Pawleys Island, South Carolina, is located 70 miles north of Charleston and 25 miles south of Myrtle Beach. The island is a little over three miles (5 km) long and about a quarter of a mile wide. To the east-southeast lies the Atlantic Ocean. The island is a sandy barrier, with some dunes on the northern end up to about 15 feet (5 m) high. The southern end is very low. Behind the island is a tidal creek/marsh.