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Grand Strand
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Grand Strand travel combines South Carolina beaches, maritime parks, seafood, golf, live entertainment and Lowcountry heritage from Little River to Murrells Inlet.

The Grand Strand is a long sweep of Atlantic coastline in northeastern South Carolina, extending broadly from Little River near the North Carolina border southwards through Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach to Murrells Inlet. Its identity is shaped by wide sandy beaches, tidal creeks, maritime forests, fishing communities and a tourism economy that has developed around the sea. Myrtle Beach is the principal urban centre, while North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Garden City and Murrells Inlet offer distinct coastal settings. Inland, Conway provides a historic river town and a useful contrast to the resort strip.
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The beach is the region’s organising feature, but the Grand Strand is more varied than its amusement piers, golf courses and high-rise hotels suggest. The quieter northern coastline around Little River and Cherry Grove includes salt marshes and inlet waters, while the central shore is the busiest and most urbanised. South of Myrtle Beach, the coast becomes greener and more residential, with the dunes, maritime woodland and freshwater lagoons of Myrtle Beach State Park and Huntington Beach State Park. These protected areas are important for shorebirds, sea turtles and other coastal wildlife.
Myrtle Beach offers the greatest concentration of entertainment, shopping, live shows, family attractions and restaurants, especially around the Boardwalk and the Broadway at the Beach complex. North Myrtle Beach has a strong association with live music and the shag, a South Carolina beach-dance tradition. Murrells Inlet retains a more overtly maritime character, with seafood restaurants, marsh views and access to watersports. Brookgreen Gardens, just inland from the coast near Murrells Inlet, combines sculpture, botanical landscapes and the history of the former rice plantations that once shaped the surrounding Lowcountry.
The region’s earlier economy depended on timber, fishing, rice cultivation and small-scale coastal trade before organised tourism expanded during the twentieth century. Today, visitors can combine swimming and surfing with kayaking through creeks, fishing charters, cycling, birdwatching, golf and visits to historic houses and gardens. The weather is generally warm for much of the year, although summer is humid and the Atlantic hurricane season can bring changing conditions. The Grand Strand is best understood as a series of linked coastal communities rather than one continuous resort, and travelling beyond the central strip reveals its marshes, historic landscapes and working-waterfront traditions.

Getting to and around Grand Strand

How to get there

Myrtle Beach International Airport is within the Grand Strand and provides the most convenient air gateway, with route availability varying by season and airline. Interstate 17 and US 501 are major approaches from inland South Carolina, while US 17 follows much of the coastal corridor from North Carolina towards Georgetown. Visitors may also drive from Wilmington, North Carolina, or Charleston, South Carolina, though both cities are outside the Grand Strand. There is no passenger railway station in the main resort area; rail travellers generally need to use a distant station and continue by road.

Transportation

A car is useful for exploring the full coastline, state parks, Brookgreen Gardens and inland Conway, although central Myrtle Beach can be navigated using local buses, taxis and rideshare services. Public transport is more practical along the main urban corridor than in rural or marsh-side areas. Walking is convenient near individual beachfront districts, but the distance between communities is considerable. Cycling can be pleasant on quieter roads and dedicated paths, though traffic, heat and limited shoulders require care. Boats and kayaks are useful for exploring inlets and creeks through established outfitters.

Top city travel guides in Grand Strand

The cities of Grand Strand, and the easiest places to base yourself.

Best attractions in Grand Strand

The Grand Strand’s attractions range from broad Atlantic beaches and amusement piers to protected marshes, gardens and historic properties. Myrtle Beach State Park preserves a valuable stretch of maritime forest and dune coastline south of the main resort, while Huntington Beach State Park combines beaches, lagoons, birdwatching and the historic Atalaya house, the former winter residence of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington. Brookgreen Gardens near Murrells Inlet brings together botanical gardens, one of the country’s notable collections of outdoor sculpture and interpretation of the area’s plantation past. In central Myrtle Beach, the Boardwalk, SkyWheel, family attractions, theatres and shopping complexes provide the densest concentration of entertainment. North Myrtle Beach offers beaches, miniature golf, water-based activities and live music, while Little River has inlet scenery and a long association with fishing. Golf courses are distributed throughout the coastal plain, and kayaking, paddleboarding, charter fishing and dolphin-spotting excursions make use of the region’s creeks and nearshore waters. Inland Conway adds museums, galleries and historic architecture, giving visitors a different perspective on the coast’s commercial and river-based history.

