Comparison · Charleston vs Myrtle Beach · United States
Charleston vs Myrtle Beach
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Chris Pruitt, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Choose Charleston for Rainbow Row, Fort Sumter and a short break; choose Myrtle Beach for Grand Strand beaches, Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and lower day-to-day costs. Myrtle Beach is generally less expensive, and the two are about 140 km (87 mi) apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 140 km (87 mi)
- Less expensive
- Myrtle Beach
- Best time for Charleston
- March–May and October–November
- Best time for Myrtle Beach
- May–June and September–October
Plan either trip
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Side by side
| Charleston | Myrtle Beach | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Rainbow Row, Fort Sumter and Lowcountry cuisine | Grand Strand beaches, Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and SkyWheel |
| Best time to visit | March–May and October–November | May–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | US$250–400 | US$150–260 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 33°C (91°F) | July, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 15°C (59°F) | January, 14°C (57°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 5 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 5 |
| Beaches | Folly Beach | Central Myrtle Beach |
| Airports | CHS | MYR |
Month by month
Going by our guides' own ratings, the better pick is Charleston in February–April and November–December, and Myrtle Beach in June–September. Both are at their best in May and October.
| Month | Charleston | Myrtle Beach | Better pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15°C (59°F), 9 rainy days | 14°C (57°F), 9 rainy days | No clear pick |
| February | 17°C (63°F), 9 rainy days · shoulder season | 15°C (59°F), 8 rainy days | Charleston |
| March | 21°C (70°F), 9 rainy days · best time | 19°C (66°F), 8 rainy days | Charleston |
| April | 25°C (77°F), 7 rainy days · best time | 23°C (73°F), 7 rainy days · shoulder season | Charleston |
| May | 28°C (82°F), 8 rainy days · best time | 27°C (81°F), 8 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| June | 31°C (88°F), 12 rainy days · shoulder season | 30°C (86°F), 10 rainy days · best time | Myrtle Beach |
| July | 33°C (91°F), 14 rainy days | 32°C (90°F), 12 rainy days · shoulder season | Myrtle Beach |
| August | 32°C (90°F), 14 rainy days | 31°C (88°F), 12 rainy days · shoulder season | Myrtle Beach |
| September | 29°C (84°F), 10 rainy days | 28°C (82°F), 9 rainy days · best time | Myrtle Beach |
| October | 25°C (77°F), 6 rainy days · best time | 24°C (75°F), 6 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| November | 21°C (70°F), 6 rainy days · best time | 19°C (66°F), 7 rainy days | Charleston |
| December | 17°C (63°F), 8 rainy days · shoulder season | 15°C (59°F), 8 rainy days | Charleston |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Charleston for…
Rainbow Row, Fort Sumter and a short break. Charleston sits on a narrow peninsula between the Ashley and Cooper rivers, and its historic core — from the Battery north to Marion Square — is small enough to walk in a day. Its streets of single houses with side piazzas, church steeples and gas lamps are…
Choose Myrtle Beach for…
Grand Strand beaches, Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and lower day-to-day costs. Myrtle Beach is the centre of the Grand Strand, about 100 km of almost continuous Atlantic beach running from Little River near the North Carolina line to Pawleys Island. It is a classic American family beach destination: an oceanfront boardwalk and…
Top sights compared
| # | Charleston | Myrtle Beach |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Battery and White Point Garden | Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade |
| 2 | Rainbow Row | SkyWheel Myrtle Beach |
| 3 | Fort Sumter National Monument | Broadway at the Beach |
| 4 | Charleston City Market | Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach |
| 5 | Joe Riley Waterfront Park | Brookgreen Gardens |
Food compared
| Charleston | Myrtle Beach |
|---|---|
| Shrimp and grits | Calabash-style seafood |
| She-crab soup | Seafood buffet |
| Lowcountry boil | Shrimp and grits |
| Oyster roast | She-crab soup |
Which is cheaper?
Myrtle Beach is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about US$150–260 per person there, against US$250–400 in Charleston (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Myrtle Beach on a budget.
Charleston or Myrtle Beach from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones and airport coordinates: straight-line distances, not flight routes.
| Charleston | Myrtle Beach | |
|---|---|---|
| Time vs New York | Same time | Same time |
| Time vs Los Angeles | +3 h | +3 h |
| From New York (JFK) | 641 mi (1,030 km) | 556 mi (895 km) |
| From Los Angeles (LAX) | 2,210 mi (3,550 km) | 2,250 mi (3,630 km) |
| U.S. plugs | U.S. plugs fit | U.S. plugs fit |
From New York, Myrtle Beach is about 85 miles (136 km) closer than Charleston in a straight line.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Charleston and Myrtle Beach are about 140 km (87 mi) apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Charleston and 7 in Myrtle Beach.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Charleston or Myrtle Beach cheaper?
Myrtle Beach is usually less expensive: about US$150–260 a day mid-range against US$250–400 (estimates).
+Is Charleston or Myrtle Beach better for a first trip?
Pick Charleston for Rainbow Row, Fort Sumter and a short break, or Myrtle Beach for Grand Strand beaches, Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and lower day-to-day costs.
+How far is Charleston from Myrtle Beach?
About 140 km (87 mi) in a straight line.