Best Beach Towns In South Carolina

I’ve been going to beaches on the South Carolina Coast most of my life. There’s something about the coastal areas in our state. There's something about the best beach towns in South Carna. I usually gravitate to old-school beach towns, arrogantly shabby, as Pawleys Island’s motto says.

I love the dive bars and burger joints and try to eat locally wherever I go on the coast. It's amazing the great finds you run into when you do that. It's all part of the best beach towns in South Carolina.

My goal this summer is to take a week off, start in Folly Beach (my favorite, as you’ll see on my list), travel north up Hwy 17 and stop for a night and experience each beach town.

I’ve been to most of them, but as my co-workers here will tell you, I get bored quickly. So, I will call this my ADHD tour.
Usually, when I go to the beach, I have to have an oceanfront when I can afford it. Folly Beach, for example, only has about 3 or 4 hotels, and I don’t want to spend $400 for a room for one night in the summer. I love Folly in the fall and winter, and the prices are much better.

My list is not in any order except for Folly. It’s based on places I’ve been to on the SC coast and something about the beach town I enjoyed. I always like exploring an area I haven’t been to, and if you have some suggestions, let me know!

Also, always looking for great beach bars, dive bars, small local cafes, and burger joints. My contact info is below, so hit me up.
Here’s my list of the best beach towns in South Carolina!

As I said, Folly is my favorite. The Sand Dollar Social Club is located on Center Street, and it's a great dive bar with live music, but you have to have a membership which is about one dollar (not kidding), and you fill out a small membership card. Cheap, cold beer, darts, lots of locals from 21 to 90, and an authentic laid-back beach town vibe. Also, check out the Crab Shack on Center Street and for breakfast and lunch the Lost Dog Cafe just off of Center Street on W Huron Ave.

Arrogantly Shabby is how locals describe it, all 100 of them. Pawleys Island is best known for the Original Hammock Shop, which was established in 1938. Also, of course, their beautiful beaches.  Check out  Pawley Island Tavern. Good food, cold beer, and hundreds of dollar bills hanging from the ceiling! Also, make sure you try the Rustic Table for southern comfort meals and cocktails.

I actually lived in Surfside Beach, where I worked at Gator 107.9, a local country station. Love this area! Scotty's Beach Bar is a cool place for beer and people-watching. It's oceanfront and looks the same today as 20 years ago. Neil and Pam's Bar and Grill, across the street from Scotty's, has great food, too.

Back in North Myrtle, Ducks Dive Bar and Grill on Sea Mountain Highway is a perfect place to have lunch. Also, check out Crooked Hammock Brewery.

The Dinghy is a relaxed tavern with bar eats and cold beverages on Front Beach of Isle of Palms. They have live music, too.

Speaking of live music, I love the Windjammer. An oceanfront bar and music venue with a stage outback overlooking the beach. Very cool place and a favorite of Charleston area native Darius Rucker.

Myrtle Beach has one of my favorite bars, The Bowerey on Ocean Boulevard. It's where Alabama played for many years before they were discovered and got their record deal. Also, Sea Captain's House-Oceanfront is incredible—a great breakfast place, lunch, and dinner.

Plenty to do in Myrtle!