The Best Time to Visit Myrtle Beach in 2024

There’s a time and place for wild and unspoiled shoreline, but when you’re thinking about taking a classic beach vacation — miles of pristine sand, endless attractions on the pier, hundreds of restaurants and bars, funky shops, and nonstop events — Myrtle Beach is the obvious choice. 

But figuring out the best time to visit Myrtle Beach can throw a wrench into the gears of your upcoming vacation. What if you book your trip during the rainy hurricane season, when the beach is overflowing with crowds, or when hotel prices reach their annual peak? 

It’s easy to avoid these potential disaster scenarios by paying attention to how Myrtle Beach changes by the season. To determine the best time to visit Myrtle Beach, we’ve taken all the essential factors into consideration:

• Weather
• Prices
• Crowds
• Festivals & events
• Seasonal things to do

This guide will show you the overall best time to visit Myrtle Beach, along with the cheapest, least busy, and worst times to go. By the end, you’ll have some solid dates to help you start planning your upcoming trip and know exactly what to expect when you arrive. 

Whether you’re heading to Myrtle Beach to become one with the sand all day, everyday or pack in as many attractions and outdoor activities as you can handle, we’ve got you covered. 

Overall Best Time to Visit Myrtle Beach

The best time to visit Myrtle Beach is June through September, encompassing the warmest weather for swimming and water sports. The city is energetic with festivals, attractions, restaurants, and beaches buzzing with life. 

These months are the busy peak season in Myrtle Beach for a reason — they offer warm sunshine with temperatures that make swimming in the ocean, water parks, or your hotel pool much more pleasant. 

The weather in Myrtle Beach is purely idyllic at this time of year with more rain during July and August, but showers tend to happen in the afternoons. They pass quickly to once again reveal blue, sunny skies and cooler temperatures for the evening:

• June: 71-84°F; 12 rainy days
• July: 74-87°F; 15-16 rainy days
• August: 73-86°F; 14-15 rainy days
• September: 68-82°F; 11 rainy days

One potential downfall to the blissful peak season is that it’s part of the Atlantic hurricane season (June to November). July is the wettest month of the year, but the briefness of the showers and predictable arrivals in the afternoons make it easier to plan around them. 

Spend as much time as you can soaking up the sun and swimming on 60 miles of beach between June and September. You can try water sports like parasailing, banana boat rides, flyboarding, and paddle boarding to add a little excitement to your beach day. 

Hang out on the 1.2-mile Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade to find clusters of attractions, shops, and restaurants just steps away from the main beach.

From Ripley’s Believe It! Or Not to the massive SkyWheel with air-conditioned gondolas, the boardwalk will be the hub of your vacation when you’re not swimming and lounging at the beach. It’s the perfect place to escape a sudden shower without bringing your day out to an end. 

Try local restaurants along the Boardwalk to connect with Myrtle Beach through food. The Bowery, where country band Alabama got its start as a house band, serves up Southern fare. Peaches Corner (est. 1940s) makes the best burgers and fries in Myrtle Beach. 

Worried about paying peak season prices? Don’t! Look over the average nightly hotel rates from Google Hotels and airfare prices from Skyscanner and Cheapflights below to get an idea of how much it costs to visit Myrtle Beach this time of year:

• June: $288/night; flights from $57
• July: $315/night; flights from $102
• August: $294/night; flights from $130
• September: $168/night; flights from $88

While peak season pricing in June and July is higher, it’s still less expensive than months like March (Spring Break) and December (holiday travel makes flights expensive). August and September offer some of the cheapest prices of the year on hotels and airfare.

