Cherry Grove
Choose Cherry Grove for a north-end municipal beach, fishing-pier landmark, houses and condos, and distance from central Myrtle Beach nightlife. Boardwalk attractions require a deliberate drive south.
Cherry Grove, North Myrtle Beach, central Boardwalk energy, Surfside, Garden City, and state-park coast
Choose your Grand Strand beach
The Grand Strand is a chain of beach communities, not one continuous resort district. Choose the area that matches the trip's evenings, lodging style, attraction appetite, and tolerance for driving before comparing individual hotels.
North Myrtle Beach
Ocean Drive, Crescent Beach, Windy Hill, and nearby resort districts support condo and resort trips with golf, entertainment, and Barefoot Landing access. It is a separate city, not a northern neighborhood of Myrtle Beach.
Central Myrtle Beach
Choose the central oceanfront for the Boardwalk, SkyWheel area, tall hotels, dense restaurants, and night activity. It delivers the strongest classic Myrtle Beach energy and the least quiet.
Surfside Beach
Surfside offers a smaller municipal beach base south of the city with a fishing pier and easier access to Myrtle Beach State Park, Garden City, and Murrells Inlet. Check the town's current 2026 beach-renourishment updates before choosing a specific block.
Garden City and Murrells Inlet edge
Garden City combines beach houses and pier-area activity; nearby Murrells Inlet shifts the evening toward marsh views, seafood, and boat departures rather than another central-boardwalk night.
State-park coast
Myrtle Beach State Park keeps a natural maritime-forest pocket close to town. Huntington Beach State Park farther south offers wetlands, birding, three miles of beach, and Atalaya. Both can reach parking capacity; check current notices before driving south.
For first-time energy
Stay central and walk into the evening
Central Myrtle Beach puts the beach, Boardwalk, SkyWheel area, arcades, and a large restaurant supply close together. Choose it for recognizable Myrtle Beach bustle when a little noise is an acceptable trade for convenience.
For a home beach beyond the central core
Move north or south, then stay local
Cherry Grove, Surfside, and the farther southern beaches move the trip away from the central Boardwalk core. The trade is distance. Keep most days around that end of the coast, then choose one central Myrtle Beach excursion rather than commuting back every night. Events, construction, and the immediate lodging block still shape noise and crowds.
Compare the actual location
Check the lodging map before the amenity list
An oceanfront label says where the water is, not where the evening is. Check the distance to the Boardwalk, golf course, state park, or inlet dinner you actually want. Then compare pools, room type, parking, resort fees, beach access, and cancellation terms. A slightly plainer hotel in the right district can save hours of driving compared with a lavish room at the wrong end of US 17.
Official resources
Check rules for the exact municipality or park
Beach access, parking, lifeguard coverage, tents, dogs, surfing, fires, alcohol, and equipment rules differ among Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, county beaches, and state parks—and can change by season.
Official sourceCity of Myrtle BeachOfficial rules, parking, beach access, and notices for central Myrtle Beach.Official sourceCity of North Myrtle BeachOfficial beach, parking, public safety, and municipal information for North Myrtle Beach communities.Official sourceTown of Surfside BeachOfficial beach access, accessibility, current renourishment notices, parking, and pier-area information for Surfside Beach.