Best Places to Stay in Myrtle Beach
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The Grand Strand runs about 60 miles, so where you base yourself shapes your whole trip. Here’s how the areas break down, north to south.
Boardwalk / core Myrtle Beach
The most walkable base, close to the SkyWheel, the Boardwalk, and Broadway at the Beach, with the highest density of hotels and condo towers. Best for first-timers or anyone without a rental car, since you can cover the main sights on foot.
North Myrtle Beach
Quieter and more family-oriented, condo-heavy, and home to Barefoot Landing and the shag nightlife scene around Ocean Drive. A good pick if you want beach quiet with an evening out nearby rather than in the middle of it.
Market Common
An upscale, walkable district built on a former Air Force base, with restaurants and shopping close by. It reads less like a classic beach resort and more like a small town, which suits travelers who want a break from the boardwalk scene.
Murrells Inlet
About 18 miles south, this is the foodie, quieter option, close to the MarshWalk’s seafood restaurants. It suits couples and retirees more than families chasing a boardwalk, and it puts Brookgreen Gardens and Huntington Beach State Park within a short drive.
Pawleys Island and Litchfield
The quietest and most historic stretch of the Strand, well away from the boardwalk crowds. Pawleys Island calls itself arrogantly shabby, and the Hammock Shops nearby lean into that low-key identity.
Surfside Beach and Garden City
Surfside Beach markets itself as the Family Beach: low-rise, residential, and built around family value rather than resort amenities. Garden City sits just south with a similar, quieter feel.
Verified names to check
Marriott’s OceanWatch at Grande Dunes and the Kingston Resorts cluster, which includes a Hilton and an Embassy Suites, are established oceanfront names worth comparing on price and amenities before you book.
Camping is mainstream here
Unlike most beach destinations, camping isn’t a niche option on the Grand Strand. Ocean Lakes is the largest campground on the entire US East Coast, with around 900 sites, and PirateLand and Myrtle Beach State Park round out the established options for anyone traveling with an RV or a tent.
Read more: see the full Myrtle Beach guide for when to visit each area, or check the 2-day itinerary if you’re basing yourself in the Boardwalk core for a short trip.
One concrete tip: book Boardwalk-area rooms first if you’re traveling June through August, since that stretch sells out earliest of any area on the Strand.