Myrtle Beach’s Best Hotels & Areas (A Local’s Guide for 2026)

8 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Myrtle Beach

The downtown area is a good place to stay if you are new to Myrtle Beach and just want a closer look at all the oceanfront activity. It has an oceanfront boardwalk that was renovated in 2022. It’s vibrant and everything a boardwalk should be.

To the south of downtown is “The Market Common” neighborhood. It offers many choices in dining and shopping and even has walking trails around a pristine lake.

Another area which is wildly popular is Broadway at the Beach. This would be a good choice for less expensive stays because it is a couple of miles away from the beach, but you won’t have to sacrifice accessibility to entertainment, shopping, and restaurants.

Surfside & Garden City is great for families. It has less hotels and high rises and more beach houses, meaning fewer crowds. We also have North Myrtle Beach and Pawleys Island for those golfers in the house, as well as Murrells Inlet for the “foodies.”  

Downtown Myrtle Beach

👉 Best Area For First-Timers & Nightlife | ✨ Best Downtown Hotels: Hilton Grand Vacations Club Ocean Enclave • SpringHill Suites by Marriott • Hilton Grand Vacations Anderson Ocean Club • Dunes Village

Downtown Myrtle Beach is the city’s arts and entertainment district, and it has an energy all its own. This is the best place to stay if you’re visiting for the first time or want to partake in nightlife.

Hilton Grand Vacations Club Ocean Enclave is my #1 hotel overall. It’s located right on the beach near the boardwalk and offers standard suites as well as family rooms, so there’s something for everyone. 

Similarly good hotels are the SpringHill Suites by Marriott for its great location and Hilton Grand Vacations Club Anderson Ocean if you’re looking for luxury. But everyone seems to adore all of these hotels for the oceanfront views they offer. 

If you’re traveling as a family, I’ve heard great things about Dunes Village. It offers activities and amenities that kids seem to love, like a water park, lazy pool, and basketball and tennis courts. 

On the boardwalk, I suggest checking out the SkyWheel or the corner arcade. The Bowery is a bar made famous by the band Alabama. Peaches Corner is another staple of Myrtle Beach that has been around for 85 years. It’s wonderful when you’re craving a hot dog or hamburger. 

The boardwalk also has ice cream shops and a huge retail store. It’s a great place for the late-nighters. And don’t miss the fireworks on the boardwalk from the 2nd avenue pier every Wednesday night at 10 pm.

Lastly, there is a wonderful restaurant right on the ocean called Pier 14. Be sure to eat here if you’re a seafood lover. 

After hanging out in Downtown Myrtle Beach for a week, you will probably need a vacation after your vacation from all the activities. 

Pros of Staying in Downtown Myrtle Beach:

• Near attractions
• Walkable to everything 
• Great restaurants

Cons of Staying in Downtown Myrtle Beach:

• Noise
• Limited parking
• Can be rowdy due to nightlife

The Market Common

👉 Best Area For Shopping, Dining, & Amenities | ✨ Best Market Common Hotels: Holiday Inn Club Vacations Myrtle Beach Oceanfront • Holiday Inn Club Vacations South Beach Resort

The Market Common neighborhood is truly one of my favorite areas of Myrtle Beach. To take it from an abandoned air force base to a mecca of entertainment with upscale shops and restaurants was a stroke of genius. The area is always beautifully landscaped and maintained. It’s perfect for visitors who want a family-friendly atmosphere with lots of shops and restaurants. 

Both the Holiday Inn Club Vacations Myrtle Beach Oceanfront and Holiday Inn Club Vacations South Beach Resort are good choices here. They offer amenities such as free parking, breakfast, and enough pools to keep the kids busy. Both hotels are in close proximity to Market Common. 

In Market Common, you’ll find a plethora of great shops, restaurants, bars, and activities, as well as a movie theater. I love visiting the Barnes & Noble Bookstore and Savannah’s Playground is a great place to take kids. There are also walking trails, a farmers market on Saturdays, and fun events like movie nights under the stars. 

Pros of Staying in the Market Common:

• Walkable
• Family-friendly
• Plenty of great shopping and dining 
• Free luggage storage

Cons of Staying in The Market Common:

• Have to drive to beach

Broadway at the Beach

👉 Best Area For Families & Entertainment | ✨ Best Broadway at the Beach Hotels: Hampton Inn Myrtle Beach Broadway at the Beach • Sheraton Broadway Resort Villas • Sheraton Myrtle Beach

All you have to do is go one time, and you’ll be hooked. Centrally located, Broadway at the Beach has escape rooms, restaurants, and over 100 shops as well as an aquarium where you can have breakfast with a mermaid. They have it all here, and I do mean all. 

