North Myrtle Beach, SC

North Myrtle Beach is a coastal resort city in Horry County, South Carolina, home to approximately 18,000 year-round residents. Sitting at the northern end of the Grand Strand, a roughly 60-mile arc of Atlantic Ocean beaches, the city has a relaxed, family-friendly character that sets it apart from the busier Myrtle Beach to its south. It is best known as a summer beach destination, a home base for shag dancing, which is South Carolina's official state dance, and a quieter alternative to its larger southern neighbor. The nearest major city is Charleston, located about 85 miles to the southwest, roughly a 90-minute drive down US-17.

Barefoot Landing is the city's marquee entertainment and shopping destination, set along the Intracoastal Waterway. The open-air complex features a mix of national retailers, locally owned boutiques, and a cluster of waterfront restaurants, alongside live-music venues and a small wildlife attraction. Visitors can spend an afternoon browsing shops, dining on the boardwalk, or catching a show, all within a short drive of nearly every neighborhood in the city.

To the north, Cherry Grove Beach offers one of the most laid-back stretches of sand in the area. The community is anchored by the Cherry Grove Pier, a long-standing fishing pier that extends into the Atlantic and serves as a gathering spot for both anglers and sightseers. The neighborhood is especially popular with visitors who want a quieter beach experience and tends to draw returning families who appreciate its low-key feel.

Further south, Ocean Drive Beach is the historic heart of the shag-dancing scene that gives North Myrtle Beach much of its identity. The Ocean Drive Pavilion and the surrounding blocks of beachfront clubs and beach-music venues host dancers and live bands year-round, and the area comes alive during events like the Carolina Beach Music Awards and the Society of Stranders conventions. Even outside of those gatherings, the stretch of oceanfront between Main Street and the pier retains a nostalgic, mid-century beach-town atmosphere that appeals to longtime visitors.

Together, these draws make North Myrtle Beach a natural fit for short-term-rental investors. The city offers a real beach-resort identity, four distinct beach communities within its borders, and a quieter, more residential feel than Myrtle Beach proper, while still providing easy access to the broader Grand Strand's restaurants, golf courses, and entertainment. Its proximity to Charleston, Wilmington, and the larger Research Triangle region expands the potential visitor base well beyond the traditional summer crowd, giving the market a year-round rhythm that supports steady occupancy for owners.