If you’re hoping to check out some local events and festivals while you’re here, you’re in luck! There are tons of things going on in Myrtle Beach this time of year:

• Muzika! The Grand Strand Music Festival (Jun) lasts all month long with opera, broadway, theater, and chamber performances throughout the Grand Strand
• Carolina Country Music Fest (early Jun) is a 3-day festival that takes place on the boardwalk with 5 stages, a zip line, tens of thousands in attendance, and major country music artists playing their biggest hits
• Myrtle Beach Sun Fun Festival (early Jun) has been running since the 1950s and brings 4 days of sand sculpture contests, pageants, fireworks, food and craft booths, car shows, a parade, and more
• Conway Riverfest (late Jun) is about 30 minutes from Myrtle Beach and offers a weekend filled with live music and entertainment, an arts and craft market, games, food booths, and more on the Waccamaw River in downtown Conway
• Beach ‘n Chili Fest/Annual World Championship Chili Cook-Off (late Sept-Oct) brings chili-cooking experts and willing tasters from all over to Myrtle Beach with car shows, music, demos, and chili tasting with some of the best top-secret recipes in the world

With long hours of sunshine, the warmest weather and water temperatures, and abundant activities and attractions to entertain you during the lively peak season, June through September is our favorite time to visit Myrtle Beach. 

Cheapest Time to Visit Myrtle Beach

April to May and August to October are the cheapest months to visit Myrtle Beach. While May and October are generally quiet months, August and September are busy, but all 4 months offer great deals on hotels and flights. 

Right before the busy peak season begins in June, April and May offer a laid-back and inexpensive time to visit Myrtle Beach. At the end of the peak season, prices on hotels and flights begin to dip as the hurricane season reaches its peak with potential for storms and bad weather. 

• April: 55-72°F; 7-8 rainy days
• May: 63-78°F; 9-10 rainy days
• August: 73-86°F; 14-15 rainy days
• September: 68-82°F; 11 rainy days
• October: 58-74°F; 7-8 rainy days

There’s a reason these months are cheaper to visit — a few, actually. April and May aren’t quite warm enough for swimming in the ocean and unheated hotel pools won’t be open until Memorial Day, which can put a damper on your visit. 

Though showers are short and usually in the afternoon, there’s a lot of rain in August and September. These months have the potential for tropical storms and major hurricanes, but thankfully, it’s rare for storms to make landfall on this part of the coast. 

So what can you do during April-May and August-October? Aside from strolling the long, sandy beach without peak summer crowds and tasting your way up and down the boardwalk, you can rent kayaks to paddle out for incredible views and wildlife viewing.

Make the experience more special by going out at sunrise, bringing fishing poles, or opting for a river paddle through the Waccamaw River Wildlife Refuge to see gators, turtles, osprey, heron, and more. 

Bring the kids to a water park on a hot day (or when the magic of the beach fades) with spots like Family Kingdom Amusement Park offering carnival rides, water slides, games, food stands, and splash-worthy fun.

Head to one of the state parks here — Myrtle Beach State Park and Huntington Beach State Park — to enjoy a more natural approach to exploring this scenic part of South Carolina through hiking trails and hidden fishing spots. You can camp at either park to save even more! 

If you’re keen on staying at a hotel instead, you’ll be glad to know that you can find the lowest prices of the year during these months (especially August, which is the cheapest month to visit Myrtle Beach overall). 

With hotels and airfare considered, here’s a look at the cheapest months to visit according to data from Google Hotels and Skyscanner:

• April: $185/night; flights from $82
• May: $232/night; flights from $38
• August: $294/night; flights from $130
• September: $168/night; flights from $88
• October: $150/night; flights from $124

May is the cheapest month to fly to Myrtle Beach. The cheapest months for hotels are November-January, when average nightly rates drop to $85-$106/night. But higher flight prices during these months mean they’re not actually the cheapest time to visit. 

