Myrtle Beach vs. Gatlinburg: Why Myrtle Beach Is Better

Having one of the world’s most beautiful bodies of water is unquestionably one of the best things about Myrtle Beach, and something you won’t find in Gatlinburg. The ocean breeze beats thin mountain air any day, and there’s nothing more relaxing than listening to crashing waves from the comfort of your suite balcony at an oceanfront resort, or dining al fresco with sparkling water views. And we haven’t even mentioned watersports or beach days yet. Gatlinburg, however, is land-locked. That means there’s no resorts, restaurants, bars, and attractions in Gatlinburg that have views of the ocean’s rolling waves.  The closest ocean beach to Gatlinburg is a full day’s drive away, where the crowds and weather are unpredictable, and the all-day drive will wear you out before you even see the ocean.

Compare the rainy, snowy weather in Gatlinburg to the sunny, warm weather in Myrtle Beach and promptly pass on a trip to Tennessee. There are 93 days of precipitation on average in Myrtle Beach each year, and summer showers never last very long. Gatlinburg gets 154 rainy days yearly. Is it fun walking around with your umbrella all the time? We wouldn’t know, but they also get an average of nine snow days each year. Visiting Myrtle Beach in December will give you plenty of 60-degree days, an average that’s almost 10 degrees warmer than Gatlinburg.

Myrtle Beach is home to Broadway at the Beach, a 350-acre entertainment district with specialty shops, restaurants, amusement rides, fireworks, hotels, an aquarium, and a performance theater all in one place. If you want to do things in Gatlinburg, you’ll have to drive and search for parking or be at the mercy of an old-timey trolley that accepts only exact change. The closest thing Gatlinburg has to an all-in-one fun zone is a worn-out Mountain Mall.

Not only does Myrtle Beach have state parks full of beachfront forests, we also have an award-winning Boardwalk beside the ocean where visitors can take a stroll, find dining options, play some arcade games, pick up a specialty T-shirt, or take a few spins on the SkyWheel. The mile-long walkway is home to numerous Boardwalk hotels and it hosts the weekly Hot Summer Nights festival, live music, and fireworks. Gatlinburg has its own version of a wooden boardwalk, but it’s suspended over a deep valley and the only thing to do is walk from one side to the other.

It seems unfair to compare the live entertainment in Myrtle Beach versus Gatlinburg because there are so many award-winning shows and theaters in our city. The House of Blues on the north end of Myrtle Beach hosts some of the coolest performers in music, and an evening spent at Legends in Concert will afford many memorable moments. The Carolina Opry is a stunning venue that attracts top-notch talent and its shows entertain all ages. Any theater you choose will be just minutes from your resort so you won’t need to go far to see the best in the business. To catch a good show in Tennessee, you have to leave Gatlinburg.

With one of the top ten concentrations of restaurants in the nation, the Grand Strand offers endless dining options, from fine dining restaurants to casual eateries, and every point between. Though each Myrtle Beach hotel includes its own lineup of places to eat, there are plenty of other options nearby for visitors to find nearly any crave-worthy food. Gatlinburg has nothing that compares to Restaurant Row in Myrtle Beach, which is home to tons of cuisine, from Asian and Italian to Lowcountry and seafood buffets. Gatlinburg has mostly pizza joints (so does Myrtle Beach) and a bunch of lodge-style eateries.

Whether you’re going on a shopping spree or looking for souvenirs, Myrtle Beach has far more places to shop than Gatlinburg. The Tanger Outlets in Myrtle Beach are home to some of the most sought-after brands, including Coach, American Eagle, Luluemon, Polo, Tommy Hilfiger, Banana Republic, Gap, J. Crew, Nautica, Reebok, Adidas, and tons of others, and The Coastal Grand Mall features department stores and retailers like Belk, Dillards, and Dick’s Sporting Goods together with food courts, movie theatres, and nail salons. Plus, there’s The Market Common, a walkable shopping district with unique boutiques and retail stores, and Barefoot Landing, which comes with its own charming shops and souvenir stores. Shopping in Gatlinburg is much more limited, and the only reason you’ll step foot in those stores is to find another layer to beat the cold.

The quantity and quality of golf courses on the Grand Strand put everywhere else—including Gatlinburg—to shame. The two municipal courses in Gatlinburg just can’t compete with the fantastic award-winning tracks in and around Myrtle Beach. Even the mini golf courses are better in Myrtle Beach!