South Carolina · United States

Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach sits on the Atlantic Grand Strand in Horry County. The City of Myrtle Beach publishes about 10 miles of oceanfront and 143 public beach access points along Ocean Boulevard — a different city from North Myrtle Beach, and a different fee, dog, and parking stack from Surfside Beach, Horry County Garden City accesses, and South Carolina State Parks.

City street endsState ParkGrand Strand

Choose your stretch

  • City of Myrtle Beach street ends & parks — ~10 miles / 143 public accesses along Ocean Boulevard · free-entry sand; street-end parking $3/hr or $15 all day in season (examples: Hurl Rock Park at 20th Ave S; Gardens by the Sea, 5400 N Ocean Blvd)
  • Myrtle Beach State Park — 4401 S Kings Hwy · $8 adult SC State Parks day; 6 a.m.–10 p.m. Mar–Nov; parking may close at capacity
  • North Myrtle Beach — separate city · beach-access lots $4/hr (Seaview $2/hr); dog hours differ from City MB
  • Surfside Beach — Town lots · premium $3/hr or $15/day; dogs not on beach 10 a.m.–5 p.m. May 1–Labor Day
  • Garden City Beach (Horry County) — free year-round oceanfront access parking (+ Nash Street)
  • Huntington Beach State Park — 16148 Ocean Hwy, Murrells Inlet · $8 adult; dogs south beach only

Full stretch cards

Parking at a glance

City of Myrtle Beach beach accesses & street ends: $3.00 per hour or $15.00 all day. Core (6th–16th Ave N, Ocean–Kings): $2/hr (no all-day). Secondary bands: $2/hr or $10 all day. Paid 9:00 a.m.–midnight, March 1–September 30. ParkMobile / Text-2-Park; Reimagined Parking 914 N Kings Hwy, 843-626-7275. 7-day visitor pass $50. Free seasonal meters begin October 1 only in the amended band Sixth Avenue South–21st Avenue North west to Kings Highway (that amended band only).

Myrtle Beach State Park (4401 South Kings Highway): day admission $8 adult; $5 SC seniors 65+; $4 ages 6–15; free for ages 5 and under. Park hours 6 a.m.–10 p.m. Mar–Nov; 6 a.m.–8 p.m. Dec–Feb. Limited first-come parking may close at capacity.

North Myrtle Beach (separate city): beach-access parking $4.00/hour (Seaview Lot $2.00/hour); enforcement 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., March 1–October 31; no parking midnight–5:00 a.m.

Surfside Beach: paid March 1–October 31, 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. — premium lots $3/hr or $15/day; non-premium $2/hr or $10/day; Pier Lot $4/hr (no daily max).

Garden City Beach (Horry County accesses): free year-round at oceanfront Garden City accesses and Nash Street; additional paid lots on Magnolia Drive / Ambrosino near Azalea.

Huntington Beach State Park (16148 Ocean Highway, Murrells Inlet): $8/$5/$4 adult/senior/youth; Atalaya $2 ages 6+. Hours 6 a.m.–6 p.m. daily (extended to 9 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time). Weekend/holiday capacity closures possible.

City Parking Meters · Myrtle Beach State Park · NMB parking · Surfside parking · Horry County accesses · Huntington Beach State Park

Best stretches and who they’re for

City of Myrtle Beach street ends & parks

City Accessibility list (south to north examples): Hurl Rock Park at 20th Avenue South; Withers Swash at 451 South Ocean Boulevard; Plyler Park; Anderson Park; Gardens by the Sea, 5400 North Ocean Boulevard; numbered Avenue South / North street ends through 8926 North Ocean Boulevard. About 10 miles of City Atlantic; 143 public beach access points. Free beach entry; street-end / beach-access meters $3.00/hr or $15 all day (paid 9 a.m.–midnight, Mar 1–Sep 30). Franchise lifeguards; flags on stands. Alcohol / glass / fires banned. Dogs: May 1–Labor Day only before 10 a.m. / after 5 p.m.; day after Labor Day–Apr 30 anytime; leash up to 7 ft. Umbrella-only Memorial Day–Labor Day; tents up to 12×12 after Labor Day–day before Memorial Day. Items not before 8:00 a.m.; remove by 7:00 p.m.

