Beach Guide
Everything you need to know for a day at the North Myrtle Beach shore
You're in North Myrtle Beach — Not the Myrtle Beach Hotel Strip
Our townhome is in Barefoot Resort in North Myrtle Beach, a quieter, more residential stretch of the Grand Strand north of the main Myrtle Beach hotel district. It's a real beach town feel — wide, uncrowded sand and a short drive to everything.
Getting to the Beach
- From Memorial Day through October, a free Barefoot Resort shuttle runs guests to the beach and to Barefoot Landing. Current schedule: barefoothoa.com/beach-shuttle
- Outside shuttle season, it's a quick drive (roughly 10 minutes) to the nearest public beach access.
- We do not provide beach chairs, umbrellas, tents, or beach towels — these items were frequently taken from the property, so we discontinued supplying them. Renting locally is easy and lets you get exactly what your group needs. See rental info below.
Beach Parking
The City of North Myrtle Beach has 50+ public beach-access parking areas along the coast. Metered parking runs daily 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, March 1 – October 31, at about $4/hour (the Seaview lot is $2/hour). You can pay at the pay station, by app, or by text: Pay-by-app: download Passport Parking — iPhone (App Store) or Android (Google Play) — then enter the zone number posted on the signage. Pay-by-text: text the lot's NMB code (on the signage) to 25023. Pay stations: most lots also have a pay-and-display kiosk — press the white button to start, enter your license plate, insert your card, and follow the prompts (you do not need to display the receipt on your dashboard). For questions, NMB Parking Services: 843-280-5570.
Tents & Umbrellas — Know the Rules
From May 15 through September 15, tents, canopies, cabanas, and other large shade structures are not allowed on North Myrtle Beach sand. Only round umbrellas are permitted, with a center pole no taller than 7'6" and a canopy no larger than 9 feet in diameter. (Small infant/baby tents up to 36"x36"x36" are the exception.) Outside that window, small tents are allowed but must be set up 10 feet behind the umbrella line. No personal items may be left on the beach overnight between 7:00 PM and 8:00 AM — chairs, tents, coolers, etc. will be removed.
Renting Beach Gear
Since we don't supply chairs/umbrellas/towels, several local companies deliver and set up rental gear right on the sand, or you can rent/buy in town:
- City of North Myrtle Beach Beach Services — official city chair/umbrella rental, roughly late April–mid October, ~9am–5pm. Published rates: chair $20/day or $80/week, umbrella $30/day or $120/week, 2 chairs + umbrella combo $45/day or $195/week. nmb.us/626/Chair-Umbrella-Rentals
- BC Beach Services — delivered weekly packages, e.g. 2 chairs + umbrella + towels + cooler from about $99/week. bcbeachservices.com
- North Strand Beach Services — local delivery of beach and family equipment. northstrandbeachservice.com
- Buy beach towels & beachwear locally: Bargain Beachwear or Pacific Beachwear, both nearby, for towels, swimsuits, and vacation essentials.
Baby & Toddler Equipment
You don't need to pack the car with baby gear — a few local companies deliver directly to the townhome:
- Baby Gear Myrtle Beach — cribs, Pack 'n Plays, high chairs, strollers, monitors, gates, and beach equipment. Sample rates: Pack 'n Play ~$15/day or $42/week, high chair ~$15/day or $49/week, full crib ~$25–$30/day or $82–$110/week; beach towels also available to rent, ~$5/day or $10/week. babygearmyrtlebeach.com
- BabyQuip — we've personally coordinated a crib and stroller delivery through a local BabyQuip provider and it was a great experience: gear was delivered, set up, and waiting in the townhome before check-in. Book online and a local provider handles delivery/setup/pickup for cribs, strollers, high chairs, and more. babyquip.com
- Noah's Ark Baby Shop — local baby & children's store, also offers vacation gear rentals. noahsarkbabyshop.com
Tip for a week-long stay: rent 2–4 beach chairs, an umbrella, towels, and a small cooler for the beach, and (if needed) a Pack 'n Play/crib, high chair, stroller, and monitor for little ones — have it all delivered before you arrive.
Beach Safety — Flags & Rip Currents
North Myrtle Beach lifeguards fly colored flags to signal water conditions:
- Green — low hazard
- Yellow — moderate surf/currents, use caution
- Red — high hazard
- Double Red — water closed to the public
- Purple — dangerous marine life present
Sunrise on the Beach
North Myrtle Beach faces east/southeast, which makes it a genuinely great spot to watch the sunrise over the Atlantic — an early morning walk is one of our favorite ways to start a vacation day, and the beach is at its quietest then too.
Golf Carts on the Beach/Streets
You may see golf carts elsewhere in North Myrtle Beach — the city does permit them on certain streets (35 mph or under, registered, sunrise to sunset). However, our HOA does not allow golf cart rentals at this property under any circumstances — none may be rented, brought, or stored here.