Myrtle Beach - Pier 14

At a glance

About this spot

Easygoing South Carolina beach break around the pier — small most days, fun on hurricane swell.

Location

33.6891, -78.8867

Photos

Trip overview

Pier 14 is the surf around the 14th Avenue Pier at the north end of the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk — a soft, sandy beach break in the middle of South Carolina's Grand Strand. Be honest with yourself about what this is: a gently sloping Atlantic beach that's flat or knee-high most of the calendar year, fattened by a wide continental shelf that strips the punch out of all but the most committed swells. When it does turn on — a passing hurricane or tropical system spinning offshore in late summer and fall, or a hard winter nor'easter — it can deliver fun, rippable waist-to-head-high peaks with both lefts and rights, working best on a SE swell, a NW offshore wind, and low tide. The pilings focus the sandbars, so the bank near the pier is usually the standout, but the surf is shifty and you'll move around to find the corner that's connecting.

The single most important thing a traveling surfer needs to know about Myrtle Beach has nothing to do with the swell: the city heavily restricts surfing in summer. From May 1 through Labor Day, boards are only allowed in designated surf zones (the main, closest one runs south of 29th Avenue South; a handful of smaller zones sit up the north end), generally between 10am and 5pm, and never within 75 yards of any pier — which puts the wave directly off Pier 14 off-limits in peak season. Plan a surf trip here for the shoulder and winter months (October through April) when the whole beach opens up, the crowds thin, and the best swells actually arrive. In summer you can still surf the Strand, just not at this pier — you'll drive south to the open zone.

What you get in return is dead-easy logistics: MYR airport is three miles away, you can sleep oceanfront a block from the lineup, and the boardwalk's restaurants, arcades, and the SkyWheel are at your feet. This is a forgiving learner's beach and a tourist town first, a surf destination a distant second — come with low wave expectations, watch the forecast for a storm pulse, and treat the surf as a bonus on top of a cheap, easy beach holiday.

Local vibe & lineup etiquette

The Grand Strand lineup is known as friendly and low-key — this is a learner's beach in a tourist town, and on the rare good day the small crew of locals is more stoked than territorial. Standard beach-break manners apply: don't drop in, share the shifty peaks, and give the pier pilings (and any fishing lines) a wide berth. Respecting the city's surf-zone and pier-distance rules matters as much as lineup etiquette here.

In the lineup: The sandbars shift constantly — scout from the boardwalk before paddling out and pick the bank that's lined up, often near (but legally clear of) the pier pilings. Stay at least 75 yards from the pier (a year-round city rule and just good sense around fishing lines), and wear a leash — it's legally required. Watch for rip currents pulling out along the bars, especially on bigger swells and outgoing tide; they're the main hazard. Entry and exit are easy off the flat sand beach.

Myrtle Beach is unapologetic American beach-vacation kitsch: neon, mini-golf, pancake houses, airbrush T-shirt shops, and a boardwalk packed with families and bikers depending on the week. Downtown around Pier 14 is the touristy heart of it — fun, cheap, and busy in summer, sleepy and pleasant in the off-season. It's not a surf town and doesn't pretend to be; embrace the boardwalk-holiday energy and treat the surf as a happy bonus.

Getting there

Fly into Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) — about 3 miles from the break, 10–15 minutes. Wilmington (ILM) is about 75 miles northeast and Charleston (CHS) about 95 miles southwest — both occasionally cheaper or better-connected, but MYR is so close to the beach that it's almost always the right call unless the fare gap is large.

• rideshare$12–22 one way10–15 minutes

  Uber and Lyft both operate at MYR with a designated pickup at baggage claim. The cheapest no-car option for getting to the boardwalk area, though a long board bag may need an XL/SUV vehicle — confirm in the app before requesting.

• taxi$18–30 one way10–15 minutes

  First-come taxis queue outside baggage claim (Door 6). Fine for the short hop downtown; ask for a wagon or SUV if you're traveling with boards.

• rental car$35–70/day10–15 minutes self-drive

  Eight national rental brands sit in the airport parking garage. A car is the practical choice for a surf trip because you'll likely need to drive to the open summer surf zone south of 29th Ave S, or chase a better bank up or down the Strand.

• bus$2–3 per ride30–45 minutes

  Coast RTA Route 15 stops at the airport (Jetport Road) and connects to the wider Grand Strand network; cheap but slow and infrequent, and not board-bag friendly. Realistic only for the carless on a tight budget.

Getting around

A rental car ($35–70/day from MYR) is the practical pick — it lets you reach the designated summer surf zone, chase the best sandbar up or down the 60-mile Grand Strand, and run grocery errands inland on Kings Highway. Carless travelers based oceanfront manage fine in the cooler months when the pier zone is surfable on foot, leaning on Uber/Lyft (plentiful and cheap, $8–20 around town) and the Coast RTA bus for longer hops. There's no scooter-rental culture here; this is a drive-everywhere American beach town. Note paid parking: the city meters beach/street-end and downtown parking March 1–Oct 31, enforced 9am–midnight (roughly $3/hr or $15 all-day at the beach, $2/hr or $10 downtown), and it's free November through February.