Myrtle Beach State Park

SC State Parks: 4401 South Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, SC 29575; 843-238-5325. Park hours daily 6 a.m.–10 p.m. Mar–Nov; 6 a.m.–8 p.m. Dec–Feb. Admission $8 adult; $5 SC seniors 65+; $4 ages 6–15; free for ages 5 and under. About 1 mile undeveloped beach and fishing pier; limited first-come parking may close at capacity. Pets outdoors leash up to 6 ft; no pets on beach 10 a.m.–5 p.m. May 1–Labor Day.

North Myrtle Beach

Separate city (nmb.us). Beach Access Parking 50+ public locations: $4.00/hr (Seaview Lot $2.00/hr); enforcement 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Mar 1–Oct 31; no parking midnight–5:00 a.m. Dogs: May 15–Labor Day no dogs 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; leash up to 7 ft. Alcohol / glass / fireworks banned.

Surfside Beach

Paid public lots Mar 1–Oct 31, 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. — premium $3/hr or $15/day; non-premium $2/hr or $10/day; Pier Lot $4/hr no daily max (Pivot Parking 843-601-1240). Dogs not on beach 10 a.m.–5 p.m. May 1–Labor Day; leash up to 7 ft otherwise.

Garden City Beach (Horry County)

Horry County Public Works maintains Garden City oceanfront accesses (+ Nash Street adjacent Myrtle Beach State Park and Arcadian Shores). Free year-round parking at oceanfront Garden City accesses and Nash Street; additional paid Magnolia / Ambrosino lots. County animal rule: no animals on beach 10 a.m.–5 p.m. May 1–Labor Day; leash up to 7 ft. Alcohol / glass / fires prohibited. Part of Garden City also Georgetown.

Huntington Beach State Park

SC State Parks: 16148 Ocean Highway, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576; 843-237-4440. Georgetown County / Murrells Inlet — not inside City of Myrtle Beach limits. Hours 6 a.m.–6 p.m. daily (extended to 9 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time). Admission $8 adult; $5 SC Senior; $4 youth 6–15; free for ages 5 and under; Atalaya $2 ages 6+. Dogs allowed south end of beach year-round (leash up to 6 ft); prohibited north end (north parking-lot access to jetty) and in buildings/Atalaya. Weekend/holiday capacity closures possible.

Notes before you pack

  • Lifeguards / flags: City franchise lifeguards; flags on stands (green / yellow / red / double red / blue marine life). CheckMyBeach and City Beach Conditions. Double red means the water is closed. No dedicated flag hotline found (2026-09-13) — 911 emergency; Myrtle Beach Police non-emergency 843-918-1382. Check My Beach · City Beach Conditions & Laws.
  • Dogs (City of Myrtle Beach): leashed dogs (up to 7 ft) allowed on beach/boardwalk anytime from the day after Labor Day through April 30; from May 1 through Labor Day only before 10:00 a.m. and after 5:00 p.m. (pick up waste; service dogs excluded from time limits). North Myrtle Beach differs: May 15–Labor Day no dogs 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Surfside / Horry align closer to City May 1–Labor Day 10–5. Myrtle Beach State Park follows county beach pet hours; Huntington dogs south-beach-only. City Beach Conditions · NMB Beach Ordinances.
  • Alcohol, glass, and fires are prohibited on City MB beach (also banned in NMB / Horry County).
  • Shading (City MB): Memorial Day–Labor Day circular umbrellas up to 7.5 ft diameter only; after Labor Day tents/shades up to 12×12 allowed (behind umbrella line). Items not before 8:00 a.m.; remove by 7:00 p.m.
  • Sea turtles: nesting season runs May 1–October 31, and the City moves nests inside city limits to Myrtle Beach State Park. Do not disturb nests/turtles. Report disturbance to MBPD 843-918-1382 / SCDNR guidance.
  • Water quality: SCDES monitoring May 1–October 1; CheckMyBeach and SCDES Beach Monitoring — an advisory leaves the beach open unless separately closed.

FAQ

What is there to do near Myrtle Beach?

Near Myrtle Beach: sunset sails and cruises, and jet ski. See Off the sand for tours and tickets.

Beach safety — who to trust