Frequently Asked Questions

Myrtle Beach has a variety of quick oil change businesses including Midas and Jiffy Lube. For larger troubles local shops include Tire Town, Mason Tire and Auto and Archers Action Auto. A variety of dealers are also located in Myrtle Beach in case your car is under warranty including Hyundai, Toyota, Chrysler Jeep, Ford, Kia, Nissan, Chevrolet Cadillac, GMC Buick and Mercedes-Benz. The front desk clerk at your resort will be happy to assist you in finding the nearest repair shop, should an issue arise during your vacation.

A variety of medical facilities are located in the area including the Grand Strand Regional Medical Center at the North end of the city and the South Strand Medical Center on the south end. The Myrtle Beach Police Department can be reached at 843-918-1382 for non-emergencies and information. The Myrtle Beach Fire Department can be reached at 843-918-1192. Remember, if you find yourself in an emergency situation, call 911!

There are two Highway 17’s in Myrtle Beach. One is Highway 17 Business, which runs parallel to ocean, just a few blocks from the beach. You will find lots of restaurants, grocery stores and gas stations on Highway 17 Business. The other is Highway 17 Bypass. This Highway has a higher speed limit and is more inland. There are less businesses on this highway and it is primarily used to get from one end of Myrtle Beach to another more quickly. There are also less stop lights.

The Waccamaw Regional Transportation Authority runs the Coast RTA, which has a variety of routes throughout the area, including the Myrtle Beach Entertainment Express. This free route runs in the spring and summer and hits area hot spots like the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel and Broadway at the Beach. Taxi Cab companies also operate in the city including Rockstar Cab, which is a VMB Card member.

There are a variety of car rental agencies at the Myrtle Beach airport, including U-Save Car Rental, Avis, Thrifty, Enterprise, Budget, Hertz, National, Alamo and Dollar.

Airlines serving the Myrtle Beach airport include Delta, WestJet, United, Spirit and Allegiant Air. Other airports within driving distance include Florence Regional Airport, Charleston International Airport, Wilmington International Airport and Fayetteville Regional Airport.

Check out our list of current airlines and direct Myrtle Beach flight options here.

A variety of wildlife call the Grand Strand area home including: dolphins, warblers, pelicans, deer and turtles.

There are many metered lots and metered street parking throughout the city. For more information on city parking, visit the city’s website.

Myrtle Beach coupon books are available throughout Myrtle Beach at resorts, restaurants, grocery stores and other businesses. Guests who stay at one of our 14 oceanfront resorts will receive the equivalent of a coupon book in the form of a card. This VMB Card is free for guests and provides discounts at more than 100 local businesses and attractions.

There are numerous churches located throughout the Grand Strand. Check here to find a church.

• January 57 degrees
• February 61 degrees
• March 68 degrees
• April 76 degrees
• May 83 degrees
• June 88 degrees
• July 91 degrees
• August 90 degrees
• September 85 degrees
• October 77 degrees
• November 69 degrees
• December 60 degrees

Of course, Myrtle Beach is the most popular, but you may hear of other locations mentioned including Murrells Inlet. Murrells Inlet, located south of Myrtle Beach in Georgetown County, is a historic fishing village which is home to the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk and a variety of seafood restaurants. Further south, also in Georgetown County is Pawley’s Island, which features the popular Hammock Shops. Just south of Myrtle Beach, you will find Surfside Beach and Garden City Beach. Both smaller communities and each with their own main pier, these two areas are popular amongst those looking for a quieter beach experience. Going north of Myrtle Beach is the city of North Myrtle Beach, which features a variety of resorts, golf courses and beaches. Beyond North Myrtle Beach is Little River, which sits right below the North Carolina border.

The Grand Strand consists of 60 miles of shoreline running from Little River to Georgetown, including Myrtle Beach.

No, fireworks are not allowed to be shot off on the beach except by professionals at sanctioned events.

No, glass containers are not allowed on the beach do to safety reasons. Glass is also not allowed at pools.

If you are planning on surf fishing from the beach, piers or other areas that go into one mile of the ocean you will need a SC Surf Fishing License. However, many piers, such as the 2nd Avenue Pier, have their own license, so those fishing from it do not need a license but will need to purchase a pass from the pier. Some piers also have bait for purchase and rods for rent.