Along with the Beach ‘n Chili Fest in late September and early October, here are some of the fun events and festivals you can look forward to attending if you visit Myrtle Beach during the cheapest months: 

• Myrtle Beach Food Truck Festival (early Apr) is free to attend with dozens of popular local food trucks lined up at the Burroughs and Chapin Pavilion Place downtown for 2 days where you can order tasty treats, drinks, and listen to live music
• Myrtle Beach International Film Festival (late Apr) brings top filmmakers for awards ceremonies, screenings, and exclusive Q&A events at MBIFF
• World Famous Blue Crab Festival (May) is just 30 minutes from Myrtle Beach, when 50,000+ people come out to taste blue crab dishes, listen to live music, browse vendor and art booths, and taste local cocktails
• Myrtle Beach Military Appreciation Days Parade (late May) on Memorial Day weekend honors veterans and active duty servicemen and women with a parade in the Market Common District, where the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base once was
• Myrtle Beach Jazz Festival (mid-Oct) draws thousands to listen to local and international jazz artists and bands playing smooth riffs and favorite songs on Carver Street with food and beverage booths 
• Myrtle Beach Jeep Jam (late Oct) sees hundreds of Jeeps descend on Myrtle Beach for off-roading and beach crawls with a gathering and car show at the convention center to kick things off

These affordable months offer you the best chance to score great deals on hotels and flights, even at premium accommodations right on the beach. You can stretch your vacation budget further by coming during April, May, August, September, or October. 

Least Busy Time to Visit Myrtle Beach

The least busy time to visit Myrtle Beach is December through February. January sees the lowest number of tourists of the year, and December and February are similarly quiet months with very few people visiting during the cooler period. 

If you can’t abide by the crowds, noise, longer lines, and limited hotel availability of the summer peak season, head to Myrtle Beach during the winter instead. This is the dry season with fewer rainy days than summer and mild to cool temperatures — perfectly suited for outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking, and winter fishing. 

• December: 42-60°F; 7-8 rainy days
• January: 40-56°F; 8 rainy days
• February: 42-58°F; 7-8 rainy days

While the water won’t be warm enough for swimming, the beaches are serene and beautiful this time of year for peaceful walks along the shore. Restaurants and attractions will be blissfully uncrowded, hotels will have their best waterfront rooms available for rock-bottom prices, and Myrtle Beach feels a bit slower paced this time of year. 

This is a great time to go golfing on one of the 100 championship courses in Myrtle Beach, like Dunes Golf and Beach Club or Barefoot Resort and Golf, without crowds on the courses. 

Take a deep sea fishing charter for the chance to reel in trophy catches, like sea bass, flounder, tuna, mahi mahi, sharks, and marlin! For something a little slower-paced, take a dolphin cruise to see Atlantic bottlenose dolphin pods following your boat and practically posing for pictures.

Winter is a prime time to do some shopping with gorgeous views of the Intracoastal Waterway at Barefoot Landing. Hit Tanger Outlets for some deals or visit the massive Seaboard Commons with all your favorite stores and eateries in one convenient place. 

December to February see the cheapest prices on hotels of the year in Myrtle Beach, but holiday travel means it’s more expensive to fly this time of year. For avoiding crowds, it’s still worth it. Take a look at data from Google Hotels and Skyscanner below to see what you can expect to pay:

• December: $106/night; flights from $552
• January: $85/night; flights from $228 
• February: $158/night; flights from $250

December is the most expensive month to fly to Myrtle Beach, but if you’re driving, that won’t be a concern. Flights are much cheaper in January and February after the holiday rush. 

As far as events and festivals, they’re more limited this time of year — but that just means fewer people will be drawn to Myrtle Beach, keeping it peaceful and quiet during your visit. Here’s what’s going on between December and February:

• Christmas on the Grand Strand (Dec) sees popular holiday events like parades, Night of a Thousand Candles at nearby Brookgreen Gardens, Festival of Trees at Ripley’s Aquarium, and Winter Wonderland at the Beach with dazzling light displays and “ice” skating
• Penguin Dash 5K and Family Fun Run (mid-Feb) at Ripley’s Aquarium is suitable for all ages with a Toddler Waddle, 1-mile walk/run, and full 5K dash beginngin at the aquarium to Broadway at the Beach
• Shuckin’ on the Strand Oyster Roast (late Feb) in Murrells Inlet (30 minutes away) is the biggest of its kind on the Grand Strand with live music and perfectly roasted Lowcountry oysters served with all the fixings

With the cooler weather and fewer visitors, December to February are some of the best months to visit if you’re trying to avoid the crowds of peak season and mild shoulder season months. 

