Getting around and parking
The Grand Strand is about 60 miles of coast, and most visitors drive. The notes below cover the main roads, the public bus and how paid beach parking works. Rules and prices change, so check the town's page before you go.
Main roads
Ocean Boulevard and Kings Highway run north and south along the coast through Myrtle Beach, and the Highway 17 Bypass is the westernmost of the main routes. Veterans Highway (S.C. 22) links U.S. 501 near Conway to U.S. 17 north of Myrtle Beach, and Carolina Bays Parkway (S.C. 31) is a six-lane route on the west side of town. Harrelson Boulevard connects Myrtle Beach International Airport to the Highway 17 Bypass.
Public bus
Coast RTA runs buses seven days a week on routes serving Georgetown, Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach and Conway. Its phone number is (843) 488-0865.
Parking in Myrtle Beach
Paid parking applies at city meters and pay stations, beach accesses and street ends. Under the city's current rules, paid parking runs from 9 a.m. to midnight every day from March 1 through September 30. From October 1 through February 28, metered spaces between Sixth Avenue South and 21st Avenue North are free, while paid parking stays in effect year-round north of 21st Avenue North and south of Sixth Avenue South.
Beach accesses and street ends cost $3 per hour or $15 for the day, and other areas cost less. A seven-day visitor pass is $50. You can pay with coins, at pay stations, by text, or with the ParkMobile app. See the City of Myrtle Beach parking page for current rates and zones.
Parking in North Myrtle Beach
North Myrtle Beach has more than 50 public beach-access parking locations. From March through October parking costs $4 per hour, paid through the Passport Parking app or at pay stations, and from November through February it is free. Parking is free every day before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m., but overnight parking isn't allowed. The city's beach parking page has a map of access points.
Other areas
Surfside Beach, Garden City, Murrells Inlet and Georgetown each set their own parking rules, and some attractions have their own lots. Check each town's website or the listing before you go.
Sources: City of Myrtle Beach, City of North Myrtle Beach and Visit Myrtle Beach. Details as of November 2026.