Pawleys Island Surfing

Review

If you’re in Charleston on a busy weekend and want to escape the crowd of surfers usually found on Folly, head up Highway 17 to Pawleys Island. This is a bit of a drive from Charleston, but the surf is as good here as it is anywhere on the coast, and there are fewer people than in Charleston. On a good day, you can expect 5 to 6ft swells anywhere from 50 to 150 meters long, with waves breaking both right and left. The bottom is sandy, and there are no jetties or natural barriers to worry about hitting. Pawleys is a great surf destination, and well worth the trip if you want to escape the usual Charleston surf scene. The best place to go is the public beach access by the pier. Parking is available near there, and that is where you will catch those signature Pawleys Island waves.