Travel guide · United States
Myrtle Beach travel guide
Boardwalk, mini golf and 100 km of Grand Strand sand on the South Carolina coast
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: w:User:Isipeoria, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
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 SkyWheel, dozens of mini-golf courses and golf courses, live variety shows and seafood buffets along Kings Highway. Quieter sides of the coast are close by — the sculpture gardens of Brookgreen, the salt marsh at Murrells Inlet and the state parks' undeveloped beaches. Plan 7 days for a first visit; the best months are May–June and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- Best time to visit
- May–June and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 7 days
- Main airports
- MYR
- Mid-range daily budget
- US$150–260 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Grand Strand beaches, Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, SkyWheel and Mini golf
Plan a trip to Myrtle Beach
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
Why visit Myrtle Beach
- A wide, gently shelving beach with oceanfront hotels at every budget, from 1960s motels to high-rise resorts with lazy rivers.
- Family attractions are concentrated along a few kilometres: the Boardwalk, SkyWheel, Family Kingdom, Ripley's Aquarium and Broadway at the Beach.
- Dozens of golf courses within a short drive make the Grand Strand one of America's busiest golf destinations in spring and autumn.
- Brookgreen Gardens and Huntington Beach State Park, side by side south of town, offer sculpture, alligators and an empty beach.
- Charleston, Georgetown and Wilmington are all within a two-hour drive for history and Lowcountry food.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 15 things to do.
Waterfront · Central Myrtle Beach and the Boardwalk
Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade
A boardwalk of about 2 km runs along the dunes between the 14th Avenue Pier and the 2nd Avenue Pier.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- After dark
- Food
Viewpoint · Central Myrtle Beach and the Boardwalk
SkyWheel Myrtle Beach
The observation wheel on the Boardwalk rises about 57 metres above the beach, with enclosed, climate-controlled glass gondolas that make three rotations per ride.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
- After dark
Theme park · Central Myrtle Beach and the Boardwalk
Family Kingdom Amusement Park
An old-fashioned seaside amusement park across Ocean Boulevard from the beach, with rides for small children, a log flume and the Swamp Fox, a wooden roller coaster dating from 1966.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- After dark
- Iconic
Experience · Central Myrtle Beach
Mini golf on Kings Highway
Myrtle Beach has dozens of elaborately themed mini-golf courses, with fake volcanoes, pirate ships, waterfalls and dinosaurs, mostly along Kings Highway and Ocean Boulevard.
- Time needed
- 1 hour per course
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- After dark
- Iconic
Neighbourhood · Central Myrtle Beach
Broadway at the Beach
A large shopping and entertainment complex built around Lake Broadway, with shops, restaurants, bars, attractions such as WonderWorks and the Hollywood Wax Museum, and evening fireworks over the lake on summer nights.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Kids
- After dark
- Food
Aquarium · Broadway at the Beach
Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach
The aquarium's highlight is Dangerous Reef, an underwater tunnel with a moving walkway where sand tiger sharks, sawfish and sea turtles pass overhead.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Where to stay
Central Myrtle Beach and the Boardwalk is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$ · Best for first-timers, families, budget and nightlife
Central Myrtle Beach and the Boardwalk
Oceanfront hotels, arcades and the SkyWheel along Ocean Boulevard
$$ · Best for families, quiet stays, beach and couples
North Myrtle Beach
Low-rise beach city, shag-dancing clubs on Main Street and Cherry Grove's marsh
$$$ · Best for families, luxury and quiet stays
Shore Drive and Arcadian Shores
Resort towers on a quieter stretch at the north end of Myrtle Beach
$$$ · Best for shopping, couples and food lovers
Market Common
Planned town centre on the former Air Force base, near the airport
What to eat
- Calabash-style seafood — Shrimp, oysters, flounder and scallops in a light, crisp batter, fried quickly and served in heaped platters with hushpuppies and coleslaw.
