12 Best Beaches Around Myrtle Beach
When planning a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, you might think of incredible seafood sourced straight from the Atlantic Ocean, epic dinner cruises, world-class golf courses, amusement parks, and lively nightlife at the Grand Strand. Above all else, Myrtle Beach is famous for some of America’s most beautiful white sand beaches.Whether you’re a surfer, planning a family beach vacation, or looking for somewhere peaceful for a beach sunrise, we’re here to walk you through all of the best Myrtle Beach beaches.
When you’re staying at Crown Reef Beach Resort, you’ll have lovely beach access right at your fingertips, whether it’s right out front of the resort or at one of these other amazing beaches. This is your getaway guide to the best sandy escapes in Myrtle Beach!
1. Crown Reef Beach
- Location: Directly in front of Crown Reef Beach Resort and Waterpark, Myrtle Beach
- Notable Features: Private access between the hotel and the beach.
When it comes to the best Myrtle Beach beaches, you don’t have to venture far to enjoy the cream of the crop! The beach right out in front of Crown Reef Beach Resort offers a laid back feeling with gorgeous soft sand, warm waters, and plenty of space to feel like you’ve got a slice of sandy paradise to yourself.
The hotel has private beach access down to the sand, so you can easily run back and forth to your room if you need to grab any snacks or use any of the resort's excellent amenities throughout your beach day.
2. Murrells Inlet
- Location: Murrells Inlet
- Notable Features: Great for fishing, walking along the boardwalk, and launching watercraft.
If you’re looking for a unique Myrtle Beach beach, it’s tough to beat Murrells Inlet. Murrells Inlet is a small, historic fishing town separated from the Atlantic by a large saltwater marsh.
While it’s not like your other traditional beaches, Murrells Inlet is still wonderful in its own right. This beach is perfect for a tranquil stroll along the boardwalk, bird watching, or some particularly fantastic fishing!
Murrell Inlet is also good for watersports like kayaking and stand up paddleboarding, and it’s a good place to launch jet skis and other watercraft.
3. Garden City Beach
Photo Credit: James Pillion
- Location: Garden City
- Notable Features: Plenty of amenities, great for surf and boogie boarding and has Inlet and Atlantic Ocean access.
Garden City Beach, with its 5-mile stretch of beautiful sandy shores, is another one of the top Myrtle Beach beaches.
Garden City Beach is great for traditional beach activities like lounging and relaxing, and it’s also good for boogie boarding, surf fishing, and even surfing. The beach is lined with seafood restaurants and bars, perfect if you want to grab a quick drink or bite during your beach day.
Garden City Beach has plenty of amenities, including porta potties, sand showers, and gear rentals. Its unique location offers both inlet and ocean access, making it an excellent spot for water sports because you can launch from the inlet.
The beach is popular, so it does get busy, but with 5 miles of coastline, there’s plenty of room to spread out and enjoy.
4. Surfside Beach
- Location: Surfside Beach
- Notable Features: Gentle water, lifeguards on duty, playground, restrooms, games.
Surfside Beach is a gentle, 1.8-mile white sand beach that’s one of the top family-friendly Myrtle Beach beaches. The lifeguards on duty seasonally and the shallow and gentle waters make it an ideal spot for swimming, especially for families with young children.
Additionally, Surfside Beach has all the amenities you could need for a family beach day, including restrooms, showers, and foot showers. When visiting Surfside Beach, families can also enjoy the playground, play a game at the horseshoe pits, or relax in the gazebo. There are also a few shuffleboard courts.
5. Myrtle Beach State Park
Photo Credit: hoan luong
- Location: Myrtle Beach State Park
- Notable Features: Hiking trails, showers, restrooms, fishing pier, and wildlife watching.
Looking for an escape from the more crowded Myrtle Beach beaches? Myrtle Beach State Park offers exactly that, with its beautiful stretch of white sands backed by the lush maritime forest.
While the beach itself is amazing, the oceanfront park also includes hiking trails and a well-maintained picnic area that provides the perfect spot for a peaceful lunch surrounded by nature. Speaking of nature, the park is full of birds, wildlife, and lush topography. You might even spot a sea turtle or two out in the water! Fishermen will particularly love the park's fishing pier, complete with a tackle shop.
The park also has practical amenities like restrooms and outdoor showers.
Entry to Myrtle Beach State Park is fee-based, but the fees are reasonable, with $8 for adults (16 and older), $5 for senior citizens (65 and older), and $4 for children aged 6-15. The fee is well worth it to enjoy Myrtle Beach State Park’s gorgeous beach and trails.
