For decades, Litchfield Beach has been the top spot for visitors who want to sink their toes in the sand on Pawleys Island. A mix of rental properties and family homes bring a mix of tourists and full-time residents to the shore. The community, which takes its name from the Litchfield rice plantation, began developing into a beach resort in the 1950s and 1960s. Since then, the strip of coastline has become one of the most popular beaches in the country. In 2020, Litchfield Beach was featured on TripAdvisor’s list of top 10 beaches in the U.S. There’s also easy access to seafood restaurants, family-friendly attractions and nearly a dozen golf courses. Anyone looking for a piece of Litchfield Beach property will have many options between the gated condo complexes and clusters of beach houses in a variety of sizes. “Litchfield offers tranquility that other beach areas often lack,” says Doug Henderson, a Pawleys Island native and Realtor at Heritage Coast Realty. “It's a slower-paced way of life that emphasizes the natural setting and all that it has to offer rather than a focus on commercialization.”
Oceanfront homes with double porches and beach access are popular in Litchfield Beach.
Litchfield Beach residents love to relax on the beach in Murrells Inlet.
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Family homes in North Litchfield and condos at Litchfield by the Sea
Litchfield Beach is divided into three areas that cater to different lifestyles. North and South Litchfield have multiple beach homes used as full-time residences. “North Litchfield is the most residential beach community in town,” says Jay Nelson, a Pawleys Island native and a sales executive with the Litchfield Company. “When you get off the beachfront, it’s almost all full-timers, which is cool because most other beach communities are rentals, but here people live there 365.” Beachfront homes with balconies, private boat slips and brightly colored exteriors start at $800,000 and can reach up to $3 million. Smaller beach homes range from $400,000 to $800,000, and bungalows and cottages farther from the water cost between $250,000 to $400,000. Coastal flooding is common, so houses by the beach are usually built up or have additional defenses like storm doors. The gated Litchfield by the Sea community is sandwiched between North and South Litchfield and mainly consists of condos and townhouses. These units typically range from $200,000 to $500,000, and monthly HOA fees vary from $500 to $1,000, depending on the building. All of Litchfield Beach has a CAP Index Crime Score of 3, just below the national average score of 4.
Colorful townhomes in Litchfield Beach offer low‑maintenance living from $200k to $500k.
Litchfield Beach features elevated, modern homes, with prices from $400k to $3M.
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Public and private access along Litchfield Beach
On any given day, locals can hunt for crabs or cast a line along Litchfield Beach’s miles of coastline. While most of the beach is open to the public, Litchfield by the Sea residents enjoy private beach access. The gated community also has its own private amenities, including a mini waterpark and private fishing pier. Golfers will never have to go far for tee time thanks to the island’s many courses, including Litchfield Country Club, River Club and Tradition Club, all within about 5 miles of Litchfield Beach. The northern side of Litchfield Beach borders Huntington Beach State Park and Brookgreen Gardens, which each draw in hundreds of visitors every year. Huntington Beach State Park centers around 3 miles of beachfront hiking trails, while Brookgreen Gardens is famous for having the country’s largest collection of American sculptures.
Litchfield Beach locals enjoy quiet dog walks along the water’s edge.
Litchfield Beach golfers tee off with friends at Litchfield Country Club in Pawleys Island.
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Beach day breakfast at Litchfield Restaurant
Most of the island’s best restaurants and shops surround the busy Ocean Highway, next to Litchfield. Just a mile off the beach, Litchfield Restaurant has been a favorite place to get breakfast before a day on the shore since it opened in 1968. Hanser House offers fresh seafood, hearty sandwiches and soup made from the owner’s family recipes. Perrone’s Restaurant and Bar has more upscale offerings, with a menu of dry-aged steak, caviar and oysters. Retail options on Ocean Highway include supermarkets like Food Lion and boutique stores like Hammock Shops Village, which sells everything from fine jewelry and candles to homemade dog treats and Southern pecans.
Litchfield Restaurant has served hearty breakfasts near Litchfield Beach since 1968.
The Hammock Shops near Litchfield Beach are a go-to for home goods, gifts, and décor.
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Ocean Highway leads to Myrtle Beach and Georgetown
Pawleys Island has a long tourist season, so there are extra cars on the road nearly every month of the year. “Growing up, we always said that Memorial Day to Labor Day was the tourist season, and now our season has broadened,” Nelson says. “Now people stay at Litchfield by the sea during Christmas, and a lot of other people have learned that October is some of the best weather you get here. Our other quiet months are in January and February.” Litchfield is 12 miles from Georgetown and 28 miles from Myrtle Beach, giving locals access to the best of both waterside cities. Georgetown and Myrtle Beach can be reached by a drive on Ocean Highway – also called Route 17 – or on Coast RTA’s daily bus route. These cities offer additional shopping, dining and some essentials. Georgetown Airport has a small regional airport for recreational pilots, while Myrtle Beach International Airport is the largest local commercial airport. Many houses of worship are right on the island, including the Pawleys Island Chapel, which has been in its seaside location on Myrtle Avenue since 1947.
Top-rated athletics at Waccamaw High School
Niche gives Waccamaw Elementary an A-minus grade, and named it the best public elementary school in Georgetown County. Waccamaw Intermediate School, Waccamaw Middle School and Waccamaw High School all earn B-plus grades from Niche and are some of the best-rated schools in the Georgetown County School District. Waccamaw High is in the top 10 high schools in the Myrtle Beach metro. The high school’s high rating is in part thanks to its decorated athletic programs in football, soccer and tennis. Coastal Carolina University is one of the largest regional colleges, just outside of Myrtle Beach, and the University of South Carolina and Clemson University both have research institutions on Pawleys Island.
Waccamaw High serves grades 9–12 and excels in athletics near Litchfield Beach.
Waccamaw Elementary serves Litchfield Beach and earns a strong A‑minus Niche grade.
Waccamaw Intermediate serves Litchfield Beach grades 4–6 with a B‑plus Niche rating.
Waccamaw Middle serves Litchfield Beach grades 7–8 and holds a B‑plus from Niche.
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Photography Contributed By
Jon Puckett
Video By
Dan Mack
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Golf course living without the membership fees or HOA! Full of natural light and nestled in one of the most private settings in the neighborhood on a picturesque corner lot along the fairways of Litchfield Country Club, this classic 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath one level home offers timeless character and Lowcountry charm in the heart of Pawleys Island. Tucked away on a small circle off another quiet
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Seize your chance to live in one of the premier apartment communities in Pawleys Island, SC. Picture coming home every day to the warm embrace of meticulous landscaping, comfortable homes, and thoughtful amenities tailored to enhance your life. Located in Litchfield Beach, Pawleys Island, with easy access to Coastal HWY 17 and Transit Bus Lines, Litchfield Oaks Apartments is just minutes away
Just bring your suitcases and move on into a fully furnished beach cottage at Pawleys Island! Start living the coastal lifestyle at this home in Magnolia Beach West! This is a 2 story, home with 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and a 1 car garage. Special features include an entertainment area on the ground floor equipped with a full bar, wall-mount TV, card table, dart board, a patio area, and a full
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