you are visiting this gorgeous state soon, make sure to check out everything and anything, along with the beaches.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Born in Mumbai and brought up in Bangalore, India, Aarti is a full-time freelance writer by profession. She is a lover of everything the ‘blue dot’ offers—world cultures, off-the-beaten tracks,...Read more

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