Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach built its identity on sixty continuous miles of sandy coast known as the Grand Strand. Ocean Boulevard runs parallel to the beach, serving as the central strip for high-rise resorts and neon arcades. You need a car to move between the central boardwalk, northern golf courses, and southern salt marshes. Expect heavy summer crowds, warm Atlantic water, and straightforward coastal dining.

Coastal South Carolina cooking centres on two distinct styles. Calabash seafood relies on lightly cornmeal-dredged, quick-fried shrimp and flounder. She-crab soup pairs Atlantic blue crab meat and roe with heavy cream and sherry. Local dining stays casual across all price points.

• Eat along the MarshWalk

  Head to Murrells Inlet for waterfront seafood spots that share a continuous half-mile boardwalk.

• Dine before 18:00

  Summer restaurant waits exceed ninety minutes after 18:30. Early dinners avoid hours in parking lots.

• Try lowcountry boil

  Local spots boil shrimp, smoked sausage, corn, and red potatoes together with Old Bay seasoning.

The Grand Strand shifted from timber land and rice plantations to a resort corridor during the twentieth century. Oceanfront development expanded rapidly after regional rail lines connected inland farm towns to the Atlantic shore.

1. 1901

   Railroad arrives

   The Conway Coast and Western Railroad connected inland inland timber workers directly to the beach.

2. 1938

   Intracoastal Waterway

   Completion of the inland waterway isolated the strand, creating a distinct coastal strip.

3. 1954

   Hurricane Hazel

   The storm destroyed older wooden boardwalks, triggering a rebuild using concrete and steel high-rises.

4. 2010

   Boardwalk opening

   The city constructed a 1.2-mile oceanfront boardwalk, centralising downtown tourism.

Choose your location by trade-offs between noise, beach access, and driving distances. Central Myrtle Beach puts you steps from arcades and the boardwalk but stays loud. North Myrtle Beach offers condo rentals with quieter sands, while Murrells Inlet caters to diners who prefer salt marshes over beachfront towers.

• First-time visitorsDowntown / Ocean Boulevard — Immediate access to the boardwalk, main attractions, and central beach.
• Families with young childrenNorth Myrtle Beach — Shallower water access, quieter streets, and larger holiday rental condos.
• Couples and food loversMurrells Inlet — Direct walking distance to MarshWalk seafood restaurants and nature reserves.

Public transit is limited along the Grand Strand. Coast RTA operates local bus routes, but buses run infrequently. Personal vehicles or rideshares remain necessary for almost all trips outside the main boardwalk strip.

• U.S. Route 17 Business gets heavily congested between 14:00 and 18:00. Use U.S. 17 Bypass for long north-south trips.

• City parking meters accept credit cards or payments via the ParkMobile app.

• Parking along Ocean Boulevard is prohibited between 02:00 and 06:00 in designated city zones.

Expenses rise sharply during peak summer months between June and August. Off-season winter accommodation rates drop by up to 60 percent.

• Beach chair set rental: $30–40 per day

  Lifeguards rent wooden chairs and umbrellas directly on the sand.

• Calabash seafood platter: $22–35

  Includes fried fish, hushpuppies, and two side dishes at local spots.

• SkyWheel ride ticket: $19–22 per adult

  Covers three complete revolutions in an air-conditioned cabin.

• City parking meter: $2–3 per hour

  Enforced daily along Ocean Boulevard from March through October.

• Rip current warnings

  Check beach lifeguard flags before entering the water. Red flags indicate dangerous currents.

• Alcohol restrictions on sand

  Drinking alcohol on public beaches is illegal and fines exceed $200.

• Sales tax rate

  Myrtle Beach adds a local hospitality tax, bringing total restaurant tax to 10.5 percent.

• Sharks and marine life

  Avoid swimming at dawn or dusk when marine predators feed near fishing piers.

• Beach canopy rules

  Tents and large pop-up canopies are prohibited on beaches from May 15 to Labor Day.