The beach is wide, flat, and sandy — one of the better swimming beaches on the East Coast, with warm water from late May through October and a gentle slope into the surf that makes it manageable for children. The sand runs for miles in both directions, and even at the height of summer the northern and southern ends of the strand are considerably less crowded than the central stretch opposite the main hotels.
Myrtle Beach State Park, a few miles south of downtown, is the best escape from the resort atmosphere. The park preserves a stretch of maritime forest behind the dunes, and the beach here feels genuinely different from the commercial strip — quieter, cleaner, and with actual shade if you need it. The park charges a small admission fee.
North Myrtle Beach, technically a separate municipality north of the city, has a slightly quieter beach scene and is a better choice if you want to spend a week without the constant noise of the main strip.