Area Overview
Quaint and quiet with plenty of family-friendly fun
Just to the south of Myrtle Beach in the area known as “the south strand” are several laid-back beach communities, notable for their family-friendly attractions such as Wild Water and Wheels and attractive beach houses.
Here in the Surfside Beach and Garden City Beach areas, vacation homes and rentals feature prominently along with a few smaller hotels.
The Town of Surfside Beach is small beach community that features two miles of oceanfront and extends inland to Highway 17 Bypass.
Located just south of the Myrtle Beach city limits and extending beyond Highway 544 to the south, this area was relatively undeveloped until the mid-1900s.
Two events — Hurricane Hazel in 1954 and the expansion of the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base — provided the 1-2 punch the town needed.
More modern homes built to hurricane codes and a growing population led to incorporation in 1964.
Oceanfront homes and hotels sprang up around the coast, along with residential neighborhoods, restaurants and businesses followed a little further inland to make Surfside Beach the tourism draw it is today.
Operated by a seven-member town council, Surfside Beach has its own police and fire departments, as well as sanitation, public works, parks and recreation and other services.
The city also owns and operates the Surfside Beach Pier, the centerpiece of the downtown district.
Fishing, golf, and water sports are popular pastimes, and a variety of seafood restaurants and souvenir shops make up the downtown district.
Wild Water & Wheels water park, dining, shopping, and nightlife make this a vibrant community that is one of the fastest growing on the Grand Strand.
Inland areas feature single-family neighborhoods and multi-family developments, and children attend local schools until attending Socastee High, which is inland across the Highway 17 Bypass.
Where to stay
Hotels in Surfside Beach
Here's a look at some of the best accommodations in Surfside Beach:
From the blog
Surfside Beach Articles
Here’s a look at some of articles from our staff about Surfside Beach:

10 Best Beach Accesses in Myrtle Beach
April 18, 2023
the best beach in Myrtle Beach can make a significant impact on your vacation experience. Sure, these sandy shores all overlook the same stretch of the Atl …
Best Seafood Buffets in Myrtle Beach With All-You-Can-Eat Seafood
March 29, 2023
Buffets in Myrtle Beach are budget-friendly and indulgent and offer some of the most impressive food selections in the city. If your crew can’t agree on …

Gluten-free Dining in Myrtle Beach
March 16, 2023
Finding restaurants with gluten-free menu options in Myrtle Beach shouldn’t be a challenge, so we decided to do the legwork for our visitors with celiac …

Recycling in Myrtle Beach
March 7, 2023
Recycling in Myrtle Beach is important for the local environment, and with so much coastal beauty and so many Lowcountry landscapes in our area, why wouldn …

Places To Eat Famous Foods in Myrtle Beach
February 24, 2023
The best food in Myrtle Beach isn’t all from the beach. In fact, some of the top eats in the Grand Strand hail from all over the country. The culinary po …

Beach Access & Wheelchair Rentals in Myrtle Beach
February 18, 2023
Beach wheelchair rentals make it possible for any Myrtle Beach resident or vacationer with mobility impairment to enjoy time on the shore. Because standard …

Top Beaches in South Carolina
January 31, 2023
The top beaches in South Carolina are all right here, near Myrtle Beach. While the great Palmetto State is known for everything from its golf courses to hi …

Myrtle Beach Grocery Store Guide
January 2, 2023
Thrifty vacationers know that one of the best ways to save money on your trip is to buy and prepare food instead of dining out for every meal. As the Myrtl …

Iconic Myrtle Beach-area waterpark closes permanently
November 2, 2022
After more than 30 years in Surfside Beach, Wild Water & Wheels is closing permanently. The iconic waterpark will not reopen for the 2023 season. Pa …
Points of Interest
Restaurants & Attractions in Surfside Beach
Here's a look at some of the best places to eat and things to do in Surfside Beach:

