Where to Stay in Myrtle Beach: The Best (and Worst) Areas to Book Right Now

Choosing where to stay in Myrtle Beach is honestly half the battle. Book the wrong spot and you’ll find yourself staring at a flickering neon sign outside a budget motel, wondering where your vacation went wrong. Book the right one and you’ll spend your mornings watching dolphins from your balcony, living your absolute best life. The Grand Strand stretches 60 miles of coastline, and not all of it delivers the same experience. Here’s the honest breakdown you actually need before you hit “reserve.”

Cherry Grove Beach: The Laid-Back Corner of the Grand Strand

sunrise over cherry grove beach sc

Cherry Grove Beach in North Myrtle Beach, SC: home to the iconic 985-foot Cherry Grove Pier, wide uncrowded beaches, canal-side vacation rentals, and the best Southern seafood on the Grand Strand. Your complete family vacation guide.

Best Day Trips from Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach offers miles of sand, family attractions, and plenty of seafood. Yet some of the Grand Strand’s best experiences lie beyond the city limits. A short drive opens the door to charming beach towns, historic waterfronts, nature preserves, and fantastic dining spots.
Whether you want a quieter beach, a scenic rental home, or fresh coastal cuisine, these day trips add variety to your vacation. Best of all, most destinations sit within two hours of Myrtle Beach.
Here are the best day trips from Myrtle Beach for beach lovers, foodies, and travelers seeking a memorable coastal adventure.

Hilton Head Island, SC: The Lowcountry’s Most Polished Beach

Hilton Head gives you 12 miles of pristine Atlantic beach, over 50 miles of public bike trails, 24 championship golf courses, Lowcountry dining that rivals what you’d find in Charleston, dolphin tours through tidal creeks, and a natural landscape so deliberately preserved that you won’t find a single billboard anywhere on the island.

Sullivan’s Island, SC: The Beach That Rewards the Curious

Sullivan’s Island doesn’t announce itself. No billboards are counting down the miles. No chain restaurants lining the causeway or souvenir shops stacked with hermit crabs and airbrushed t-shirts. You cross the Ben Sawyer Bridge from Mount Pleasant, and suddenly you’re on a three-mile barrier island with wide, uncrowded beaches. It has award-winning restaurants, 300 years of American military history, and one of the most genuinely atmospheric beach towns on the entire Carolina coast.

Litchfield Beach, South Carolina’s Best-Kept Secret

sunrise over the atlantic ocean

Litchfield Beach, located in South Carolina, offers a serene coastline with fewer crowds, ideal for beach lovers, golfers, and food enthusiasts. The area features charming vacation rentals and top-rated restaurants, along with championship golf courses. Nearby attractions include Brookgreen Gardens and historic Georgetown, making it a perfect destination for a tranquil getaway.

Surfside Beach, SC: The Grand Strand’s Sweetest Small Town

Surfside Beach, known as the “Family Beach,” is a tranquil two-mile stretch of South Carolina coastline. It features an array of family-friendly amenities, including a fishing pier, a nearby water park, and diverse dining options. Recognized as an autism-friendly destination, it offers a relaxed atmosphere perfect for families seeking a low-key beach vacation.