The two most popular places for a beach vacation in South Carolina are Charleston and Myrtle Beach. South Carolina has beautiful beaches, delicious food, and a rich history making it a hot spot for tourists. We are going to help you pick your next beach vacation in South Carolina: Charleston vs Myrtle Beach!
How is Charleston Different from Myrtle Beach?
This is the core question! These two towns have a lot to offer visitors, but in general, Charleston is much more popular. Charleston is also far more steeped in History and tends to attract many more bachelorette parties. Myrtle Beach has a lively nightlife and is known for its many miles of beaches. We will further explore some aspects that will help you decide which one is the better fit for you!
Charleston vs Myrtle Beach: The Beaches
South Carolina has miles of lovely coastline and it is less expensive than Florida, for example. Due to this many people are flocking to South Carolina for summer beach vacation! Myrtle Beach and Charleston are two of the most popular places to visit for beach vacations.
Charleston: Beaches
Charleston is considered the most beautiful beach in South Carolina. The multiple beaches are incredibly popular due to this. There are many different beaches to experience in Charleston such as Folly Beach, Kiawah Island, and Seabrook Island. While the beaches might not be very close to downtown Charleston, they are totally worth the visit!
Myrtle Beach: Beaches
With 60 miles of beaches, Myrtle Beach has something for every beach-goer. Unlike the beach at Charleston, this stretch of beach is called the “Grand Strand” and due to the fact that it’s uninterrupted miles, it can get very populated quickly. There are several restrictions to keep the beaches clean.
Winner: Charleston ✅
Charleston vs Myrtle Beach: Night Life
We are not the most outgoing nightlife people. When we travel, the nightlife is really not something we look for. We do like the option of having restaurants that are open later or even a choice of live music.
Charleston: Nightlife
Nightlife in Charleston is known for its live music at different bars. As a popular spot for bachelorette parties, there is a good amount of areas to enjoy the nightlife. We are personally not big nightlife people, but we do enjoy good live music at a bar so Charleston is great for us.
Myrtle Beach: Nightlife
Myrtle Beach is known for its nightlife! There is so much to do from all-night bars and clubs to many different concerts and outdoor venues. This area is also pretty popular for bachelor and bachelorette parties as well as for spring breakers. This area really offers a one-of-a-kind nightlife scene.
Winner: Myrtle Beach ✅
Charleston vs Myrtle Beach: Family Travel
Charleston: Family Travel
This area has many family-friendly activities making Charleston a family friendly vacation spot. The beaches are also a great place to visit with kids. As a more historical area, there really is something for everyone from museums, a US Navy ship to tour, carriage rides, and boat rides.
Myrtle Beach: Family Travel
Given that Myrtle Beach is a popular place for nightlife and spring breakers, it is not very family-friendly. However! Myrtle Beach is actively working to change that. There are several resorts that are specific for families and there are more activities geared for families. Given this change, it is becoming easier for families to have their beach getaways in Myrtle Beach.
Winner: Charleston ✅
Charleston vs Myrtle Beach: Romantic Getaway
Charleston: Romantic Getaway
So I am going to be biased here because Larry and I actually went to Charleston for our honeymoon. Charleston is more popular as a romantic getaway for many couples! The whole town has a romantic charm associated with it. Charleston tends to be quieter, which we liked for a more slow-paced getaway. There are also many activities, just not much of a nightlife as discussed previously.
Myrtle Beach: Romantic Getaway
Now even though I picked Charleston and it is generally more popular that does not mean that Myrtle Beach isn’t a great romantic getaway for couples. Just like Charleston, Myrtle Beach has many great resorts that cater specifically to romantic getaways. The beach might not exactly be the best as a romantic getaway, but it is a great place for couples that enjoy nightlife and want a plethora of evening activities.
Charleston vs Myrtle Beach: Activities
Myrtle Beach: Activities
Myrtle Beach has so many fun outdoor activities. As a beach vacation, I think of outdoor activities like paddle boarding, kayaking, and food tours on the famous boardwalk. There are also many other historical tours in Myrtle Beach. There are also nature walks. You can rent bikes and explore the town as well.