Worst Time to Visit Myrtle Beach

March and December are generally the worst times to visit Myrtle Beach. Both are expensive months to visit, too chilly for swimming, and March is extraordinarily crowded with Spring Breakers. 

Myrtle Beach isn’t the best place to spend March or December because of the cooler weather during both months — making the beaches, pools, and water parks impossible to enjoy unless they’re indoor or heated. 

• March: 48-65°F; 8 rainy days
• December: 42-60°F; 7-8 rainy days

With highs from the lower 40s to the 60s, this isn’t a time to enjoy lounging on the sand or relaxing by the pool. Both months offer wildly different experiences, but you won’t be quite satisfied during either one unless you’re specifically looking for a less-busy time to visit (December) or are coming for Spring Break (March). 

During March, Broadway at the Beach and most of the bars in the city will be crowded with Spring Breakers. Since different regions hold their breaks at different times throughout the month, there’s no way to be sure which weeks will be the most crowded. 

In December, cool weather and very few tourists can leave Myrtle Beach feeling a bit dead. Some restaurants and attractions may be closed, but holiday events can offer some fun things to do. You’ll also find some year-round activities to do, like mini golf and Ripley’s Aquarium. 

Check out a dinner theater to do something delightfully different one night. Pirate’s Voyage, Medieval Times, and RigaTony’s Murder Mystery Dinner Show are some of the most popular and make dinner exciting. 

Catch live music at local bars and restaurants, with genres for every taste offered at many of the popular beachfront restaurants and bars with great views of the ocean and fiery sunsets. Things will be much quieter in December than March. 

As far as pricing goes, hotels cost a lot more in March because of the Spring Break visitor increases, but December is more expensive to visit overall if you’re flying due to holiday airfare increases. 

• December: $106/night; flights from $552
• March: $265/night; flights from $274

You can find some December events above under Least Busy Time to Visit Myrtle Beach, but here are some March festivities to check out: 

• Myrtle Beach Marathon (early Mar) brings a full and half marathon and 5K to Myrtle Beach, famous for its level running course that makes it the largest marathon in SC
• St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Mar 17) brings green and all things Irish to the Grand Strand with a 2-hour parade making its way down Main Street in North Myrtle Beach with food, craft, and vendor booths set up along the way
• Can-Am Days Festival (mid-Mar) gives a warm welcome to Canadian and American visitors with free concerts, giveaways, and competitions on the Grand Strand with 100,000+ attendees each year

While March and December aren’t our favorite months to go to Myrtle Beach, they can be a fine time to visit if you know what to expect and aren’t planning on swimming in the ocean or scoring the lowest prices of the year. 

Myrtle Beach by Month: What to Expect

What’s the right month to visit Myrtle Beach? If you’re considering the weather, prices, events, and crowds, you’ll want to review what you can expect during each month of the year in this popular beach destination. 

January

Chilly highs between 40°F and 56°F mean beach days aren’t possible this month and there are very few events, but you’ll find the lowest number of tourists of the year this month and only 8 rainy days during the dry season. Hotels cost just $85/night on average, but flights start around $230 round trip. 

February

Mild February sees highs ranging from 42-58°F with 7-8 rainy days, making it a cool and mostly dry time to visit. With water too cold for swimming, look to events like Ripley’s Aquarium Penguin Dash 5K and Shuckin’ on the Strand Oyster Roast for fun. Hotels are around $158/night with flights starting at $250 round trip. 

March

Spring Break brings bigger crowds to Myrtle Beach in March, but highs stall out around 48-65°F, leaving the ocean too cold for swimming. With just 8 rainy days, you’ll have the Myrtle Beach Marathon, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and Can-Am Days Festival to check out. Hotels and flights are costly ($265/night and $275 round trip on average). 

