5 days in Myrtle Beach

Day by day

1. Day 1: Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade and Family Kingdom Amusement Park

   Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade, Family Kingdom Amusement Park and SkyWheel Myrtle Beach, then Mini golf on Kings Highway in the evening.

   1. Breakfast

      Breakfast: Shrimp and grits

   2. Morning

      Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade

      Walk it early in the morning for quiet and sunrise over the ocean, or after dark when the SkyWheel lights up. (1–2 hours, free).

   3. Late morning

      Family Kingdom Amusement Park

      Buy a wristband if your children will ride more than a handful of times. (2–4 hours, low cost).

   4. Lunch

      Lunch: Calabash-style seafood

      Seafood restaurants along Kings Highway and in Calabash itself, about 40 minutes north.

   5. Afternoon

      SkyWheel Myrtle Beach

      Ride just before sunset for daylight views up the coast and the lights coming on below. (30 minutes, low cost).

   6. Snack

      Snack: Hushpuppies

   7. Evening

      Mini golf on Kings Highway

      Play after dinner in summer, when the courses are cooler and lit up; many offer a cheaper second round the same day.

2. Day 2: Broadway at the Beach and Myrtle Beach State Park

   Broadway at the Beach, Myrtle Beach State Park and The Market Common, then Murrells Inlet MarshWalk in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Broadway at the Beach

      Park once and walk the loop around the lake; summer weeknight fireworks are free to watch from the boardwalks. (Half a day, free).

   2. Late morning

      Myrtle Beach State Park

      Walk the Sculptured Oak Nature Trail, then fish or watch the sunrise from the pier. (2–3 hours, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Seafood buffet

      Restaurant Row and Kings Highway; go hungry and check whether crab legs cost extra.

   4. Afternoon

      The Market Common

      Visit on a summer evening for outdoor concerts and events that are often held on the green. (2 hours, free).

   5. Snack

      Snack: Boiled peanuts

   6. Evening

      Murrells Inlet MarshWalk

      Arrive an hour before sunset, walk the full length, then pick a deck table for dinner.

3. Day 3: Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach and Brookgreen Gardens

   Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach and Brookgreen Gardens, then Variety shows at the Carolina Opry and Alabama Theatre in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach

      Go on a rainy beach day as early as possible; that is when everyone else has the same idea. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Brookgreen Gardens

      Admission is usually valid for several consecutive days; save the creek boat tour for a second visit. (Half a day, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: She-crab soup

      Seafood restaurants on the MarshWalk and in Murrells Inlet.

   4. Evening

      Variety shows at the Carolina Opry and Alabama Theatre

      Christmas shows from November are a local tradition and sell out early.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Charleston

   About 2 to 2.5 hours by car each way. Getting there: Car via US 17.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Charleston

      About 2 to 2.5 hours by car (Car via US 17); about 155 km.

   2. Day

      Charleston

      Charleston's historic district has antebellum houses on the Battery, Rainbow Row, the City Market and some of the South's most celebrated restaurants. Best for culture, food lovers and couples.

   3. Evening

      Back in Myrtle Beach

      Dinner: try Lowcountry boil.

5. Day 5: Huntington Beach State Park and Atalaya and Golf on the Grand Strand

   Huntington Beach State Park and Atalaya and Golf on the Grand Strand, then The Boardwalk in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Huntington Beach State Park and Atalaya

      Stop on the causeway and scan the lagoon on the left for alligators and wading birds; it is one of the best birding spots in the state. (Half a day, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Golf on the Grand Strand

      Late-afternoon twilight rates and summer rates are much lower than spring and autumn peak green fees. (4–5 hours, expensive).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Lowcountry boil

      Seafood restaurants, and seafood markets that sell it to cook at your rental house.

   4. Evening

      The Boardwalk

      Oceanfront bars and rooftop decks along the Boardwalk, busy on summer nights.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Golf on the Grand Strand before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Central Myrtle Beach and the Boardwalk keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, North Myrtle Beach ($$) suits families, quiet stays, beach and couples. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 28–37 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.9 hours in December to 14.4 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Myrtle Beach
• 2 days in Myrtle Beach
• 3 days in Myrtle Beach

Questions travellers ask