Myrtle Beach draws about 19 million visitors a year, and a large share of them are families.
Along 60 miles of South Carolina coastline — what locals call the Grand Strand — you'll find beaches, amusement parks, aquariums, nature preserves, and dining options that few East Coast destinations can match, all within a compact, easy-to-navigate stretch.
What makes it work is the range. A six-year-old and a sixteen-year-old can both have a genuinely good day here, because there's enough variety that each person gets something real out of the trip.
The right Myrtle Beach hotel puts you close to what matters most. A full-service Myrtle Beach resort adds on-site amenities — lazy rivers, kids' pools, game rooms — that make downtime just as valuable as any activity on the itinerary.
The Best Beaches, Boardwalk, and Where to Stay Nearby
The Grand Strand
The Grand Strand's 60 miles of shoreline deliver more than just sand and water. Waves are generally mild, making the surf manageable for young kids while still giving older ones something to work with on a bodyboard. Wide, flat beaches mean plenty of room even during peak summer weeks.
Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk runs 1.2 miles along the oceanfront between 2nd Avenue Pier and 14th Avenue North. It's free to walk — street performers, arcades, seafood shacks, and the 187-foot SkyWheel all share the same stretch.
The SkyWheel charges per gondola rather than per person and is worth the wait on a clear evening.
Myrtle Beach State Park
Myrtle Beach State Park is four miles south of the boardwalk at $7 per vehicle — fishing pier, nature trails through maritime forest, and a beach far less crowded than the main public stretches.
An oceanfront Myrtle Beach hotel on Ocean Boulevard puts you within walking distance of the boardwalk. A full-service Myrtle Beach resort on the North Myrtle Beach strip offers more space and quieter sand — a better fit for families with toddlers.
Top Amusement Parks and Thrill Rides for the Family
Myrtle Beach has more amusement options per square mile than almost any beach town in the country, and most rides are priced individually rather than as a full-day package, which matters when you're traveling with kids of different ages who have different ideas about fun.
Family Kingdom Amusement Park
Family Kingdom Amusement Park sits on the oceanfront at 300 South Ocean Boulevard — one of the few parks in the Southeast still running wooden roller coasters. The Swamp Fox has operated since 1966: loud, fast, and genuinely thrilling.
The park covers 37 rides, from toddler spinners to the SlingShot reverse bungee, with admission tiered by height.
Broadway Grand Prix
Broadway Grand Prix on 21st Avenue North runs seven go-kart tracks with dedicated lanes for younger kids. The Track Family Fun Park on Kings Highway runs a similar model.
Sky Zone and Big Air Trampoline
Sky Zone and Big Air trampoline parks suit the 7–14 age range well and work as a morning activity before an afternoon at the beach. Most of these are within a 10-minute drive of any central Myrtle Beach resort.
Water Parks and Aquatic Adventures
Myrtle Waves Water Park
Myrtle Waves Water Park on Mr. Joe White Avenue is the largest Myrtle Beach water park on the Grand Strand — 24 slides, a 1.2-million-gallon wave pool, a lazy river, and private cabanas. Arrive before 11 a.m. to beat the lines on the Turbo Twister and Saturation Station.
Ripey's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach
Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach at Broadway at the Beach holds over 1,000 marine animals, with a 330-foot underwater tunnel where sharks and sea turtles pass overhead.
Allow two hours minimum — younger kids linger at the touch tanks. It works well on sunny afternoons as much as rainy ones.
The Grand Strand
Out on the water, the Grand Strand supports parasailing, 90-minute dolphin watching tours out of Little River Inlet, and Shark Wake Park on the Intracoastal Waterway — cable wakeboarding and a floating obstacle course accessible to kids as young as six.
Families wanting on-site water access should look for a Myrtle Beach resort with waterpark features. Some Myrtle Beach hotel complexes on Ocean Boulevard include lazy rivers and splash zones that rival standalone parks.
Indoor Attractions and Rainy Day Activities
A solid week in Myrtle Beach will almost always include at least one rainy afternoon. The area has enough covered attractions to fill those hours without repeating yourself, which puts it ahead of most beach destinations.
Wonder Works
WonderWorks on Celebrity Circle is the strongest of the Myrtle Beach rainy day activities for mixed-age groups — 100-plus hands-on exhibits, a ropes course, laser tag, and a 4D theater.
