Month guide · Myrtle Beach · United States
Myrtle Beach in May
What May is really like in Myrtle Beach: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Huntington Beach State Park and Atalaya, Myrtle Beach · Photo: Fran Trudeau, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Myrtle Beach. Expect average highs of 27°C (81°F), lows of 16°C (61°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 13.9 hours of daylight. Warm, mostly dry and ideal before the summer crowds; motorcycle rallies make some weekends very busy.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 27°C (81°F) / 16°C (61°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 13.9 hours
- Sea temperature
- 22°C (72°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- Average
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Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Myrtle Beach: days average 27°C (81°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 16°C (61°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with April (23°C (73°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 30°C (86°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 06:14
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 20:09
- Daylight
- About 13.9 hours
- Sea
- 22°C (72°F)
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.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 4 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in June). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
- Myrtle Beach Bike Week spring rally (usually May)
- Blue Crab Festival in Little River (usually May)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Waterfront · Central Myrtle Beach and the Boardwalk
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.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- After dark
- Food
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
Play after dinner in summer, when the courses are cooler and lit up; many offer a cheaper second round the same day.
- 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
The sea averages 22°C (72°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Myrtle Beach.
What to pack
For highs near 27°C (81°F), lows near 16°C (61°F) and 8 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Myrtle Beach?
One of the best months to visit Myrtle Beach, with 2 notable events on the calendar. The other best months are June and September–October. Compare every month.
Myrtle Beach in other months
Questions travellers ask
+What time does the sun set in Myrtle Beach in May?
At about 20:09 local time in mid-May, with sunrise at about 06:14: roughly 13.9 hours of daylight.
+How warm is Myrtle Beach in May?
Average highs are around 27°C (81°F) and lows around 16°C (61°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Myrtle Beach in May?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.