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South Carolina has some of the nicest beaches in the Country, and if you’re considering moving to one of the beach towns, this video is for you. I am going to go over some of the pros and cons of living in each town, things to do, airports, golf courses, and more!
South Carolina has about 190 miles of beaches. I’m going to break it down into three separate areas. First, I’ll go over the Charleston area, which is part of the Low Country. Second, I will discuss the area further down in the Low Country, near Hilton Head, Beaufort, and Bluffton. Lastly, I will cover the 60 miles of beaches in the northern part of the State, known as the Grand Strand, which includes Myrtle Beach.
The towns that we go over will have a river on the backside of the barrier island, as the Intracoastal Waterway runs through the State, and some of the islands will have a marina. If you want to live in a beach town but want to stay away from the larger crowds or prefer having a boat on a dock or at a marina, these areas may be a better fit for you.
I am also going to talk about grocery stores on the islands. Some of these towns only have one way on and off the Island, and during the peak tourist season, if you need to leave the Island, a trip to the grocery store and back can take hours.
- Charleston
- Isle of Palms
- Mount Pleasant
- Dewees Island
- Sullivan’s Island
- Folly Beach
- Kiawah Island
- Seabrook Island
- Edisto Beach
- Hilton Head Island
- Daufuskie Island
- Bluffton
- Beaufort
- Hunting Island
- Harbor Island
- Fripp Island
- Myrtle Beach / Grand Strand
- Little River
- North Myrtle Beach
- Surfside Beach
- Garden City Beach
- Murrells Inlet
- Litchfield Beach
- Pawleys Island
- DeBordieu Colony
- Georgetown
Charleston
The City of Charleston has no beaches, but several beach towns are nearby, the closest being about 15-20 minutes from downtown Charleston. Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island are to the North of Charleston, and Folly Beach, Kiawah Island, and Seabrook Island are south of the Charleston Peninsula. Edisto Beach is another beach town in the Charleston area, but it is further out and is about a 1-hour Drive.
Charleston was founded in 1670 and is the oldest and Largest City in the State. It is a beautiful city that is rich in history. It has one of the most well-preserved historic districts in the Country and is often referred to as a living museum.
I receive numerous calls from people who ask me which beach town is best suited for them. If you want to live in a historic area with beautiful antebellum homes, a lot to do nearby, and historic sites, Charleston may be the best area for you, but it is one of the most expensive areas to live in the entire State.
For those who travel, the Charleston International Airport is located in North Charleston. There are several large hospitals situated on the Charleston Peninsula, including the Medical University of South Carolina, or MUSC, Roper St. Francis, a VA Hospital, and Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital. There are also several smaller hospitals in other areas near Charleston.
The Charleston Metro is commonly referred to as the Tri-County area, encompassing Charleston County, Berkeley County, and Dorchester County. Real Estate for sale in the beach towns we are about to cover is relatively expensive. Still, you can find much more affordable options in the Charleston Metro area, further inland.
Let’s go over the beach towns near Charleston, and we’ll start to the North of the Charleston Peninsula at Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island.
Isle of Palms
Isle of Palms is only about 13 miles from downtown Charleston, has about 7 miles of Beach, and has a nice little downtown area with ice cream shops, restaurants, and places to shop that is within close walking distance to the Beach. One of the most popular establishments in this area is called the Windjammer, where you can watch some live music on the Beach and have some great food and a beer.
There is also the Isle of Palms County Park, which offers a picnic area, snacks, showers, a volleyball court, and a playground.
The Isle of Palms features a marina along the Intracoastal Waterway and a gated, resort-style community on the northern end of the island, known as Wild Dunes. This community offers a range of amenities, including pools, tennis courts, pickleball courts, a spa, a fitness center, restaurants, and two golf courses designed by renowned golf course architect Tom Fazio.
There is a Harris Teeter grocery store located on the Isle of Palms, allowing you to purchase your groceries directly on the Island.