Broadway at the Beach just added a state of the art mini golf and if that isn’t enough, they are still expanding this mega entertainment area to include a surf park and a new distillery in 2026. 

Hampton Inn Myrtle Beach Broadway at the Beach, Sheraton Broadway Resort Villas, and Sheraton Myrtle Beach all have excellent reviews and are in close proximity to family entertainment and restaurants. The only reason you might need a car during your stay here is to get to the beach, because everything else is walkable. 

Pros of Staying in Broadway at the Beach:

• Centrally located
• Walkable
• Lots of shops and restaurants
• Family-friendly atmosphere and attractions

Cons of Staying in Broadway at the Beach:

• Crowds
• Must drive to beach

North Myrtle Beach

👉 Best Area For Golfers | ✨ Best North Myrtle Beach Hotels: Marina Inn at Grande Dunes • Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes

North Myrtle Beach is the birthplace of the “Carolina Shag” and home to world-class golf courses, the Barefoot Landing shopping mall, and the Alabama Theatre. 

North Myrtle Beach is made up of four distinct areas: Cherry Grove, Windy Hill, Ocean Drive, and Crescent Beach. With its gorgeous white sand beaches and its family-friendly atmosphere, it’s easy to understand why over four million visitors come here every year. 

Marina Inn at Grande Dunes is the best place to stay for golfers since it overlooks the Grande Dunes Resort Club. And I recommend Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes for couples because of the hotel’s beautiful property and amenities like private beach access and a spa. 

If you’re looking for a beach house or rental, I check out Elliott Realty Beach Rental. I’ve used them several times and have never had a problem. I also recommend the property at Beach Golf Escape and the rentals at North Beach Resort & Villas. 

Pros of Staying in North Myrtle Beach:

• Relaxed, family environment
• Golfer’s paradise 
• Close to entertainment options
• Near Barefoot Landing

Cons of Staying in North Myrtle Beach:

• Crowded
• Hotels can be pricey

Pawleys Island

👉 Best Area For a Relaxing Vacation | ✨ Best Pawleys Island Hotels: Pelican Inn • Sea View Inn

Island life — that’s how I would describe Pawleys Island. Laid-back, kick your shoes off, go fishing in the creek, kind of island life. This is the best place in Myrtle Beach to go if you want a relaxing vacation. 

Pawley’s is a small barrier island that is separated from the mainland by a salt marsh. Here, there are 10 world class golf courses within 5 miles of each other. 

Book a room at the Pelican Inn for a nostalgic stay at a bed and breakfast where they will make you feel like family. The Sea View Inn is another old-school inn with more of a rustic feel on the water. 

Overall, Pawleys Island is a great place to enjoy a slower pace of island life and teach your kids about things like crabbing and fishing. 

Pros of Staying in Pawleys Island:

• Relaxing environment 
• Less crowded
• Great restaurants
• Access to activities like fishing, crabbing, kayaking, and golf

Cons of Staying in Pawleys Island:

• Less entertainment
• Not walkable
• 30 minute drive to Myrtle Beach
• Possibly more expensive

Murrells Inlet

👉 Best Area For Foodies | ✨ Best Murrells Inlet Hotels: Willow Lodge • Hampton Inn in Murrells Inlet • Waterside Retreat

Staying in Murrells Inlet is experiencing coastal living at its finest! That’s the vibe you get when you drive or walk through this area. 

Murrell’s Inlet has a different kind of energy. It’s a foodie’s paradise because of all the fresh seafood right out the back door and recipes that have been handed down for generations. 

Yes they love their food in Murrells, but they also play just as hard. Sisters Marina is located on the marshwalk, and they have any boat you can imagine to rent. One of my all time favorite things to do is to rent a jet ski and then head over to Wicked Tuna for some delicious sushi after I’m done. You can’t go wrong with any restaurant around here. 

Stay at Willow Lodge or Waterside Retreat B&B for a quaint stay in Murrells Inlet. 

Pros of Staying in Murrells Inlet:

• Great local food scene
• Easy access to boating & water sports
• Less major hotels mean less crowds

Cons of Staying in Murrells Inlet:

• Traffic 
• Limited shopping & entertainment
• 20-minute drive to Myrtle Beach
• Can be pricey

Surfside Beach

👉 Best Area For Family-Friendly Beaches | ✨ Best Surfside Beach Hotels: Surfside Beach Oceanfront Hotel • Grand Palms Resort • Club Wyndham Grand Palms

Surfside Beach is known as the “family beach.” It has a laid-back feel and small-town comforts but is close enough to make it to the city in minutes. There are fewer high rises and more beach houses, meaning it is less crowded as well. It is the best of both worlds. 

