Myrtle Beach is a long strip of oceanfront hotels on the Atlantic, with the Boardwalk and the SkyWheel in the middle. Pick your stretch of beach first. The Boardwalk, the northern hotel blocks and the south end each have different outings within reach of the door.
The Boardwalk and Promenade run along the downtown shore past the SkyWheel, arcades and restaurants. Broadway at the Beach is inland, with Ripley’s Aquarium, shops and evening entertainment. A Boardwalk hotel has the beach and downtown on foot, but Broadway is a separate trip.
The farther north you go on Ocean Boulevard, the farther the hotels are from the Boardwalk. The city’s northern end has resorts near the beach, and Grande Dunes and Arcadian Shores are closer to the golf courses. Read the street address carefully. North Myrtle Beach is a separate city farther up the Grand Strand.
South of downtown, Family Kingdom is by the shore and Myrtle Beach State Park has a pier, beach and maritime forest. The Market Common is farther inland on the former Air Force base, with restaurants, shops and a cinema. A south-end hotel is a shorter drive from MYR and the state park, and a longer one from the SkyWheel.
Summers are hot and sticky, with frequent thunderstorms. Spring and fall are milder, and winter is cooler and quieter. Coast RTA buses run along some roads, but the Grand Strand stretches well past the walkable downtown blocks. To get beyond your own stretch of beach, check the bus route or expect to drive or call a rideshare.