When you say you'r going to Myrtle Beach, that actually covers 60 uninterrupted miles of beautiful sandy beaches on the coastal strip of South Carolina known as the Grand Strand.
It can be hard to choose where to stay for a week or even where to visit for the day. That's why we made this vlog. We cover Cherry Grove, North Myrtle Beach, downtown Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach State Park, Surfside Beach, Garden City, Huntington Beach State Park, and Pawleys Island with a special shout out for Murrells Inlet. We cover the overall vibe, parking, crowd levels, nearby attractions, and pros and cons of each location.
CHERRY GROVE
Cherry Grove is our top pick because it’s quieter and less built up than “main Myrtle.” It’s located at the northernmost end of North Myrtle Beach, around 1.5 hours from Wilmington. At the center is the 985-foot-long Cherry Grove Pier, known for some of the best fishing where you can rent gear or bring your own. Several fishing records were set here, including the world's largest tiger shark.
Crowd Level: You’ll find mostly beach homes in Cherry Grove, making it a less busy option.
Parking: Pay $4 to park every day from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., March 1 – Oct. 31. Most parking will be located directly across the street from the beach with public beach access walkways to the ocean.
Nearby Attractions: Museum of Coastal Carolina and Ingram Planetarium
north Myrtle beach
The city of North Myrtle Beach is actually comprised of four previously independent beaches: Crescent Beach, Windy Hill Beach, Ocean Drive Beach, and Cherry Grove. The "Carolina Shag" is said to have been born along the coast near Ocean Drive in North Myrtle Beach. There’s almost 9 miles of oceanfront beach here.
Crowd Level: It’s a little busier than Cherry Grove but still a great option, especially if you choose a public beach access located near the beach houses instead of the resorts.
Parking: Pay $4 to park every day from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., March 1 – Oct. 31. Public beach access parking lots are located right along the ocean.
Nearby Attractions: Barefoot Landing, Alligator Adventure, Alabama Theater
Downtown Myrtle Beach
The 1.2 mile Oceanfront Boardwalk runs from 14th Avenue Pier to 2nd Avenue Pier, with loads of shops, restaurants, and arcades along the way. The Boardwalk is made from recycled plastic boards making it easily accessible. Plyler Park located at 1100 North Ocean Boulevard hosts free live music concerts during the summer as well as family friendly festivals and events year-round. T
Crowd Level: This is the most congested area of the beach because of all the resorts and tourist attractions located nearby.
Parking: Paid parking is in effect from 9 a.m. – 12 a.m., seven days a week. Many meters offer all-day parking for a single rate, but high traffic areas allow hourly parking with no set time limits. The core business district closest to the beach is $2 per hour with no all-day single rate. Surrounding parking lots will be $10 per hour on average.
Nearby Attractions: SkyWheel, Funplex Amusement Park, Family Kingdom Amusement Park, Ripley’s Crazy Golf, Ripley’s Mirror Maze, Ripley’s Haunted Adventure, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Ripley’s Illusion Lab
Myrtle Beach State Park
This state park opened in 1936 and covers 1 mile of undeveloped land. The park features 278 campsites, six cabins, two gift shops, seven picnic shelters for group gatherings featuring beautiful views of the ocean, and a fishing pier that’s perfect for fishing, crabbing, and spotting wildlife. There are also several educational programs and a super fun Nature Center. The park has two playgrounds, one at the main picnic area near the beach and another is in the campground located between circles three and five.
Hours: 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily, March – November; 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily, Dec. – Feb.; Nature Center open 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Tuesday – Saturday
Admission: $8 adults; $5/SC seniors (age 65 & older); $4/ child age 6 – 15; free for children 5 and under
Crowd Level: While state park beaches are less busy than others, the state parks are getting much busier so it’s a good idea to get there early or book your parking spot ahead of time during peak season.
Parking: Certain parking areas are by reservation only during the summer season, May 16 – Sept. 2. Reserved parking spaces cost $5 per parking space per day. Reservations are valid from 6: a.m. – 12 p.m. After that time, all reserved parking spaces become first come first served. Approximately 20% of total parking spaces are reservable.
Surfside Beach
Along two miles of oceanfront, you’ll find adorable beach houses, condos, and restaurants with some bigger hotels sprinkled in too. The Surfside Beach Pier is the centerpiece of the downtown district and some of our favorite restaurants are nearby including River City Café (best burgers) and Pizza Hyena. The beach access points are arguably the nicest in the Grand Strand, and include showers, restrooms and foot showers, as well as accessible ramps. In 2016, Surfside Beach became the first autism-friendly travel destination.
