Fast Facts
- Population
- 35,682 city / ~479,426 metro (2020/2024)
- Typical visiting season
- May–Sept (peak beach season) or Mar–Apr for golf
- One Unusual Stat
- Grand Strand: 60 continuous miles of beach
- Nickname
- Golf Capital of the World
What to Know Before You Arrive
Myrtle Beach was named for the local wax-myrtle shrubs following early-1900s development efforts, and today its metro area draws over 20 million visitors annually to the Grand Strand, a continuous 60-mile stretch of beach along South Carolina's northeastern coast. The area's population growth has been rapid: an estimated 479,426 metro residents by 2024, with more than 104,000 new arrivals over eight years.
The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk opened in 2010 and was recognized by National Geographic as the nation's third-best boardwalk. The Myrtle Beach SkyWheel, a 200-foot observation wheel with glass gondolas, opened at the boardwalk in 2011; a standard ride includes four revolutions in a private gondola.
Golf dominates the region's leisure economy, with roughly 80 to 120 golf courses concentrated along the Grand Strand and a recorded 4.2 million rounds played, earning the area the nickname Golf Capital of the World. Tiger Woods called Myrtle Beach “the mecca of golf” during a 1997 visit.
The Road Trip Stop
The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and SkyWheel anchor the city's oceanfront. The boardwalk opened in 2010 and was named the nation's third-best boardwalk by National Geographic; the adjacent SkyWheel, a 200-foot observation wheel, opened in 2011.
What the visit involves
- A standard SkyWheel ride includes four revolutions in a private gondola and currently runs $20.99* per adult.
- A VIP package allows nine full revolutions and currently runs $109.00* for a group of up to four.
- Current hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., per the SkyWheel's own site, though hours can vary seasonally and should be reconfirmed before visiting.
- The boardwalk itself is free to walk, with the SkyWheel and other attractions along it ticketed separately.
*Fees subject to change, please check skywheelmb.com for updated information.
Neighborhoods
The Boardwalk / Downtown
The oceanfront core, home to the boardwalk and the SkyWheel.
Grand Strand
The 60-mile beach corridor that Myrtle Beach anchors, stretching along the northeastern South Carolina coast.
Golf corridor
The broader Myrtle Beach area holding roughly 80 to 120 golf courses.
Market Common
A mixed-use shopping, dining and entertainment district in Myrtle Beach, built on the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, which closed in 1993; the district's own site says it opened in April 2008 and has apartments above the shops and restaurants.
The Food Stop
The area's tourism office says the boardwalk has numerous shops and restaurants along its path, and its fact sheet counts approximately 2,000 full-service restaurants across the Myrtle Beach area; current listings and hours should be checked with each business before visiting.
3 breweries within 10 miles of Myrtle Beach, 2 of them brewpubs with a kitchen.
See all 3
- Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant - Myrtle Beach3060 Howard Ave, Myrtle Beach
- Liberty Steakhouse and Brewery1321 Celebrity Cir, Myrtle Beach
- New South Brewing Co1109 Campbell St, Myrtle Beachproduction site*
*Check before you go. This list says what the source records as open and where it is — nothing more. Opening hours, whether a kitchen is serving, and whether anywhere suits your family are not in this data and change without notice. A production site may have no public room at all. Please confirm with the venue.
Brewpub locations from Open Brewery DB (MIT)
Day Trips
| Destination | Time | Distance | How we got it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlestonguide | 2 hr 15 min | 98 mi | routed |
| About 2 hours south: the historic district, Fort Sumter, and the harbor. | |||
| Columbiaguide | 3 hr 5 min | 138 mi | routed |
| About 2.5 hours west: the State House, the university, and Riverbanks Zoo. | |||
| Wilmington, North Carolinaguide | 1 hr 50 min | 74 mi | routed |
| Wilmington is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, north of Myrtle Beach along the coast. | |||
| Brookgreen Gardens | 35 min | 22 mi | routed |
| Brookgreen Gardens is a sculpture garden in Murrells Inlet, on the Grand Strand south of Myrtle Beach; its own site places it off US Highway 17 Bypass, between Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island. | |||
3 of these are places the Hub has its own guide to — marked guide and linked from the name.
Routed figures are computed over map data at free-flowing speeds, between map points rather than street addresses, so a real drive runs longer.
Distances routed by OSRM and places geocoded by Nominatim, over map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
Worth a Weekend
6 more Highway Heads places lie within about 180 miles of Myrtle Beach in a straight line — far enough that most are a night away rather than an afternoon.
