The Grand Strand stretches 60 miles of Atlantic coast with wide sandy beaches, boardwalk amusements, and hundreds of restaurants. One of America's most visited beach destinations for families and couples.
Myrtle Beach is the main city of South Carolina's Grand Strand in the United States, a 60-mile arc of wide, flat Atlantic coastline that constitutes one of the longest continuous beach stretches on the American East Coast. The city beach directly fronting the urban resort strip spans roughly 10 miles, with the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade forming its commercial and social spine. The sand is fine, pale tan, and maintained by city crews year-round. Atlantic water temperatures reach 26–28°C in peak summer (July–August), remain swimmable through October at around 20°C, and drop to 10–14°C in winter.
The beach faces east, fully open to the Atlantic, with a gentle gradient that produces a wide, usable beach face at low tide. Waves average one to two feet for most of the year, rising to two to four feet during Atlantic storm systems and providing occasional surf-quality breaks. The water is noticeably warmer here than at northern Atlantic beach destinations due to the northward influence of the Gulf Stream, giving Myrtle Beach one of the most extended swimmable seasons on the East Coast.
Myrtle Beach has a firmly family resort character amplified by a substantial entertainment infrastructure. The 1.2-mile Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade connects the 187-foot SkyWheel observation ride to Pier 14, lined with amusement arcades, fresh seafood restaurants, and souvenir shops on both sides. Broadway at the Beach, a 350-acre entertainment complex two miles inland, adds Ripley's Aquarium, a water park, and an IMAX cinema to the visitor offer. Myrtle Beach State Park, three miles south of the commercial strip, provides a quieter wooded alternative with a fishing pier and maritime forest hiking trails.
Lifeguards patrol the main beach from May through September. Parking in city-operated lots runs $2–5 per hour. Sun lounger and umbrella rentals cost approximately $30–45 per day. Beach access points are located on numbered streets from 1st Avenue to 82nd Avenue North, with a particularly dense concentration of facilities around the central Boardwalk section.
Amenities
- boardwalk
- amusements
- restaurants
- hotels
- mini golf
- shopping
Good to know
- Best for
- families, couples, swimmers, sunbathers, partiers
Highlights
- The 60-mile Grand Strand is one of the longest continuous sandy beach stretches on the entire US Atlantic coastline
- Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade spans 1.2 miles connecting the 187-foot SkyWheel to Pier 14, flanked by seafood restaurants and arcades
- Warm Atlantic water reaching 26–28°C in summer, extended by Gulf Stream influence for one of the East Coast's longest swim seasons
- Broadway at the Beach combines Ripley's Aquarium, water park, and IMAX cinema in a 350-acre entertainment complex two miles from the sand
- Myrtle Beach State Park, three miles south, offers a forested, quieter alternative with a fishing pier and maritime trail walks
Tips for visiting
- Head to Myrtle Beach State Park (3 miles south) for a dramatically quieter beach experience with more shade and fewer vendors
- Avoid July 4 and Labor Day weekends — the Grand Strand draws over 14 million annual visitors and the beach can be standing-room-only
- All-inclusive resort packages often include beach chairs and umbrella service — confirm before paying $30–45 per day for separate rental
- Ocean water hits its warmest around 28°C in August, making it the most comfortable month for extended swimming
- Check event calendars before booking — the Sun Fun Festival in June and Bike Week events in May bring enormous additional crowds
When to visit
May through September is the main beach season, with July and August being peak months. May and September offer warmer water and noticeably fewer crowds than the school-holiday rush. March and April draw large spring break college crowds to the central Boardwalk section.
Frequently asked questions
Is Myrtle Beach free to access?
Yes, the public beach is free to enter. Paid parking is available in city garages and surface lots at $2–5 per hour. Many hotels offer free parking to guests. Beach chair and umbrella rental runs approximately $30–45 per day.
Is Myrtle Beach safe for families with young children?
Myrtle Beach is one of the most popular family destinations on the US East Coast. The water is warm and relatively calm, lifeguards patrol the main stretches from May through September, and there is substantial family-oriented entertainment immediately adjacent to the beach.
What is the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk?
The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade is a 1.2-mile oceanfront pedestrian path connecting the SkyWheel at 14th Avenue to Pier 14 further south. Restaurants, arcade games, beach shops, and amusement rides line both sides of the boardwalk.
When is it too cold to swim at Myrtle Beach?
Water temperatures drop to 10–14°C from December through February, making ocean swimming uncomfortable for most people. The beach remains walkable year-round, and April and October shoulder months offer warm air temperatures with still-swimmable water around 18–20°C.