The umbrellas and chairs that you see set up on the beach are rented out by the lifeguards by the day. Generally, you can rent two chairs and an umbrella as a set during the warmer months. Want to learn more about bringing your own umbrella? Read our umbrella and tent blog here.

There is not always one right answer to this question. Where shells end up depend entirely on the ocean. It’s best to look after the tide has come in and early in the day or after a storm. Also, looking on beaches that are less crowded also increases your chances of finding the best shells.

Pets cannot be brought on the beach in Horry County between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. from May 1 until after Labor Day. When pets are permitted on the beach, they must be on a leash and must be cleaned up after.

In the city of Myrtle Beach you can get married on public beaches, however, it cannot be “commercially-produced.” You can also get married on the beach in North Myrtle Beach. North Myrtle Beach has rules set including prohibiting weddings on beach access bridges, on access points, and on the dunes. North Myrtle Beach weddings must also follow rules that all beachgoers must follow concerning the placement of tents and other large shading pieces. Seating may be set up as well as archways for these weddings but have to be taken down right after the wedding ceremony is finished. Be aware, if you plan to have your wedding in North Myrtle Beach, you cannot reserve a section of the beach, so you may have to wait for another wedding to finish before setting yours up. Also, beach goers are not required to move in the event of a wedding. Any services involved in the wedding must have a City of North Myrtle Beach Business License, including your photographer. For more information check out the North Myrtle Beach Wedding Rules.

Horseback riding is allowed at Myrtle Beach State Park from the third Saturday in November until the last day of February. If you would like to go horseback riding in North Myrtle Beach, Inlet Point Plantation offers private island beach rides, sunset rides and moonlight beach rides.

Beach wheelchairs can obtained for use in Myrtle Beach at specific lifeguard stations. For those looking to use a beach wheelchair in North Myrtle Beach, they can visit the Recreation Center Monday through Friday and may call 843-280-5584 for reservations.

Some popular indoor attractions include WonderWorksRipley’s AquariumMagiQuestMyrtle Beach SkyWheel (they have enclosed gondolas), Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Odditorium, and The Children’s Museum of South Carolina. There also many shopping malls in the area including Coastal Grand Mall, which has a movie theater for rainy days. You can also catch a show at one of the local entertainment theaters including Legends In Concert and Alabama Theatre.

Many of our resorts have golf directors and golf departments to assist you in booking tee times, choosing golf courses and booking golf and lodging packages. Check out our golf page for quotes and packages.

Myrtle Beach is home to many places to shop including Broadway at the BeachCoastal Grand MallTanger Factory OutletsThe Market CommonHammock ShopsBarefoot Landing, Myrtle Beach Mall and Inlet Square Mall.

Some resorts, including hotel BLUE and Captain’s Quarters Resort rent bikes for the day to guests. Check with your resort to see if they offer bike rental. Bikes are not allowed on the beach from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from May 1 until after Labor Day within the county. However, portions of Ocean Blvd. have built-in bike lanes. Other areas popular for biking include: Huntington Beach State Park and Myrtle Beach State Park.

There are a variety of fun things to do with young children in Myrtle Beach including, visiting the Children’s Museum of South Carolina, visiting the Ripley’s Aquarium, and going on kiddie rides at the Pavilion Nostalgia Park. In addition, many resorts have shallow kiddie pools which are a great way to introduce your child to water while supervising them in a small pool.

There are a variety of things to do and see in Myrtle Beach. Check out our Explore Myrtle Beach page to learn about the best the beach has to offer.

Myrtle Beach is known far and wide as the Golf Capital of the World for good reason.  With nearly 100 golf courses dotting the Grand Strand’s landscape there are certainly plenty of fantastic designs to choose from.  Click here to view our golf page and a list of preferred courses, including the famed, semi-private Dunes Golf and Beach Club.  For those looking for a less challenging round of golf, check out the Cane Patch Par 3 course on 73rd Avenue North.  And of course we can’t leave out putt-putt!  We’ve got over 50 mini golf courses in the area with some wild designs to test your skills.

Check out our news page for the latest events and blogs.

Some of the newest attractions at the beach include the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel, the BigD Theater at Broadway at the Beach and the Myrtle Beach Zipline.

Dolphin sightings can happen at any time. Some good places to look for dolphin include piers as well as restaurants that are on higher floors of oceanfront buildings with large viewing windows. If you want an even better chance at a dolphin sighting, many local companies offer dolphin sighting tours and cruises including Calabash Fishing Fleet and Myrtle Beach Watersports.