Build A Beach
Build Your Beach is an interactive beach art store located in Surfside Beach, S.C. Get your creative juices flowi …
$8 Off Beach Frame

Bargain Beachwear
Bargain Beachwear opened their first location on the Grand Strand in 1983, and since then, they have opened multipl …
Adult Tie Dye MB Hoodies - $5 Off

Pirate’s Table Seafood Buffet
Located in Surfside Beach, Pirate’s Table Seafood Buffet been serving up delicious Calabash-style seafood to …
Click for Treasure

Crabby Mike’s
Crabby Mike’s Calabash-style seafood buffet is locally owned and operated and has been in business for 30 yea …
$2 OFF Adult Buffet

Kentucky Fried Chicken
Since 1930, KFC has been serving up the colonel’s secret recipe friend chicken. With 7 area locations along t …
$3 OFF Reg. Price

Fun Warehouse
Fun Warehouse is the perfect place to let loose and has a fun time, and the best part is that this attraction is gr …
Buy One Activity, Get Second One FREE
What's Happening
Upcoming Events in Surfside Beach
Here’s a look at some of the best Surfside Beach events & festivals happening soon in the area:

Surfside Beach 4th of July Celebration
Bring your family down to Martin Field in Surfside Beach for a Fourth of July Celebration!Kids activities include a bounce house, slip and slide, and face painting. Live music will …
Martin Field in Surfside Beach

Surfside Beach Family Festival
The Surfside Beach Family Festival will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 5 on Surfside Drive. The festival was rescheduled from October due to expected inclement weather. This one-day ra …
Surfside Drive

Town of Surfside Beach Christmas Parade
Don't miss the Town of Surfside Beach's Christmas Parade starting at 2 p.m. Dec. 10. The parade has over 100 entries of all kinds, including floats and marching bands.The route st …
Surfside Beach Pier

Breakfast with Santa and Elf on the Shelf at Fun Warehouse
Fun Warehouse is hosting Breakfast with Santa and Elf on the Shelf on December 15 from 9-10 a.m. The $10 package includes a pancake breakfast with a small drink, roller […] …
Fun Warehouse

Sensory Friendly Visit to Fun Warehouse
Join Champion Autism Network on March 25 from 3-7 p.m. for a sensory friendly visit to Fun Warehouse! Lights will be up, music will be down. For $10, guests will […] …
Fun Warehouse

Bruce Munro at Brookgreen Gardens: Southern Light
Brookgreen Gardens introduces an immersive art and light experience. Bruce Munro, an internationally known artists, brings his spectacular large-scale light sculptures to the garde …
Brookgreen Gardens

Bruce Munro at Brookgreen Gardens: Southern Light
Brookgreen Gardens introduces an immersive art and light experience. Bruce Munro, an internationally known artists, brings his spectacular large-scale light sculptures to the garde …
Brookgreen Gardens

Bruce Munro at Brookgreen Gardens: Southern Light
Brookgreen Gardens introduces an immersive art and light experience. Bruce Munro, an internationally known artists, brings his spectacular large-scale light sculptures to the garde …
Brookgreen Gardens

Bruce Munro at Brookgreen Gardens: Southern Light
Brookgreen Gardens introduces an immersive art and light experience. Bruce Munro, an internationally known artists, brings his spectacular large-scale light sculptures to the garde …
Brookgreen Gardens
Video
Visiting Surfside Beach
Check out some of our favorite staff videos from around this area:
Featured
Welcome to Wild Water & Wheels
Wild Water & Wheels is fun for the whole family! This attraction is home to a large waterpark featuring slides, a lazy river, huge wave pool, bumper boats, a kiddie area, and much more! Plus, enjoy food & beverages, mini-golf, and go-karts while you’re at Wild Water & Wheels.
See Video PageReal Estate
Surfside Beach Neighborhoods
Check out some of the most popular areas in Surfside Beach for Myrtle Beach real estate: