Heading to a beach in South Carolina? These four Myrtle Beach area beaches best to visit

South Carolina’s beaches bring thousands of people to the state each year.

And with more than 60 miles of golden sand, the Grand Strand offers something for everyone, whether you’re looking for beaches that are family-friendly, a great place for shelling or a little more secluded.

Tripadvisor and the travel website, Travel & Leisure, have named the best beaches in South Carolina for 2024, and many of them are in the Myrtle Beach area.

Here’s what Horry County beaches made the top picks.

Myrtle Beach

Travel & Leisure named the city the unofficial capital of the Grand Strand, which stretches from Little River to Pawleys Island.

The review said Myrtle Beach is ideal for families looking for a beach destination with plenty of activities on and off shore. That includes golfing, the SkyWheel and the popular Boardwalk.

Reviews on Tripadvisor give Myrtle Beach 4 1/2 stars as a beach destination, citing the many restaurants and things to do.

The Myrtle Beach skyline as seen from the 2nd Avenue Pier. The week of Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning of the tourist season along Grand Strand Beaches. May 31, 2022. JASON LEE/jlee@thesunnews.com

Cherry Grove beach

Located in the most northern end of North Myrtle Beach, this beach got a high rating on Tripadvisor for its relaxing beaches and not being overcrowded. Reviewers said the area is not too far from attractions.

There’s also the popular Cherry Grove Pier.

Beachgoers pack the beach in the Cherry Grove section o North Myrtle Beach. On boats, beaches and the boulevards, tourists and residents enjoy the first days of the summer season on the Grand Strand during Memorial Day weekend 2021. May 29, 2021. JASON LEE/MyrtleBeach

Huntington Beach State Park

One of two coastal state parks in the Myrtle Beach area, Huntington Beach State Park offers camping, fishing, bird watching, hiking and a three-mile beach. It also has a national historic landmark with Atalaya Castle, which was a winter home for former owners Archer and Anna Huntington, and can be toured by visitors.

Surfside Beach

Surfside’s “commitment to families goes beyond its nickname” of “The Family Beach,” according to Travel & Leisure.

The site points out that it is an autism-friendly travel destination and offers mini golf and plenty of restaurants.

There’s not a lot of hotels in Surfside, but there are a number of home rentals, the site says.