GREENVILLE
Greenville News
Spring break in the Palmetto State is currently underway.
That means beaches will soon be packed with those looking to escape from studying and work ? that is, if they aren't already.
If you only have a week to get away, you'll want to choose the perfect place to sit back and enjoy a lemonade by the waves. In South Carolina, there are many beautiful beaches to consider for your retreat.
Thankfully, vacation rental marketplace HomeToGo has done most of the homework for you, narrowing down the Top 35 U.S. beach destinations of 2025.
Here are the four S.C. beaches that ranked among the best beaches, including one that placed into the lucky top 3.
What SC beach scored in the top 3?
Cherry Grove Beach, located on the northern tip of the Grand Strand, ranked No. 3 out of 35 top U.S. spring break beaches. The beach's serene waves and quiet atmosphere make it desirable among families, standing out from busier beaches further down south, said HomeToGo.
The beach earned a total score of 59.07 on HomeToGo's beach index, with a hidden gem score of 6.57, affordability score of 9.21, heat score of 7.81, clear skies score of 8.71, visitor satisfaction score of 8.33, food and drink score of 8.63, and local secret score of 9.71.
What other SC beaches placed in the top 35?
? No. 15: Edisto Beach, 56.55
? No. 22: Folly Beach, 55.33
? No. 23: Surfside Beach, 55.06
What methodology did HomeToGo use to rank beaches?
The following criteria was used by HomeToGo to determine the country's best beaches:
? Hidden gem score: Determined by the number of searches between March and April. Locations with fewer searches earned a higher score.
? Affordability score: Determined by the median cost per night per person for vacation accommodations between March and April. Areas with the lowest prices scored higher.
? Heat score: Statistics from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) were used to determine the average temperatures in March and April in each location. Locations with higher temperatures received a higher score.
? Clear skies score: Statistics from the NOAA were once again used to determine the average days of rain in March and April per location. Areas with the fewest average days of rain were awarded a higher score.
? Visitor satisfaction: Data from review sources like Google, TripAdvisor, Yelp, and Facebook were used to determine the average visitor rating out of five for each destination. Destinations with the highest visitor rating received a higher score.
? Food and drink score: Google Maps data was used to determine the number of dining establishments within a 15 minute drive from the beach. Areas with the most places to eat and drink within close proximity to the beach scored higher.
? Local secret score: Determined by the average distance traveled in miles by vacationers to reach each destination. Locations that were quicker to access earned higher scores, achieving under-the-radar regional gem status.
HomeToGo's top 10 destinations for beach breaks in 2025
? No. 1: Avila Beach, California, 59.14
? No. 2: Kure Beach, North Carolina, 59.07
? No. 3: Cherry Grove Beach, 59.07
? No. 4: Saint Joe Beach, Florida, 58.68
? No. 5: Vilano Beach, Florida, 58.47
? No. 6: Bethany Beach, Delaware, 58.39
? No. 7: Crystal Beach, Texas, 57.19
? No. 8: Pensacola Beach, Florida, 57.05
? No. 9: Miramar Beach, Florida, 56.85
? No. 10: Navarre Beach, Florida, 56.69
Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Reach her via email at [email protected]