Tickets run around $30; the combo packages are worth it. Hollywood Wax Museum and Ripley's Believe It or Not! on Kings Highway work well as afternoon add-ons.
Broadway at the Beach
Broadway at the Beach functions as a full rainy-day hub — The Escape Game, Dave & Buster's, and the Myrtle Beach Pinball Museum (all-you-can-play vintage machines) are all there, walkable under covered areas.
Ask your Myrtle Beach hotel front desk about discount coupon books for WonderWorks and Broadway at the Beach attractions before buying at face value — the savings over a multi-day stay add up.
Mini Golf, Go-Karts, and Classic Family Entertainment
Myrtle Beach has 50 to 60 mini golf courses, earning its unofficial title as the mini golf capital of the world. They're not interchangeable — Hawaiian Rumble on Kings Highway is built around a working 40-foot erupting volcano, and Shipwreck Island plays through life-size pirate ship wreckage.
TopGolf
Topgolf on 21st Avenue North adds multi-level bay golf with a full dining menu — walk-ins work on weekday mornings, book ahead for weekends. Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach is free to enter — waterfront shopping and live music most summer evenings, good for winding down after a high-energy day.
Several Myrtle Beach resort packages include complimentary mini golf rounds — check your Myrtle Beach hotel booking before paying walk-up rates of $12–$16 per round.
Family-Friendly Dining and Entertainment Shows
Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show
Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show on Kings Highway is Myrtle Beach's best-known dinner show — full ship rigging, aerial acrobatics, live animals, and a pirate narrative that earns its ticket price. Book a few days ahead in summer; it sells out regularly.
The Alabama Theatre
The Alabama Theatre at Barefoot Landing suits families with older kids — a polished seasonal live variety show that surprises most first-time visitors.
For casual dining, Lulu's on the North Myrtle Beach waterfront is allergy-aware, handles picky eaters well, and has live music most evenings.
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans play at Pelicans Ballpark from May through September — cheap tickets, a playground beyond the outfield, and scheduled fireworks nights make it an underrated family evening.
Most Myrtle Beach hotels and Myrtle Beach resort concierge desks can arrange discounted show tickets and group rates for Pirates Voyage and the Alabama Theatre.
Tips for Planning Your Myrtle Beach Family Vacation
Late May and September are the best windows for a Myrtle Beach family vacation — warm enough for everything, lighter crowds, and Myrtle Beach hotel rates 30–50% lower than peak. June through early August works if school schedules require it, but book early.
The choice between a Myrtle Beach hotel and a full-service Myrtle Beach resort comes down to how you'll use the property. A boardwalk hotel makes sense if your days are activity-packed. A resort with pools, lazy rivers, and a game room pays off on rest days — most Grand Strand complexes also include kitchenettes that cut meal costs significantly.
The free options are genuinely good: public beaches, the boardwalk, Barefoot Landing, and Myrtle Beach State Park at $7 per car. Full days that cost almost nothing are often the most memorable. Pack reef-safe sunscreen and a collapsible beach wagon.
FAQs
What are the best things to do in Myrtle Beach with kids?
The most popular choices are Ripley's Aquarium, Myrtle Waves Water Park, the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and SkyWheel, Family Kingdom Amusement Park, and Alligator Adventure. For younger children, Pirate Adventures on the Intracoastal Waterway works particularly well. Teenagers tend to respond better to go-kart tracks, WonderWorks, or Topgolf. Most of these are within a 20-minute drive of any major Myrtle Beach hotel.
What is the best time of year to visit Myrtle Beach with a family?
Late May and September offer the best balance — warm water, all attractions open, lighter crowds, and Myrtle Beach hotel rates 30–50% lower than the July peak. June through early August works if school schedules require it, but book accommodations early. Spring break (March–April) has comfortable weather, but it can be crowded.
Are there indoor activities in Myrtle Beach for rainy days?
Several — and they're well spread out. WonderWorks on Celebrity Circle is the most versatile for mixed-age groups. Ripley's Aquarium, the Myrtle Beach Pinball Museum, Hollywood Wax Museum, Dave & Buster's, and The Escape Game at Broadway at the Beach all offer two-plus hours of entertainment. Ask your Myrtle Beach hotel front desk about combo ticket discounts — packaged pricing typically saves 20–30%.