09/30/2024It’s no secret that Myrtle Beach is a popular vacation spot – it’s also no secret that vacations can be expensive! Thankfully, this coastal town offers plenty of things to do that don’t require breaking out your wallet. Enjoy your vacation even more with these free things to do in Myrtle Beach.
Myrtle Beach is proud home to 60 miles of pristine coastline, including some of the last oceanfront greenspace in the area at Myrtle Beach State Park. These uninterrupted beaches offer tons of room to roam and play, swim, search for shells and shark teeth, soak up the sun, and more.
For the most seamless beach experience, go for an oceanfront hotel with beach access for guests like Coral Beach Resort. That way, you won’t have to worry about parking or taking a long walk with all of your beach stuff in tow – just head out past the pool and you’re there!
One of the best ways to enjoy the beach for free is with a picnic on the beach. Pack up your favorite snacks and drinks (no glass on the beach, please!) and set up on the sand to watch the waves with your meal.
While the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk is typically hailed as a great place for shopping and dining, it’s also a smart choice to visit if you’re looking to enjoy Myrtle Beach on a budget. A little over a mile in length, this boardwalk offers scenic views of the Atlantic Ocean, an assortment of street performances, and more for free. There’s also plenty of good people watching at the boardwalk!
A great way to enjoy the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk for free is with a scavenger hunt. Make a list of items or people to spot, like custom t-shirts, a family wearing matching clothes, an ice cream cone, a surfboard…the options are endless! Up the stakes with a boardwalk prize for the winner of the hunt.
The Myrtle Beach Art Museum, officially the Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum, is one of the best things to do for free in Myrtle Beach. Featuring 11 galleries that change throughout the year to include traveling exhibits and pieces of the museum’s own collection, there is always something new to see at this art museum. There is no admission fee, though donations are always appreciated to keep the museum running smoothly and help provide funding for things like programs and events.
Nearby in Murrells Inlet, the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk is another area famed for waterfront dining that doubles as a cost-free destination for visitors. As it sounds, the MarshWalk is a half-mile wooden boardwalk that follows the curve of a natural estuary. Lined with restaurants that frequently offer live local music, the MarshWalk is hailed as one of the most popular places to hear live music near Myrtle Beach. The gorgeous views are always free, with a variety of animals that make their homes in the marsh and nearby making for great bird watching and more.
The MarshWalk also hosts seasonal events, like the South’s only free walk-through Christmas light display and a big celebration for New Year’s Eve.
Myrtle Beach loves a reason to celebrate. The site of many festivals and local markets throughout the year that range from farmer’s markets to food festivals to bike week and everything in between, Myrtle Beach is a great destination for free local markets and festivals.
Some of the most popular free festivals and local markets in Myrtle Beach include live music at Sounds of Summer concert series, free movie screenings at Movies at McLean, the Myrtle Beach Jazz Festival, weekly farmers markets in Conway, and holiday markets all over the Grand Strand.
Looking for seasonal breakdowns of the best events in Myrtle Beach? Coral Beach Resort has you covered. Check them out here:
Visit the nearby Conway Riverwalk for a scenic stroll along the Waccamaw River. Conway is a small city that packs a lot of character into their city limits, offering everything from free live music and local restaurants to incredible Halloween celebrations (the town renames itself The City of Halloween every October!) and Christmas festivities. In the fall, the trees that line Conway’s picturesque Main St. “bloom” with jack-o-lanterns, creating a small town magic that’s hard to find anywhere but a Hallmark movie lot.
Near the Riverwalk, Conway hosts free events like Movies in the Park, Easter egg hunts, Rockin’ on the River music festival, the Monster Mash, Christmas markets, and more. See what Conway has to offer during your next visit!
Myrtle Beach has a storied past, even before the town was incorporated in 1938. Originally home to Native Americans, multiple museums in the area chronicle what life was like for these early residents, using found artifacts and more to help tell their stories. From the stories of the first English settlers to the birthplace of shag dancing and more, there are countless pieces of history to experience in Myrtle Beach.
Here are some highlights for historical sites to visit for free in Myrtle Beach:
From outdoor fun to live entertainment, markets to museums, and more, Myrtle Beach offers plenty of free activities to help you have a great vacation. When you choose Coral Beach Resort, you’re just minutes from these free activities and others, including easy beach access from our oceanfront resort and a host of on-site amenities to make your stay even better. Book your stay and start planning your budget-friendly vacation today!