The Best Myrtle Beach Guide

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is where you will find 60 miles of beautiful coastline. Discover breathtaking sunrises over the Atlantic Ocean, enjoy fun-filled days at the beach, visit lush natural wonders, and enjoy new adventures. Enjoy their warm Southern hospitality, and fresh coastal cuisine. Cherish these moments together. Continue reading our Myrtle Beach Guide— and plan your Myrtle beach vacation where happiness comes in waves. For more of South Carolina’s beautiful beaches, visit our Best South Carolina Beaches guide.

Myrtle Beach Weather – When to Visit

The best time to visit Myrtle Beach is from June to August when the weather is just right for enjoying the beach. There can be some afternoon rain showers, especially in July. You’ll also find warm temperatures and slightly cheaper rates if you visit March through May, but there will be spring breakers from area colleges crowding the beach and nearby hotels. Autumn ushers in room bargains and cooler temperatures that range from the high 70s to the mid-40s. During winter, temperatures are chilly and hotels are at the lowest rates (and zero crowds), but some area attractions and restaurants will be closed or have reduced hours.

Best Myrtle Beach Access Points

Huntington Beach State Park

Visitors here enjoy the walkway over the salt marsh full of wildlife like birds and gators, as well as Atalaya; a Spanish-style castle with great history. If you’re feeling up to it, Huntington Beach State Park also offers camping in their maritime forest! The $5 cover charge is well worth it!

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The Cabana District

This area known as the Cabana District because of the number of brightly colored cabanas that line the shoreline. When visiting this area you can make their way past the Dunes Club at low tide, across Singleton Swash to Ocean Annie’s Beach Bar for a refreshing drink or two. Just make sure to head back before high tide!

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The Golden Mile

The Golden Mile is a two-mile stretch of beach from 34th to 52nd Avenues North. There are no hotels and it is home to several beautiful oceanfront mansions that are privately owned and/or rental homes. This area attracts less of a crowd than the hotels, providing more space to stretch out and enjoy the beautiful beach!

Myrtle Beach Boardwalk

The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk is one of the top attractions in Myrtle Beach. The boardwalk is home to several restaurants, bars, attractions, shops, and more. This oceanfront walkway is a family-friendly area with amusements such as the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel, arcades, thrill rides, and more.

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Myrtle Beach State Park

Myrtle Beach State Park is always a great choice for a beach day. The park is home to wide stretches of beach as well as a pier that is great for fishing and sightseeing. Guests here also enjoy camping, the nature center, and walking trails through the oceanfront forest. The $5 entrance fee is well worth it!

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Best Myrtle Beach Tours & Activities by Viator

Charleston Sightseeing Day Trip with Lunch from Myrtle Beach

Enjoy a scenic journey to one of America’s greatest historic treasures—Charleston, South Carolina, for a day of sightseeing, shopping, and dining. Experience the highlights of Charleston on a full sightseeing day trip from Myrtle Beach. Tour package includes a boxed lunch, a ride through the historic district in a traditional horse-drawn carriage, Charleston Harbor boat tour, a visit to Boone Hall Plantation with a guided tour, and a brief stop at the Old City Market. Learn more about the Charleston Sightseeing Day Trip here.

Waccamaw River Nature & Wildlife Tours

Explore the beautiful cypress-lined Waccamaw River, Intracoastal Waterway, and the creeks and swamps on this guided boat tour near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Be on the lookout for birds and other wildlife that inhabit these southern waters that run along the refuge. The boat docks are located within Waccatee Zoo. Learn more about the Waccamaw River Nature & Wildlife Tours here.

Polynesian Fire Luau and Dinner Show Ticket in Myrtle Beach

Bring an evening of Polynesian entertainment to the shores of South Carolina with this fire luau and dinner show in Myrtle Beach. Enjoy a buffet dinner before watching an hour-long fire and dance performance by singers, acrobats, and fire knife champions who travel from various Polynesian isles to Myrtle Beach for the show. This seasonal show is only available during the summer. Learn more about the Polynesian Fire Luau & Dinner Show here.

Guided Myrtle Beach Kayak Tour

Myrtle Beach may be known for its lively boardwalk, crowded beaches, and rocking amusement park, but when it’s time to spend some quiet time out on the water, there’s no better way to do it than a sunrise or sunset kayak tour. Locals guides will lead you through the calm waters of Murrells Inlet, which teems with wildlife like birds, fish, and sea turtles. All equipment is included and souvenir photos are available to purchase. Learn more about the Myrtle Beach Kayak Tour here.