The Isle of Palms is conveniently located near Mount Pleasant, a lovely city near Charleston, featuring four public golf courses, numerous restaurants, retail stores, and shopping options. Mount Pleasant is also home to Boone Hall Plantation, a World War-era aircraft Carrier, the USS Yorktown, and Shem Creek, a great place to get some fresh seafood.
There are a couple of islands with real estate options located near Isle of Palms that are only accessible by boat, including goat island and Dewees Island.
Sullivan’s Island
Across the bridge from the Isle of Palms is Sullivan’s Island. This small Island is located approximately nine and a half miles from downtown Charleston, boasting about 3 miles of beaches.
This is where you will find the most expensive real estate in the area. There are several outdoor and recreational areas on Sullivan’s Island, as well as public beach access sites. There are also a variety of good bars and restaurants, including Poe’s Tavern, which was named after Edgar Allan Poe, who once lived on Sullivan’s Island.
There are no hotels, marinas, golf courses, or large grocery stores on Sullivan’s Island, but Mount Pleasant and Isle of Palms are nearby.
Sullivan’s Island has a preserved Maritime Forest, A lighthouse, and one of my favorite areas to visit, at Fort Moultrie.
This was the site of a very significant Revolutionary War battle, known as the “Battle of Fort Sullivan.” Where the Patriots, led by William Moultrie, repelled a British naval attack on June 28, 1776, about a week before the Declaration of Independence was signed.
This is also where South Carolina got it’s nickname as the “Palmetto State”, because at the time, the fort was constructed out of Palmetto Logs, which absorbed much of the cannonball blasts from the British ships.
Folly Beach
Let’s head to the other side of the Charleston Peninsula, and we’ll start at Folly Beach, which is known as “The Edge of America.” This is a fun beach town located about 11 miles from downtown Charleston, featuring approximately 6 miles of Beach.
Folly Beach has several surf shops, bars, restaurants, including rooftop restaurants, a fishing pier, and the Tides Hotel, all within a short walking distance to the Beach.
It also has a very popular surfing location known as “The Washout”, given this name because Hurricane Hugo cleared out a block of houses here in 1989, creating an unobstructed area for the wind to blow, making a favorable environment for surfing.
Folly Beach has a County Park on the Southern end of the Island, with outdoor showers, bathrooms, snacks, chair and umbrella rentals. There is also a Marina at the end of the Island.
On the northern end of the Island is the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve, where you can get a great view of the Morris Island Lighthouse, which was constructed in 1876. The Morris Island Lighthouse was originally built on land but now stands several hundred feet offshore due to erosion.
There are no golf courses or large grocery stores on Folly Beach. There is a Bert’s Market on the Island, which is a smaller grocery store. The closest large stores are located on James Island. There is also one public golf course and one private golf course located on James Island.
Kiawah Island
Further South is Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island, two resort-style gated and golf communities, and both are about a 25-mile drive to downtown Charleston.
Kiawah is the larger Island with about 10 miles of Beach. Most of the beach access sites are behind the gate at Kiawah, but there is a public beach located on the West end of the Island at Kiawah Beachwalker Park. Kiawah is a premier golfing destination with two private golf courses and five courses open to the public, including the Ocean Course, where Phil Mickelson became the oldest player to win a Major at the 2021 PGA Championship.
Kiawah offers a variety of amenities, including several pools, a spa, social events, tennis courts, pickleball courts, and restaurants. There are also different membership levels available for homeowners, including the Governors Club and the Kiawah Island Club. Only Kiawah Island Club members will have access to the two private courses.
Since Johns Island is a large and somewhat rural Island, you will be further away from some amenities, shopping, and large retail stores down in this area when compared to the northern end of Charleston. Still, there is a location called Freshfields Village, situated between Kiawah and Seabrook, featuring a Harris Teeter grocery store, various restaurants, and other small shops.
