Our Guide to Surfside Beach

By Grace O.

Grace writes for Sea Star Realty, helping you plan incredible vacations in and along the Grand Strand!

We all know Myrtle Beach is a fantastic place to take a vacation, but do you know all the ins and outs of the different neighborhoods that comprise it? That's right, Sea Star Realty has vacation rentals all along the Grand Strand, including Garden City Beach, Murrells Inlet, North Litchfield Beach, and the topic of our blog piece today: Surfside Beach.

Myrtle Beach is a great destination for any traveler, but each beach has slight variances that make it ideal for different demographics. Wondering if Surfside Beach is the place for you? We'll cover everything you need to know about a vacation here in our guide to Surfside Beach!

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In this blog:

• What is the Weather Like in Surfside Beach, SC?
• What's the Difference Between Surfside Beach and Myrtle Beach?
• The Family Beach: Visit Surfside for a Family-Friendly Myrtle Beach Vacation
• Things to Do in Surfside Beach
• Surfside Beach Dining
• Book Your Stay Directly with us at Sea Star Realty!

What is the Weather Like in Surfside Beach, SC?

The weather in Surfside stays pretty temperate year-round. Temperatures rarely drop to freezing, so even if you're planning a stay in spring or fall, you're still likely to be able to visit the beach! In fact, highs start to creep into the 80s by May, and stay there well into September, so a "summer" vacation has the potential to be bright and sunny all the way from Memorial Day through Labor Day and beyond!

Make sure you pack sunscreen—our stretch of coast averages 218 sunny days a year! When it does rain, most storms are quick, pop-up events over with in an hour or so due to the combination of high humidity and ocean breezes. As always, make sure you check the forecast before leaving for vacation in case of more serious inclement weather, and consider purchasing travel insurance to protect yourself financially!

Interested in the weather along the Grand Strand?

Read Up on Tide Charts & Local Weather

What's the Difference Between Surfside Beach and Myrtle Beach?

Surfside Beach and Myrtle Beach are quite different when it comes to the atmosphere you're looking for in a vacation destination! While Myrtle Beach lives up to its reputation of being an entertainment hub, Surfside is much quieter and more residential. You can find nearly anything to do in Myrtle Beach well past midnight, while Surfside quiets down around 9-10 PM. The beach itself is much less crowded in Surfside Beach, too, even during peak travel time. We like to think of the whole town as a hidden gem!

The Family Beach: Visit Surfside for a Family-Friendly Myrtle Beach Vacation

Surfside Beach is known as the "family beach", and it's easy to see why. As we said, the town is simply less busy than Myrtle Beach, and there's more room to spread out and enjoy your beach days. Most people who visit Surfside are families who want to spend time relaxing on a beach where the kids can splash in the water and build sandcastles, all while staying within their parents' line of sight! The town of Surfside itself does a good job of enforcing family-friendly policies, so you won't have to worry about college spring breakers crashing your vacation.

Things to Do in Surfside Beach

While Surfside is a bit more lowkey than Myrtle Beach, that doesn't mean there's nothing to do around here!

Explore the Surfside Beach Pier

• Perfect for fishing, walking, or just people-watching, the 25-foot Surfside Pier is home to restaurants, a bait and tackle shop, and yes—the famous Drippy's Homemade Ice Cream. It's a great place to drop a line if you want to do some fishing on your trip (just $14/a day when you check in at Perry's Bait & Tackle Shop on the pier)!

All Children's Park

• Fantastic for letting your kids get some energy out if they grow tired of the beach or just want to play on the monkey bars!

Hudson's Surfside Flea Market

In the mood for a thrift find? You never know just what you'll discover at this beloved local flea.

Huntington State Park

Located in nearby Murrells Inlet, you can enjoy many activities here, such as bird watching, nature trails, and the historic Atalya Castle.

Brookgreen Gardens

Also nearby in Murrells Inlet, there are always exciting activities happening at Brookgreen. Plus, you'll be blown away by the natural beauty of the gardens themselves, including majestic live oak trees draped in Spanish moss.

Surfside Beach Dining

Of course, everyone needs to eat on vacation! And Surfside Beach doesn't disappoint when it comes to dining options. Whether you're looking for something easy after a beach day or you want to try the best breakfast in town, you have options here!

Benjamin's Bakery

The place to be in the morning! With accolades including Best Bakery in South Carolina (2024) and Best of the Grand Strand (2025), you won't want to miss a stop here! Try a delicious breakfast sandwich or an award-winning pastry like the Bear Claw or Beehive.

• Menu
• Location: 810 3rd Ave. South, Surfside Beach, SC 29575

Golden Egg Pancake House

Another can't-beat breakfast place; this is the best option when you have more time to dine in! They've been serving up great food on Surfside Beach for over 30 years. The Goldie's Egg Benedicts never disappoint!

• Menu
• Location: 415 US-17 BUS, Surfside Beach, SC, 29575

Dagwood's Surfside

Surfside's quintessential sports bar! Don't worry, it's still family-friendly. They have a menu full of mouthwatering deli sandwiches. We'd recommend the fish and chips.

• Menu
• Location: 600 Highway 17 N, Surfside Beach, SC 29575

Drippy's Ice Cream

You can't go wrong with a classic ice cream place like Drippy's. Their ice cream is homemade, so you know it's going to be incredible! You'll have to stop in to see their flavors of the day, but their online menu includes offerings like ice cream cake—perfect for a birthday party!

• Menu
• Location: 11 Ocean Blvd. South, Surfside Beach, South Carolina 29575

Book Your Stay Directly with us at Sea Star Realty!

Stay in a gorgeous Surfside vacation rental with a private pool like the 8-Bed, 8.5-Bath, "Wonder By the Sea". It sleeps a whopping 28 guests!

Now that you know all the wonderful things that go along with vacationing in Surfside, it's time to book your stay! And when it comes to the best vacation rentals along the Grand Strand, that's where we at Sea Star Realty come in.

Our extensive array of Myrtle Beach area vacation rentals doesn't disappoint, and our homes in Surfside are perfect for families like yours! Whether you want to book a pet-friendly Surfside Beach vacation rental so the whole family can join on your trip or you want to prioritize a home with an ocean view so you can see the ocean during your whole stay, we're confident you'll find the perfect fit in our catalog!

Booking directly with Sea Star Realty gives you access to our knowledgeable local team, here to help with any issues that arise during your stay (and to provide recommendations on things to do in town, where to eat, etc.). Plus, you'll save time, money, and stress when compared to booking with a third-party OTA. Ready to make your vacation dreams a reality? Browse our available Surfside Beach vacation rentals today and book your Grand Strand vacation directly with Sea Star Realty!