April

With highs between 55 and 72°F, April gets around 7-8 rainy days as the dry season continues. With weather steadily warming, go mini golfing or dine al fresco on the beach this month with events like the tasty Myrtle Beach Food Truck Festival and Myrtle Beach International Film Festival taking place. You’ll spend around $185/night on your hotel and pay just $82 round trip to fly. 

May

May is when summer weather and warm water temperatures finally reach Myrtle Beach with highs between 63°F and 78°F. Rain increases to 9-10 rainy days and hotels charge a higher rate ($232/night on average). Flights are at their cheapest, making May one of the most affordable months to visit with fun events like the Blue Crab Festival and Memorial Day weekend military parade. 

June

Officially summer and peak season, June is one of the best times to visit Myrtle Beach with 71-84°F highs, but 12 days with rain (short afternoon showers). Hotel prices show the higher demand at $288/night, but flights are dirt cheap and start at $57 round trip. Events like Muzika! The Grand Strand Music Festival, Carolina Country Music Fest, and Conway Riverfest happen this month. 

July 

July continues peak season and is a great month to visit, even with 15-16 rainy days (afternoon showers) and hot temperatures from 74-87°F. This is a beach month that’s great for water sports, pool time, and water parks, but the beach and boardwalk are crowded. Hotels cost $315/night on average with flights starting at $102 round trip. 

August

August sees lots of afternoon rainstorms and is peak hurricane season, but storms rarely make landfall here and it’s one of the best months to visit with warm weather (73-86°F) and lively beaches, restaurants, and parks. It’s a great time for attractions and fishing charters with hotels around $294/night and flights from $130 round trip. 

September

September continues the peak hurricane season with higher chances of rain and storms, but it’s nice and warm with 68-82°F highs. Rain slows down to 11 days of the month and peak season crowds subside with lower hotel prices ($168/night) and flights ($88 round trip and up). The Beach ‘n Chili Fest/Annual World Championship Chili Cook-Off happens at the end of the month. 

October

As a shoulder season month with fewer visitors and great prices on hotels and flights, mild October sees highs between 58°F and 74°F as the waters cool down and fall takes hold. There are 7-8 rainy days and events like the Myrtle Beach Jazz Festival and Myrtle Beach Jeep Jam to check out. You’ll pay just $150/night on average for hotels and $124+ for round trip flights. 

November

Cooler weather descends on November with highs hanging between 48°F and 66°F, but rains slack off even more with just 6-7 rainy days. Hotels are cheap ($100/night on average) and flights are a little higher ($177+ round trip) as beaches get quiet and tourism slows down. Check out the Dickens Christmas Show & Festival the first week of the month at the convention center.

December

The arrival of the holidays brings chilly weather from 42-60°F and little rain (7-8 rainy days) in December. With hotels just $106/night on average, it could be a cheap time to visit, but flights shoot up to $552+ round trip with the holidays. The city is quiet and uncrowded this month with Christmas events on the Grand Strands, like Winter Wonderland at the Beach, parades, and more. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Figuring out the best months to plan your Myrtle Beach vacation is easier when you have all of your travel questions answered. Take a look at the most frequently asked questions below to learn more! 

So, What Is the Best Time to Visit Myrtle Beach?

June through September is the best time to visit Myrtle Beach overall, offering the warmest weather and ocean temperatures for relaxing swims and thrilling water sports. Prices are better in June and September. 

From April to May and August to October, you’ll find the cheapest hotels and flights for Myrtle Beach. May offers the cheapest flights overall, while September hotels average just $168/night. 

Things calm down and get quiet between December and February as winter coolness permeates the air and leaves the beaches and pools too cold for swimming. Avoid December and March for the cool weather, high prices, and bigger crowds around Spring Break.

With endless opportunities for family fun or a romantic trip with tons of attractions, restaurants, and beachfront bars, Myrtle Beach makes a great place to get away — especially if you come during the best time to visit and know what festivals, weather, and prices to expect!