The Bohicket Marina and Market is also located in this area, making it a convenient spot to store a boat if you reside on either Seabrook Island or Kiawah Island.
Seabrook Island
Seabrook has no public beach access sites on the Island, but it boasts about three and a half miles of beach and two 18-hole championship golf courses: the Crooked Oaks Course and the Ocean Winds Course.
Other amenities include a fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, a pool along the Beach, a lake house, playground, basketball court, Boat and Kayak Launch, crabbing dock, tennis courts, pickleball courts, multiple dining options, and an equestrian center that offers horseback riding along the Beach.
Since the Island is gated and there are no public beach access sites on the Island, Seabrook may be a good option for you if you want to live in a beach town with fewer tourists than some of the other areas near Charleston. There are various membership options available when purchasing a property on Seabrook Island, and I’m happy to address any questions you may have.
Edisto Beach
The Last beach town in the Charleston area is Edisto Beach, a charming little beach town. However, it is a long drive to downtown Charleston compared to the other beach towns we have discussed. Edisto Island is a relatively rural island, so you will be a bit of a drive from some larger retail shops and other amenities when you live down in Edisto Beach.
One of the benefits of living in this area is that it is significantly more affordable than other beach towns in the Charleston area. There are also several great amenities to living in Edisto Beach, including several restaurants, a golf course, and a state park and campground where you can bring an RV and camp right along the Beach.
There is also the Botonay Bay Plantation and Wildlife Preserve, located nearby, which is a great place to visit. There is a unique beach called Boneyard Beach, as well as some historic buildings.
There have been several popular movie scenes filmed in this area, including the Jungle Scenes from Ace Venture: When Nature Calls, and the Patriot with Mel Gibson. Several scenes from this movie were also filmed in the Charleston area.The main character from the movie The Patriot was loosely based on a local hero from South Carolina, named Francis Marion, or “The Swamp Fox“.
At Edisto Beach, you will be further away from a major airport and large hospitals than the others areas we have discussed, but there is a grocery store on the Island. You will have fewer tourists than most of the other beaches near Charleston, so this may be an excellent area for people looking for a more rural location that wants to escape the hustle and bustle of Charleston.
Hilton Head
Now, let’s move down further in the Low Country to our next location, the Hilton Head, Beaufort, and Bluffton metro area. This is another highly popular location for individuals seeking to relocate to a South Carolina Beach Town.
Hilton Head is a lovely island with 12 miles of beaches, resort amenities, and has over 250 restaurants in the area. There are a lot of gated neighborhoods on Hilton Head, but there are also several public beach access points on the Island, including at Coligny Beach.
Hilton Head Island has over 25 golf courses in the area, making it a golfers’ paradise, and most of the courses are open to the public, including the Harbor Town Golf Links, designed by Pete Dye, but there are some private golf courses as well.
Hilton Head attracts a lot of tourists every year, especially during the Summer, and there is only one bridge to get on and off the Island, but there are several grocery stores, small boutique stores, and places to shop on the Island.
There is also an airport on the Island, and it is about 34 miles away from a larger airport at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, located across the State line in Savannah, Georgia, so there are good options for traveling. Savannah is a gorgeous historic City established in 1733 that played a significant role during the American Revolution and the Civil War, and is about a 32-mile drive from Hilton Head.
There is an inpatient hospital on Hilton Head Island, at the Hilton Head Medical Center.
One of the most beautiful areas on the Island is the lighthouse located at Harbor Town on the Southern end of the Island. And you can take a ferry from Harbour Towne to the next location we are going to discuss, at Daufuskie Island.
Daufuskie Island
Suppose you’re interested in a more secluded beach town near Hilton Head Island. In that case, you can consider Daufuskie Island, a beautiful location with a couple of golf courses, located just over a mile away from Hilton Head.
