Plan Your Trip
Plan Your Trip
From the lively Myrtle Beach Boardwalk to the pristine untouched sands of Huntington Beach State Park — every stretch of the Grand Strand has its own personality, its own pace, and its own reason to visit.
4 distinct beach communities — click any beach to jump to its profile
North Myrtle Beach is actually four distinct beach communities — Cherry Grove, Ocean Drive, Crescent Beach, and Windy Hill — that consolidated into one city in 1968. Each has its own personality, architecture, and crowd. The 14-mile shoreline here tends to be wider and less congested than the Myrtle Beach strip, and it's the birthplace of the Carolina Shag — South Carolina's official state dance.
Cherry Grove occupies the northernmost point of North Myrtle Beach and is one of the most charming and uncongested stretches of sand on the entire Grand Strand. The beach has two distinct personalities: the ocean side, with wide flat sands and good surf fishing, and the inlet side, where Cherry Grove Inlet connects to a mile of salt marsh and offers a beautiful tidal vista. The famous Cherry Grove Pier extends 985 feet into the Atlantic and has been a fishing institution since the 1950s. The beach is beloved by families and older visitors for its quieter pace, golf cart accessibility, and the absence of high-rise development on the north end. Several public beach access points are available along North Ocean Boulevard, with paid parking near the pier and some free parking in residential side streets.
Ocean Drive is the cultural heart of North Myrtle Beach — the birthplace of the Carolina Shag, South Carolina's official state dance, which was born here in the 1940s among the beach music clubs along Main Street. The area retains a nostalgic, classic beach town feel that sets it apart from the more commercial Myrtle Beach strip. Main Street runs perpendicular to the beach and is lined with shag clubs, bars, restaurants, and casual shops. The OD Pavilion Amusement Park provides family entertainment, and the beach itself is wide and well-maintained. Several public beach access points are located along Ocean Boulevard and the avenues north and south of Main Street, with a mix of free and paid parking options.
Crescent Beach sits in the center of North Myrtle Beach between Ocean Drive and Windy Hill, and is particularly well suited for visitors who want high-end resort accommodations paired with wide, peaceful sands. The beach here is famously wide at low tide — great for kids to run and play. The area has become increasingly walkable over the years, with bars, beachwear shops, and restaurants within easy reach of the sand. The public access at 17th Avenue South is especially well-regarded for its outdoor showers, bathrooms, and the ability to walk directly from the beach to Molly Darcy's porch for food and drinks. Several luxury resort properties, including North Beach Resort & Villas, are located in this area.
Windy Hill is the southernmost community in North Myrtle Beach, bordered to the south by the Intracoastal Waterway and offering marsh views alongside its Atlantic beaches. Like Cherry Grove on the north end, Windy Hill sits alongside a tidal salt marsh, giving it a scenic, dual-waterway character. The area is best known for its proximity to Barefoot Landing — one of the Grand Strand's finest shopping, dining, and entertainment complexes — which sits directly across the street. North Beach Plantation at 21 Main, Hamburger Joe's, and Joe's Bar & Grill are nearby dining favorites. The beach itself is quieter than Ocean Drive and Crescent, attracting repeat visitors who appreciate the calm atmosphere and Barefoot Landing access.
