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The Best Beach Access Points in North Myrtle Beach

The city of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina contains 13.5 sq. miles of sprawling sand. With this much beachfront, there are plenty of beach access points and beautiful beaches to enjoy. Some can be enjoyed within walking distance from your beach vacation rental, while others might be a short drive away.

From Cherry Grove to Windy Hill, North Myrtle Beach has an extensive array of public beaches, each with its own vibe. We have created this guide to highlight some of the best beach access points including the best public parking, attractions, and most scenic beaches to visit in the Myrtle Beach area.

Do you need a list of the best places to park in North Myrtle Beach? View our free parking map here.

Do you need a list of the best places to park in North Myrtle Beach? View our free parking map here.

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Photo credit: Grand Strand Resorts Photo

CHERRY GROVE

Starting at the northernmost point of North Myrtle Beach rests Cherry Grove Beach. This is a quaint, quiet beach with plenty of public beach access areas.

Cherry Grove offers two distinct views. One of the unique aspects of Cherry Grove is that it is also an inlet complete with boat launch access and a mile of salt marsh that connects to the Atlantic Ocean. So when you visit Cherry Grove Beach, you can enjoy time on the sand looking out towards the Atlantic Ocean or facing the inlet. The inlet isn’t connected to the intracoastal waterway but instead turns into the Little River.

Photo credit: Grand Strand Resorts Photo

Boaters, fishers, bird enthusiasts, and those who enjoy the natural marsh landscape can get a completely different perspective while vacationing in Cherry Grove.

In addition to the natural landscape, Cherry Grove has 3.1 miles of oceanfront. Two of our favorite points to hit the beach are the Cherry Grove Fishing Pier and Cherry Grove Ocean Park.

The Cherry Grove Fishing Pier is one of the most popular attractions in Cherry Grove. Located in front of the Prince Resort, the pier offers a restaurant, plenty of fishing opportunities and a scenic gazebo located at the end of the pier. One of the great aspects is the amount of parking available around the pier.

The Cherry Grove Pier offers paid parking that also includes a free pier pass but there are also free parking lots within a block of the fishing pier.

Photo credit: Grand Strand Resorts Photo

One of the best kept secrets in North Myrtle Beach is the very end of Cherry Grove Beach. While not having the idealist of parking areas (unless you are staying around there), the beach access at the end of the point is perfect for a romantic rendezvous. Known as the inlet point, the natural dunes and grasses creates a one-of-a-kind backdrop not found anywhere else in North Myrtle Beach

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH / OCEAN DRIVE BEACH

Between Cherry Grove Beach and downtown North Myrtle Beach, lies a wide open public beach access point. With ample parking, an oceanfront bar, grocery store, pizza and ice cream places, this is the ideal beach for those wanting a fun-filled family-friendly beach day.

Downtown North Myrtle Beach can be aptly defined by its Main Street scene. The heart of and soul of NMB, Main Street offers a collective mix of restaurants, nightlife and amusement rides. What’s more, the Main Street beach access has one of the biggest beach attractions: A giant inflatable water-slide.

Photo credit: Grand Strand Resorts Photo

Probably the most crowded location in North Myrtle Beach, Main Street’s beach access point is vast. While parking can be more difficult to find, once parked, you can truly pack a full day of events while there.

First, and perhaps most importantly to the kids, is the inflatable water-slide. The “Trippo” slide is 36 feet tall and 180 feet long; this Goliath can be seen from all over North Myrtle Beach. Offering two curved side chutes and one straightaway main chute, this 7000 lb. the slide is fun for everyone! The Trippo slide is open from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day. You can purchase single slide rides all the way up to season passes.

This beach is also home to the North Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, which runs parallel to the sand. You can find all sorts of entertainment options on the boardwalk, from an amusement park to a wide variety of bars, restaurants, and shops. If you’re interested in live music (usually beach music) and dancing the Carolina Shag, you’ll love this area of town.

For those interested in hitting the beach without kids, Main Street offers a bevy of bars all within walking distance. Just a short walk from Main Street, Coconuts is an oceanfront bar connected to the Maritime Resort that locals and tourists alike enjoy. Located right on Main Street, Pirate’s Cove and International Cafe are also great places to enjoy a drink and childless atmosphere.

CRESCENT BEACH

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Photo credit: Grand Strand Resorts Photo

Crescent Beach is the last beach before you hit Atlantic Beach. Atlantic Beach is a completely different incorporated city which divides two separate areas of North Myrtle Beach: Crescent Beach and Windy Hill Beach.

Crescent Beach is a lot quieter than the lively downtown North Myrtle Beach and has a much more small town feel to it. For starters, there are virtually no restaurants or shops along this section of Ocean Drive. That makes it the ideal spot for those wanting a completely relaxing time, walking the shores looking for seashells or napping under an umbrella in your beach chair rental.

One of the few exceptions in Crescent Beach is the Molly Darcy’s beach access point. Molly Darcy’s is an Irish Pub that sits right on the ocean. They share a parking area with a public beach access location so you don’t have to worry about getting towed from their lot. There is also a lot of street parking available around as well.

Next to Molly Darcy’s is also a watersports company. Here you can rent kayaks, paddleboards, or sign up to go parasailing. All 3 of these are great fun and will make your day one to remember!

WINDY HILL

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Photo credit: Grand Strand Resorts Photo

The southernmost beach in North Myrtle Beach is Windy Hill. Conveniently located next to Barefoot Landing and other shopping centers, Windy Hill takes on a more Myrtle Beach feel.

Still quieter than many beaches in Myrtle, Windy Hill, like Crescent Beach, has very little in terms of bars, restaurants located right on the beach. Guests and locals alike enjoy this facet and take solstice in the beach itself. You can find lots of unabated sunbathers in Windy Hill. If you travel inland from the beach, you can also find a small children’s park.

We hope this guide helps you find your newest favorite beach access point. While these aren’t private beaches, they’re amazing spots in North Myrtle Beach. We’ve also included an interactive map of the locations mentioned in this post. Feel free to weigh-in on your personal favorite beach spots in North Myrtle Beach as well.

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