87°
Sunny
5%
70
Georgetown County, SC · Atlantic Ocean
Litchfield Beach
Parker Drive accesses, Pawleys Island, SC 29585
An unincorporated stretch of the Hammock Coast just north of Pawleys Island, Litchfield Beach is a quiet, mostly residential strand with 15 public walkways in North Litchfield and 7 in Litchfield Beach proper, anchoring a string of low-key vacation rentals.
Today's Conditions
Great day for a beach walk.
NWS alert active · 86°F water · 87°F air
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Sunny, with a high near 87. South wind around 21 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 81. Southwest wind 16 to 21 mph.
Weather
- 87°F air — ideal beach weather
- 21 mph wind — breezy — anchor everything
- Sunny skies — clear conditions
Water
- 86°F water — warm — full-day swim weather
Safety
- UV 10 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
- NWS alert active — small craft advisory issued july 18 at 2:32pm edt until july 19 at 11:00pm edt by nws wilmington nc
49 /100
ok
32 Swim
59 Sunbathe
77 Walk
73 Photo
Best for walking today
Water level 0.7 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
Small Craft Small Craft Advisory
Small Craft Advisory issued July 18 at 2:32PM EDT until July 19 at 11:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt expected. * WHERE...Northeast South Carolina coastal waters out 20 NM. * WHEN...From 4 PM this afternoon to 11 PM EDT Sunday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
87°F
Clear
Wind
21 mph
S
Rain
5%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
10 Very High
High 11 AM–04 PM · burn in ~20m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
88°F
Sunny
Water
Water Temp
86°F
Swimming weather
Next High Tide
11:45 PM
5.3 ft · in 2.6h
Wave Height
3.3 ft
S swell
Barometer
30.01 inHg
1016 hPa
Water Quality
Clean
19 MPN/100mL · E. coli
USGS · sampled 7mo ago
Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference
No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (AMZ256)
The ILM office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.
- NCZ106 Coastal Pender — Surf City and Topsail Beach n/a
- NCZ108 Coastal New Hanover — Wrightsville Beach, Masonboro Island, n/a
- NCZ110 Coastal Brunswick — Bald Head Island, Oak Island, Holden Beach, n/a
- SCZ054 Coastal Horry — Cherry Grove, North Myrtle Beach, n/a
- SCZ056 Coastal Georgetown — Murrells Inlet, Litchfield Beach, n/a
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
6:19 AM
Sunset
8:25 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:22 AM | Low | -0.3 ft |
| 11:34 AM | High | 5.3 ft |
| 5:34 PM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 11:45 PM | High | 5.3 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 6:07 AM | Low | -0.1 ft |
| 12:30 PM | High | 5.3 ft |
| 6:27 PM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:38 AM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 6:52 AM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 1:24 PM | High | 5.2 ft |
| 7:22 PM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:29 AM | High | 4.5 ft |
| 7:39 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 2:14 PM | High | 5.2 ft |
| 8:22 PM | Low | 1.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:19 AM | High | 4.2 ft |
| 8:29 AM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 3:04 PM | High | 5.1 ft |
| 9:25 PM | Low | 1.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:09 AM | High | 4.0 ft |
| 9:23 AM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| 3:53 PM | High | 5.1 ft |
| 10:25 PM | Low | 1.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:01 AM | High | 3.9 ft |
| 10:17 AM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| 4:44 PM | High | 5.1 ft |
| 11:16 PM | Low | 1.1 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8661070, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
88°
Sunny
11%
64
86°
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
16%
36
85°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
28%
23
86°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
32%
19
83°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
74%
15
82°
Rain Showers Likely
57%
53
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 10 — very high
- recommended Beach shelter or anchored canopy 21 mph wind — umbrellas will flip
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 86°F
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Beach Info
Parking
Free public parking at all 22 walkway accesses along Parker Drive and Norris Drive. Roadside parking allowed within 5 feet of pavement.
Dogs
Georgetown County: dogs must be leashed 9am–7pm. Outside those hours, may be off-leash if under voice control. $250 fine for violations.
Entry Fee
Free beach access and free parking
Address
Parker Drive accesses, Pawleys Island, SC 29585
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Litchfield Beach today?
Litchfield Beach shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. No lifeguards are on duty, so check the day's conditions and swim with caution. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Litchfield Beach dog-friendly?
Georgetown County: dogs must be leashed 9am–7pm. Outside those hours, may be off-leash if under voice control. $250 fine for violations.
Is there an entry fee at Litchfield Beach?
Entry to Litchfield Beach is free.
Are there lifeguards at Litchfield Beach?
No lifeguards are stationed at Litchfield Beach. Swim at your own risk and keep close watch on children.
What amenities are at Litchfield Beach?
Amenities at Litchfield Beach include public walkway accesses, life rings at select accesses.
When is the water warmest at Litchfield Beach?
Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.
Where is Litchfield Beach located?
Litchfield Beach is in Georgetown County, SC, at Parker Drive accesses, Pawleys Island, SC 29585.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS