Myrtle Beach Travel Tips
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A handful of practical points make the difference between a smooth Myrtle Beach trip and a frustrating one.
Bring a car
The Grand Strand runs about 60 miles of car-oriented sprawl, from Little River near the North Carolina line down to Georgetown, and it’s genuinely too spread out to walk between towns. Two parallel roads run its length: US-17 Business, also called Kings Highway, closer to the ocean and stoplight-heavy, and the US-17 Bypass, also congested. Coast RTA buses cover the core well but won’t get you to day trips. Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) is served by Allegiant, Breeze, Southwest, and others, though Spirit exited the airport in May 2026, so don’t expect to find it there.
Learn the beach flag system
Rip currents are the real hazard on this coast, so swim near a lifeguard and know the flags before you go in: green is fine, yellow is medium risk, a single red flag means don’t swim, double red closes the water, and blue warns of marine life.
Know the seasonal beach rules
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, only circular umbrellas up to 7.5 feet are allowed, and tents or canopies are banned to keep lifeguard sightlines clear. Alcohol and glass are banned on the beach everywhere on the Strand, year-round, not just in season. Car break-ins happen at beach parking lots, so don’t leave valuables visible.
Budget for the tax stack
A restaurant meal inside Myrtle Beach city limits runs about 11.5% tax, closer to 10.5% in unincorporated Horry County, and accommodations carry a separate tax stack on top of the room rate. Check the actual bill, since rates shift and vary by exact location.
Tip normally
Standard US tipping applies: 15 to 20% at restaurants for good service. There’s no unusual local custom to learn beyond that.
Watch hurricane season if you’re booking summer or fall
Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, peaking mid-August to mid-October. It’s not a reason to avoid a summer trip, just worth an eye on the tropical forecast if you’re booking those months, especially for travel insurance.
Pick your season deliberately
March through May and September through October are the sweet spots: warm, golf-friendly, and thinner crowds, with October often called the single best month. Summer is hot, humid, and the busiest family season; winter is mild, quiet, and the cheapest time to go.
Read more: see the full Myrtle Beach guide for the bigger picture, or the 2-day itinerary for a short first trip.
One concrete tip: download the current beach flag status before you leave your hotel each morning, since conditions change day to day and the flags are the fastest way to check without walking to the water first.