Guided Stand-Up Paddle Board Tour

Take a 2-hour guided SUP tour down the Murrells Inlet or the Waccamaw River in Myrtle Beach. Get comfortable with our paddle boards and see some of South Carolina’s coastal scenery and local wildlife. Choose from multiple departures throughout the day, including sunrise and sunset tours, and locations are chosen based on current tides and weather conditions. Learn more about the Stand-Up Paddle Board Tour Here.

Best Myrtle Beach Restaurants

Blueberry’s Grill $10 – 30

The restaurant has lactose-free cheese, gluten-free toast, and stone-ground grits made better with goat cheese and pesto pine nuts. The chicken is GMO Free and the kale varieties for the egg white omelet range from Black Magic to Red Russian. The Smoked Salmon Benedict is hard to pass up, as well as the Monte Cristo. Expect a wait and a very lively atmosphere. Telephone: 843-945-4588 Web: Blueberry’s Grill

Hook & Barrel $10 – 30

Hook and Barrel is the purest example of the dining scene in Myrtle Beach going from shabby to snazzy. The seafood is sustainable, and there’s prosecco on tap. Jellyfish lamps are the crux of this nauti-posh aesthetic. The plump crab cake sliders with remoulade slathered on challah buns and topped kohlrabi slaw is the ideal start before you order the pan-seared scallops that are worthy of having. Telephone: 843-839-5888 Web: Hook & Barrel

Yamato $10 – 30

Yamato’s claims to be South Carolina’s original Japanese Steakhouse. Most people are in awe of the onion volcano but the showstopper is when the chef molds the mound of rice into the shape of an heart and then uses his spatula to make it look like its beating. Do the obvious — order the steak and shrimp combo and cover it with house made shrimp sauce. Telephone: 843-448-1959 Web: Yamato

Big Mike’s Soul Food $10 & Under

Like most good soul food joints, there’s a mix of faux brick, wood-paneled walls, and checkerboard linoleum floors. Big Mike’s Special is the meat-and-three with a chunk of cornbread. It can be a daunting task deciding, so here’s some help: go for the fried chicken, collard greens, candied yams, and chicken bog. Telephone: 843-712-2048 Web: Big Mike’s Soul Food

Homestyle Restaurant $10 & Under

There’s a thriving Jamaican population in Myrtle Beach, and when they want to get their fix on the food they left back home, they come to Homestyle Restaurant. The curry goat will stain anything it touches; the jerk chicken is perfectly smoked and fiery enough to have lips tingling; and yes, the oxtails are so tender the meat can slurped from the bone with minimal resistance. Don’t miss the brown-stewed red snapper — served whole and always cooked to order. Telephone: 843-945-1258 Web: Homestyle Restaurant

Best Myrtle Beach Nightlife

Tin Roof

A small slice of Nashville comes to the beach at this oceanfront hot spot. Featuring a restaurant and bar with an open-air rooftop, this place turns into a nightlife favorite after hours. Featuring a concert stage and DJ booth with top-notch talent and sound, Tin Roof provides the rare opportunity to dance along to the beat while experiencing the sea breeze and ocean views. Telephone: 843-945-9867 Web: Tin Roof

Status Nightlife

Featuring four unique clubs in one massive nightlife complex, Status Nightlife is the hottest new club in town. Replacing the long-standing 2001 Night Club in 2018, Status Nightlife has something for revelers of all tastes. The Bourbon Cowboy is designed for those with country and western in mind, complete with a spacious dance floor for line dancing. The Jungle Room specializes in Caribbean beats and colorful frozen drinks, while Club Rewind caters to the retro crowd with hits from the 1980s, ’90s and 2000s. Club Envy is the DJ-driven dance venue and attracts a younger crowd. Telephone: 843-449-9434

The Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk

The Murrells Inlet Marshwalk weaves along a path that backs up to a dozen bars and restaurants, most featuring outdoor decks with live music on the weekends. Places like Bubba’s Love Shack and the Dead Dog Saloon have bands virtually every night of the week, while other stops like Divine Prime and Fishhouse offer a hip scene. Web: The Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk

Carolina Opry

Calvin Gilmore opened the Carolina Opry in 1986 and it has grown into the most popular live theater in town. Featuring top dancers, musicians, and singers, the Carolina Opry’s shows keep audiences coming back year after year for this unique blend of music and comedy. Well reviewed and one of the most sought after tickets in town, the Carolina Opry is great entertainment for the entire family. Telephone: 1-800-843-6779 Web: Carolina Opry

The Bowery

Don’t miss the chance to see where country music supergroup Alabama got its start back in the 1970s, and little has changed at this hole-in-the-wall honky-tonk since those days. The house band kicks out live music six days a week and visiting bands and musicians get together to jam on its night off. Telephone: 843-626-3445 Web: The Bowery

Best Myrtle Beach Hotels