SC has 10 of the best beach towns in the South for 2025, Southern Living says. Here’s where
The United States is home to scores of stunning coastal communities, and while the beach may conjure images of California and Hawaii, the South features some amazing beach towns.
But which destinations are the best of the best? Lifestyle magazine Southern Living surveyed readers to find the 50 best beach towns in the South in 2025.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Florida took the most spots with 19 beach towns on the list. Next up, the Palmetto State came in second with 10 entries on the list, followed closely by North Carolina, which took nine spots.
The rest of the list includes coastal communities in Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, Texas and Virginia.
The best South Carolina beach towns
As the top-ranking beach town in South Carolina, Hilton Head Island was voted as the third-best beach in the region by Southern Living readers. The magazine praises Hilton Head’s beautiful coast and southern charm.
“The resort town is often lauded for its world-class golf and accommodations, but its 12 miles of tawny sands and the quiet oak- and magnolia-lined streets that surround them are every bit as magical,” Southern Living says.
Coming in at number eight, Myrtle Beach also ranked highly on the list. The popular vacation spot near the North Carolina state line combines natural beauty with bustling attractions.
“The jewel of the 60-mile Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach is a quintessential seaside town,” Southern Living says. “From the open-air bars and ice-cream shops along the iconic boardwalk to its many resorts and restaurants, it has all you could dream of when planning an escape.”
Between Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach, another stunning beach just a half-hour from Charleston made the list. Isle of the Palms took the 13th spot on the list and the third spot in South Carolina for its 7 miles of Atlantic coastline.
“On the other side of the barrier island, maze-like salt marshes and winding tidal creeks funnel into the Intracoastal Waterway, providing the ideal environment to see bottlenose dolphins, loggerhead sea turtles, and abundant shorebirds,” Southern Living says.
Complete list of top SC beach towns
Murrells Inlet
#10 in South Carolina
#42 in the South
Edisto Beach
#9 in South Carolina
#34 in the South
Sullivan’s Island
#8 in South Carolina
#30 in the South
Pawleys Island
#7 in South Carolina
#20 in the South
Folly Beach
#6 in South Carolina
#19 in the South
Beaufort
#5 in South Carolina
#16 in the South
Kiawah Island
#4 in South Carolina
#14 in the South
Isle of Palms
#3 in South Carolina
#13 in the South
Myrtle Beach
#2 in South Carolina
#8 in the South
Hilton Head Island
#1 in South Carolina
#3 in the South
This story was originally published March 20, 2025 at 6:00 AM.