Members of Haig Point of Daufuskie Island have access to a water taxi that will take you from Harbor Towne on Hilton Head, and it is only about a 5-minute trip each way. IF you’re looking for stuff to do on Daufuskie Island, most of it is located at Haig Point, where they have 29 holes of Seaside golf at two courses designed by Rees Jones, the Signature Course and the Osprey Course. There are 29 holes, as two of the holes have two greens to choose from.
Other amenities at Haig Point include tennis courts, swimming, dining, and an equestrian center that offers horseback riding on the Beach. There is also a unique lighthouse here that was operational from 1873 to the 1930s.
There are no cars allowed on Daufuskie Island, you will need to get around with a golf cart. There are a couple of small shops, but no large grocery stores, so you may need to do your shopping and bring your groceries by boat. There is also a membership initiation fee and an annual fee for Haig Point Members. Please don’t hesitate to contact me for the most up-to-date details if you’re interested in this area.
Bluffton
Located approximately 8 miles away from Hilton Head Island, Bluffton is a charming city if you’d like to live a bit further inland. Bluffton has grown rapidly in recent years, boasting a quaint downtown area known as Old Town Bluffton, and numerous large retail stores are located in this area.
There are also several popular 55+ active adult communities in the Hilton Head and Bluffton area, including Suncity and Latitude Margaritaville, two very nice communities. Bluffton also has numerous golf courses in the area, so if you’re looking for a slightly larger City near a golf course, Hilton Head or Bluffton may be a good option for you.
Beaufort
Suppose you’d like to live in a smaller city that is a little more low-key, with a charming downtown and beautiful historic buildings. In that case, you may want to consider Beaufort, which is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, after Charleston.
Beaufort has some name-brand retail stores in the area, but not nearly as many as Bluffton does, and there are a lot of mom-and-pop type businesses here. Beaufort also has some golf courses in the area, but not as many as Bluffton, but there are a lot within a reasonable driving distance since Beaufort is not far from Bluffton
I love this little historic town, and the surrounding scenery is excellent. Downtown Beaufort has several local shops, restaurants, a marina, Beautiful antebellum homes, and the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. This park offers a great view of the Beaufort River and the Woods Memorial Bridge. It hosts several events throughout the year, including the Beaufort Water Festival, a 10-day event featuring live music, Arts and Crafts, great food, and a variety of shows for the whole family.
Beaufort has an inpatient hospital at Beaufort Memorial Hospital and a small college campus at the University of South Carolina Beaufort, which also has campuses in Bluffton and Hilton Head.
The Woods Memorial Bridge was featured in a scene from the movie Forrest Gump, when Forrest was running across the Country. Most of the scenes from this movie were filmed right here in the low Country.
The Beaufort area is made up of several islands, including Port Royal, Paris Island where the Marine Base is located, Lady’s Island, St Helena Island, and more.
Hunting Island
One of my favorite beaches to visit in the entire State is about 17 miles away from Beaufort, at Hunting Island State Park, which has about 5 miles of pristine and undeveloped Beach. There is a small fee to get into the park, or you can buy an annual pass.
This is a fantastic beach to visit since there hasn’t been much development. There is the Hunting Island Lighthouse that has been at this location since 1889. There is also a campground and an RV Park, where you can camp right next to the Beach. My Family and I had a great time camping at this park earlier this year.
It does feel like you’re in the Jungle in some areas of Hunting Island, and Several movies have had scenes filmed in this area, including the Vietnam scenes from Forest Gump. The lagoon on Hunting Island is where Forest Rescue’s several soldiers and Bubba talk for the last time. There were also some scenes filmed from this movie on the neighboring Fripp Island
Harbor Island
Since Hunting Island is undeveloped, if you want to live near the Beach in this area, there are only a couple of options. There is a small Island just before you reach Hunting Island, called Harbor Island, and there are some beach homes available here. This gated community features security and offers several amenities, including tennis and pickleball courts, a fitness center, pool, playground, dog park, and more.
