Comparison · Fort Lauderdale vs Myrtle Beach · United States
Fort Lauderdale 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: KeanoManu, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Fort Lauderdale for Fort Lauderdale Beach, canals and yachts, a milder winter 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 850 km (528 mi) apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 850 km (528 mi)
- Less expensive
- Myrtle Beach
- Best time for Fort Lauderdale
- November–April
- Best time for Myrtle Beach
- May–June and September–October
Plan either trip
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Side by side
| Fort Lauderdale | Myrtle Beach | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Fort Lauderdale Beach, Canals and yachts and Las Olas Boulevard | Grand Strand beaches, Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and SkyWheel |
| Best time to visit | November–April | May–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | US$220–380 | US$150–260 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 32°C (90°F) | July, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 24°C (75°F) | January, 14°C (57°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 4 | 5 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 5 |
| Beaches | Fort Lauderdale Beach | Central Myrtle Beach |
| Airports | FLL, MIA, DJT | MYR |
Month by month
Going by our guides' own ratings, the better pick is Fort Lauderdale in November–April, and Myrtle Beach in May–October.
| Month | Fort Lauderdale | Myrtle Beach | Better pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24°C (75°F), 7 rainy days · best time | 14°C (57°F), 9 rainy days | Fort Lauderdale |
| February | 25°C (77°F), 6 rainy days · best time | 15°C (59°F), 8 rainy days | Fort Lauderdale |
| March | 26°C (79°F), 7 rainy days · best time | 19°C (66°F), 8 rainy days | Fort Lauderdale |
| April | 28°C (82°F), 6 rainy days · best time | 23°C (73°F), 7 rainy days · shoulder season | Fort Lauderdale |
| May | 30°C (86°F), 10 rainy days · shoulder season | 27°C (81°F), 8 rainy days · best time | Myrtle Beach |
| June | 31°C (88°F), 16 rainy days · shoulder season | 30°C (86°F), 10 rainy days · best time | Myrtle Beach |
| July | 32°C (90°F), 15 rainy days | 32°C (90°F), 12 rainy days · shoulder season | Myrtle Beach |
| August | 32°C (90°F), 17 rainy days | 31°C (88°F), 12 rainy days · shoulder season | Myrtle Beach |
| September | 31°C (88°F), 17 rainy days · best avoided | 28°C (82°F), 9 rainy days · best time | Myrtle Beach |
| October | 29°C (84°F), 13 rainy days · shoulder season | 24°C (75°F), 6 rainy days · best time | Myrtle Beach |
| November | 27°C (81°F), 9 rainy days · best time | 19°C (66°F), 7 rainy days | Fort Lauderdale |
| December | 25°C (77°F), 8 rainy days · best time | 15°C (59°F), 8 rainy days | Fort Lauderdale |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Fort Lauderdale for…
Fort Lauderdale Beach, canals and yachts, a milder winter and a short break. Fort Lauderdale is a beach and boating city on Florida's Atlantic coast, about 45 km north of Miami. Its wide public beach runs along State Road A1A behind a white wave-shaped wall, while inland the New River and hundreds of kilometres of canals are lined…
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
| # | Fort Lauderdale | Myrtle Beach |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Lauderdale Beach and the A1A promenade | Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade |
| 2 | Las Olas Boulevard | SkyWheel Myrtle Beach |
| 3 | Water Taxi | Broadway at the Beach |
| 4 | Bonnet House Museum and Gardens | Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach |
| 5 | Hugh Taylor Birch State Park | Brookgreen Gardens |
Food compared
| Fort Lauderdale | Myrtle Beach |
|---|---|
| Smoked fish dip | Calabash-style seafood |
| Stone crab claws | Seafood buffet |
| Grouper or mahi-mahi sandwich | Shrimp and grits |
| Conch fritters | 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$220–380 in Fort Lauderdale (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Myrtle Beach on a budget.
Fort Lauderdale or Myrtle Beach from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones and airport coordinates: straight-line distances, not flight routes.
| Fort Lauderdale | Myrtle Beach | |
|---|---|---|
| Time vs New York | Same time | Same time |
| Time vs Los Angeles | +3 h | +3 h |
| From New York (JFK) | 1,070 mi (1,720 km) | 556 mi (895 km) |
| From Los Angeles (LAX) | 2,340 mi (3,760 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 511 miles (822 km) closer than Fort Lauderdale in a straight line.
Can you visit both?
They are about 850 km (528 mi) apart, so combining them means a flight. With 12 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Fort Lauderdale or Myrtle Beach cheaper?
Myrtle Beach is usually less expensive: about US$150–260 a day mid-range against US$220–380 (estimates).
+Is Fort Lauderdale or Myrtle Beach better for a first trip?
Pick Fort Lauderdale for Fort Lauderdale Beach, canals and yachts, a milder winter and a short break, or Myrtle Beach for Grand Strand beaches, Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and lower day-to-day costs.
+How far is Fort Lauderdale from Myrtle Beach?
About 850 km (528 mi) in a straight line.