South Carolina's Island Between Georgetown & Myrtle Beach Is Like A Charming Time Capsule
Nally Preseault
Thu, February 12, 2026 at 1:30 AM UTC
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There are no roads leading to this island. There aren't many people on it either. This isn't your typical beach trip to South Carolina. But if you can find this remote spot, tucked between Georgetown and Myrtle Beach, you'll feel like you're stepping back in time in this fascinating place.
Sandy Island is a freshwater island sitting between the Pee Dee and Waccamaw Rivers in South Carolina. At 12,000 acres, it's the largest freshwater island on the east coast. Since the island is covered with prehistoric sand dunes, it was filled with rice fields before the Civil War. But after the war, Phillip Washington, a freed slave, bought land on the island and established Sandy Island Village. A Gullah Geechee community, including a school, soon followed. Descendants of those liberated slaves still live there today. Much of Sandy Island is now a protected preserve, while the school is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Sandy Island feels isolated because you have to access it by boat, but it's less than 20 miles north of Georgetown and less than 40 miles south of Myrtle Beach, which has a glorious South Carolina beach boardwalk that transforms into a winter wonderland. Its airport, Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR), is one of the largest in South Carolina. It receives nonstop flights from more than 50 destinations around the U.S. The landings, where boats depart for Sandy Island, are an easy drive from there.
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Visit the historic village on Sandy Island
The village that Phillip Washington established sits on the island's southern tip. It's the perfect spot to learn about Sandy Island's history. Tours De Sandy Island offers a two-and-a-half hour Gullah Tour (adults $50). The tour meets at Sandy Island Landing in Pawleys Island, an east coast beach town that's a great destination for history buffs. Once you board the pontoon boat, it's just a 10-minute ride to the island. Your history lesson begins along the way.
Once you arrive on the island, you'll board a shuttle bus to continue the tour. Though you can't drive to the island, there are sandy roads through dense forests on it. During the tour, you'll visit the Mt. Rena Cemetery, the fire department, the historic school, and a church. The fire department, run by volunteers, keeps a fire truck on the island. The school, built in 1932, taught children through the eighth grade until 1964. Now all the island's children, not just high-schoolers, must ride the school bus boat to the mainland. It's the only one running in South Carolina. While at the New Bethel Baptist Church, built in 1880, the charming community might invite you to join the service. It feels like you're in a time capsule here.
The tour ends back at the dock near Pyatt's General Store, which sells drinks, snacks, and Gullah sweetgrass baskets. It also offers the island's only public restroom.
Head north into Sandy Island Preserve
In order to protect Sandy island from development, the people who live there joined forces with the Nature Conservancy. More than 9,000 acres — that's three-quarters of the island — are now part of Sandy Island Preserve. This preserve, the Nature Conservancy's largest in the state, safeguards rare animals and plants. Longleaf pines cover the northern part of the island. Turkey oaks dot the south. While pitcher plants and purple lupines blanket the forest floors. The preserve is home to endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers. Black bears and feral hogs live there, too.
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Sandy Island Preserve has created three hiking trails, covering more than eight miles, to help people explore the island. Little Bull Creek Trail (2.2 miles) and Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Trail (3.9 miles) are loop trails that begin near the Bull Creek boat landing. They head in opposite directions near the island's northern tip. The Larry Paul Trail, a two-mile loop, is near the island's southern tip. It begins near a beach and features interpretive signs along the way. The preserve is open from sunrise to sunset.
Since camping is not allowed in Sandy Island Preserve, you may want to head to Huntington Beach State Park at the end of the day. This coastal state park is an underrated southeastern gem full of beach activities. It's conveniently less than four miles from Sandy Island Landing. You just have to return to the present day to get there.
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