6. Hurl Rocks Park
Photo Credit: Sean Macpherson
- Location: Myrtle Beach
- Notable Features: A secluded beach with showers. Great for shark teeth hunting.
Hurl Rocks Park offers a more secluded beach experience, perfect for those seeking a quiet day by the sea. With public beach access and parking, this Myrtle Beach beach is a beloved spot for both locals and visitors.
The beach is particularly nice for swimming due to its clean waters and gentle waves. It doesn’t get much better for those who enjoy beachcombing than Hurl Rocks Park. This beach is particularly good for hunting for shark teeth.
Hurl Rocks Park doesn’t have bathrooms, but does have a shower for washing off the sand.
7. 40th Avenue Surf Area
- Location: Myrtle Beach
- Notable Features: Good for surfing, no bathrooms, uncrowded, although there is very limited parking.
The 40th Avenue Surf Area is not only a great beach, but a favorite in the Myrtle Beach surfing community.
Despite limited parking, the beautiful boardwalk and clean beach at 40th Avenue make this area one of the best beaches in Myrtle Beach. The waters are crystal clear here and gorgeous to explore, whether you’re in the water or relaxing on the beach.
While there are no bathrooms, there are beach showers so you can rinse off the salt and sand. The 40th Avenue Surf Area is perfect for surfers and beachgoers looking to beat the crowds and enjoy a chilled-out beach vibe.
8. Gardens By the Sea
Photo Credit: Joe Flemke
- Location: Myrtle Beach
- Notable Features: Great amenities like playgrounds, bathroom facilities, and handicap access. Great for families.
Gardens By the Sea is a memorial park with Atlantic beach access that’s perfect for families. Although parking is limited, the beach has handicap accessibility, which means everyone can enjoy the sandy shores and gentle waves regardless of mobility.
Gardens by the Sea is great for families because there is a playground with swings and a pirate ship that the kids can enjoy in addition to the beach itself.
In terms of amenities, the beach has portable toilets and showers, so visitors can plan to spend the entire day comfortably soaking up the sun and sea without having to make any trips back to the hotel. The beach here is beautiful and clean and easily one of the top Myrtle Beach beaches.
9. 66th Avenue Surf Area
Photo Credit: Edson Jan
- Location: Myrtle Beach
- Notable Features: Beach ramp for easy beach access, uncrowded, surf showers, no restrooms, great for surfing
The 66th Avenue Surf Area is another great Myrtle Beach beach for surfing, and it also has perfect white sandy beaches and a peaceful atmosphere.
One key feature that makes this beach great is the beach access ramp, so you can avoid lugging surfboards and beach gear up and down the stairs to visit. 66th Avenue Surf Area also has parking and outdoor showers to rinse off after a day in the surf.
The 66th Avenue Surf Area is ideal for anyone looking to surf or enjoy a clean, lovely beach that’s easy to access and has great waves without the crowds.
10. Windy Hill Beach
Photo Credit: David Freeman
- Location: North Myrtle Beach
- Notable Features: Amenities include chairs and umbrellas for rent, free parking November through February, and bathroom facilities.
Looking for a good beach to visit around Myrtle Beach during the off season? You’ll definitely want to add Windy Hill Beach to your list! From November to February, parking here is free, and you can enjoy a fantastic beach day without paying any parking fees. Despite its popularity, Windy Hill Beach is still pretty relaxing all year round.
For amenities, Windy Hill Beach has parking, bathrooms, sinks, and even chairs and umbrellas for rent.
If you’re looking for a classic East Coast beach experience with a bit more action, you can’t go wrong at Windy Hill.
12. North Myrtle Beach
Photo Credit: commons.wikimedia.org
- Location: North Myrtle Beach
- Notable Features: Amenities include bathroom facilities and easy parking access. Great for watching the sunrise.
North Myrtle Beach, known for its stunning sunrises, is the perfect beach for those who rise before the sun.
This beach is fairly popular, drawing a bit more of a crowd than some other beaches listed, although it still maintains a pretty relaxing atmosphere. In terms of amenities, you’ll find outdoor showers and restrooms located right off Main Street.
If you’re looking for a beach with plenty of amenities, an epic spot to watch the sunrise, or maybe a bit of both, you can’t go wrong at North Myrtle Beach.
Enjoy the Beaches of Myrtle Beach
Ready to dive into the waters at one of these pristine Myrtle Beach beaches? Book your stay at Crown Reef Beach Resort and Waterpark today!
