Dawn patrol surfing in Pawleys Island

Pawleys Island, South Carolina

Sunrise and first light times for planning your dawn patrol session.

First light in Pawleys Island means glass, empty peaks, and the best conditions of the day before thermal onshores build. These 1 spots are worth the 5am alarm.

Sunrise

6:11 AM
First Light: 5:41 AM

Day length: 14h 20m

Sunrise

6:11 AM

First light: 5:41 AM

Sunset

8:31 PM

Last light: 9:01 PM

Data from Pawleys Island Pier· Updated daily

7-Day Sun Schedule

Today(Today)

Sunrise

6:11 AM

Sunset

8:31 PM

Day Length

14h 20m

Tomorrow

Sunrise

6:11 AM

Sunset

8:31 PM

Day Length

14h 19m

Sat, Jul 4

Sunrise

6:12 AM

Sunset

8:31 PM

Day Length

14h 19m

Sun, Jul 5

Sunrise

6:12 AM

Sunset

8:31 PM

Day Length

14h 18m

Mon, Jul 6

Sunrise

6:13 AM

Sunset

8:31 PM

Day Length

14h 18m

Tue, Jul 7

Sunrise

6:13 AM

Sunset

8:30 PM

Day Length

14h 17m

Wed, Jul 8

Sunrise

6:14 AM

Sunset

8:30 PM

Day Length

14h 16m

Best dawn patrol spots in Pawleys Island

Dawn patrol access guide for Pawleys Island

Parking and access info for early morning sessions before sunrise.

Pawleys Island Pier
pier
lower-intermediate

Pawleys Island Pier is the closest named forecast anchor for private Pawleys Island pier-area custom spots. The surf is still an Atlantic-facing sandbar read, with pier-adjacent peaks and tropical-season windows, but the pier and immediate access are private/resident or guest controlled. Use this anchor for nearby custom-spot forecast matching without implying public pier access.

Early access

Treat the pier as a visual landmark and forecast anchor. Check local signs and use public beach accesses rather than the private pier or private walkway system.

Parking

Use legal public Pawleys Island beach access and parking, then walk only where public access allows. Do not route surfers through private pier, rental, or resort access.

Dawn patrol tips

  • Glassy morning conditions before onshore winds
  • Less crowded lineups at sunrise
  • East-facing beaches for sunrise views
  • Spots with easy parking for early arrivals

Surf Guides for Pawleys Island

Frequently Asked Questions

About surfing in Pawleys Island

Dawn patrol in Pawleys Island typically starts at first light, around 30 minutes before sunrise. This gives you the glassiest conditions before onshore winds develop.
Early morning offers glassy conditions, fewer crowds, and calmer winds. Water temperature is also warmer relative to air temperature at sunrise.

Make the next surf call sharper

Check the forecast, surf the session, log what happened, and help Quiver keep tuning your local calls.

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