'We’re not as famous as our neighbors': But this SC beach was just named the state's best (2024)

PAWLEYS ISLAND — A Hammock Coast beach just netted a statewide honor.

Pawleys Island, the country’s oldest seaside resort, has been named “Best Beach in South Carolina” by the USA Today/10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

“We’re not as famous as our neighbors to the north and south, but clearly the Hammock Coast’s beaches are beloved by residents and vacationers,” said Mark Stevens, director of tourism development for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce.

“Our beaches are adored for their pristine shores and mild crowds, and we wouldn’t have it any other way,” he added.

Three Georgetown County destinations — Huntington Beach State Park, Litchfield Beach and Pawleys Island — were among the beaches in the contest.

Huntington (No. 5) and Litchfield (No. 4) placed in the Top 5. North Myrtle Beach in Horry County was ranked No. 2.

The list was narrowed from 17 initial nominees. It was part of a series to name the best beaches in South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, California, New Jersey and Michigan, according to tourism officials.

The Palmetto State beaches in the running included: Bloody Point Beach (Daufuskie Island), Myrtle Beach, Cherry Grove Beach (North Myrtle Beach), Coligny Beach Park (Hilton Head Island), Edisto Beach State Park (Edisto Island), Folly Beach, Folly Field Beach Park (Hilton Head Island), Hunting Island State Park (Hunting Island), Huntington Beach State Park (Murrells Inlet), Isle of Palms, Kiawah Beachwalker Park (Kiawah Island), Litchfield Beach, Myrtle Beach State Park, North Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island, Sullivan’s Island and Surfside Beach.

The voting period ran from April 22 to May 20, and the beach with the most votes won.

Pawleys Island Mayor Brian Henry said he was pleased, though not surprised, to learn about Pawleys’ recent accolade.

“The beaches on Pawleys Island have been welcoming families for many generations,” Henry said. “It is pristine, uncrowded and a throwback to an earlier time.”

Locations along the Hammock Coast have been featured in the USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards in previous years. Huntington Beach and Brookgreen Gardens have been nominated in several categories, while Georgetown topped the list for the Best Coastal Small Town in 2018.

Also, Murrells Inlet placed sixth earlier this year in the contest for the Best Small Town in the South, according to the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce.

The USA Today/10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards highlight “top-notch attractions and businesses, providing readers with trusted recommendations,” according to a news release.

A panel of judges chose the South Carolina beaches in the running. The judges included travel writer Jamie Davis Smith, Greenville editor Maggie Tuten Tyner, travel writer Melanie Reffes and USA Today production manager Catherine Smith, according to USA Today.