Boards: Most rental cars are sedans or small SUVs — bring soft racks and tie-downs if you want roof transport, or fit a shortboard inside with the seats down. Rideshares handle a board bag only if you book an XL/SUV; note it in the ride notes. If you're walking from an oceanfront room, you may never need to move boards by vehicle at all in the off-season.

Where to stay

• Bay View on the Boardwalkresort$ mid-range

  ~5 blocks south of Pier 14, oceanfront on the boardwalk — 8–10 min walk · Oceanfront condo-style rooms with kitchenettes right on the boardwalk, with pools and a lazy river. Kitchens make the thin downtown grocery scene workable, and you're walking distance to the pier surf in the off-season. (Direct (bayviewresort.com), Booking.com, Expedia)

• Holiday Pavilion Resort on the Boardwalkhotel$ mid-range

  Oceanfront at 1200 N Ocean Blvd — ~1 block from Pier 14, 2–3 min walk · The closest large oceanfront hotel to the Pier 14 lineup (formerly the Holiday Inn at the Pavilion, now independently flagged), two blocks from the SkyWheel. Standard oceanfront rooms and suites; the unbeatable location is the draw for a surf-and-boardwalk base. (Direct (holidaypavilionresort.com), Booking.com, Expedia)

• Holiday Sands North 'On the Boardwalk'hotel$ budget

  Oceanfront on the boardwalk — short walk to Pier 14 · Long-running budget oceanfront pick directly on the boardwalk, with an oceanfront cafe, lazy river, and pools. The value option if you want to be on the sand without paying resort prices. (Direct, Booking.com, Expedia)

• Courtyard by Marriott Myrtle Beach Oceanfronthotel$ mid-range

  Oceanfront a few blocks from Pier 14 — 5–10 min walk · Reliable, modern Marriott rooms on the oceanfront for travelers who want a known quantity and points. Walkable to the pier and boardwalk in the off-season. (Direct (Marriott), Booking.com)

• Sea Dunes Oceanfront Hotelhotel$ budget

  Oceanfront at 605 S Ocean Blvd, south end of downtown — ~1.2 mi / short drive to Pier 14 · No-frills budget oceanfront motel on S Ocean Boulevard near Family Kingdom, a longtime cheap-sleep option on the Strand. Basic rooms, but ocean access and a low nightly rate suit a surf-bum trip; note it typically closes early Jan to mid-Feb. (Direct (seadunesoceanfront.com), Booking.com)

• Boardwalk Beach Resortresort$ mid-range

  Oceanfront at 2301 N Ocean Blvd, just north of the boardwalk's north end — ~9 blocks / short drive or 15-min walk to Pier 14 · Family-oriented oceanfront resort with kitchenette suites, pools, and a long lazy river, a short way north of the 14th Ave Pier. Suites with kitchens help offset the lack of a nearby supermarket. (Direct (boardwalkresort.com), Booking.com, Expedia)

• Downtown oceanfront vacation rentals (Vrbo/Airbnb)vacation rental$ mid-range

  Varies — many within a few blocks of Pier 14 · Condo and apartment rentals in the oceanfront towers along N Ocean Blvd are plentiful and good value for groups or longer stays, with kitchens and laundry. Filter for a unit within walking distance of the 14th Ave Pier. (Vrbo, Airbnb)

Eat & drink

• Pier 14 Restaurant & Loungerestaurant$ mid-range

  Steamed Alaskan crab legs, grilled mahi mahi, bacon-wrapped scallops — The on-pier seafood landmark at 1306 N Ocean Blvd, a downtown staple since 1986 and steps from where you paddle out. Big oceanfront deck, lengthy reviews running through 2026 — the obvious post-surf meal.

• Oceanfront Bar & Grillrestaurant$ mid-range

  Conch fritters, grouper tacos, seafood platter — Corner spot on Ocean Boulevard operating since 1948, predating the boardwalk itself. Ocean views and a deep seafood menu; a reliable downtown sit-down within easy walking distance of the pier.

• Bummz Beach Cafebar$ mid-range

  Grouper fingers, steamed shrimp by the pound — Casual open-air beach bar and cafe on the boardwalk with tables facing the surf — a good spot for a quick, cheap bite and a beer while you watch the bank. Near the north end of the boardwalk close to Pier 14.

• Wicked Tunarestaurant$$ high-end

  Catch of the day, oysters Rockefeller, sushi — Higher-end 'hook to plate' seafood at the Second Avenue Pier on the south end of the boardwalk, about a 20-minute walk from Pier 14. Worth it for the fresh-fish dinner when you want to step up from boardwalk casual.

