Visit Myrtle Beach, SC

Planning a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina? Whether you are here for a quick beach getaway, a golf trip, a family vacation, or a longer stay to explore what life along the Grand Strand might actually feel like, Myrtle Beach offers far more variety than many first-time visitors expect. Read on to discover the best of the area, including insider tips on where to stay, the top things to do, and exactly where to eat while you explore.

Getting Here & Getting Around Myrtle Beach

Located along South Carolina’s Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach stretches along a major tourism corridor while remaining connected to nearby beach towns, entertainment districts and residential communities.

Nearest Airport: If you are flying, you’ll arrive at Myrtle Beach International Airport, located about 10-15 minutes from most central Myrtle Beach resorts. The airport is smaller and easier to navigate than many larger coastal hubs, especially for East Coast travelers.

Major Highways: Most visitors arrive via U.S. Highway 17, Highway 501, or Interstate 95 connections farther inland. Highway 17 Business runs directly through the heart of the beach corridor, while Highway 31 provides a faster inland bypass that helps avoid some tourist congestion.

Ride Services & Transit: Uber and Lyft operate throughout the Grand Strand, though wait times can increase during summer weekends and major events. The downtown boardwalk area is walkable, but most visitors rely on a car to move between attractions, restaurants, and neighboring beach communities.

Traffic Test: If you are visiting with relocation in mind, drive both Kings Highway and Highway 31 during peak tourist hours. One of the biggest lifestyle factors here is understanding how dramatically traffic patterns shift between tourist season and quieter months.

Where to Stay: Hotels vs. Living Like a Local

Where you stay in Myrtle Beach will shape your entire experience. The area offers everything from large oceanfront resorts and condo towers to quieter residential-style rentals farther north and south along the coast.

Oceanfront resorts provide convenience and immediate beach access, especially for shorter vacations focused on attractions and entertainment. Short-term rentals, on the other hand, offer a better sense of how daily life works across the Grand Strand and often provide more space for families or longer stays.

Availability and pricing fluctuate heavily during summer, spring break, tournaments, and major holiday weekends, so booking early is important regardless of your preferred option.

Stay Like a Local: Airbnb & Vrbo

If you are using this trip to explore a potential move, booking a short-term rental is one of the best ways to understand how life actually functions in the Myrtle Beach area.

Staying within communities like North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, or the quieter residential stretches north of downtown allows you to experience the area beyond the tourism core.

For a Walkable Vacation Experience: Look for rentals near the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk district, where restaurants, arcades, bars, and the beach are all accessible on foot.

For a More Relaxed Coastal Stay: Consider rentals in North Myrtle Beach, Cherry Grove, or Surfside Beach, where crowds are generally lighter and the atmosphere feels more residential.

For Practical Access: Areas slightly inland, near Highway 17 or Carolina Forest, often provide easier parking, larger homes, and quicker access to grocery stores and daily services, while keeping the beach within a short drive.

Best Hotels & Modern Convenience

While vacation condos dominate much of the coastline, Myrtle Beach also offers several hotel-style stays that provide a more traditional resort experience.

Marina Inn at Grande Dunes offers a more upscale, quieter atmosphere away from the busiest tourist areas while still providing beach access and proximity to golf.

Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort sits at the north end of the beach corridor, offering easier access to quieter beaches and golf courses.

The Breakers Resort remains one of the most recognizable family-oriented oceanfront resort options directly along the main beach strip.

For travelers prioritizing walkability and access to entertainment, staying near the boardwalk or Broadway area keeps attractions, restaurants, and nightlife within a short drive or a rideshare trip.

Things to Do: Myrtle Beach Highlights

You will not have to look hard to find things to do in Myrtle Beach while you are visiting. Myrtle Beach blends traditional beach tourism with golf, live entertainment, shopping, and outdoor recreation across the Grand Strand.

If you only have a weekend to explore, here are a few must-dos to get you started:

• Explore Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade: One of the city’s most recognizable attractions, the boardwalk stretches along the oceanfront with arcades, shops, restaurants and beach access points. Early mornings are noticeably quieter, while evenings become significantly busier during summer.
• Ride the SkyWheel Myrtle Beach: The nearly 200-foot observation wheel provides panoramic coastline views, especially striking around sunset and after dark when the strip lights up.
• Visit Broadway at the Beach: This massive entertainment complex combines restaurants, attractions, nightlife, and shopping around a central lake. Parking is free but fills quickly during peak evenings.
• Spend time at Myrtle Beach State Park: The park offers a quieter alternative to the central beach area, with fishing, nature trails, picnic areas, and a long fishing pier. Entry fees are modest, and weekday mornings tend to be the calmest.
• Walk the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk: This waterfront boardwalk is known for seafood restaurants, live music,and marsh views, particularly around sunset.
• Play golf at one of the Grand Strand’s many public courses: Myrtle Beach remains one of the country’s best-known golf destinations, with dozens of courses ranging from casual vacation rounds to nationally ranked layouts.

If you’re planning a longer stay, check out our Ultimate Myrtle Beach Bucket List: 90+ Essential Experiences.

Where to Eat & Drink: A Taste of Myrtle Beach

Dining in Myrtle Beach ranges from long-standing seafood institutions and tourist staples to smaller local restaurants scattered throughout the Grand Strand.

Local Legends

• Sea Captain’s House remains one of the area’s best-known oceanfront seafood restaurants and has operated for decades along the beach.

• Hoskins Restaurant is a longtime North Myrtle Beach institution known for classic Southern breakfast and comfort food.

Seafood & Coastal Favorites

• Hook & Barrel focuses on upscale seafood and sustainable sourcing in a more modern setting.

• Drunken Jack’s Restaurant & Lounge offers waterfront dining overlooking the marsh and remains especially popular around sunset.

Coffee & Casual Stops

• Grand Strand Coffee provides a quieter alternative to the heavier tourism areas for coffee and lighter breakfast fare.
• Croissants Bistro & Bakery is a popular brunch-and-bakery stop known for its pastries and upscale-casual dining.

Flexible, All-Ages Dining

• Barefoot Landing combines multiple restaurants, entertainment venues, and waterfront space into one of the area’s largest mixed-use visitor destinations.

Dining demand increases substantially during summer evenings and rainy beach days, so expect longer waits at many of the most popular restaurants during peak season.

Thinking of Turning Your Visit into a Move?

It is common for a Myrtle Beach vacation to turn into a search for local real estate. If you find yourself wondering what life here would actually look like full-time, use your visit to test the lifestyle under normal conditions rather than only through vacation activities.

Commuter Test: Drive between residential areas such as Carolina Forest, North Myrtle Beach, and Surfside Beach during both tourist-heavy and quieter hours to understand traffic flow and daily accessibility.

Grocery Store Vibe Test: Visit stores outside the immediate tourism strip to better understand where locals actually shop and how daily errands function year-round.

Neighborhood Cruising Test: Explore the differences between the denser resort corridor, quieter north-end communities,  and the more laid-back southern Grand Strand areas near Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island.

Spending time this way gives you a much clearer picture of what living along the Grand Strand actually feels like beyond a traditional beach vacation.