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Best landmarks in Grand Strand

The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk is the Grand Strand’s best-known urban landmark, running beside the central oceanfront and linking piers, shops, amusements and the SkyWheel. Its significance lies less in age than in its representation of the modern American seaside resort. The Cherry Grove Fishing Pier in North Myrtle Beach reflects the coast’s long recreational and fishing culture, while the historic districts and waterfront setting of Conway provide an inland architectural counterpoint. Atalaya at Huntington Beach State Park is a distinctive Spanish-Moorish-inspired winter residence built in the 1930s for Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, and its surviving rooms and courtyards convey the scale of an early twentieth-century coastal estate. Brookgreen Gardens is marked by extensive sculpture landscapes and historic structures associated with former rice plantations. The natural landmarks of the region are equally important: the long barrier-beach shoreline, tidal marshes around Murrells Inlet, and the dunes and maritime forests protected in the state parks reveal the coastal environment beneath the resort development.

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Best restaurants in Grand Strand

Seafood is central to Grand Strand dining, with menus commonly featuring shrimp, oysters, flounder, crab, grouper and other coastal staples, although the source and season of individual products vary. Murrells Inlet is particularly associated with marsh-front seafood restaurants and waterfront dining, while Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach offer everything from casual fish shacks and oyster bars to steakhouses, international food and contemporary American cooking. Lowcountry influences appear in dishes built around rice, shellfish, sausage, corn and seasonal vegetables, linking the coast to the wider culinary traditions of South Carolina. Barbecue, fried seafood, biscuits and sweet tea reflect broader regional food culture rather than exclusively Grand Strand origins. Farmers’ markets, seafood markets and specialist shops are useful for local produce, sauces and prepared foods. The resort corridor also has many cafés, bakeries, breweries and family-friendly restaurants, while quieter communities provide traditional diners, rural inns and locally focused establishments.

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Best bars in Grand Strand

Evening life is concentrated in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, where visitors find beachfront bars, sports bars, live music, comedy, theatres, family entertainment and seasonal concert venues. North Myrtle Beach has a particularly strong association with shag music and dancing, a regional beach-music tradition that developed in the Carolinas. Myrtle Beach’s central resort area offers the broadest choice of late-night venues, although its nightlife is mixed with restaurants, arcades and attractions rather than forming one single club district. Murrells Inlet is better known for waterfront restaurants, relaxed bars and live music than for large nightclubs. Across the Grand Strand, traditional pubs, breweries and hotel lounges provide quieter alternatives, while some venues change their schedules or audience with the tourist season. Check current arrangements locally, especially outside the central resort corridor, where evening options may be limited and car travel may be necessary.

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Best nightclubs in Grand Strand

Evening life is concentrated in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, where visitors find beachfront bars, sports bars, live music, comedy, theatres, family entertainment and seasonal concert venues. North Myrtle Beach has a particularly strong association with shag music and dancing, a regional beach-music tradition that developed in the Carolinas. Myrtle Beach’s central resort area offers the broadest choice of late-night venues, although its nightlife is mixed with restaurants, arcades and attractions rather than forming one single club district. Murrells Inlet is better known for waterfront restaurants, relaxed bars and live music than for large nightclubs. Across the Grand Strand, traditional pubs, breweries and hotel lounges provide quieter alternatives, while some venues change their schedules or audience with the tourist season. Check current arrangements locally, especially outside the central resort corridor, where evening options may be limited and car travel may be necessary.

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Best shops in Grand Strand

Shopping on the Grand Strand is concentrated in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, where visitors find outlet retail, beachwear, surf shops, souvenir stores, large entertainment-and-shopping complexes and independent boutiques. Broadway at the Beach is a major mixed-use destination with shops, restaurants and attractions, while Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach combines retail, dining and landscaped walking areas. These commercial centres are designed for visitors, whereas Conway’s historic centre offers antique shops, galleries, books, gifts and locally oriented independent businesses. Murrells Inlet is useful for coastal-themed gifts, art and food products, with additional small shops spread along the waterfront and inland roads. Seafood markets, farmers’ markets and specialist food shops can provide regional sauces, preserves, sweets and other edible souvenirs. Look for work by South Carolina artists, coastal photography, pottery and Lowcountry-inspired crafts, but check product labelling when seeking genuinely local goods rather than mass-produced beach merchandise.