• Peaches Cornerstreet food$ budget

  Footlong hot dogs and burgers — A boardwalk institution since 1937 slinging cheap footlong dogs, burgers, and beer right on Ocean Boulevard. The classic fast, greasy, cheap post-surf refuel.

• River City Caferestaurant$ budget

  Burgers and peanuts on the floor — Beloved local burger joint a short walk/drive from the boardwalk where you crack peanuts and toss the shells on the floor. Cheap, filling, and very Myrtle Beach.

• Sea Captain's Houserestaurant$ mid-range

  She-crab soup, fried seafood platter — Long-running oceanfront seafood restaurant about a mile north on N Ocean Blvd, known for she-crab soup and a more refined sit-down meal. Worth the short drive for a proper dinner.

Cooking for yourself

• Piggly Wiggly (Kings Highway)supermarket

  The nearest full grocery to downtown — on Kings Highway, roughly a 20-minute walk or a 5-minute drive from the boardwalk. Downtown Myrtle Beach has lacked a walkable supermarket for years, so this is your closest real stock-up for a self-catering condo.

• Food Lion (N Kings Highway / 38th Ave N)supermarket

  Several Food Lion locations sit along Kings Highway (e.g. near 38th Ave N), a short drive inland from the oceanfront. A full supermarket for cooking in your rental; you'll want a car or rideshare to reach it.

• Boardwalk convenience storesminimart

  Small shops and beachwear/convenience stores line Ocean Boulevard for water, snacks, beer, sunscreen, and ice — fine for daily essentials, but not for a real grocery run. Stock up at a supermarket on Kings Highway for anything beyond basics.

Surf shops & rentals

• Surf City Surf Shop (Myrtle Beach)board rentalboard saleswaxleashesfinswetsuitsapparel~$15 half-day, ~$25/day, ~$100/week

  Long-running Grand Strand shop at 6303 N Kings Hwy carrying boards, wetsuits, wax, leashes, and accessories, plus surfboard, SUP, skimboard, and bodyboard rentals. The convenient stock-up if you fly in without gear; positive ID and a credit card required for rentals — call ahead for hours and availability.

• Village Surf Shoppe (home of Perfection Surfboards)board salesding repairwaxleashesfinswetsuitsapparel

  The area's soul shop — founded 1969 in Garden City Beach (Murrells Inlet area), a state historical landmark and home of hand-shaped Perfection Surfboards. About 30–40 minutes south of Pier 14, but the place to go for a real board, a ding fix, or local knowledge.

• Jack's Surf Lessons & Board Rentalslessonsboard rentalhourly and multi-day rentals available

  Well-reviewed local outfit (based near Springmaid Pier, 3200 S Ocean Blvd) running lessons and soft-top rentals, open daily in season. The easiest path to a first lesson or a beginner-friendly board on a calm summer day in the legal surf zone.

When you're not surfing

• Myrtle Beach Boardwalk & Promenadeculturefree

  The 1.2-mile oceanfront boardwalk runs from the 14th Avenue Pier (Pier 14) south to the 2nd Avenue Pier, lined with shops, arcades, and restaurants. Your front yard on a flat day; liveliest at night.

• SkyWheel Myrtle Beachadventure$18–25 per adult

  The 187-foot oceanfront Ferris wheel on the boardwalk, a couple of blocks from Pier 14. Climate-controlled gondolas and a good view of the sandbars you've been surfing.

• Brookgreen Gardensnature$20–24 per adult

  Sprawling sculpture garden and lowcountry nature preserve about 20 miles south near Murrells Inlet — moss-draped oaks, a small zoo, and one of the country's best outdoor sculpture collections. The standout flat-day day trip.

• Murrells Inlet MarshWalkfood drinkfree to walk; meals $

  Half-mile boardwalk over a saltmarsh ~25 minutes south, lined with seafood restaurants and live-music bars. Pair it with a stop at Village Surf Shoppe nearby — the best off-the-beach evening on this stretch of coast.

• Broadway at the Beachnightlifefree entry; attractions vary

  Big entertainment complex a couple miles inland with bars, mini-golf, an aquarium, and shops around a lake. The default rainy-day or kids-in-tow option.

• Huntington Beach State Parknature$8 per adult entry

  Quieter, wilder beach and a saltmarsh full of alligators and shorebirds about 18 miles south, with the Atalaya Castle ruins. A calm-day contrast to the boardwalk hustle, and the beach occasionally picks up surf too.

Practical notes

Know before you go — United States

Other passports: entry rules differ — check the official source before booking.

Frequently asked questions

Guide researched and verified 2026-06-17. Details change — confirm bookings and entry requirements before travel.

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