The Grand Strand of South Carolina attracts thousands of families, friends, and everyone else across the country for its festive atmosphere, endless beaches, and delicious eateries.
It’s a fabulous spot on the East Coast to relish warm sands, superb wildlife, and ocean views. Situated right on the Atlantic Ocean, one of the gems of the Grand Strand, North Myrtle Beach, turns into a natural painting every night at sunset, which bathes the water’s waves in a light shimmering silk of reds and oranges. Hello, romance — your lover will swoon at the sight.
But popularity comes with downsides, too — like wild tourist crowds. That’s why we set up shop in North Myrtle Beach. Grand Strand Resorts is a collection of villas, resorts, and vacation apartment towers situated just a short distance from Myrtle Beach’s hustle-bustle. Of course, you’ll still want to check out the lovely beaches of the area — you’re on vacation, after all!
These are the best beaches around the North Myrtle Beach area!
Ocean Drive Beach
- Location: North Myrtle Beach, SC
- Notable feature: Golf courses
- Driving distance from North Myrtle Beach: 5 minutes
Traveling with a golf lover? Ocean Drive Beach is the place to be for its close proximity to some of North Myrtle Beach’s best golf courses! The water is always warm here, and mornings aren’t too busy.
Our advice? Relish the sun and soft sands in the early morning, and make your way to the golf course before lunchtime. If you’d prefer a game of golf closer to your rental? Some villas have golf courses on-site!
Myrtle Beach State Park
- Location: 4401 S Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, SC
- Notable feature: Horseback riding and playgrounds for kids
- Driving distance from North Myrtle Beach: 38 minutes
Are your kids bugging you to visit the Skywheel, famous downtown boardwalk, or bustling main street? If you must venture to the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, you can squeeze it into a more grand day trip to Myrtle Beach State Park.
The park has a public beach that’s well-known as one of the best beaches on the Grand Strand. With exceptionally clean and well-kept facilities, and friendly rangers and staff, the park offers a small retreat from the hustle and bustle of Myrtle Beach’s main strip.
If you want some time both in the sun and in the shade, walk a few minutes, and you’ll find yourself bathed in the on-site forest. Myrtle Beach State Park activities include hiking, swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, biking, bird watching, and fishing. And if you’re looking for an even more unique activity, try horseback riding on the beach. This would be great for a couple or even a family with teen or adult children.
End your day with a sweet from Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar, just a few minutes away from the beach.
Surfside Beach
- Location: 11 Ocean Blvd S, Surfside Beach, SC
- Notable feature: Watersports galore
- Driving distance from North Myrtle Beach: 44 minutes
Surfside Beach offers two whole miles of serene oceanfront, nestled in a town known as an especially family-friendly zone and superbly accessible with ramps all around.
This beach is great for boating, swimming, fishing, and surfing. Your laid-back surfer travelers will appreciate a drive to Surfside Beach for some of the area’s most unbeatable waves. Just make sure you follow the lifeguards’ rules, too.
But surfing is the tip of the iceberg. Check out Shoreline Water Sports, where you can experience parasailing, jet skiing, and even banana boating!
Murrells Inlet
- Location: 4025 Hwy 17 Business, Murrells Inlet, SC
- Notable features: Fishing and seafood, pirate history
- Driving distance from North Myrtle Beach: 46 minutes
An adorable little fishing village, Murrells Inlet used to be home to the one and only notorious Blackbeard, the Pirate. Saturated with history, this beach offers more than just a beautiful coastline and white sands, though all those are nice to have as well.
It’s a bit of a drive from North Myrtle Beach, but definitely worth it if you’re traveling with kids, history buffs, bird lovers, and live music aficionados. Make it a bit of a day trip, complete with a seafood dinner, wildlife spotting, hiking, and live music.
While you’re at the Marina, you can walk along the half-mile Murrells Inlet Marshwalk. This is a perfect place for nature lovers, as you’ll traverse the salt marsh and look for fish, birds, and other wildlife. Was that a Loggerhead Turtle? Wow!
You’ll probably work up an appetite on your evening walk — lucky for you, Murrells Inlet is considered the Seafood Capital of South Carolina. Consider the Inlet Crab House, Raw Bar, or Wahoos Fish House for soothing clam chowder and charming little oysters.
Stay past sunset if you want to hear some live music from the Crazy Sister Marina.
Cherry Grove Beach
- Location: 3500 N Ocean Blvd, North Myrtle Beach, SC
- Notable features: Fab fishing and fewer crowds
- Driving distance from North Myrtle Beach: 5 minutes
A North Myrtle Beach treasure, Cherry Grove Beach has about 9 miles of beautiful, sandy shorelines to relish with the entire family. This beach topped USA Today’s list of South Carolina’s best beaches. Here’s why: more seashells to discover, fewer crowds to sift through, and most awesome? There is free parking available!
Many of our rentals are only a stone’s throw from this delightful beach. Set up your beach chairs and indulge all your senses. The sun’s rays warm your skin as you relish the sights of the ocean and stocky blue herons and hungry pelicans.
What about smell and taste? You might need to put in some work for that one. Check out the Cherry Grove Pier, which allows visitors to fish flounder, whitings, and once in a blue moon — a baby tiger shark — for free. Just shell out $2 for fishing rod rentals if needed. After that, bring back your bounty to our vacation rental and BBQ it up!
But if you want someone else to catch, clean, and cook your fish for you? Head on over to the novel Driftwood Restaurant, which has a two-story observation deck to watch the waves for dolphins and other creatures.
Crescent Beach
- Location: North Myrtle Beach, SC
- Notable feature: Intimate beach
- Driving distance from North Myrtle Beach: 3 minutes
Lovers, we’re looking at you! Craving an intimate, private beach like the one you experienced on that Mexico beach vacation? Crescent Beach is the next best thing. Take a hike along the Friendship Recreation Trail, and you’ll come across 66 feet of intimate coastline and sandy beaches. Our guests gush at how soothing the Atlantic Ocean waves are in this area — not to mention the incredible sunsets.
You’re still only a few blocks from Highway 17, meaning you can get around easily. But as typical of North Myrtle Beach, you get to skip the crowds and focus on your loved ones, seashells, and parasailing if you feel so inclined!
We’ll See You on the Sand in North Myrtle Beach
Can’t wait to get your bathing suits on? We can’t wait to have you come down to South Carolina so that we can host you at our cozy and memorable vacation rentals at Grand Strand Resorts. Our vacation homes are your oyster.
When you’re tired of sand in weird places or want to cozy up at home, you can return to your Grand Strand Resorts vacation home, where we’ve carefully curated every decor and furniture, from lush comforters to soft pillowcases, jet tubs, and fully equipped kitchens. Most properties close to the North Myrtle Beach areas or even sport a pool, so you can always bet on a refreshing dip after exploring.
You won’t have to leave the views at the beach either, with some of our rentals boasting floor-to-ceiling sights of the water. We look forward to seeing you at a North Myrtle Beach!