Where to Stay in Myrtle Beach

Ocean Boulevard between 9th Avenue North and 14th Avenue North is where everything happens. The SkyWheel sits at the north end of the 1.2-mile boardwalk promenade, which runs south past Plyler Park and the old Pavilion site. Hotels like the Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort and the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort are literally steps from the sand. Rooms face the Atlantic on one side and a chaos of neon arcades and Slingshot rides on the other. The Pier at 14th Avenue North adds a fishing and dining anchor. Loud and packed in summer. Electric at night. This is the postcard version of Myrtle Beach.

Best for

First-timers and families who want beach plus entertainment in one block

Walk times

SkyWheel at 1110 N Ocean Blvd 3 min
Plyler Park south end of boardwalk 10 min
Pier 14 restaurant and fishing pier 5 min

Skip if: You want sleep by 10pm or cannot handle shoulder-to-shoulder summer crowds

Local tip: Book ocean-facing rooms on floors 6 and above to clear the street noise. The north end near 9th Ave N fills up at 7am in summer but empties quickly after sunset.

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$101per night

North Myrtle Beach and Cherry Grove

The quieter alternative locals actually recommend

Budget $70-$200/night

Cross the city line into North Myrtle Beach and the energy shifts fast. Cherry Grove Beach, anchored by Cherry Grove Pier off Sea Mountain Highway, draws families who want real sand space without fighting 20 rows deep. Main Street in North Myrtle Beach has proper local restaurants like Crab Catchers on the Waterway and the Duck Creek Taproom. Hotels along Shore Drive and Ocean Boulevard NMB run 25 to 40 percent cheaper than the strip. The shag dance scene originated here and Ducks Beach Club at 229 Main Street still hosts it on weekends. Less chain-restaurant noise. More actual town.

Best for

Families and couples who want the beach without the carnival atmosphere

Walk times

Cherry Grove Pier on Sea Mountain Hwy 8 min
Main Street NMB restaurants 12 min
North Myrtle Beach Waterway Park 15 min

Skip if: You want walkable nightlife or the SkyWheel and boardwalk experience

Local tip: Book Shore Drive properties rather than Ocean Boulevard NMB for about 20 percent less and still a short walk to water. Friday nights on Main Street feel like a real beach town.

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$78per night

Market Common

Walkable, upscale, and refreshingly normal

Mid-range $80-$180/night

Built on the old Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, Market Common is a 114-acre lifestyle district around Farrow Parkway south of the main strip. Howard Avenue and Deville Street form the walkable core, lined with restaurants including 21 Main at the Avenue and RiverTown Bistro. The Marriott Courtyard here backs onto a park. It sits about 2 miles from the ocean so you need a car for beach days, but the whole area feels like a proper town center instead of a resort corridor. Wacca Wache Landing gives waterway access nearby. Quieter, more residential, popular with repeat visitors who have outgrown Ocean Boulevard.

Best for

Couplesremote workersand repeat visitors wanting a real neighborhood feel

Walk times

Howard Avenue restaurant row 5 min
Wacca Wache Landing Park 10 min
Market Common central park lawn 3 min

Skip if: You want direct beach access from your hotel door

Local tip: Tuesday and Thursday evenings Market Common runs outdoor events on the central lawn. Park on Bradford Avenue behind the shops to skip the main lot entirely.

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$90per night

Surfside Beach and South Strand

The family beach Myrtle Beach should be

Budget $60-$160/night

Six miles south of the main strip, Surfside Beach calls itself the Family Beach and it delivers. South Ocean Boulevard between 2nd Avenue South and 13th Avenue South is a quieter stretch where kids play in the sand instead of staring at phone screens. The Surfside Beach Pier off Surfside Drive provides classic pier walking and fishing. Hotels here including the Ocean Pines and smaller boutique motels are genuine independent operations, not resort chains. Groceries, real streets, and actual parking. Murrells Inlet seafood restaurants are 20 minutes south. The main strip is 15 minutes north by car when you want it.

Best for

Budget travelersfamilies with young kidsand anyone who wants quiet mornings on the beach

Walk times

Surfside Beach Pier off Surfside Drive 6 min
South Ocean Blvd shops and restaurants 4 min
Waccamaw Neck area amenities 10 min

Skip if: You want walkable nightlife or full resort amenities on site

Local tip: Drive to the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk for dinner instead of eating on the strip. About 8 seafood restaurants in a row on the inlet, 20 minutes south. Prices are lower and the food is better.

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$67per night