Pawleys Retreat is an established, low-HOA single-family neighborhood on mainland Pawleys Island, South Carolina, zip code 29585, with homes running 1,282 to 2,736 square feet built from the mid-1980s through the 2020s. The community includes a neighborhood park, walking trails, and gated boat and RV storage, and borders Waccamaw High School.
Quick Facts | Detail |
|---|---|
ZIP Code | 29585 |
County | Georgetown County, South Carolina |
Homes | Single-family, 1,282 to 2,736 square feet, built mid-1980s to 2020s |
HOA | Low monthly HOA dues; not a no-HOA or gated community |
Amenities | Neighborhood park, walking trails, gated boat and RV storage area |
School District | Georgetown County School District, Waccamaw school family; borders Waccamaw High School |
Pawleys Retreat's mix of established and newer construction gives buyers real choice at different price points. Search current listings or contact a local agent for a personal tour.
An established mainland neighborhood with a park, walking trails, and its own gated boat storage
Pawleys Retreat sits on the mainland side of Pawleys Island, a single-family neighborhood that developed gradually from the mid-1980s through recent new construction rather than all at once. Homes run from 1,282 to 2,736 square feet, giving buyers real range between smaller starter homes and larger family residences within the same community.
The neighborhood carries a low monthly HOA fee that funds a neighborhood park, walking trails, and a gated storage area for boats and recreational vehicles, a genuine practical advantage in an area where boat and RV storage space is often hard to find. The community borders Waccamaw High School, putting the district's high school within walking distance for some homes.
Because homes here were built over roughly four decades, buyers will find a real mix: brick ranch homes from the 1980s and 90s alongside recently built, move-in-ready construction, several on cul-de-sacs or pond-view lots.
Low HOA dues fund a private, gated storage area for boats and recreational vehicles, a real convenience for the area's boating community.
Pawleys Retreat includes its own park and walking trails, giving residents outdoor recreation without leaving the neighborhood.
The neighborhood sits adjacent to Waccamaw High School, a practical advantage for families with high-school-aged children.
With construction spanning the mid-1980s to the 2020s, buyers can choose between an established brick ranch and recently built new construction within the same community.
Pawleys Retreat has a genuine year-round neighborhood feel rather than a vacation-rental atmosphere: kids walking to the bordering high school, neighbors meeting at the park, and boats coming and going from the gated storage lot before a day on the Intracoastal Waterway. The mainland location keeps residents close to Ocean Highway's restaurants and shops without living directly on the busier commercial corridor.
The Intracoastal Waterway and a public boat ramp sit just around the corner from the neighborhood, and Myrtle Beach International Airport is about 40 minutes away, useful for residents with regular travel or visiting family.
Waterway proximity and airport distance confirmed via Kent Covington Properties Pawleys Retreat listings, 2026.
A short drive up Highway 17 reaches these long-running local businesses in Pawleys Island.
Business addresses and hours confirmed via each business's official website, August 2026.
Brookgreen Gardens hours and admission per Brookgreen Gardens official site and MyrtleBeach.com, current as of 2026.
All four schools fall under the Georgetown County School District. Buyers should confirm current attendance zoning directly with the district before purchasing, since zone lines can be redrawn.
School names, addresses, and ratings sourced from Georgetown County School District (gcsd.k12.sc.us) and Niche.com, August 2026.
Pawleys Retreat is described by local agents as featuring "midsize homes that are very reasonably priced" relative to other Pawleys Island neighborhoods, with unit sizes ranging from 1,282 to 2,736 square feet. Because the neighborhood spans four decades of construction, pricing depends heavily on age, renovation level, and lot position, brick ranches from the 1980s and 90s price differently than recent new construction on the same streets.
Buyers comparing Pawleys Retreat to other mainland neighborhoods should also review the Pawleys Island homes for sale page, since its low HOA and included boat storage set it apart from both no-HOA neighborhoods and higher-fee gated communities nearby.
Unit size range and market positioning: neighborhoods.com Pawleys Retreat profile and JP Real Estate Experts MLS-sourced listings, 2026.
Taylor Keenan, ABR, The Litchfield Company, a Christie's International Real Estate affiliate, Pawleys Island, SC. Taylor was named 2020 Rookie of the Year by The Litchfield Company and represents buyers and sellers across Pawleys Island, Litchfield Beach, Murrells Inlet, and Georgetown, including established mainland neighborhoods like Pawleys Retreat. Reach the Taylor Keenan Team at (843) 630-1166 or through the contact page.
Yes, Pawleys Retreat has a homeowners association, but with notably low monthly dues compared to many gated Pawleys Island communities. It is not a no-HOA neighborhood, unlike some nearby communities that are sometimes confused with it.
Pawleys Retreat includes a neighborhood park, walking trails, and a gated storage area for boats and recreational vehicles, funded through HOA dues.
Homes in Pawleys Retreat range from about 1,282 to 2,736 square feet, reflecting the neighborhood's mix of construction from the mid-1980s through the 2020s.
No. Pawleys Retreat is an open, non-gated neighborhood, though its boat and RV storage area is separately gated for security.
Pawleys Retreat is zoned for Georgetown County School District's Waccamaw schools: Waccamaw Elementary, Waccamaw Intermediate, Waccamaw Middle, and Waccamaw High School, which directly borders the neighborhood. Buyers should verify current zoning with the district before purchasing.
Taylor Keenan and the Taylor Keenan Team provide local market knowledge and personalized representation for buyers and sellers throughout Pawleys Retreat, Pawleys Island, Litchfield Beach, Murrells Inlet, and Georgetown.
Sources: 1. neighborhoods.com, Pawleys Retreat profile, 2026. 2. JP Real Estate Experts, MLS-sourced listings, 2026. 3. Kent Covington Properties, Pawleys Retreat listings, 2026. 4. Heroes Realty Group, Pawleys Island real estate listings, 2026. 5. Georgetown County School District, gcsd.k12.sc.us. 6. Niche.com school ratings, 2026. 7. Brookgreen Gardens official site and MyrtleBeach.com. 8. Frank's Restaurant and Bar, franksandoutback.com. 9. Hammock Shops Village, hammockshops.com. 10. Kudzu Bakery, kudzubakery.com.
1,017 people live in Pawleys Retreat, where the median age is 54 and the average individual income is $38,763. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
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There's plenty to do around Pawleys Retreat, including shopping, dining, nightlife, parks, and more. Data provided by Walk Score and Yelp.
Explore popular things to do in the area, including Harvest Moon Fishing Charters.
Pawleys Retreat has 422 households, with an average household size of 3. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in Pawleys Retreat do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 1,017 people call Pawleys Retreat home. The population density is 1,533 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
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14240 Ocean Hwy Pawleys Island SC 29585
14240 Ocean Hwy Pawleys Island SC 29585
