National travel magazine names Litchfield Beach one of 7 Best Beaches in South Carolina

National travel magazine names Litchfield Beach one of 7 Best Beaches in South Carolina

The beautiful beaches on South Carolina’s Hammock Coast® are known for being among the best in the Palmetto State. Now, Litchfield Beach, one of the those beloved Hammock Coast beaches, has been chosen by Condé Nast Traveler, a British and American travel magazine, for its “7 Best Beaches in South Carolina” list.

Just north of Pawleys Island and south of Murrells Inlet is the Litchfield Beach community, home to a several communities that were once rice plantations. Litchfield also features a long stretch of wide, beautiful beaches. The Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort welcomes vacationers to its beachfront and marshfront condos and homes year-round. Beyond the resort, there are myriad options for vacations rentals throughout the Litchfield community – everything from condos to spacious beachfront homes.

The author of the Condé Nast Traveler article, Stephanie Burt, said there is no bad time to go to the beach in South Carolina.

“In winter, the state can enjoy high-cloud, bright-sunshine days with above average temperatures that warrant a walk,” she wrote. “Even in less ideal conditions—under coolish weather and a blanket of clouds—the beach can be a welcomingly moody companion, offering up serenity and plenty of opportunities for shell collecting.”

She added that your best bet for gorgeous sunny moments along the best beaches in South Carolina is the window between May and October, “when water warms up and the heat and humidity combine to make a dip in the waters a necessary relief,” she wrote.

Burt described Litchfield Beach as quiet, serene, and with a relaxed upscale vibe, an idyllic place to park the family for beach week.

“The ease of proximity plus quieter crowds is the thing here,” she wrote. “Brookgreen Gardens, Huntington Beach State Park, and Murrells Inlet are mere minutes away, but this beach offers the chance to truly park the car for a day or two and just enjoy the fun and sun surfside.”

Mark A. Stevens, director of tourism development for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce and South Carolina’s Hammock Coast®, said he is ecstatic that Litchfield Beach made the Conde Nast Traveler list.

“We are happy to see Litchfield Beach being recognized as one of the best beaches in the state,” he said. “Hammock Coast visitors come back year after year to enjoy our scenic, uncrowded beaches and Litchfield Beach is no exception.”

The top 7 beaches were chosen by the editors of Condé Nast Traveler, which caters to readers interested in high-end and independent travel experiences, offering destination guides

Litchfield Beach may not be the most famous beach in South Carolina, but Tripadvisor says it’s one of America’s very best.

In fact, in 2020, TripAdvisor named Litchfield Beach as one of the Top 10 beaches in the United States! To be precise, Tripadvisor, the world’s largest travel platform, ranked Litchfield Beach as America’s ninth best beach. Litchfield offers travelers the Carolinas’ most stunning stretch of coastline in a quiet setting that is ideal for family vacations. With an average rating of 5 stars, Tripadvisor reviewers raved about Litchfield’s wide beaches, soft sand and privacy.

As testament to the popularity of Litchfield Beach, it’s currently in the running to be named the Best Beach in South Carolina by USA Today/ 10 Best. Litchfield, for the third year in a row, is competing against 16 other Palmetto State beaches, including two other Hammock Coast beaches (Pawleys Island and Huntington Beach) to be named USA Today’s selection as the state’s best beach. Pawleys has placed at No. 1 in 2024 and 2025, but Litchfield moved up to No. 3 in 2025, from No. 4 in 2024. Perhaps, Condé Nast’s designation for Litchfield at one of the state’s best seven beaches will give it a boost in the USA Today/ 10 Best contest.

Whatever the outcome, it seems clear that Hammock Coast beaches are favorites for the traveling public coming to South Carolina for rest and relaxation.

By Clayton Stairs / tourism manager for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce