From marsh sunsets in Murrells Inlet to quiet beach mornings in Pawleys, here’s how locals actually spend the unofficial start of summer
Memorial Day Weekend on the Grand Strand can honestly go one of two ways.
You either end up stuck in traffic near Ocean Boulevard wondering why you thought driving to Broadway at the Beach on a Saturday night was a good idea—or you find the version of the coast locals actually love. The one with marsh sunsets, waterfront seafood spots, early beach mornings and long afternoons that somehow turn into live music and drinks by the water.
Because despite what visitors sometimes think, the Grand Strand is a lot bigger than the same handful of tourist stops. Stretching more than 60 miles, this coastline has quieter beach towns, hidden marsh views, local restaurants and entire pockets of the coast that feel completely different from central Myrtle Beach.
Start Your Mornings Earlier Than You Normally Would
This is probably the biggest local secret Memorial Day Weekend.
Most visitors don’t make it to the beach until late morning, which means the best part of the day is usually already over. Between 6:30 and 9 a.m., the Grand Strand feels calmer, cooler and honestly prettier. Grab coffee from somewhere local like Beach Hippie Coffee and head toward the beach before the parking lots start filling up.
If you really want to avoid the crowds, head south toward Pawleys Island or spend the morning walking the shoreline at Huntington Beach State Park. Both feel worlds away from the busier sections of Myrtle Beach.
Head South if You Want the Best Coastal Vibes
The farther south you go on the Grand Strand, the more the weekend starts feeling less like a tourist trip and more like coastal South Carolina.
Murrells Inlet especially comes alive Memorial Day Weekend. The move is simple: spend the afternoon near the water, walk the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk, grab a drink somewhere with live music and stay through sunset.
This is the part of the coast people usually end up posting the most photos of anyway.
For dinner, try Dead Dog Saloon for the classic MarshWalk atmosphere or Gulfstream Cafe if you can time it right for sunset over the inlet.
And if you need a break from the beach entirely, Brookgreen Gardens is still one of the most beautiful places on the South Carolina coast. Massive live oaks, sculpture gardens and marsh views make it feel completely different from the busier beach areas nearby.
Skip Ocean Boulevard for a Few Hours
Not every part of Memorial Day Weekend needs to happen directly on the beach.
One of the most underrated things visitors can do is spend time around the Intracoastal Waterway instead. Rent kayaks in Murrells Inlet, book a sunset cruise in Little River or just spend an afternoon hopping between marinas and waterfront restaurants.
Even Conway has become one of the cooler local escapes from the beach crowds. Downtown Conway’s Riverwalk, oak trees and slower pace feel like a completely different version of the Grand Strand most visitors never see.
The Beaches Locals Actually Love
Yes, central Myrtle Beach will be packed this weekend. That’s just reality.
But the Grand Strand has plenty of quieter stretches if you know where to look.
Cherry Grove stays popular with families and repeat visitors because it feels slower paced than downtown Myrtle Beach. Nearby, the Heritage Shores Nature Preserve is worth visiting if you want a break from beach-chair rows and crowded boardwalks.
And honestly, some of the best beach moments this weekend probably won’t happen at noon. They’ll happen early in the morning, late in the evening or during random sunset walks when the crowds finally start thinning out.
Know Before You Go
The best Grand Strand weekends usually aren’t the overplanned ones anyway. They’re the ones filled with beach mornings, seafood dinners, marsh sunsets, live music and accidentally staying out later than expected because the weather’s too perfect to leave.
