Places to Stay in Pawleys Island, SC

Island houses, creek cottages, resorts on the Litchfield side and rooms in the Georgetown historic district.

44 listings on Pawleys Island

Beach House Rentals26 Island houses, creek cottages and the management companies that hold the keys. Hotels, Inns and Resorts16 Resorts on the Litchfield side, small inns, and rooms in the Georgetown historic district. Camping and RV2 State park sites behind the dunes and private parks off the highway.

Where you sleep here changes the holiday more than at most destinations, because the island, the Litchfield side and Georgetown are three genuinely different experiences within fifteen minutes of each other.

The island itself is mostly private houses, many of them old, arranged along a narrow strip with the Atlantic on one side and the creek on the other. Front row means ocean, and it means paying for it. Creek side is quieter, cheaper, better for crabbing and paddling, and has the better sunsets. Both are on the island proper, reached by the two causeways.

Litchfield, just north, spreads inland from the beach into golf and marsh neighbourhoods. There is more inventory, more variety of price, and more resort style options. Litchfield by the Sea is a gated community within it, and this matters: its beach access, fishing pier and marsh boardwalks are reserved for owners and registered guests. Confirm what your booking actually includes before you assume you can walk on.

Hotels and inns are concentrated on the Litchfield side and in Georgetown. The Georgetown historic district is a different holiday again, twenty minutes south, walkable, with a working waterfront and a lot of history within a few blocks.

One structural note. Atlantic hurricane season runs June through November. Rental terms, evacuation routes and travel insurance matter more here than at an inland destination, and Georgetown County issues the local guidance worth reading before a late summer trip.

  • Front row costs, creek side delivers

    The creek gives you crabbing off the dock and the better sunset for meaningfully less money.

  • Check beach access in writing

    Litchfield by the Sea access is for owners and registered guests. Do not assume it comes with the booking.

  • Ask what the house includes

    Bikes, chairs, umbrellas and kayaks are often already there.

  • Read the storm clause

    Late summer bookings should know the cancellation and evacuation terms before deposit.

Highest rated

Best reviewed places to stay on the island

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Questions we get

About places to stay in Pawleys Island

Straight answers, and we say when something is our opinion.

Should I stay on Pawleys Island or in Litchfield?

The island is quieter, mostly private houses, and puts you between the ocean and the creek. Litchfield has more inventory, more resort options and easier parking, and it is a couple of minutes north. If you want the arrogantly shabby version, stay on the island. If you want amenities and choice, Litchfield.

Is Litchfield by the Sea beach access included with any rental?

No. Litchfield by the Sea is a gated community and its beach access, pier and boardwalks are reserved for owners and registered guests. If access matters to you, confirm in writing that your specific booking carries it.

What is the difference between front row and creek side?

Front row houses face the Atlantic and command the highest rates. Creek side houses sit on the tidal creek behind the island, are generally less expensive, and are better placed for crabbing, kayaking and sunsets. Both are on the island itself.

When should I book a Pawleys Island rental?

Summer weeks and the strong fall golf and fishing weeks go early, often many months ahead. Shoulder season is far more forgiving. Send us your dates and we will tell you honestly what is still realistic.