9 Grand Strand Areas for 9 Different Lifestyles
Ask someone where the best place to live along the Grand Strand is, and you’ll probably get a different answer every time.
That’s because there really isn’t one “best” area. The better question is: What do you want everyday life here to feel like?
Maybe you want to walk to coffee, dinner and the park. Maybe you picture weekends on the water, mornings overlooking a golf course or a little more space away from the busiest parts of the coast.
From Myrtle Beach to Pawleys Island and everywhere in between, here are nine areas to explore based on the kind of lifestyle you’re looking for.
1. The Market Common
For Walkability & a Neighborhood Feel
If you like the idea of having restaurants, shops, parks, walking paths and everyday conveniences close by, The Market Common is an easy place to picture yourself.
Neighborhoods to explore: Sweetgrass Square, Emmens Preserve, The Reserve and West Lake.
Best for: Buyers who want activity nearby but still want a true neighborhood feel.
2. Carolina Forest
For Newer Homes & Community Amenities
Carolina Forest offers a little bit of everything, but it’s especially appealing if newer homes, neighborhood pools, clubhouses and plenty of community amenities are high on your list.
Neighborhoods to explore: Clear Pond, Waterbridge, The Farm and Berkshire Forest.
Best for: Buyers who want more than just a house—they want a neighborhood with plenty to enjoy close to home.
3. Prince Creek & Litchfield
For Golf-Course Living
You don’t have to be an avid golfer to appreciate life around the course. These areas are known for mature landscaping, open green space and communities that tend to feel a little quieter and more tucked away.
Neighborhoods to explore: The Links at Prince Creek, The Bays, Litchfield Country Club and Willbrook Plantation.
Best for: Buyers who appreciate golf, beautiful surroundings and a more relaxed residential setting.
4. Grande Dunes
For Luxury Coastal Living
Grande Dunes brings together several different versions of luxury living, from golf and waterfront communities to newer homes and resort-style amenities—all with the coast close by.
Neighborhoods to explore: Members Club, Bal Harbor, Waterside Pointe and Del Webb at Grande Dunes.
Best for: Buyers who want the community, setting and amenities to feel just as special as the home itself.
5. Surfside Beach
For Beach-Town Energy
If you want the beach to feel like part of everyday life instead of somewhere you only visit on the weekend, Surfside Beach may be your speed. Think golf-cart rides, casual local restaurants and spontaneous walks toward the ocean.
Areas to explore: Surfside Beach east of Highway 17 Business, Ocean Pines, Surfside Beach Club and Deerfield.
Best for: Buyers who love that easygoing beach-town feeling and want to stay close to the action without being in the middle of Myrtle Beach.
6. Murrells Inlet
For Laid-Back Inlet Living
Murrells Inlet has a personality all its own. Here, life tends to revolve around the marsh, boating, seafood, waterfront dining and sunsets that make you slow down for a minute.
Neighborhoods to explore: Collins Creek Landing, Creek Harbour, Wachesaw Plantation and Wilderness Plantation.
Best for: Buyers whose idea of coastal living includes boat days, marsh views and a little less hurry.
7. Conway
For Charm & a Little More Space
Conway gives you a different side of life near the coast. Its historic downtown, Waccamaw River and quieter residential areas offer plenty of character, while moving farther inland can also mean more options when it comes to space.
Areas to explore: Historic Downtown Conway, Wild Wing Plantation, Heritage Preserve and Shaftesbury-area communities.
Best for: Buyers who don’t need to be right beside the beach and would happily trade a little drive time for more breathing room and small-town charm.
8. Pawleys Island & Litchfield
For a Quieter Lowcountry Feel
Live oaks, marshes, quieter stretches of coastline and an overall slower pace give Pawleys Island and Litchfield a feel that’s distinctly different from the busier areas farther north.
Neighborhoods to explore: Pawleys Plantation, The Reserve, Litchfield Plantation and DeBordieu Colony.
Best for: Buyers who want the beauty of coastal South Carolina with a quieter, more understated atmosphere.
9. North Myrtle Beach & Barefoot
For Resort-Style & Second-Home Living
For some buyers, the goal is simple: they want home to feel a little like vacation. North Myrtle Beach and the Barefoot area offer everything from condos and villas to golf communities and single-family homes, with plenty of entertainment nearby.
Neighborhoods to explore: Barefoot Resort, Dye Estates, Tuscan Sands, Harbour Cove and North Beach Plantation.
Best for: Buyers looking for a second home, a lock-and-leave lifestyle or a place where there’s always something to do.
So, What Do You Want Everyday Life Here to Feel Like?
Two people can move to the Grand Strand for exactly the same reason and end up happiest in completely different places.
One might want to walk to dinner in The Market Common. Another wants room for a boat in Murrells Inlet. Someone else may be happiest with a quiet porch in Conway, a golf-course view in Litchfield or a place near the beach they can lock up and leave whenever they’re away.
That’s why the right home search shouldn’t start with a list of houses.
It should start with a picture of your life.
Think about an ordinary Wednesday. What do you want outside your front door? How close do you really want to be to the beach? Do you want neighbors, amenities and activity nearby—or a little more room to yourself?
Once you know what you want everyday life to feel like, figuring out where you belong along the Grand Strand gets a whole lot easier.