Crowd Level: Surfside has pockets of busier areas, particularly close to the pier—but you can find less busy public beach accesses among all the beach houses.
Parking: Paid parking in Surfside Beach public parking lots is active from March 1 – Oct. 31 from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Parking is free before or after these hours. Premium lots are $3 per hour or $15 per day. Non-premium lots are $2 per hour or $10 per day. The Pier Lot is $4 per hour with no daily max.
Nearby Attractions: Free Hula and Fire Show presented by Ohana Kahakai
Garden City
Garden City Beach is located just south of Surfside and covers around 5.5 square miles, extending south to a peninsula in Murrells Inlet (which is also a must-visit area with the picturesque Marsh Walk). Garden City Beach provides access to both the Atlantic Ocean and the inlet, making the views there unique and beautiful. The 668-foot-long fishing pier is free to walk on. Garden City is also known as a top spot for surfing in the area as well as other watersports.
Crowd Level: Garden City has pockets of busier areas, particularly close to the pier—but you can find less busy public beach accesses among all the beach houses.
Parking: Parking is free year-round.
Nearby Attractions: Brookgreen Gardens, Marsh Walk
Huntington Beach State Park
Huntington Beach State Park is located along 2,500 acres in Murrells Inlet, including three miles of beautiful beaches. There are 173 campsites and three picnic shelters. The park is teeming with wildlife, including 300+ species of birds. Surf fishing and fishing from the jetty are popular activities here. Atalaya, the winter home of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, is a must-see National Historic Landmark—and there’s an annual arts and crafts festival held there every September. There’s a great playground for kids located right next to Spoonbills Ice Cream, which is DELICIOUS. The Nature Center is filled with exhibits displaying the bird and marine life of the area, and there’s a great touch tank with local species along with other aquariums.
Hours: 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily (extended to 10 p.m. during DST); Atalaya open 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily (extended to 5 p.m. during DST); Spoonbills open from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily (extended to 6 p.m. during DST); Nature Center open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily
Admission: $8 adults; $5/SC seniors (age 65 & older); $4/ child age 6 – 15; free for children 5 and under
Crowd Level: While the state park beaches are less busy than others, the state parks are getting much busier so it’s a good idea to get there early or book your parking spot ahead of time during peak season.
Parking: Certain parking areas are by reservation only during the summer season, May 16 – Sept. 2. Reserved parking spaces cost $5 per parking space per day. Reservations are valid from 6: a.m. – 12 p.m. After that time, all reserved parking spaces become first come first served. Approximately 20% of total parking spaces are reservable.
Pawleys Island
Pawleys Island, located 70 miles north of Charleston and 25 miles south of “main Myrtle” was named “South Carolina’s Best Beach” by USA Today in 2024. There are some awesome shops and restaurants along U.S. 17—but you won’t even find a gas station or grocery store on the 3-mile-long barrier island. Be sure to check out the well-known Pawleys Island Rope Hammock made here for over 100 years. One of the best things about Pawleys Island is you have access to a more secluded beach on one side along with the calm waters of the inlet on the other.
Crowd Level: Pawleys ties Cherry Grove as one of the most secluded beaches in the Myrtle Beach area.
Parking: Parking is free, but there is a limited amount of parking on the island. The largest free public beach access is located on the south end of the island.
Nearby Attractions: downtown Georgetown
Dog Policies at the beaches
From May 15 – Labor Day, dogs are not permitted on the beach between 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. but are free to visit outside of those hours or any time during the off season. This is a county ordinance that is effective on all public beaches in Horry County. Owners are requested to keep dogs on leashes 7 feet or shorter.
Huntington Beach State Park is a dog friendly park year round. All dogs must remain on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times. Dogs are allowed on the south end of the beach. Dogs are prohibited in buildings, including Atalaya and on the north end of the beach. The north end extends from the beach access at the north parking lot to the jetty.
At Myrtle Beach State Park, pets are not allowed in the cabins or the cabin areas. Pets are not allowed on the beaches from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily, May 1 through Labor Day. Pets are allowed in most other outdoor areas year round, provided they are kept under physical restraint or on a leash not longer than 6 feet.
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