Grand Strand, South Carolina travel guide: things to do, food & where to stay

Overview

Grand Strand is a region of South Carolina consisting of a 12-mile (19 km) stretch of subtropical beaches and coastal towns.

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Summer highs reach about 90°F; winter lows dip to about 36°F. Very hot (Jul) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Sep and Aug. (climate data from nearby Wilmington)

Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).

Getting there

From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
MYR Myrtle Beach International Airport, Myrtle Beach — 3 mi away (major hub). Directions
FLO Florence Regional Airport, Florence — 60 mi away. Directions

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Sample 3-day trip

Day 1: Myrtle Beach — Family Kingdom Amusement Park, Myrtle Waves Water Park, Myrtle Beach State Park.
Day 2: North Myrtle Beach — Barefoot Landing, Cherry Grove Beach, OD Pavilion - Sunset Grill.
Day 3: Little River — Vereen Memorial Gardens, Sea Racer Dolphin Tours, The Big "M" Casino Ship II.

Built from the best-covered destinations in this region; open each for its own day plan.

Places in Grand Strand

Myrtle Beach

City / town · 45 listings

North Myrtle Beach

City / town · 19 listings

Little River

City / town · 16 listings

Pawleys Island

City / town · 14 listings

Georgetown

City / town · 10 listings

Surfside Beach

City / town · 8 listings

Conway

City / town · 6 listings

Garden City

City / town · 4 listings

Murrells Inlet

City / town · 2 listings

Cities

Principal cities

Myrtle Beach
Georgetown

Other cities and towns

Briarcliffe Acres
Conway
Garden City
Little River
Murrells Inlet
North Myrtle Beach
Surfside Beach

Other destinations

Pawleys Island
Litchfield Beach
DeBordieu

Get in

Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)

Get around

From St. Augustine to Hampton Roads is a tour to colonial and antebellum sites along the coast.

History

The region was part of a colony in Craven County before it was subjugated to Prince George Winyah Parish, Prince Frederick Parish, and All Saints Parish for religious and administrative purposes, respectively. With the organization of the Georgetown District in 1769, the current boundaries were established, and in 1785 it was named Kingston County. In 1801, the designation was changed from Kingston County to Horry District, and in 1868, it was renamed Horry County, the current county name. The designation was derived from the name of General Peter Horry, a war hero during the American Revolution.