South Myrtle Beach vs. North Myrtle Beach

Comparing South Myrtle Beach hotels and attractions to North Myrtle Beach’s offerings can help you zero in on where to stay for your next getaway. Downtown Myrtle Beach can come with plenty of hoopla and busyness, so many vacationers choose to stay just north or south for a lower-key experience. You’ll find excellent attractions, dining, and accommodations in either direction you choose.

What Is the Difference Between North Myrtle Beach and South Myrtle Beach?

The main difference between North Myrtle Beach and South Myrtle Beach lies in the atmosphere: The northern resorts are interspersed with expansive, serene beaches, and the southern properties fit tightly together, offering a shoreline with pool decks teeming with activity. 

Which Is Better South or North Myrtle Beach?

Deciding whether North Myrtle Beach or South Myrtle Beach is better depends on your personal preferences, but generally, the northern area is attractive to vacationers who desire easygoing beach days and quiet afternoons by the pool, and the southern district appeals to visitors wishing for an active getaway. While North Myrtle Beach may be statistically safer than South Myrtle Beach, families, couples, and solo travelers can enjoy carefree and comfortable outings at the resort pools, on the beaches, and while exploring tourist areas in either location.

South Myrtle Beach Hotels vs. North Myrtle Beach Hotels

Both South Myrtle Beach hotels and North Myrtle Beach hotels offer a variety of accommodations for any budget. Every area includes condos and suites for large families, and you’ll find plenty of romantic rooms for two. The expansive oceanfront affords an endless selection of hotels in Myrtle Beach with ocean views, so you can watch the waves from any resort.

South Myrtle Beach hotels are known for towering water slides, splash pads packed with kids, and live music and poolside entertainment. Parents are off the hook when it comes to entertaining children at these resorts. Most of these kid-friendly Myrtle Beach hotels include numerous amenities for children, like kids’ clubs, an arcade, a snack bar and ice cream shop, and even a hotel bowling alley.

Heading north doesn’t mean your vacation will be a snooze, though. North Myrtle Beach hotels let their oceanfront pools and beach accesses do most of the entertaining, and there’s nothing boring about taking a dip in the refreshing blue waters of the pool or the ocean. If you have kids along, you can still stay north of the Boardwalk in a water park resort or at a Myrtle Beach hotel with a lazy river. And thanks to all the affordable hotels in the city of North Myrtle Beach, any budget-conscious traveler can stray a few miles farther for an even cheaper stay.

Attractions in South Myrtle Beach vs. North Myrtle Beach

If you can peel yourselves away from the hotel pools and beach, getting out to the attractions in Myrtle Beach provides many fun experiences. Broadway at the Beach is only a few miles from the resorts along the north end and features family-friendly attractions and interesting stores, and the restaurants at Broadway satisfy any appetite. North Myrtle Beach doesn’t have a boardwalk like downtown Myrtle, but the city is home to Barefoot Landing, a walkable entertainment district with stores, attractions, bars, restaurants, and even places to go wine tasting.

Resorts on the southern end of Myrtle Beach offer easy access to excellent attractions in Myrtle Beach. The Market Common neighborhood features stores, restaurants, and modern conveniences like a movie theater and escape room. You’ll also find many standalone attractions near hotels in South Myrtle Beach, like 810 Billiards and Bowling, DinoLand Café, and Fun Warehouse. Staying south of the hotels on the Myrtle Beach strip puts you only a short drive away from Brookgreen Gardens, the largest sculpture garden on the East Coast.The choice is yours! Whether you select a hotel in North Myrtle Beach, a resort on the northern end of the Myrtle Beach strip, or a suite on the southern side of the city, you’re in for a special getaway you won’t forget.