Myrtle Beach is a top destination for family vacations because it is affordable, has activities for people of all ages, and offers a little something for everyone. You can save money on your trip to Myrtle Beach by searching for cheap motels, choosing a vacation rental where you can cook your own meals, and by picking your activities wisely.
Here is a list of budget-friendly things to do in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to help you plan your trip.
Hike, Fish, and Picnic at Myrtle Beach State Park
What Is It? The Myrtle Beach area has several excellent parks and natural areas, including Myrtle Beach State Park, just off South Kings Highway. The park has miles of hiking trails and opportunities for fishing and picnicking.
Why Do It? The park offers fun activities for the kids and opportunities for outdoor recreation. Camping and cabin rentals are also available to keep your accommodations budget affordable.
Good to Know: The admission fee to enter the park is $8 per adult and $4 per child aged 6 to 15. Take your time visiting the park to experience a bit of nature to go with the city’s attractions.
Enjoy the Atmosphere at Broadway at the Beach
What Is It? Broadway at the Beach is an outdoor entertainment complex around an artificial lake in Myrtle Beach. The area is filled with shops, dining, bars, and live entertainment venues.
Why Do It? Although the actual attractions at Broadway at the Beach will cost you, it’s free to walk around and enjoy the atmosphere as you scope out the scene. Especially in the summer, you can find some free things to do here, such as nightly street performers and fireworks shows.
Good to Know: Review the list of attractions and restaurants at Broadway at the Beach in advance of your visit so you can make budget-friendly choices. It can be a little too easy to spend money here if you don’t make a plan ahead of time!
Attend a Free Event at Barefoot Landing
What Is It? Barefoot Landing is an outdoor entertainment venue at the north end of Myrtle Beach. In this area, there are live theater venues, shops, bars, and restaurants.
Why Do It? To stay within your budget, check out the venue’s website to find out when free live music performances are scheduled. A fun thing to do is bring a blanket or lawn chairs for an outdoor concert.
Good to Know: Fireworks are typically held here starting in June and running all the way until New Year’s Eve. There’s a calendar of events to check out that lists activities like yoga classes and comedy nights too.
Test Your History Knowledge at the South Carolina Hall of Fame
What Is It? Located at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, the South Carolina Hall of Fame honors famous and notable citizens of the state throughout history.
Why Do It? The hall of fame is free to visit for the public and in a convenient location to get to.
Good to Know: You can learn about the inductees featured in the hall of fame on the venue’s website before your trip and even take a short quiz to test your knowledge about South Carolina history.
Go for Happy Hour or a Movie at The Market Common
What Is It? It’s free to walk around The Market Common and explore this area just off of Farrow Parkway. The site is the home of a former Air Force base, but today, you can look at unique boutique shops, see a movie, or grab a drink or food at a restaurant here, maybe even go for pizza, as Myrtle Beach is one of America’s best cities for pizza lovers.
Why Do It? There are free events at The Market Common, such as art festivals and the New Year’s Eve celebration.
Good to Know: Plan to visit The Market Common during happy hour (usually between 4 pm and 7 pm) because some restaurants and bars offer happy hour specials.
Enjoy a Free Summer Concert
What Is It? Besides being one of the best vacation destinations on the East Coast, Myrtle Beach is a hot spot for live music, especially during the summer months. There are multiple venues that have live music that won’t cost you a thing, including Valor Park at the Market Common and Garden City Beach Pier.
Why Do It? Attending an outdoor concert is a fun way to get outside and enjoy the fresh seaside air in Myrtle Beach without emptying your wallet.
Good to Know: Other places to check for live music during your trip include The Bowery, Barefoot Landing, The Boathouse, and Bourbon Street.
Get Into the Local Spirt at a Festival
What Is It? No matter when you visit Myrtle Beach, you may be able to find a festival to attend and get into the local spirit of the area. Examples are the Food Truck Festival, Myrtle Beach Seafood Festival, Oktoberfest, The Blue Crab Festival, and even the Irish Italian International Festival, a fun fall festival that draws people from far and wide.
Why Do It? Admission to the festivals may be free, or at least the admission for kids under a certain age. The Myrtle Beach festivals are a great way to celebrate the seasons and find all-day entertainment for the whole family.
Good to Know: Every festival in town has something different to offer, and some of them take place over multiple weekends to give you more opportunities to attend them.
Learn About Art at the Franklin G. Burroughs Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum
What Is It? This art museum is in a restored 1920s beach cottage and has been part of the local art scene since 1977. Inside, you can see exhibits about regional artists in the multiple galleries, some of which change throughout the year.
Why Do It? Admission is free every day to visit this museum, and you can learn some interesting things about art during your trip.
Good to Know: The museum is closed on Mondays but open on Sundays from 1 pm to 5 pm and every other day from 10 am to 5 pm.
Sample the Local Brews
What Is It? There are numerous local breweries in the Myrtle Beach area that you can visit during your trip. These are places where you can learn about how local beer is made, relax with friends, and even bring your dogs as the atmosphere of many of Myrtle Beach’s breweries gets in line with the town’s reputation for being one of the best places to vacation with your dog.
Why Do It? These days, breweries do a lot more than just serve beer. Many of them have outdoor games that people of all ages can enjoy and free live music on indoor and outdoor stages. Try a sampler flight to learn about which beers you like before choosing just one.
Good to Know: Some of the top breweries to check out in town are Grand Strand Brewing Company, Crooked Hammock Brewery, New South Brewing, and Tidal Creek Brewhouse.
Visiting the Historic Fishing Village at Murrells Inlet MarshWalk
What Is It? When you’re not enjoying the sunshine on some of the best beaches in the state, a fun place to go for a walk is the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk, which is in a historic fishing village. There is beautiful scenery here and plenty of birds to view in their natural habitat.
Why Do It? You can find free things to do around this area of Myrtle Beach, such as live music performances and browsing the tables of arts and crafts vendors. Live music typically takes place every night, and there are happy hour specials on drinks too.
Good to Know: There is some excellent waterfront dining at Murrells Inlet if you’re willing to splurge just a bit. Also, check out the events held here, such as the Mardi Gras celebration and Restaurant Week.
Watch a Pelicans Baseball Game
What Is It? Myrtle Beach has a minor league baseball team that plays games during baseball season. The park is across from Broadway at the Beach.
Why Do It? These baseball games have very affordable ticket prices and are a fun way to celebrate summer while embracing your love of the sport, just one more reason Myrtle Beach is one of the best budget family vacation destinations.
Good to Know: You can buy individual game tickets on the team’s website and also find weekly promos, such as half-price hot dogs and drink specials. Pretty much every day of the week has a theme that will help you save money on a family outing to the ballpark.
Find Some Fun Along the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade
What Is It? Between 2nd and 14th Avenue, there is one of the most fabulous boardwalks in the U.S. The Myrtle Beach boardwalk and promenade is just over a mile long and has arcade games, souvenir shops, restaurants, bars, and many other attractions.
Why Do It? It doesn’t cost anything to walk along the boardwalk and enjoy a lovely day outdoors in Myrtle Beach. You can stay within your budget while having fun, too, because the arcade games are cheap, and the souvenirs are affordable.
Good to Know: There are some exciting festivals that take place here, including the Sun Fun Festival, Holiday on the Boardwalk, and Carolina Country Music Fest.