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Grand Strand essentials

Currency and Payment
The Grand Strand uses the United States dollar (USD), as does the rest of South Carolina. Credit and debit cards, mobile wallets and contactless payments are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, attractions and shops, particularly in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach. Carry some cash for small vendors, beach-area concessions, parking or rural establishments, and remember that gratuities are normally added separately in sit-down restaurants and for many service workers. Notify your bank before travelling if required and check whether foreign-transaction fees apply.
Safety
Use ordinary precautions in crowded entertainment areas, on hotel-property car parks and around beaches after dark. The main physical risks are strong surf, rip currents, heat, sun exposure, thunderstorms and rapidly changing coastal weather. Swim near lifeguarded areas when possible and ask about local water conditions; do not attempt to fight a rip current by swimming directly against it. In marshes and wooded parks, use insect protection and stay on marked paths. During hurricane season, monitor official weather information and follow evacuation or shelter instructions if issued.
Emergency Situations
Dial 911 throughout the Grand Strand for police, fire or ambulance assistance. For a non-life-threatening police matter, use the relevant local department’s non-emergency number rather than 911. Lifeguards, local emergency services and the United States Coast Guard respond to coastal incidents, but visitors should not enter dangerous surf or attempt an unplanned rescue. The national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available for urgent mental-health support in the United States. Keep your accommodation address available when calling, as municipal boundaries change along the coast.
Do's and Don'ts
Do follow posted beach rules, respect dunes and sea-turtle nesting areas, and take rubbish with you. Do use marked crossings and remain alert when walking beside busy roads, especially near Ocean Boulevard. Do tip appropriately for table service, taxis and other customary services in the United States. Do not remove shells, eggs or wildlife, climb protective dune fencing, or assume that swimming is safe simply because the water looks calm. When visiting historic properties or religious sites, follow photography and access rules and remember that plantation history includes the experiences of enslaved people.
Local Tips
The Grand Strand becomes noticeably busier during summer, spring holidays and major event weekends, so reserve accommodation and popular attractions early when travelling at those times. The southern section around Murrells Inlet and Huntington Beach State Park offers a useful change from the central resort strip, while Conway provides historic streets and riverfront character inland. Sunrise beach walks are cooler and often calmer than midday visits. Check individual municipal regulations before taking pets, bicycles, tents or fishing equipment onto the sand, since rules differ between communities.
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From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHey[Hay]
GoodbyeBye[Bye]
YesYea[Yea]
NoNah[Nah]
Please/You're welcomeNo problem[No prob-lum]
Thank youThanks[Thangs]
Excuse me/SorrySorry 'bout that[Sorry 'bout that]
How are you?How ya doin'?[How ya doin'?]
Fine. And you?Good. You?[Good. You?]
Do you speak English?You speakin' English?[You speakin' English?]
I don't understandI don't get it[I don't git it]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseCan I see the menu?[Can I see the menu?]
I don't eat meatI don't eat meat[I don't eat meat]
Cheers!Cheers![Cheers!]
I would like to pay, pleaseCan I get the check?[Can I git the check?]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![Help!]
Go away!Leave me alone![Leave me alone!]
Call the Police!Call the cops![Call the cops!]
Call a doctor!Get a doctor![Get a doctor!]
I'm lostI'm lost[I'm lost]
I'm illI'm not feelin' good[I'm not feelin' good]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...I wanna buy...[I wanna buy...]
I'm just lookingJust lookin'[Just lookin']
How much is it?How much?[How much?]
That's too expensiveThat's too high[That's too high]
Can you lower the price?Can ya drop the price?[Can ya drop the price?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?What's the time?[What's the time?]
It's one o'clockIt's one o'clock[It's one o'clock]
Half past (10)Half past ten[Half past ten]
MorningMornin'[Mornin']
AfternoonAfternoon[Afternoon]
EveningEvenin'[Evenin']
YesterdayYesterday[Yesterday]
TodayToday[Today]
TomorrowTomorrow[Tomorrow]
1One[One]
2Two[Two]
3Three[Three]
4Four[Four]
5Five[Five]
6Six[Six]
7Seven[Seven]
8Eight[Eight]
9Nine[Nine]
10Ten[Ten]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Where's the...?[Where's the...?]
What's the address?What's the address?[What's the address?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Can ya show me on the map?[Can ya show me on the map?]
When's the next (bus)?When's the next bus?[When's the next bus?]
A ticket (to ....)A ticket to...[A ticket to...]

