Myrtle Beach, SC

Myrtle Beach is a coastal resort city in the U.S. state of South Carolina, situated in Horry County along the Atlantic coast. The city itself has a population of roughly 35,000, though the surrounding Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach metropolitan area is several times larger and swells dramatically during the summer tourist season. Long known for its wide, sandy beaches, family-friendly atmosphere, and abundance of golf courses, restaurants, and entertainment venues, Myrtle Beach serves as the anchor of the Grand Strand, a roughly 60-mile stretch of beachfront that is one of the most popular vacation destinations on the U.S. East Coast. It sits about 65 miles northeast of Charleston, South Carolina, and roughly 100 miles southeast of Wilmington, North Carolina, making it a convenient drive for visitors from the Carolinas, Georgia, and the mid-Atlantic.

Just south of the city center, Myrtle Beach State Park offers a quieter alternative to the busy hotel strip. The park features a half-mile of unspoiled beach, shaded campground, fishing pier, and a nature trail through maritime forest, all only about a 10-minute drive from the heart of downtown Myrtle Beach. It's a popular spot for families and travelers looking to trade the buzz of the boardwalk for a more natural setting.

A short drive to the south, Brookgreen Gardens is a sprawling sculpture garden and wildlife preserve that draws visitors year-round. Located in Murrells Inlet, about a 25-minute drive from central Myrtle Beach, the property combines American sculpture collections with Lowcountry history exhibits, boat rides through the historic rice fields, and a zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Just down the road, Huntington Beach State Park provides another scenic outdoor escape, with three miles of beach, freshwater and saltwater fishing, and the preserved winter home of sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington.

Back in the city, the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade stretches about a mile and a quarter along the oceanfront in the downtown area. Anchored by the SkyWheel Myrtle Beach, a 187-foot Ferris wheel that lights up the skyline at night, the boardwalk is lined with shops, arcades, ice cream stands, and oceanfront restaurants. Adjacent to it, Broadway at the Beach is a large entertainment complex featuring the Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, restaurants, theaters, and amusement rides, drawing families year-round.

With its warm climate, 60 miles of accessible beachfront, a deep roster of family-oriented attractions, and reliable drive-in accessibility from much of the Eastern Seaboard, Myrtle Beach offers a strong foundation for short-term rental investment. Visitors arrive in steady numbers from spring through fall, and the mix of natural beauty, entertainment, and proximity to historic Charleston and the quieter South Strand towns gives a short-term rental here broad appeal to both first-time beachgoers and returning seasonal travelers.