- Seafood buffet — Huge all-you-can-eat buffets of crab legs, fried shrimp, oysters and Southern sides are a Myrtle Beach tradition, especially along Restaurant Row on North Kings Highway.
- Shrimp and grits — Local shrimp sautéed with bacon or sausage, peppers and onions over creamy stone-ground grits — eaten at breakfast or dinner across the Lowcountry.
- She-crab soup — A rich, creamy soup of blue crab meat and crab roe, finished with a splash of sherry; it comes from Charleston but is on many Grand Strand menus.
- Lowcountry boil — Shrimp, smoked sausage, corn on the cob and potatoes boiled together with spices and tipped out on a table to share — a beach-vacation meal for groups.
- Hushpuppies — Deep-fried balls of cornmeal batter, sometimes with onion, served free with almost every seafood plate.
When is the best time to visit Myrtle Beach?
The best months to go are May–June and September–October. June to August is peak family season — hot, humid and busy — while winter is quiet, cool and very inexpensive, good for golf but not swimming.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Warming weather, golf season and blooming gardens; the sea is cool until May, and some weekends are busy with rallies and spring breakers. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot, humid peak season with warm water, fireworks and every attraction open; also the most crowded and expensive time. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm sea in September, comfortable October days and lower prices, though September is the peak of hurricane season. |
| Winter | December–February | Cool, quiet and cheap, popular with snowbirds and golfers; some attractions and restaurants close for the season. |
Getting there and around
Myrtle Beach International (MYR) is only about 5 km from central Myrtle Beach — around 10 minutes by car or rideshare — and close to Market Common. It is served by a mix of low-cost, seasonal and hub-connecting flights; Charleston, Wilmington and Charlotte are alternatives with more connections, about 1.5 to 3.5 hours' drive away.
The Grand Strand is a long, thin strip and almost everyone gets around by car. Ocean Boulevard runs along the beachfront, Kings Highway (US 17 Business) parallels it a few blocks inland, and the US 17 Bypass and SC 31 handle longer trips.
How many days do you need in Myrtle Beach?
Three days covers the beach, the Boardwalk and a day at Broadway at the Beach or Brookgreen Gardens. Most families stay a week, mixing beach mornings with mini golf, shows and a day trip to Charleston. How to split your days.
Planning a trip to Myrtle Beach from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones, airport coordinates and local power standards. Time differences can shift by an hour for a few weeks a year while daylight saving starts or ends on different dates.
Time difference
Same time as New York; 3 hours ahead of Los Angeles
Distance from the U.S.
556 miles (895 km) from New York (JFK); 2,250 miles (3,630 km) from Los Angeles (LAX)
In a straight line between the airport and the city centre, not a flight route.
Plugs and voltage
U.S. plugs fit (Type A and B sockets). Power is 120 V (120 V at home).
Practical information
- Currency
- USD
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency number
- 911
- Tipping
- Tip about 18–20% at table-service restaurants, a few dollars at buffets, $1–$2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and rideshares, and a few dollars per day for hotel housekeeping.
The main risks are natural: rip currents (swim near lifeguards and follow posted flags), strong sun, summer lightning and hurricanes between June and November, when you should follow official evacuation instructions. Ocean Boulevard can be rowdy late at night in peak season, and you should not leave valuables in parked cars.
Flights to Myrtle Beach
Questions travellers ask
+What is Myrtle Beach known for?
Grand Strand beaches, Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, SkyWheel, Mini golf, Golf courses, Seafood buffets and Shag dancing. A wide, gently shelving beach with oceanfront hotels at every budget, from 1960s motels to high-rise resorts with lazy rivers.
+Is Myrtle Beach expensive?
Myrtle Beach is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly US$150–260 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Myrtle Beach?
Yes for most visitors. If you stay on Ocean Boulevard near the Boardwalk you can walk to some attractions, but Broadway at the Beach, Brookgreen, the state parks and golf courses all need a car.