Surfside Beach Oceanfront Hotel is a great all-around hotel in Surfside Beach. If you’re traveling with kids, I suggest Grand Palms Resort for its kid-friendly amenities like a lazy river, three pools, and a game room. 

Another solid choice is to rent a beach house in Surfside or nearby Garden City through Garden City Realty. I’ve used them before and have never had a problem when staying in one of their rentals. They are always helpful as well. 

Pros of Staying in Surfside Beach:

• Family-friendly atmosphere
• Less Crowds
• Easy beach access
• Relaxed atmosphere

Cons of Staying in Surfside Beach:

• Lack of free parking

Conway

👉 Best Area For History & Small-Town Charm | ✨ Best Conway Hotels: The Cypress Inn • Fairfield by Marriott • Home2 Suites By Hilton Conway 

Conway has small-town charm with quaint shops and incredible restaurants. It is one of the oldest towns in South Carolina, and you can just see the history come alive as you walk through the old oak tree-lined streets. It’s located on the Waccamaw River and is home to Coastal University. 

I enjoy visiting this beautiful little town a lot. When you come, don’t forget to stop in Papa’s General Store! Did I mention that I just love this town!? 

Don’t hesitate to make this your family’s new vacation spot near Myrtle Beach. It’s close enough to get to the beach but far enough away that you can enjoy a private oasis and relax back in Conway after a day at the beach. 

Conway is home to some chain hotels like Fairfield by Marriott and Home2 Suites By Hilton Conway. However, I recommend staying at The Cypress Inn to soak up all the historic and small-town charm. 

You should definitely try to come back and stay in Conway during October if you can. They really do change the name to “Halloween” and decorate the town like you’ve never seen anywhere. 

Pros of Staying in Conway:

• Budget-friendly
• Walkable
• Less traffic
• Less noise
• Beautiful downtown

Cons of Staying in Conway:

• Distance to beach
• Hotter without ocean breeze

Tips for Staying in Myrtle Beach

Check for coupon books in your hotel lobby

Check for coupon books such as The Monster Coupon Book when in your hotel lobby or at any convenience or grocery store. These can save you money. You can also check the website for deals.

Leave your expensive sunglasses at home

A lot of sunglasses get lost in the ocean, so it’s wise not to bring the good ones to the beach. It might be better to leave the expensive ones in the car or at home.

Get to the beach early

To get the best spot on the beach, arrive early. Beaches like Myrtle Beach State Park fill up especially fast. Get there before 10 am to snag a spot. 

Stay safe

Although Myrtle Beach is generally safe, I recommend avoiding poorly lit or isolated spots away from major attractions as a general precaution.

Leave the tents and canopies at home

Most beaches in Myrtle Beach prohibit the use of tents or canopies. Save yourself the hassle and leave these at home. 

FAQs about Myrtle Beach

What are the best areas to stay in Myrtle Beach for first-timers?

Downtown Myrtle Beach is the best area to stay for first-timers who want to be oceanfront, since this area is most central to everything. But if you don’t mind driving just a couple of miles, I would stay near Broadway at the Beach because it’s still close enough to the beach but also has enormous amenities and a more family-friendly vibe. 

What are safe areas to stay in Myrtle Beach?

Market Common, Broadway at the Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway are the safest areas to stay in Myrtle Beach. 

But if you want to venture a little further south to Surfside and Garden City, or north to North Myrtle Beach, these areas are great, safe choices, too. These different areas or communities are all within minutes of the beach and part of what is called “The Grand Strand.”

What are the best parts of Myrtle Beach to stay on a budget? 

The further the distance from the beach, the better the price. Conway offers the best prices if you are on a budget. You could also consider the hotel, Red Roof Inn Myrtle Beach Hotel, which is less than a 10-minute walk from the beach, is pet-friendly, and has wonderful reviews. 

What are the best parts of Myrtle Beach to stay with kids? 

The Market Common, Broadway at the Beach, and Surfside are the best parts of Myrtle Beach to stay with kids. Consider Dunes Village or Grand Palms Resort.

What are the best parts of Myrtle Beach to stay for a weekend?

It really depends on what you are looking for. If you want a romantic weekend, I would check out the bed and breakfasts on Pawleys Island. For a more active weekend with family I would stay in Downtown Myrtle Beach or Broadway at the Beach. 

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Thanks for reading! With a little research and this guide in your back pocket, you will have an exceptional time here in Myrtle Beach. Let me know if I can help answer any questions before, during, or after your trip! You can drop a comment down below.

Next up, see my guide to the 60 best things to do in Myrtle Beach!