Unusually warm weather set for Myrtle Beach area. Here’s how hot & how to make the most of it
Although South Carolina isn’t known for its frigid winters, this weekend could bring the warmest temperatures for this time of year in more than a quarter-century.
On Saturday coastal Horry County will have temperature highs in the upper 60s Fahrenheit and inland the county will see highs in the lower 70s F, according to the latest forecasts from the National Weather Service’s Wilmington office.
Sunday will bring even warmer temperatures. Highs around the mid 70s F are projected along the Horry County coast, the county’s central region will see highs in the upper 70s and in northern Horry temperatures could reach 80 F.
Temperatures at the NWS North Myrtle Beach site — one of four in the Wilmington region — are forecasted to reach 74 F on Sunday. If that happens, 2025 will tie with 1999 for the warmest Feb. 9 on record at the site.
Even if temperatures don’t break records, this weekend will bring unseasonably warm weather the area usually sees in April and May–without the peak-season crowds.
If you want to make the most of the winter warmth in the tourist off-season, check out these outdoor options around the Grand Strand.
Take a beach bike ride
Spring is the perfect time for a seaside ride in Myrtle Beach because you can go anytime of day.
From May 1 through Labor Day, the city bans the use of bicycles, tricycles and similar human, gas or electric-powered wheeled vehicles between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on public beaches.
You can also take your bicycle out on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk whenever you want until May 1. During the tourist season, you can only bike on the boardwalk between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Enjoy a game of (mini) golf
Myrtle Beach is both the golf and mini golf capital of the world, according to the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau. While those titles are up for debate, the Myrtle Beach area has plenty to offer serious and mini golfers.
The Grand Strand is home to more than 80 golf courses, 13 of which landed a spot on Golfweek’s 2024 “Best You Can Play in South Carolina.” You can check out courses and packages on the Play Golf Myrtle Beach website.
If you’re looking for a cheaper, more accessible game, the Grand Strand also offers dozens of mini golf courses with immersive themes like mythology, pirates and dinosaurs. You can even check out the official US ProMiniGolf Master’s course, Hawaiian Rumble Minigolf in North Myrtle Beach.
Rent a kayak or hit the surf
If you want to get out on the water this weekend, you’ll have a lot more freedom than you would in the peak tourist season.
From May 1 through Labor Day, the city of Myrtle Beach bans using kayaks or surfboards within 75 feet of fishing piers anytime of day and limits use in the ocean between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to these areas:
710 feet of the center line of the 29th Avenue South street-end to the south city limits
34th Avenue North to 47th Avenue North
62nd Avenue North to 68th Avenue North.
78th Avenue North to 81st Avenue North
87th Avenue North to the north city limits
But until May, you’re welcome to enjoy the waves whenever and wherever you want in Myrtle Beach.
Visit a state park
Two state parks in the Grand Strand offer unparalleled opportunities to immerse yourself in the area’s natural beauty.
The Myrtle Beach State Park is home to more than 300 acres of maritime forest where you can take a picnic, swim, bird watch or geocache. If you want to hit the 2-and-a-half-mile trail loop, you can head out on foot or bike. Besides fishing, the park’s pier is a great spot to keep an eye out for pods of dolphins or even whales.
Located on the south end of the Grand Strand in Murrells Inlet, Huntington Beach State Park’s varied habitats offer some of the best wildlife watching opportunities in the area. The nature center features aquariums, bird and alligator exhibits, but if you spend time in the park you could spot some of the South Carolina locals in the wild.
Immerse yourself in history
Atalaya Castle in Huntington Beach State Park was constructed nearly a century ago by wealthy couple Archer and Anna Huntington. The massive mansion made up of 30 rooms inspired by Spanish and Moorish architecture served as U.S. Air Force barracks in World War II and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Today, the castle is open daily to visitors unless the venue is hosting an event.
Next to Huntington Beach State Park, visitors can explore art, history and local plants and animals at Brookgreen Gardens. The grounds feature historical plaques, but Brookgreen also offers several guided tours of the former rice plantation and slave village, a cemetery, a Civil War fort and more.
Folks who want to see history come to life can check out the Horry County Museum’s L.W. Paul Living History Farm. Visitors explore what everyday life was like on a typical family farm in Horry County from 1900 to 1955. The farm is open Tuesday through Saturday and offers free guided tours at 10 a.m. every Saturday.