- WilmingtonNorth Carolinaabout 65 mi
- RaleighNorth Carolinaabout 140 mi
- CharlotteNorth Carolinaabout 150 mi
- Hilton HeadSouth Carolinaabout 150 mi
- SavannahGeorgiaabout 170 mi
- AugustaGeorgiaabout 180 mi
Wineries Nearby
1 producer we have checked near here. These are the ones from our research we could check against their own site — not every producer there is.
La Belle Amie Vineyard
Grand Strand-area vineyard with seasonal tasting days.
- HoursTastings Wed/Fri/Sat 11:15-3 (mid-Feb-Nov)
- Phone843-399-9463
1120 Saint Joseph Road, Little River, SC 29566
*Check before you go. Every producer here links to its own site, which is where we read these details on the date we checked. Opening hours, tour times, tasting fees and who may come in change without notice and belong to the producer. A blank is something we did not confirm, not something they lack. None of these say anything about children, so do not plan around it without asking them.
Aquariums and Wildlife Parks Nearby
Within 60 miles of Myrtle Beach, nearest first.
Myrtle Beach SafariMyrtle Beach
- Hours
- tours run 3 days a week
- Reservations
- Required
Reservation-only tours.
Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle BeachAZA-accreditedMyrtle Beach
Brookgreen GardensAZA-accreditedMurrells Inlet
- Hours
- Mon-Tue 9:30am-5pm; Wed-Sun 4pm-9pm (current seasonal schedule)
- Season
- year-round (schedule changes seasonally)
- Admission
- Adult from $25 (13-64) · Child $14 (4-12); 3 and under free
Sculpture garden with an animal collection; tickets valid 7 consecutive days.
Alligator Adventure — some details below are unconfirmedNorth Myrtle Beach
Reptile park at Barefoot Landing.
* We could not confirm: hours/admission not captured. Check their site before you go.
This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. 2 of these carry an accreditation we confirmed against the accrediting body’s own register. Where there is no badge we did not confirm one — that is not a judgement on the place, and a good many municipal, state and university sites belong to no register we check. One entry is marked with an asterisk: we could not confirm part of what is listed, and the note under it says which part. Opening times, prices and seasons change without notice, so check the operator’s own site — every name above links to it.
Music Venues Nearby
Within 60 miles of Myrtle Beach, nearest first.
Where to see something
The Carolina OprytheaterMyrtle Beach
- Address
- 8901 N Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
- Phone
- 843-913-4000
Alabama TheatretheaterNorth Myrtle Beach
- Hours
- Mon-Sat 9am-8pm; Sun 10am-6pm (posted hours)
- Address
- 4750 Hwy 17 S, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
- Phone
- 843-272-1111
At Barefoot Landing.
This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Opening times, line-ups and ticketing change without notice, so check the venue’s or organiser’s own site — every name above links to it.
Water Parks and Amusement Parks Nearby
Within 60 miles of Myrtle Beach, nearest first.
Family Kingdom Amusement ParkSeasonalamusement park and water parkMyrtle Beach
Oceanfront seasonal amusement park with Splashes water park
Myrtle WavesSeasonalwater parkMyrtle Beach
Seasonal water park
This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Every one of these runs a season rather than opening year round. Opening and closing dates move every year and we hold none of them, so check the park’s own calendar before you build a day around it. Prices, hours and ride closures change without notice — every name above links to the park’s own site.
Historic Sites Nearby
3 near Myrtle Beach, each checked against the operator or agency that runs it.
Hollywood Wax Museum (Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center, Myrtle Beach)Myrtle Beach
- Hours
- This Week's Hours Tue 9am - 9pm source
- Admission
- SINGLE ATTRACTION TICKETS Ticket Price Regular (Ages 12+) $32.99 Children (Ages 4-11) $19.99 FREE (Ages 3 and Under) source
- Season
- No seasonal schedule captured.
A wax museum of film and pop-culture figures in Myrtle Beach where visitors pose with the figures using props such as hats, mics and tiaras, with a laser maze and a giant piano along the way. The operator says each figure takes its team more than three months to make.
- same building sells 'Outbreak - Dread the Undead', a zombie attraction (separate ticket; may frighten children)
- hours vary week to week
- operator landing page returned HTTP 403
Run by Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center (operator also runs locations in Branson, Hollywood and Pigeon Forge)
Huntington Beach State ParkMurrells Inlet
- Hours
- HOURS 6 a.m. - 6 p.m., daily (extended to 9 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time) source
- Admission
- $8/adult; $5/ S.C. Senior; $4/youth age 6-15; Free for children 5 and younger. source
A state park beach in Murrells Inlet that includes Atalaya, the Moorish-style winter home of philanthropist Archer Huntington and sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington. Alligators are often seen at its freshwater lake, and park programs can include a close look at loggerhead turtles.
