11 Late Summer Activities in Myrtle Beach to Do Before the Season Ends
Summer in Myrtle Beach doesn’t end when the calendar says so.
Some of the best days of the season arrive in late summer, when the ocean is still bath-warm, the crowds begin to thin and there’s a little more room to breathe on the sand.
It’s the sweet spot locals quietly look forward to all year — all the sunshine and warm-water swimming of peak season, but with shorter lines, easier parking and a slower, more relaxed pace. So before the season slips away, make the most of it.
Whether you’re chasing one last trip down a waterslide, a golden-hour cruise through the marsh or a quiet tee time at a championship course, here are 11 ways to enjoy late summer at The Beach.
For the Relaxation Seeker
Here’s the secret locals know: some of the best beach days of the year happen after summer break ends. The ocean is still warm, parking is easier to find and you won’t need to stake out your spot quite so early. Bring a chair, a good book and enjoy a quieter side of Myrtle Beach while still soaking up all the sunshine and warm-water swimming that make summer at The Beach so special.
Did you know that Myrtle Beach is home to several new breweries? Tidal Creek Brewhouse in The Market Common offers a large outdoor space with fire pits and a dog park. In North Myrtle Beach, Crooked Hammock Brewery has outdoor games and a bar with swings instead of seats. They might even offer fall specialty beers to try! Don't forget to check out the new Myrtle Beach Beer Trail featuring over 10 breweries throughout the Grand Strand. You can check in at each brewery and redeem points for fun swag and specials!
One of my favorite beach activities is to get dinner to-go and have a picnic on the beach. It is so peaceful to sit on a blanket in the sand and listen to the waves roll in. Pizza, subs, and tacos make great beach picnic items, however, ice cream for dinner never fails. Visit our dining page below for more restaurants across the Grand Strand!
The Myrtle Beach area is filled with live music, that a lot of people don’t know about. From rooftop bars to waterside restaurants, there is a live band to check out almost every night of the week at The Beach. We have found that Myrtle Live is the best place to find up-to-date info on live music in the area!
We have 60 miles of the sun rising over the Atlantic Ocean, which gives you no excuse to get up a little early and watch at least one sunrise while you are in town. To me, early mornings equal an abundance of coffee, so once the sun rises, head on over to one of these seven coffee shops that you need to check out this fall.
We are the area's official online vacation guide which offers everything you need to plan a perfect vacation to the Myrtle Beach Area. Plan your stay online and choose from a wide assortment of accommodation options including Myrtle Beach hotels, resorts, small motels, condos, beach homes, and additional types of vacation rentals. From oceanfront resorts along the entire Grand Strand to cozy beach homes and vacation rentals in North and South Myrtle Beach, including Surfside Beach and Garden City, find the amenities and location perfect for you.
Summer in Myrtle Beach doesn’t end when the calendar says so. Some of the best days of the season arrive in late summer, when the ocean is still bath-warm, the crowds begin to thin and there’s a little more room to breathe on the sand. It’s the sweet spot locals quietly look forward to all year — all the sunshine and warm-water swimming of peak season, but with shorter lines, easier parking and a slower, more relaxed pace.
The Short Answer
Late summer — roughly August into September — is one of the best times to visit Myrtle Beach. Ocean temperatures still hover around 80°F, the peak-season crowds thin out once schools return after Labor Day, and prices and wait times ease across the destination’s 60 miles of beach. Here are 11 of the best things to do in Myrtle Beach in late summer, no matter what kind of traveler you are.
Jump to an activity
- Beach days without the crowds
- Myrtle Waves Water Park
- Hottest new openings
- Sunset cruise in Murrells Inlet
- Warm-water watersports
- Family Kingdom after dark
- Brookgreen Gardens
- Catch a show
- Craft beer scene
- Golf’s sweet spot
- Waterfront seafood
1
Take Advantage of Beach Days Without Peak Crowds
Here’s the secret locals know: some of the best beach days of the year happen after summer break ends. The ocean is still warm, parking is easier to find and you won’t need to stake out your spot quite so early. With 60 miles of wide, sandy shoreline along the Grand Strand, there’s always room to spread out in late summer. Bring a chair, a good book and enjoy a quieter side of Myrtle Beach while still soaking up all the sunshine and warm-water swimming that make summer at The Beach so special.
2
Visit Myrtle Waves Before the Season Ends
Summer isn’t officially over until the last trip down a waterslide. Myrtle Waves Water Park — South Carolina’s largest water park at 20 acres, with more than 20 slides and attractions — remains one of the destination’s most popular family attractions, and late summer often means shorter wait times for favorite rides like Turbo Twisters, Riptide Rockets and the wave pool. It’s one final chance to soak up summer before the season comes to a close.
3
Explore Myrtle Beach’s Hottest New Openings
Every summer brings something new to Myrtle Beach, and this year is no exception. Sip moonshine and cocktails at Ole Smoky Distillery at Broadway at the Beach, then explore some of the destination’s newest and most unique additions, including a haunted bookstore, a hands-on slime factory, Black Flag Forge, and an immersive wand-and-potion shop that feels straight out of a fantasy novel.
Over at Barefoot Landing, you’ll find a growing collection of new boutiques, specialty retailers and locally inspired shops that make it easy to spend an afternoon browsing for coastal fashion, gifts and one-of-a-kind finds. Late summer is the perfect time to check out these new additions after the peak-season crowds begin to thin, giving you more time to explore and discover Myrtle Beach’s latest must-visit spots.
