Best places to go for a walk in every town in the Myrtle Beach area
If you’ve searched for a home to buy or rent over the past few years, chances are you’ve come across something called a Walk Score, a grade that attempts to quantify how pedestrian friendly a neighborhood is.
So, how walkable is the Myrtle Beach area? We’ll get to that in a minute.
Jump Ahead
First, let’s dive into what measures this Walk Score. The company Walk Score, a subsidiary of the real estate website Redfin, collects and interprets data using their own methodology that helps determine the walkability of ZIP codes throughout the United States and some cities abroad.
When grading how walkable a neighborhood is, Walk Score takes into consideration proximity to amenities such as grocery stores, medical services, schools and even restaurants. It also takes into account population density, how long blocks are and how dense intersections can get.
Walk Score is measured on a scale from 0-100 broken out into five classifications. Here’s what those scores mean:
0-24: Car Dependent where almost all errands require a car
25-49: Car Dependent but only most errands require a car
50-69: Somewhat Walkable meaning some errands can be done by foot
70-89: Very Walkable meaning most errands can be completed by foot
90-100: Walker’s Paradise meaning daily errands do not require a car
When it comes to more urban centers, a Walk Score can come in handy, especially if you don’t have a car, rely on public transportation or need to walk to run daily errands. But in the cases of more rural communities where cars are a necessity, like in the Grand Strand, the score can be misinterpreted to mean that the region is not walker-friendly.
Aside from Georgetown, South Carolina, which has a score of 70/100, meaning “Very Walkable,” most communities in the Myrtle Beach area score pretty low on the Walk Score scale with nearly every ZIP code in the region falling in the “Car Dependent” range.
So having a car is essential to navigating the Grand Strand, but there are plenty of pedestrian-friendly areas for you to enjoy throughout the Myrtle Beach area.
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Here are the region’s Walk Scores and recommendations on where to go for a stroll.
Little River
Walk Score: 7/100 Car Dependent
Where to go for a walk: Vereen Memorial Gardens has a walking trail that takes you through salt marshes and on a boardwalk along the waterfront.
Distance: 3 miles
Loris
Walk Score: 32/100 Car Dependent
Where to go for a walk: Loris Nature Park has easy-to-navigate paved and stone walking trails that connect the park’s playground, disc-golf course, picnic pavilion and dog park.
Distance: 1 mile
North Myrtle Beach
Walk Score: 40/100 Car Dependent
Where to go for a walk: The North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex is a recreational area that offers visitors fields to play soccer and baseball, picnic areas, walking and biking trails, a dog park, playgrounds and even a 10-acre meadow to wander through.
Distance: 3.5 miles
Atlantic Beach
Walk Score: 40/100 Car Dependent
Where to go for a walk: The nearby Ingram Dunes Natural Area takes visitors back 80,000 years to when these dunes were formed. The maritime forest is a perfect day out in nature for all ages.
Size of park: 7-acres
Myrtle Beach
Walk Score: 43/100 Car Dependent
Where to go for a walk: If you’re looking for a walk through the hustle and bustle of a seaside city, the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk is your best bet. But if you want to have a walk through a less crowded area, check out the Myrtle Beach State Park for a retreat into nature.
Distance of Myrtle Beach Boardwalk: 1.2 miles
Size of Myrtle Beach State Park: 312 acres
Carolina Forest
Walk Score: 4/100 Car Dependent
Where to go for a walk: “The Hulk” is a trail that runs from Carolina Forest to the Intracoastal Waterway. It’s a great place to go for a walk or a run and is especially great for bikers as it’s maintained by the Myrtle Beach Area Mountain Biking Association.
Distance: 7 miles
Aynor
Walk Score: 0/100 Car Dependent
Where to go for a walk: To connect with the farming community of Aynor, head to Southern Palmetto Farms. Depending on the season, you can explore their corn and cotton mazes or take a stroll through their sunflower fields.
Size: The corn maze alone is over 5.5 acres, so put on your walking shoes!
Conway
Walk Score: 28/100 Car Dependent
Where to go for a walk: Go for a stroll on the Downtown Conway Riverwalk for a scenic walk along the Waccamaw River.
Distance: 1.5 miles
Surfside Beach
Walk Score: 41/100 Car Dependent
Where to go for a walk: Surfside Pier is a wonderful place to go for an ocean view walk without having to worry about trudging through the sand or dodging street traffic.
Distance: 814 feet
Socastee
Walk Score: 23/100 Car Dependent
Where to go for a walk: One of the highlights in Socastee is the Socastee Recreational Park, which has a disc-golf course, an archery range, fields to play sports and plenty of space to go for a walk.
Size: 91.5 acres
Garden City Beach
Walk Score: 9/100 Car Dependent
Where to go for a walk: The Pier at Garden City is one of the most popular attractions in Garden City Beach. You can play at the arcade, watch live music, enjoy a drink and go for a walk all while enjoying the view of the beach.
Distance: 668 feet
Murrells Inlet
Walk Score: 7/100
Where to go for a walk: Brookgreen Garden is where art, history and culture come together for an engaging walk through botanical and sculpture gardens.
Size: 9,100 acres
Litchfield Beach
Walk Score: 4/100
Where to go for a walk: Located between Murrells Inlet and Litchfield Beach is a spot called Huntington Beach State Park. It’s a great place to go hiking and search for geocaches.
Size: 121 acres
Pawleys Island
Walk Score: 4/100 Car Dependent
Where to go for a walk: Not far from Pawleys Island is Hobcaw Barony, a nature preserve and wildlife refuge. It is a lush green expanse that is perfect for a leisurely walk.
Size: 16,000 acres
Georgetown
Walk Score: 70/100 Very Walkable
Where to go for a walk: The Harborwalk is a boardwalk lined with shops and restaurants that offers views of Georgetown’s historic harbor.
Distance: 0.3 miles
Planning a day in Myrtle Beach? Here’s what to do, see and eat