- Nature Center Marsh Boardwalk closed for construction (park alert)
- temporary closures possible on busy weekends and holidays; agency suggests arriving outside 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Atalaya may close for events
- dogs on leash, south end of the beach only
Run by South Carolina State Parks
Myrtle Beach State ParkMyrtle Beach
- Hours
- Daily 6 a.m.-10 p.m., March-Nov.; Daily 6 a.m.-8 p.m., Dec.-Feb. source
- Admission
- $8 adults; $5/SC seniors (age 65 & older); $4/ child age 6-15; Free for children 5 and younger. source
A state park in Myrtle Beach with about a mile of undeveloped beach backed by oceanfront maritime forest, a nature trail and a fishing pier. It opened in 1936 as the first park in South Carolina's state park system.
- parking limited; the park may close at capacity on busy summer days (agency suggests arriving outside 10 a.m.-2 p.m.)
- 'first' is the agency's own claim; attribute it
- extra charges for pier fishing
Run by South Carolina State Parks
This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Opening times and prices here are quoted from each operator’s own page on the date we read it, and both change without notice. Every name above links to that page.
Roadside Oddities Nearby
Mars Bluff CraterOffbeat landmarkFlorenceabout 56 miles away
- Cost to see it
- Free
- When you can see it
- Any time — outdoors, visible from the road
- Nearest road
- I-95 / US-76
Site where a 1958 atomic bomb accidentally fell; beside a home
- Fine for most children, but look it over before you let them loose
Read on the page we checked
These are things you can go and look at, not a recommendation of any of them. Oddities move, get sold and quietly disappear more than anything else we list, so check anything you are driving a long way for. Some sit on private land and can only be seen from the road — please do not go onto anyone’s property. Every entry links the page we read it off.
Practical Road Trip Info
SkyWheel tickets currently run $20.99* per adult for the standard four-revolution ride, per the SkyWheel's own site; prices are subject to change and should be reconfirmed there before visiting.
We were unable to confirm current green fees for the region's golf courses. The area's tourism office advises checking for any current deals or discounts before booking, and it states the course count differently on different pages: over 80 championship golf courses on its fact sheet, and over 90 golf courses (ranging from championship to mini-golf) on its golf page.
The area's tourism office says the boardwalk is open 24 hours a day. For parking, the tourism office says paid meter parking is enforced from 9:00 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week, while the city says free seasonal parking runs from October 1 through February 28 at city-metered spaces from Sixth Avenue South to 21st Avenue North and west to Kings Highway. We were unable to confirm whether a charge applies to walk the boardwalk or the current rates at nearby garages.
Peak beach season draws the heaviest crowds and traffic along the Grand Strand; visitors planning a summer trip should expect both.
*Fees subject to change, please check skywheelmb.com for updated information.
The Local Debate
Family-Friendly
Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
A free, open-air oceanfront walk recognized as the nation's third-best boardwalk by National Geographic.
Myrtle Beach SkyWheel
A 200-foot observation wheel with private glass gondolas, four revolutions per standard ride.
The Grand Strand beaches
60 continuous miles of beach along the Myrtle Beach coastline.
Plan Your Visit
Myrtle Beach SkyWheel
- Address
- 1110 N Ocean Blvd, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
- Hours
- 11 AM – 10 PM (may vary seasonally)
- Price
- $20.99 per adult (standard ride)*
- Link
- skywheelmb.com
*Fees subject to change, please check skywheelmb.com for updated information.
We checked fees, seasonal opening, operating status and opening hours on 2026-09-22. These change without notice — confirm with skywheelmb.com, visitmyrtlebeach.com and cityofmyrtlebeach.com the week you travel.
