Updated August 2026
Best beaches in South Carolina by water quality
South Carolina has 24 public beaches in the EPA monitoring dataset, 17 of them with enough bacteria samples to grade. 6 earn an A for consistently clean water, while 5 grade an F for frequently exceeding the safe-swimming limit. Full ranking below. National lists: cleanest beaches in the US and beaches that exceed bacteria limits most often.
South Carolina beaches on the map
Ways to pick a South Carolina beach
Cleanest water (Grade A)
- Hilton Head Island — Beaufort
- Isle Of Palms — Charleston
- Georgetown County Beach Litchfield Beach — Georgetown
- Fripp Island — Beaufort
| Grade | Beach | County | % over limit | Samples | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Hilton Head Island | Beaufort | 0% | 30 | Excellent |
| A | Isle Of Palms | Charleston | 0% | 24 | Excellent |
| A | Georgetown County Beach Litchfield Beach | Georgetown | 1.1% | 89 | Excellent |
| A | Fripp Island | Beaufort | 2.3% | 43 | Excellent |
| A | Seabrook Island | Charleston | 2.4% | 83 | Excellent |
| A | Briarcliffe Acres Town Of | Horry | 2.9% | 68 | Excellent |
| B | Georgetown County Beach Debordieu Beach | Georgetown | 3.5% | 113 | Good |
| B | Folly Beach | Charleston | 6.1% | 314 | Good |
| B | Georgetown County Beach Garden City Beach | Georgetown | 6.6% | 348 | Good |
| C | Myrtle Beach City Of | Horry | 7.5% | 40 | Fair |
| C | Edisto Island | Charleston | 10% | 40 | Fair |
| D | Horry County Beach Arcadia Beach | Horry | 17.1% | 123 | Poor |
| F | North Myrtle Beach City Of | Horry | 28.6% | 63 | Failing |
| F | Sullivans Island | Charleston | 38.3% | 548 | Failing |
| F | Georgetown County Beach Huntington Beach State Park | Georgetown | 43.1% | 642 | Failing |
| F | Surfside Beach Town Of | Horry | 44.3% | 230 | Failing |
| F | Horry County Beach Garden City Beach | Horry | 76.1% | 113 | Failing |
Download the full South Carolina beach safety ranking
All 17 graded South Carolina beaches with their Beach Safety Grade, exceedance rate, sample counts, and program status — from EPA monitoring data. Enter your email to download. A grade is a multi-year classification, not a same-day safety clearance.
South Carolina beach grade updates
Get new grades and water-quality updates for South Carolina beaches by email.
Where to stay near South Carolina beaches
Find beachfront hotels, condos, and vacation rentals across South Carolina — live availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near South Carolina beaches
Prices for Oct 2–4, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Watch South Carolina beach grades
Get an email when a graded South Carolina beach posts a new sample or swim advisory.
Frequently Asked Questions
The table ranks South Carolina beaches by Beach Safety Grade from EPA bacteria samples. Grade A beaches have the fewest exceedances of the safe-swimming limit.
Hotels, condos, and vacation rentals for South Carolina beaches are on the map on this page. Compare water quality in the table, then book from the town you actually want to swim from.
South Carolina beaches vary. Of 17 graded beaches, 6 earn an A for the fewest bacteria exceedances and 5 earn an F for exceeding the safe-swimming limit most often. A grade is a multi-year record, not a same-day clearance — check the county advisory the day you swim.
The day you swim. A grade is a history of samples, not a same-day clearance — check the county advisory before you get in.