Fripp Island
On the other side of Hunting Island is Fripp Island, another private and gated community with about 3.5 miles of Beach. Fripp Island has several amenities, including multiple Pools, a beach club, restaurants, a racquet center, a marina, a cabana pool and grill, and two golf courses.
There are about 30 Beach access sites on Fripp Island, so no matter where you are on the Island, you will have an access site nearby. There are a few small shops on the Island, but if you want to go to a larger grocery store or retail shop, you may need to drive closer to Beaufort, about 20 miles away. You will also be about 68 miles away from the Savannah and Hilton Head International Airport down on Fripp Island
Myrtle Beach & The Grand Strand
Our Last area is located in the Grand Strand, which is part of the Pee Dee region of South Carolina, and features approximately 60 miles of beaches, including Myrtle Beach. This area is to the North of Charleston and the Low Country. There is a very large gap between the Beaches near Charleston and the Beaches of the Grand Strand, where there are no beach towns, but once you get up to the Grand Strand, there are miles and miles of beaches.
In General, this is the most affordable area to live in South Carolina if you want to be right next to the Beach. With over 80 Golf Courses and mini golf courses everywhere, some people refer to Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand as the Golf Capital of the world.
Myrtle Beach is a great area to live if you want to have a lot of things to do nearby. There is a 1.2 mile beachfront boardwalk, several restaurants, places to shop, campgrounds along the Beach, and much more. The Intracoastal Waterway runs along this entire area as well, offering many more fun things to do, great places to bring the family, and waterfront living.
The Myrtle Beach International Airport is located right near the Beach, so it won’t take you long to get there if you live in Myrtle Beach.
Some of the Large Hospitals in this area include the Grand Strand Medical Center, the South Strand Medical Center, and the Conway Medical Center. Still, there are several smaller hospitals as well.
Also located in Conway are Coastal Carolina University and Horry Georgetown Technical College. Hence, this area is popular for people who want to live a little more inland, and is only about 14 miles away from Myrtle Beach.
The layout of the beach towns along the Grand Strand is different than the Low Country. Near Charleston, you have several barrier islands with only 1 or 2 ways on and off the Island, but near Myrtle Beach, you have a long stretch of beaches with several ways to get there, and highway 17 will take you through this area, and there are several grocery stores and places to shop along the entire grand strand.
When comparing it to the Low Country, Myrtle Beach is a great area if you’re looking for a variety of things to do nearby for just you or the entire family. However, it does draw in a lot of tourists every year, just like Charleston and Hilton Head.
Although there is a lot of history in the Grand Strand, including at Georgetown, which is the 3rd oldest City in the State, Conway, which was established in 1732, and more, there are not as many historic areas and buidings when comparing it to Charleston, Beaufort, and other areas of the low Country. However, this is a more affordable area with plenty of things to do.
If you would like to be a little further away from the majority of the tourst, but still want to live in the Grand Strand, you can move to one of the areas further away from Myrtle Beach. To the North is Little River, and North Myrtle Beach, and to the South you have several options, including Surfside Beach, Garden City Beach, Pawleys Island, and Murrells Inlet.
Little River
Little River is a great little town along the Intracoastal Waterway near the North Carolina border, and is only 5 miles from the Beach.
Little River has several things to do in the area, including visiting the Cricket Cove Marina, fishing charters, waterfront dining, boat rides, water parks, tiki cruises, pontoon boat and jetski rentals, and much more.
It also features the only Casino in South Carolina, located at the Big M Casino Cruise Ships, which offers approximately 5-hour cruises.
North Myrtle Beach
Just next to Little River is Cherry Grove Beach, which is located in North Myrtle Beach, and is consistently rated as one of the top beaches in South Carolina.
North Myrtle Beach offers a variety of bars, shopping options, restaurants, and a small-town atmosphere. Shag dancing is very popular in this area, which gained popularity in the 1930s and 40s as a form of dancing to beach music. It is also sometimes referred to as the “Carolina Shag”.
You can visit establishments like Fat Harolds Beach Club or the Sunset Grill at the OD Pavilion to do some shag dancing and to hear some live music near the Beach.
Surfside Beach
To the South of Myrtle Beach, there are several areas to consider as well, including Surfside Beach, which is sometimes referred to as the family beach. Surfside Beach has a 800-foot pier, which is great for fishing, several good places to eat, an amusement park, and mini golf, and is only about 8 miles to Myrtle Beach.
Garden City Beach
Garden City Beach is the next Beach down and also features a great fishing pier that’s fun for the entire family. It has an arcade, a bar with live music and dancing, and is a great place to watch a sunrise or sunset.
Garden City Beach is only about 11 miles to Myrtle Beach, and to the Myrtle Beach International Airport.
Murrell’s Inlet
A bit further inland near Garden City is Murrell’s Inlet, a great place to visit for local seafood and entertainment.
Murrells Inlet is referred to by some as the Seafood Capital of South Carolina. It features a half-mile boardwalk with several establishments located along the water, and this is called the Murrells inlet Marsh Walk.
The area also offers a variety of fun activities, including boat and jet ski rentals, fishing charters, dolphin watch tours, and more. You can also see the goats on goat island at certain times of the year, which helps clean up the vegetation. I love visiting Murrells Inlet.
Nearby, you can also visit Brookgreen Gardens, which is a beautiful location. If you enjoy the outdoors, you can see the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge, which has thousands of acres of protected land.
Hunting Beach State Park
Hunting Beach State Campground and Park is located right along the Beach in this area, and you can bring an RV and go camping right next to the Beach!
There is a small location as Litchfield Beach near the campground, with oceanfront property available, so this is another area that you can consider if you’d like to live in a beachtown on the South end of the Grand Strand.
Pawley’s Island
Pawleys Island is the next stretch of Beach, and is nearing the end of the Grand Strand, and is about 4 miles long. There are not many commercial properties on Pawley’s Island, and most of the commercial buildings are built to blend in.
There are only 9 public beach access sites along Pawleys Island. The largest beach access site is located on the southern end of the Island, which features a small public parking lot.
This is a beautiful area located approximately 23 miles from Myrtle Beach and 70 miles north of Charleston, making it relatively far from most large crowds. Pawley’s Island is narrow, so there are not a lot of homes in this area. There is a Pier on Pawley’s Island, but it is not open to the public.
Debordieu Colony
DeBordieu Colony has a clubhouse with Dining and Social events, a basketball court, tennis courts, a volleyball court, a beach grill, a playground, and multiple pools, including an oceanfront pool. If you’re looking for a secluded area along the Beach at the southern end of the Grand Strand, this may be a good fit for you.
This is about 34 miles away from Myrtle Beach and approximately 8 miles from Georgetown. You would also be about 68 miles, or approximately a 90-minute drive away from Charleston on this end of the Grand Strand.
Just to the South of Pawley’s Island is a gated and private community called Debordieu Colony. This community is just North of Hisotric Georgetown, has a private club and golf course designed by Pete and PB Dye, and is surrounded protected wildlife preserves.
Georgetown SC
The inland option on the South end of the Grand Strand is Georgetown, which has a rich history and played a significant role during the American Revolution and the Civil War.
Georgetown has a charming downtown area and a scenic Boardwalk, known as the Georgetown Harborwalk, which features shops and restaurants along the Sampit River.
Another nice thing about Georgetown is both Charleston and Myrtle Beach are not too far away; Charleston is about 60 miles away, and Myrtle Beach is about 37 miles away, but there are several other beaches nearby on the Southern end of the Grand Strand.
You will also be near the Francis Marion National Forest, which has several areas to go camping, and several other rural areas.
Conclusion
Those were my list of Beachtowns in South Carolina. Feel free to contact me with any questions about moving to one of these towns at 843-796-1836 or email me at markgarrisonrealestate@gmail.com. Thanks for watching.