The Lazy Gator in Murrells Inlet currently has a resident gator living in its pond next to their store. Gators are also often spotted at the Huntington Beach State Park. You may enjoy visiting Alligator Adventure with your family where they have hundreds of gators and other interesting creatures, and most importantly they’re on the other side of the fence from where we stand! If you see a gator in the wild, do not approach it and stay a safe distance away.

A variety of fireworks shows are put on at various locations including Broadway at the BeachBarefoot Landing2nd Avenue Pier, and TicketReturn.com Field. Other locations that usually show fireworks only on the 4th of July include Cherry Grove Pier in North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach and Murrells Inlet. Check out our Myrtle Beach Fireworks Page for the latest fireworks events.

Seafood is popular here as well as traditional Southern home cooking. Some restaurants that locals as well as visitors enjoy include Creek Ratz and Hot Fish Club in Murrells Inlet, The Original Spring House Family Restaurant in North Myrtle Beach, Shucker’s Raw Bar at Broadway at the Beach and Original Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood Restaurant in Myrtle Beach. A variety of restaurants serving up ethnic dishes are also popular with the locals including Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse in Myrtle Beach, Empire Fire Mongolian Grill in North Myrtle Beach and El Fiesta Burro Loco in Myrtle Beach. Steakhouses are also popular here including New York Prime in Myrtle Beach and Liberty Steakhouse and Brewery at Broadway at the Beach.

Loco Gecko Beach Shak, Burro Loco, Spring House, Shucker’s Raw Bar, Sara J’s, TGI Friday’s on 76th St. are all Vacation Myrtle Beach partners, which means that you will get an even better deal by showing them your VMB Card.

Yes, The Caravelle Resort has Jacuzzi® jetted bathtub suites. Crown Reef Beach Resort and Waterpark has whirlpool suites. Learn more about their suites in our Jacuzzi® Jetted Bathtub Suite Blog.

We have compiled a sample list of what to pack for your Myrtle Beach vacation here.

Beach Colony Resort and Beach Cove Resort have year-long outdoor heated pools along with indoor racquetball courts. Landmark Resort has a heated indoor water play land, which is great for kids. Captain’s Quarters Resort features 7 indoor water amenities, an outdoor heated hot tub and indoor entertainment center with a 20-lane bowling alley and arcade that are open year-round.

Most of our resorts also have indoor pools and whirlpools which are open year-long. Check out our Resort Amenities page for side-by-side comparisons.

Check with your individual resort. Most resorts only allow one vehicle per room reservation. A few resorts do not allow motorcycles due to homeowner’s association rules.

Age varies by resort and ranges from 21 to 25. Exceptions are sometimes made for married couples.

The VMB Card is the Vacation Members Benefit Card. Guests of any of our 14 resorts receive this card for free at check-in. This card provides guests with discounts at more than 100 local attractions, restaurants and more. This card is not available to guests who rent through timeshares, homeowners or other rental companies.

All of our resorts have some suites and rooms that feature full kitchens so that you can cook and feel more at home.

Our resorts do not allow pets. However, there are many great local boarding facilities including: Tamroc Kennels, The Cat’s Meow, K9 Cabana, Annie’s Groomin’ Tails.

We recommend hotel BLUE, Forest Dunes and Ocean Creek Resort for a couple’s getaway. Sometimes, resorts will run romance packages, so check to see if they have it when you make your reservation.

Since Myrtle Beach is a family-friendly destination, there are a large variety of great lodging options for families with children. Check out our list of the top Myrtle Beach resorts for families.

The south end of Myrtle Beach is a good choice if you want to be near the airport, the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Market Common. The central part of Myrtle Beach is good to stay at if you want to be closer to Broadway at the Beach and in a quieter part of town. The north end of Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach are good to stay at if you want to be near Barefoot Landing and Barefoot Golf. You can’t go wrong when choosing a section of Myrtle Beach you want to stay in, because no matter where you are, you will be just a short drive to many of the area’s best attractions, restaurants and golf.

St. Johns Inn at The Caravelle Resort, Sea Watch Resort, Landmark Resort, Crown Reef Resort, Beach Colony Resort and Ocean Creek Resort all have banquet facilities for weddingsreunions, and meetingsClick here to learn more about group planning.

Our 14 oceanfront resorts run various specials throughout the year. Check out our specials page for the best rates on the beach.