Things to do in Myrtle Beach
Spring and early fall bring warm water, comfortable temperatures, and thinner crowds than the hot, humid summer peak. Summer is prime beach season but busiest, while mild winters are quiet and good for golf.
Best months: April, May, September, October
What is worth your time in Myrtle Beach
Brookgreen GardensDo not miss
A vast lowcountry estate combining the largest outdoor American figurative sculpture collection with formal gardens, a native-wildlife zoo, and creek excursions.
Day Trip · 6.5 hr4.8
Huntington Beach State ParkDo not miss
A pristine undeveloped beach, salt-marsh boardwalks, and some of the best birding on the East Coast, with alligators and herons in the lagoon.
Park · 3.5 hr4.8
Murrells Inlet MarshWalkDo not miss
A half-mile wooden boardwalk over a salt marsh lined with seafood restaurants and live-music decks, the social heart of the Inlet.
Nature · 2 hr4.7
The Market CommonDo not miss
An upscale urban-village district of tree-lined streets, boutiques, restaurants, a cinema, and parks built on a former Air Force base.
Neighborhood · 2.5 hr4.7
Barefoot LandingDo not miss
A boardwalk shopping-and-dining village built over a lake and the Intracoastal Waterway in North Myrtle Beach, home to House of Blues and Alligator Adventure.
Activity · 2.5 hr4.6
Broadway at the BeachDo not miss
The area's biggest entertainment hub wraps shops, restaurants, attractions, and nightlife around a lake, a one-stop center for family fun.
Activity · 3.5 hr4.6
SkyWheel Myrtle BeachDo not miss
A 187-foot observation wheel on the boardwalk with climate-controlled gondolas and sweeping views over the Atlantic and the city skyline.
Landmark · 45 min4.6
Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle BeachDo not miss
A glass underwater tunnel, ray touch tank, and dazzling shark exhibits make this Broadway at the Beach aquarium a top family draw.
Activity · 2 hr4.5
Myrtle BeachDo not miss
Sixty miles of wide sandy Grand Strand shoreline make this warm-water beach the heart of any visit, ideal for swimming, sunning, and long barefoot walks.
Beach · 3.5 hr
Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and PromenadeDo not miss
A 1.2-mile oceanfront promenade lined with arcades, eateries, and shops that captures the classic seaside-resort spirit of the city.
Landmark · 1.8 hr
L.W. Paul Living History Farm
A free Conway farm museum recreating 1900-1955 Horry County family life with mule plowing, blacksmithing, and grits-grinding demonstrations.
Cultural Experience · 1.5 hr4.9
Waccatee Zoo
A rustic family-run zoo on a wooded Socastee farm where you can walk among and feed a wide range of animals, an offbeat low-key outing.
Activity · 2 hr4.9
Conway Riverwalk
A charming boardwalk along the blackwater Waccamaw River in historic Conway, lined with moss-draped oaks, shops, and a small-town square 15 miles inland.
Neighborhood · 1.8 hr4.8
Myrtle Beach Pelicans Baseball
A summer evening of affordable Class A baseball, fireworks nights, and a festive ballpark atmosphere at Pelicans Ballpark.
Activity · 3 hr4.8
And 31 more, which the planner picks between based on your dates, pace and what you are into.
Worth knowing
- Traffic along Ocean Boulevard and Kings Highway crawls on summer evenings, so plan beach-to-show timing with a buffer and use side streets.
- The Grand Strand stretches 60 miles, so group your days by area: the boardwalk and Broadway in the city, Barefoot Landing to the north, and the MarshWalk and Brookgreen to the south.
- Book golf tee times, dinner shows, and Murrells Inlet seafood spots ahead in peak season, as the best ones fill fast.
- Watch the colored beach flags and swim near lifeguard stands, since rip currents are common along the Strand.
- Murrells Inlet is the area's real seafood hub, and shoulder-season visits in April, May, September, and October offer the best value and weather.