Sources — 20 claims, 17 checked against the source on 2026-09-22
| Claim | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Myrtle Beach proper population 35,682 (2020 census), 13th among South Carolina cities; metro area estimated 479,426 in 2024, more than 104,000 people moved to the area over eight years; sits within the 60-mile Grand Strand beach corridor along South Carolina's northeastern coast; Myrtle Beach Boardwalk opened 2010, recognized as the nation's third-best boardwalk by National Geographic; Myrtle Beach SkyWheel, a 200-foot observation wheel with glass gondolas, opened at the boardwalk 2011; region features roughly 80-120 golf courses, Tiger Woods called it 'the mecca of golf' during a 1997 visit; over 20 million visitors annually; nicknamed Golf Capital of the World with a record 4.2 million rounds played; named after local wax-myrtle shrubs following early 1900s development | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina — Wikipedia | Checked |
| SkyWheel Myrtle Beach current ticket prices: standard wheel tickets $20.99 per adult (4 revolutions in a private gondola); Fly & Dine Combo $50.00 (2 tickets); VIP Package $109.00 for a group up to 4 people (9 full revolutions); hours 11 AM to 10 PM; 200-foot observation wheel; confirmed currently operating via recent site content referencing summer passes and upcoming programming | SkyWheel Myrtle Beach — official site | Checked monitored · 2026-09-22 |
| Brookgreen Gardens is a sculpture garden in Murrells Inlet, off US Highway 17 Bypass between Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island | Brookgreen Gardens — official site | Checked |
| Wilmington, North Carolina is the county seat of New Hanover County (location only; driving distance from Myrtle Beach is tracked in a separate Pending row) | Wilmington, North Carolina — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Grand Strand extent: the tourism office says it stretches from Little River to Pawleys Island (14 communities); Wikipedia describes more than 60 miles from Little River to Winyah Bay, so the sources differ on the southern end | Visit Myrtle Beach — area fact sheet | Checked |
| Drive distance and time from Myrtle Beach to Charleston | Charleston, South Carolina — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Drive distance and time from Myrtle Beach to Columbia | Columbia, South Carolina — Wikipedia | Checked |
| The Market Common: mixed-use shopping, dining and entertainment district in Myrtle Beach on the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base (closed 1993); opened April 2008; apartments above the shops | The Market Common — official site | Checked |
| Individual golf course current green fees across the Grand Strand; not confirmed (tourism golf page lists featured courses and packages with no rates) | No source accepted yet | Not confirmed |
| Myrtle Beach city-metered parking: free seasonal parking October 1 through February 28 from Sixth Avenue South to 21st Avenue North and west to Kings Highway | City of Myrtle Beach — Parking Meters | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| Myrtle Beach Boardwalk: opened May 2010; National Geographic ranked it number three in the United States (2010 ranking); current visitor information is tracked in the Visit Myrtle Beach boardwalk row | Myrtle Beach Boardwalk — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Traffic builds during the summer season on US 501 and other spots along the Grand Strand; the tourism office points to S.C. 31 and S.C. 22 as alternatives | Visit Myrtle Beach — Getting around the area | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| Myrtle Beach boardwalk has numerous shops and restaurants along its path; no individual business is named | Visit Myrtle Beach — Myrtle Beach Boardwalk | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| Approximately 2,000 full-service restaurants in the Myrtle Beach area (the page is undated; the count can change) | Visit Myrtle Beach — area fact sheet | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| Driving distance and drive time from Myrtle Beach to Wilmington, North Carolina; tried the Visit Myrtle Beach driving-distances page (lists no Wilmington entry), the Wilmington and Beaches tourism directions pages (no Myrtle Beach distance), SCDOT and NCDOT searches; only travel blogs and routing sites state it | No source accepted yet | Not confirmed |
| Tourism office advises checking for current golf deals or discounts before booking; golf page states over 90 golf courses (championship to mini-golf) | Visit Myrtle Beach — golf | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| Fact sheet states over 80 championship golf courses and more than 35 miniature golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area (page undated) | Visit Myrtle Beach — area fact sheet | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| Myrtle Beach Boardwalk open 24 hours a day; 1.2 miles between the 14th Avenue and 2nd Avenue piers | Visit Myrtle Beach — Myrtle Beach Boardwalk | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| Paid meter parking enforced 9:00 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week (tourism office; differs from the city's free seasonal period) | Visit Myrtle Beach — Parking | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| Boardwalk admission and nearby garage parking rates; tourism and city pages read say nothing on either | No source accepted yet | Not confirmed |
Road Trippin’ with the Harts
The Highway Heads books turn the miles between stops into a game the whole car can play.
See the booksLive Conditions
Wildlife Spotted Nearby
Nearest Airports
Straight-line distance from Myrtle Beach, not drive time.
- Myrtle Beach International (MYR) — 2 miles
- Grand Strand (CRE) — 13 miles
- Florence Regional (FLO) — 59 miles
Explore the Full Road Trip
Return to the Highway Heads map and discover the next family-ready stop.
Explore the Map