Free Things to Do in Myrtle Beach

The Grand Strand gives away a lot of free entertainment — 60 miles of beach, boardwalk festivals, free concerts, and natural areas that cost nothing to enjoy.

The Beach (Free)

60 miles of coastline from North Myrtle Beach south through Surfside and Pawleys Island. The beach is free to access from any public access point. Lifeguards in season. The sand is wide and firm, the waves are gentle, and the water is warm from May through October.

Best stretches: The section at 2nd Avenue Pier in Myrtle Beach is central. Garden City Beach and Surfside Beach are less crowded. Pawleys Island is the quietest.

Boardwalk & Promenade (Free)

The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk runs 1.2 miles along the oceanfront with the SkyWheel as its centerpiece. Free to walk — street performers, festivals, and ocean views. The Boardwalk is the hub of the summer entertainment calendar.

Pier 14 — The old pier at the center of the Boardwalk. Great for sunset photos and fishing (fee for fishing).

Free Entertainment

Hot Summer Nights (summer) — Free concerts and events at various Boardwalk locations throughout summer. Country, rock, beach music, and DJs.

Broadway at the Beach — The entertainment complex has free entry. Walk the grounds, watch the fountain shows, browse the shops, and enjoy the lakeside atmosphere without spending anything.

Nature & Parks

Huntington Beach State Park (Murrells Inlet) — 2,500 acres of undeveloped coastline, salt marsh, and maritime forest. One of the best beaches in South Carolina with nature trails and Atalaya (a Moorish-style historic home). $5 vehicle entry.

Brookgreen Gardens (free on specific days) — Normally an admission-fee attraction, but check for free admission events. 9,000 acres of sculpture gardens, wildlife preserve (otters, foxes, raptors), and one of the most beautiful properties in the Southeast.

Vereen Memorial Gardens (North Myrtle Beach) — A hidden gem. Boardwalk trails through maritime forest and salt marsh. Free. Quiet. The polar opposite of the tourist strip.

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