History of Grand Strand

Indigenous Coastal Communities and Early Contact

Before European settlement, the Grand Strand was used by Indigenous peoples including communities associated with the Waccamaw and Winyah cultural areas. The coast’s rivers, estuaries, forests and barrier beaches provided fish, shellfish, game and plant resources, while waterways connected inland settlements with the Atlantic. European exploration and colonisation brought disease, displacement and disruption to Indigenous societies. Their presence remains part of the deeper history of the region, even though much of the modern coast is presented through the later story of plantations, timber and tourism.

Rice Plantations and the Lowcountry Economy

From the colonial period into the nineteenth century, the waterways around Murrells Inlet, the Waccamaw River and nearby Georgetown supported a rice-growing economy based on tidal wetlands. Wealthy landowners operated plantations with the forced labour of enslaved Africans and African Americans, whose agricultural knowledge and labour were central to the system. Brookgreen Gardens incorporates landscapes and buildings connected with former plantations, including the preserved Atalaya estate and traces of the wider rice-country past. This history is essential to understanding the region’s architecture, waterways and social inequalities.

Timber, Fishing and Coastal Trade

Outside the plantation districts, the coast developed through timber extraction, boatbuilding, fishing and small-scale maritime trade. The Waccamaw River and the Intracoastal Waterway later strengthened links between inland settlements and coastal communities. Conway grew as a transport and commercial centre on the Waccamaw, while Little River and Murrells Inlet retained connections with fishing and shellfish harvesting. These industries were less glamorous than the later resort economy but formed the practical foundation for settlement and transport across the Grand Strand.

Railways and the First Resort Development

The arrival of rail connections in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries made the coast more accessible from inland South Carolina and North Carolina. Myrtle Beach began to develop as a planned resort, with the creation of the Seaside Inn in 1901 and the later growth of hotels, cottages and recreational facilities. Tourism remained seasonal and relatively modest at first, but rail travel and improved roads gradually turned the beach into a regional holiday destination. The name Grand Strand came to express the long, continuous character of the developed coastline.

Roads, the Intracoastal Waterway and Post-war Growth

Improved roads, rising car ownership and the completion of the Intracoastal Waterway in the mid-twentieth century accelerated development along the coast. Myrtle Beach and neighbouring communities expanded from small resorts into a connected tourism corridor. Motels, amusement facilities, golf courses, restaurants and residential subdivisions multiplied, particularly after the Second World War. The waterway also remains important for recreational boating and separates much of the developed coast from inland communities and marshes.

African American Beach History and Integration

During segregation, African American visitors and residents faced restrictions in access to beaches, hotels and other public facilities. The area around what is now Atlantic Beach became an important Black beach resort, while the annual celebrations later associated with Atlantic Beach BikeFest reflected a long history of African American travel and community life on the coast. Desegregation changed access to the wider resort, but the region’s social history still includes debates about memory, public space, development and representation.

The Modern Grand Strand

From the late twentieth century onwards, the Grand Strand became one of the most heavily visited coastal resort areas in the southeastern United States. High-rise accommodation, golf, live entertainment, shopping and family attractions joined the older beach and fishing economies. At the same time, state parks, wildlife refuges and conservation organisations protected important stretches of dunes, maritime forest and marsh. Contemporary Grand Strand communities continue to balance tourism, retirement development, seasonal employment, environmental pressures and the preservation of Lowcountry heritage.

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Companion to Grand Strand

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Unlock the wonders of Grand Strand, South Carolina with Evendo, the ultimate free travel guide app. Explore landmarks, savor local cuisine, and enjoy curated tours and experiences effortlessly.

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Welcome to Grand Strand, South Carolina, where seaside charm meets vibrant entertainment. With Evendo, the ultimate travel guide app, your journey through this coastal paradise becomes an unforgettable adventure. From the iconic Myrtle Beach Boardwalk to the tranquil shores of Huntington Beach State Park, Evendo provides detailed insights into every attraction. Discover Ripley's Aquarium, marvel at the beauty of Brookgreen Gardens, or indulge in a shopping spree at Broadway at the Beach.

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