A local's guide to The Best Beach Spots in Myrtle Beach

North Myrtle Beach

At the very northern tip of the Grand Strand, Cherry Grove Point is one of the area's best-kept secrets, with goregous dunes and panoramic views where Hog Inlet merges into the Atlantic. From the dunes, you can see sweeping shoreline in both directions, plus the shifting sandbars and textured ridges that make this spot feel almost otherworldly. At low tide, exposed sand stretches wide enough to find some unique treasures and even wade toward Waites Island when conditions are calm. Parking can be a challenge and is limited to a small public lot and nearby street spaces that fill quickly in peak season, so arriving early is part of the strategy for claiming this dramatic corner of the coast.

Main Street, North Myrtle Beach

Right in the heart of North Myrtle Beach at the end of Main Street is a beach access and parking area lovingly known by locals as "The Horseshoe" for its curved designed. This area provides direct beach access just steps from Main Street’s shops, restaurants, and classic shag clubs. The beaches here are wide, well-maintained, and family-friendly, with convenient public restrooms at this access point and nearby at 1st Avenue South. After a morning on the sand, you’re just steps from iconic spots like HOTOs and the OD Lounge, where beach music and shag dancing are part of the culture you have to see for yourself. Paid parking runs March 1 through October 31 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is typically $4 per hour, making it easy to plan your beach-to-dance-floor day.

North Myrtle Beach

Free street parking and a local hangout vibe make this access point a low-key favorite. You’re steps from Molly Darcy’s, a popular Irish Pub with an oceanfront deck, and there's also an ice cream shop, and New Wave Watersports for parasailing or banana boat rides. The beach itself is wide and easygoing, with a classic North Myrtle Beach feel. It’s simple, convenient, and fun without trying too hard.

Horry County (North of Myrtle Beach)

Just north of Myrtle Beach city limits in the Arcadian Shores area is a secluded stretch of beach along Shore Drive with only a few hotels and several condo complexes along the shore. Parking areas like the Turtle Beach, Dolphin Beach and Cottage Beach and Maison Drive public access spots all offer paid parking with direct beach access. From here, you can stroll up toward Apache Pier for sweeping views and family fun, walk down to Singleton Swash for views of the iconic oceanfront Dunes Golf & Beach Club or head over to Ocean Annie’s Beach Bar for a frozen drinks and live music just steps off the beach.

Myrtle Beach

Tucked into a residential stretch between 77th and 82nd Avenues North, Beach Drive feels like a well-kept secret. Nestled between Grande Shores Ocean Resort and Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort there's no oceanfront hotels here, meaning the shores stay calm and secluded. Walkovers lead to wide, open sand with fewer umbrellas and more breathing room. Great for a sunrise stroll or early morning shell collecting, parking can become a challenge at peak times as spots are quite limited. Locals tend to get creative with their parking here, with some relying on unmarked spots in the grass along the road, but this isn't legal according to city regulations, so follow thier lead at your own risk.

Myrtle Beach

As North Ocean Boulevard curves toward the ocean in the 5400 block, you enter the Cabana District, one of the most distinctive stretches of shoreline in Myrtle Beach. Once home to the legendary Ocean Forest Hotel, the area now features colorful historic cabanas and no oceanfront high-rises, giving the beach a wide-open, residential feel. A half-mile walking path with light fitness stations runs along Ocean Boulevard, and public parking is best found near 59th Avenue and Haskell Circle by Ocean Forest Memorial Park and Island Vista. Once you hit the sand, you'll find wide-open beaches and probably even a few catamaran boats parked along the sand that make for a beachy photo op. Nearby Gardens By The Sea Park adds restrooms, picnic tables, and a small pirate ship playground just steps from the sand.

Myrtle Beach

The Golden Mile, located between 31st Avenue North and 52nd Avenue North along Ocean Boulevard, is a largely residential stretch known for its wide beaches and goregous oceanfront mansions and beach houses. With no oceanfront hotels along much of this corridor, the shoreline feels quieter than busier sections to the south. Public beach access is available at 31st, 34th, 38th, 41st, 44th, 47th, 48th and 51st Avenues North, with parking at a cost of $2 per hour or $10 for all day. It’s an easy choice for visitors who want central location with a calmer, neighborhood feel.

