Myrtle Beach
Practical Information for visiting Myrtle Beach
Getting Around
A car is necessary. The Strand is around 100 kilometres long and everything is strung along it.
Traffic on Kings Highway and Ocean Boulevard is heavy all summer; the bypass and the newer interstate spur are quicker for distance.
Parking at the beach is metered in season and free out of it; public access points have small car parks that fill early.
Walking and cycling work along the beach and the boardwalk; Ocean Boulevard has a bike lane in places.
The Coast RTA runs buses along the Strand, useful but infrequent.
Getting here: Myrtle Beach International has seasonal services from many eastern cities; most visitors drive.
Connectivity & Internet
Coverage for mobile networks is good along the whole Strand with widespread 5G, though the network is heavily loaded on summer weekends and during the rallies.
US prepaid SIMs and eSIMs are easy to arrange; check roaming charges before arriving.
Wi-Fi is standard in hotels and condominiums and free in most restaurants and cafes.
Signal is reliable on the beach and thins in the swamp and river country inland.
Payment is almost entirely by card; beach parking meters take cards or an app.
Power is 120 volts on flat two- and three-pin sockets.
Stay Safe (2026 security update)
Myrtle Beach is a resort town and its risks are mostly the ocean and the traffic, with the usual holiday-strip petty crime.
- Rip currents are the serious danger and cause drownings here every year. Swim near a lifeguard, check the flag, and if caught swim parallel to the shore rather than against the pull.
- Sun: the combination of sand, water and a sea breeze hides how fast you burn.
- Traffic on Ocean Boulevard, with pedestrians crossing between parked cars.
- Theft from cars and from unattended belongings on the beach.
- Jellyfish in late summer, and stingrays in the shallows — shuffle your feet rather than stepping.
- Hurricane season: evacuation orders are issued by the state and should be followed immediately.
Health Considerations
American healthcare is extremely expensive for visitors and comprehensive travel insurance is essential.
The Strand has hospitals at Myrtle Beach and Conway and numerous urgent care clinics aimed at visitors, which are far cheaper and quicker than an emergency room for minor problems.
Heat and sun are the commonest problems; heat index values in July and August are high, and sunburn is close to universal among first-time visitors.
Marine stings: jellyfish in late summer, and stingray injuries in shallow water.
Mosquitoes are abundant in the marsh and after rain.
No vaccinations are required beyond routine cover.
Tap water is safe.
Water quality advisories are posted after heavy rain at some access points.
Emergency Information
Emergency number: 911 for police, fire and ambulance.
On the beach, lifeguards operate at the busier access points in season and fly a flag system: green for calm, yellow for moderate, red for dangerous, and purple for marine life. Swimming is restricted or prohibited under red.
Medical. Urgent care clinics are the cheaper option for minor problems; emergency rooms must stabilise anyone and bill afterwards. Carry your insurance details.
Hurricanes: South Carolina issues evacuation orders by zone, and the coastal highways are reversed to carry traffic inland. Leave when told to; the Strand has one road out in places.
Rip current forecasts are published daily by the National Weather Service.