Charleston: Activities
Charleston has many different walking tours, most popularly haunted tours. They also have tours of the USS Yorktown. There are plantations to visit and some museums as well. We went to a fun firefighter museum. Charleston truly has so many historical activities which is a great time. There are also many different outdoor activities.
Winner: Myrtle Beach ✅
Charleston vs Myrtle Beach: Restaurants
Charleston: Restaurants
If you’re interested in food tours, Charleston has got you covered! This town is very well known for its food and its many restaurants. There are many Southern restaurants to try. We did enjoy many fabulous breakfast and brunch places. Given how easy it is to walk through downtown you can pass by the different restaurants before picking one to pop into.
Myrtle Beach: Restaurants
Of course, there are many different restaurants in Myrtle Beach. Given that it is a popular place for many tourists there are many different restaurants and many of them are even slightly cheaper than Charleston. One of the most fun things to do in Myrtle Beach is to go to a Polynesian Fire Luau. However, there are definitely better and more options in Charleston.
Winner: Charleston ✅
Charleston vs Myrtle Beach: Budget Friendliness
Charleston: Budget Friendliness
Myrtle Beach and Charleston are pretty similar in cost. Myrtle Beach is slightly less expensive than Charleston. Drinks and dinner cost more in Charleston than in Myrtle Beach. There are many options of places to stay that are less expensive, but not nearly as many as Myrtle Beach.
Myrtle Beach: Budget Friendliness
Myrtle Beach caters to more budget travelers. Given that so many spring breakers and students tend to go to Myrtle Beach, you’ll find many options that are less expensive. Not only from different activities, cheaper hotels, and less expensive restaurant options.
Winner: Myrtle Beach ✅
Did you pick Myrtle Beach? Then your research talking about North Myrtle Beach? Find out the difference here!
FAQs: Charleston Vs. Myrtle Beach
Is Charleston better than Myrtle Beach?
This is a loaded question! I think it really depends. We prefer Charleston because it is a quieter, calmer experience. When we head to the beach, we like to take everything a lot slower. Now, if you enjoy a more lively town with more activities and some nightlife then Myrtle Beach is the way to go.
Is it worth visiting Charleston, SC?
Absolutely! It is fun to visit Charleston. It is a walkable town with much to see. As a town, it is very cute with so much history. Not only that, but the food scene in Charleston is pretty incredible. As you all know, we love to travel for food!
Is Myrtle Beach close to Charleston?
Myrtle Beach is about 2 hours north of Charleston. Both of them are on the water. It is essentially a straight shot south from Myrtle Beach on US-17.
Should I spend more time in Charleston or Myrtle Beach?
You should spend about 2-7 days in both Charleston and Myrtle Beach. They can be done as a long weekend or a week-long visit. That’s the beauty of both of these cities! There is plenty to do and both make for great beach vacations. Ultimately depending if you want a beach vacation or a vacation with more activities, that will make the difference in how long you should spend time in each city.
Which city is more walkable?
Charleston’s downtown is far more walkable. Once you get to downtown you can really walk around everywhere. The rest of the city is not as walkable. Myrtle Beach is generally more traffic congested. The boardwalk area is more walkable than the rest of this coastal town.
When is the best time to visit?
Well obviously for a beach vacation, I would say summer. Summer in South Carolina runs May-September so there is plenty of time to enjoy the beach. Fall, Winter, and Spring are all wonderful times to visit these coastal towns as well. Late spring might give you a great beach vacation with fewer tourists. Although I won’t get in the water in winter, they do allow dogs on the beaches as it gets out of summer so that might be a consideration for your trip.
Final Thoughts about Charleston vs Myrtle Beach
There is no wrong place to visit when going to South Carolina. It is such fun to head out to the beach in this state! We enjoy going to both Charleston and Myrtle Beach. When comparing Charleston vs. Myrtle Beach, there is no way to get it wrong. Consider what you value most when planning your trip then go there.
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