Myrtle Beach

The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, a 1.2-mile stretch of oceanfront promenade is the energetic heart of Myrtle Beach. If you want to be near the action, this is where you'll find it. A beach day spent along this downtown stretch is sure to yield plenty of fun in the sun and surf, plus fun people-watching and access to nearby amenities like Pier 14 and Second Avenue Pier. When your lounging is done, you're just steps from tons of activities and eateries including arcades, the SkyWheel, and iconic shops like The Gay Dolphin. This area is best for visitors staying in Boardwalk-area hotels, but if you'd like to explore it on your own, you can find downtown parking at spots like the Pavilion Parking Garage on 9th Avenue North, the public parking lot between 14th and 15th Avenues North or metered parking along 8th and 9th Avenues North.

Myrtle Beach

South of the Boardwalk, at the southernmost stretch of Ocean Boulevard, you'll find Springmaid Pier. The area surrounding it includes the Ellie Beach Resort, the Myrtle Beach Art Museum and a unique stretch of beach with an unexpected bonus: plane watching. Here, you'll catch views of aircraft lifting off from the nearby MYR airport and climbing dramatically overhead as they leave the beach. It’s oddly peaceful with a touch of thrill. Parking for this area is found along Springmaid Boulevard and at a little-known secluded beach access called Nash Street Public Beach Access. 

Myrtle Beach

This oceanfront state park offers wide beaches and maritime forest scenery. It’s known for fishing off the pier, shaded picnic spots, and peaceful sunrise walks. Here you can enjoy the sand and then swap your sandals for sneakers and explore the shaded trails when you need a break from the sun. Admission is required, with daily rates typically around $8 for adults, $5 for South Carolina seniors, $4 for children ages 6–15, and free for kids 5 and under. It’s well worth the cost for guaranteed oceanfront parking, clean restroom facilities, access to the pier, and one of the most well-maintained stretches of beach anywhere along the Grand Strand.

Surfside Beach

Freshly rebuilt and full of charm, Surfside Beach Fishing Pier is the hub for beach access in an area known for its clean, family-friendly shoreline. Surfside has long been known as "The Family Beach" and goes out of its way to prove it. It's also one of the nation's first certified Autism-friendly beaches, holding that distinction for over a decade. In addition to wide, calm beaches and access points are easy to navigate, you'll also find several restaurants and live music in the nearby pier village. Watersports operators like Shoreline Watersports also add a little adrenaline if you want it. The overall vibe is relaxed and welcoming.

Garden City Beach

Garden City blends small-town rhythm with classic pier culture. Public beach access is available right at the pier and along nearby side streets, with plenty of free parking along Atlantic Avenue just a short walk from the sand. The pier hosts live music in the evenings and casual fishing throughout the day, and nearby shops like Village Surf Shoppe keep the surf spirit alive. The beach itself feels a little wider and more relaxed than busier areas to the north, with soft sand, gentle slopes, and a laid-back crowd that makes it easy to settle in for the whole day.

Murrells Inlet

Huntington Beach State Park offers easy beach access with large oceanfront parking lots just steps from wide, undeveloped shoreline. Admission is required, and is $8 for adults, $5 for South Carolina seniors, $4 for children ages 6–15, and free for kids 5 and under. The beach here feels natural and expansive, backed by dunes and maritime forest instead of high-rises. Beyond the sand, you can tour Atalaya, the former winter home of Anna Hyatt Huntington, and spot wildlife ranging from shorebirds to alligators in the salt marsh.

Wide, flat, and wonderfully low-key, Litchfield Beach is nestled just south of Murrells Inlet's Huntington Beach State Park. The beach here is built for long walks and quiet afternoons. Public parking is available at select access points like Norris Drive and South Waccamaw Drive, though spots fill quickly in summer. Many visitors bike in using scenic paths that connect toward Pawleys Island and Huntington Beach State Park. It’s peaceful, spacious, and easy to linger.

Pawleys Island

Pawleys offers a slower, more traditional beach experience with raised beach houses and rock jetties that create calm wading pockets. Across the island, eight public access points offer roughly 150 combined parking spaces, including handicap parking, and there is designated street parking within 500 feet of access areas. At the southernmost end of the island, a free public parking lot provides access to the Point where the ocean meets the inlet. One side brings Atlantic waves, the other calm waters along the causeway with shorebirds and wildlife. This area is relaxed, rustic, and distinctly different from the northern beaches.