How to reach the beach, important information and safety tips
Below are a few highlights. Check out our other tips for vacationers.
Beach Access & Parking – Pawleys Island has nine public beach access points, shown on this map. All public access points have trash receptacles, dog waste collection bags and signs listing beach rules and regulations. The largest free public beach access parking lot in Georgetown County (80 spaces) is located on the south end of the island. Parking is permitted from 6 am to 11 pm.
Unless otherwise posted or restricted, vehicles can be parked along the side of the road within five (5) feet of the edge of the pavement. No vehicles may be parked on the pavement in the right of way. Parking regulations are strictly enforced.
Tents & Chairs – Please remove your tents and beach chairs when you leave the beach for the day and fill in any holes in the sand. Surfing – Under SC Code 50-21-180, surfing is not permitted within 100 yards of the pier. Surfing is also prohibited by law between sunset and sunrise (50-21-820). Surfers are prohibited by law from engaging in conduct that endangers others (50-21-840a).
Watch out for sea turtles! Sea turtles nest on Pawleys Island. To protect them, please:
• Remove all tents, beach chairs, umbrellas, toys, trash and other items from the beach at the end of the day.
• Fill in your digs.
• Turn off all beach-facing lights by 10 p.m.
• Do not disturb the sea turtles or any sea turtle nests.
Pawleys Island enthusiastically supports the South Carolina United Turtle Enthusiasts (S.C.U.T.E.), Thank you for helping us keep our beach sea turtle friendly! For more information about our Pawleys Island S.C.U.T.E, click here or contact SCUTE coordinator for Pawleys Island at 571-309-5124 or [email protected].
Watch out for rip currents
Rip currents are extremely dangerous: they can easily carry a strong swimmer away from the shoreline. If you are caught in a rip tide, swim parallel to the shore and stay calm: do not panic or fight the current. If you are unable to swim out of the current, float or calmly tread water.
With rip current activity increasing, we highly recommend you do your research before entering the water. You can find important information here: NOAA Ocean Today - Rip Current Survival Guide and NOAA Ocean Today - Rip Current Science. The National Weather Service also posts beach hazard announcements. Please remember the following safety tips:
• Stay calm
• Call out and wave for help
• Float if possible; swim where you see waves heading into shore
• Observe the water before entering: avoid areas where waves are not breaking
• Check out local weather services and rip current reports
Gun owners: Please be aware of our policy
Gun owners are responsible for ensuring that their firearms are secure and are not left unattended during their stay or abandoned at the rental property upon departure. For the safety of our employees and vacationers, Pawleys Island Realty strictly enforces the following policy:
If a firearm is abandoned in a rental property, a $500 handling fee will be charged to the vacationer’s credit card on file. The firearm will be secured at our office for 24 hours; any ammunition will be removed for safety reasons and will not be returned with the firearm. The vacationer on record will be notified and must pick up the firearm from our office or provide us with the shipping address of a Federal Firearm License (FFL) Dealer to which we can ship the gun. The vacationer is responsible for both the handling fee and the cost of shipping.
If the vacationer does not pick up the firearm or provide the address of a Federal Firearm License (FFL) Dealer within 24 hours, the firearm will be turned over to the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Department.