4
Take a Sunset Cruise Through Murrells Inlet
As summer begins its slow fade into fall, the sunsets only get better. Book an evening cruise through Crazy Sister Marina or explore options through Visit Murrells Inlet to experience the marsh at its most beautiful, with golden-hour views of wildlife, fishing boats and winding tidal creeks. Stick around afterward for waterfront dining, live music and a stroll along the famous MarshWalk.
5
Ride the Waves While the Water Is Still Warm
One of Myrtle Beach’s best-kept secrets is that ocean temperatures stay surprisingly comfortable — hovering around 80°F — well into September. Book a jet ski adventure with Action Water Sportz, soar above the coastline with Parasail Express, or captain your own mini speedboat through the inlet with SeaKart Adventures. Better yet, you’ll spend less time waiting and more time making memories as peak summer crowds begin to thin.
6
Experience Family Kingdom After Dark
Few Myrtle Beach traditions are more iconic than a summer evening at Family Kingdom. Open since 1966, this oceanfront park lets you ride the legendary Swamp Fox — a classic wooden roller coaster that still tops out around 50 mph — take in ocean views from the Ferris wheel and enjoy the timeless charm of one of the East Coast’s last remaining seaside amusement parks. Late summer often brings cooler evenings and shorter lines, making it one of the best times of year to visit.
7
Spend a Day at Brookgreen Gardens
When you need a break from the beach, Brookgreen Gardens offers a completely different side of the Grand Strand. Founded in 1931 and spanning some 9,000 acres, it’s home to the largest collection of American figurative sculpture displayed outdoors anywhere in the world. Wander beneath centuries-old live oaks, explore beautiful Lowcountry landscapes and take in the artistry at your own pace. It’s peaceful, inspiring and especially enjoyable once peak-season crowds begin to thin.
8
Catch a Show Without Peak-Season Crowds
Myrtle Beach’s live entertainment scene has been delighting visitors for more than 40 years, and late summer is a fantastic time to experience some of its most iconic shows. Catch award-winning music, comedy and variety performances at The Carolina Opry — a Myrtle Beach staple since 1986 — enjoy high-energy concerts and family-friendly productions at Alabama Theatre in Barefoot Landing, or cheer on swashbuckling adventures and acrobatics at Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show. With peak-season crowds beginning to ease, it’s easier to find great seats and enjoy an unforgettable night out.
9
Discover Myrtle Beach’s Craft Beer Scene
Warm evenings, live music and a cold local beer are a winning combination this time of year. Spend an afternoon brewery hopping across some of the area’s favorite taprooms:
Brewery | Where to Find It |
|---|---|
The Market Common, Myrtle Beach | |
Barefoot Landing, North Myrtle Beach | |
South Coast Beer Project | Carolina Forest, Myrtle Beach |
Better yet, grab a passport and explore the Myrtle Beach Beer Trail, which connects 10 of the area’s top breweries and taprooms through one self-guided adventure. Many stops offer outdoor seating, rotating seasonal releases and food menus that make it easy to linger awhile.
10
Book a Tee Time During Golf’s Sweet Spot
Ask local golfers when they like to play, and many will point to late summer. Courses are still lush from the growing season, mornings are comfortable and many visitors have already headed home. With more than 90 courses, it’s easy to see why Myrtle Beach is known as the Golf Capital of the World — and late summer is the perfect time to tee it up at a few of the Grand Strand’s standouts:
Course | Location | Designer |
|---|---|---|
Pawleys Island | Mike Strantz | |
Pawleys Island | Mike Strantz | |
Myrtle Beach | Roger Rulewich | |
Murrells Inlet | Tom Fazio | |
North Myrtle Beach | Davis Love III |
11
Find Your Favorite Waterfront Seafood Spot
Late summer and fresh seafood go hand in hand. Grab a table overlooking the water at Wicked Tuna, Drunken Jack’s, The Claw House or Hook & Barrel and settle in for an evening of local catches, coastal cocktails and sunset views. Whether you’re dining along the MarshWalk, Intracoastal Waterway or near the oceanfront, this is the season to slow down and savor it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Late summer in Myrtle Beach, answered
Is the ocean still warm in Myrtle Beach in late summer?
Yes. Ocean temperatures in Myrtle Beach sit in the low-to-mid 80s°F in August and stay around 80°F through September, so late summer offers some of the most comfortable warm-water swimming of the entire year.
When do the summer crowds thin out in Myrtle Beach?
Crowds typically begin to ease once schools go back in session in mid-to-late August, and drop off further after Labor Day. Myrtle Beach welcomes more than 17 million visitors a year, and late summer is when its 60 miles of beach start to feel noticeably quieter, with easier parking and shorter lines.
Is late summer a good time to golf in Myrtle Beach?
It’s one of the best. Local golfers favor late summer because courses are still lush from the growing season, mornings are comfortable and many visitors have already headed home. With more than 90 courses, the area isn’t called the Golf Capital of the World for nothing.
What is there to do in Myrtle Beach in late summer besides the beach?
Plenty. Ride the wooden Swamp Fox coaster at Family Kingdom, cool off at Myrtle Waves Water Park, take a sunset cruise through Murrells Inlet, wander the sculpture gardens at Brookgreen Gardens, catch a show at The Carolina Opry or Alabama Theatre, or sample your way along the 10-stop Myrtle Beach Beer Trail.
Are Myrtle Beach attractions less crowded in late summer?
Yes. With peak season winding down, popular spots like Myrtle Waves, Family Kingdom and the area’s dinner shows tend to have shorter lines and easier parking — especially on weekdays after Labor Day.