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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Pawleys Island
Spend 2 days: beach and creek activities, then head to Myrtle Beach or Georgetown for more options.
Pawleys Island is a tiny barrier‑island community (pop. ~130) with beach access, fishing, kayaking and a few inns. One full day covers beach time; a second adds creek‑side fishing or paddle‑boarding before you travel to nearby Myrtle Beach for dining and nightlife.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot, humid, higher traffic on Grand Strand)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $80–120 excl. bed · Mid $120–180 excl. bed · High $180–250 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a mainland café | $2–4 |
| Ice cream on the beach | $3–5 |
| Bike rental (mainland) | $15–25 per day |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MYR · Myrtle Beach International Airport
- 45 min drive south on US‑17; carriers include American, Delta, United
Typical fares
- Myrtle Beach Airport → Pawleys Island (rental car)
- ≈45 min, $70–90 for 2 days (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Rent a car; no public transport on the island. Walk to the beach from anywhere. Two short bridges connect to US‑17 for mainland services.
See and do
Known for
- Quiet Atlantic beach
- Pawleys Creek fishing
- Kayaking and paddle‑boarding
- Low‑key inns
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Myrtle Beach | Drive south on US‑17, about 45 min | ≈1 h round trip |
| Georgetown (Winyah Bay) | Drive south on US‑17, about 30 min | ≈1 h |
Sleep
- Sea View Inn
- Private beach, ocean on one side, salt‑marsh on the other; check‑in noon, check‑out 10 AM
- Vista Inn & Suites
- Ocean Highway location; basic rooms
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much does this cost? | ¿Cuánto cuesta? |
| Where is the nearest restroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño más cercano? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- No shops or restaurants on the island; plan meals on the mainland.
- Limited public parking on the beach; arrive early in peak season.
- No bike lanes or sidewalks; use a car for off‑island errands.
Pawleys Island is low‑crime and family‑friendly; main risks are traffic on US‑17 and sun exposure on the beach.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Pawleys Island yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Quiet Atlantic beach
- Pawleys Creek fishing
- Kayaking and paddle‑boarding
- Low‑key inns
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Pawleys Island, revision 5271065 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5271065
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Pawleys Island
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
US citizens: nearest consulate in Charleston (check address).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/pawleys-island). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.