Holiday celebrations to cause heavy traffic in Myrtle Beach area. Here’s 5 areas to avoid
If you’re headed to see Conway’s Christmas lights on Dec. 24, or North Myrtle Beach’s light show, there’s a good chance a hoard of others will also be headed that way.
Here are what areas will be busy around Christmas and New Year’s and streets you should expect heavy traffic.
S.C. 90 and Robert Edge Parkway near S.C. 31
The Great Christmas Light Show in North Myrtle Beach tends to back up traffic along Robert Edge Parkway and S.C. 90 headed to the North Myrtle Beach sports arena. The show will run every night from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. until Dec. 30, with the exception of Dec. 25.
Lines can start before the event in the evening and last all night. While the traffic pattern North Myrtle Beach implements helps, the increase in cars can still cause delays. Some people have reported waiting up to three hours to go through the show.
U.S. 501 and S.C. 544 headed to Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University will host the Myrtle Beach Bowl this year at 11 a.m. on Dec. 23. Traffic to the stadium may increase before and after the game.
Watch out on U.S. 501 and S.C. 544 — two highways already saturated with traffic — in the morning and afternoon of Dec. 23.
U.S. 501 near downtown Conway
Every December, downtown Conway lights up with decorations all over the city and operates a Christmas Village. With only a few entrances into central Conway, getting into town after sunset the week of Christmas may become more difficult.
The Celebration of Lights will be active Dec. 21, 22, 24 and 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. along Ash Pond Road and Marina Drive. There’s also a large tree next to City Hall and a plethora of Christmas decorations outside and in local businesses.
U.S. 17 Business in Murrells Inlet
The Marsh Walk in Murrells Inlet will have the Wonderland of Lights nightly from 5 to 11 p.m. until Dec. 31 This could bring more people to the popular spot, increasing traffic every night along U.S. 17 Business.
The night of Dec. 31 will also be busy along U.S. 17 Business as patrons come down to celebrate New Year’s Eve on the Marsh Walk. Night time will bring an increase of cars on the roadway and in parking lots.
U.S. 17 in Murrells Inlet
The popular Brookgreen Gardens’ Nights of a Thousand Candles will keep traffic slow the week of Christmas but might pick up around New Year’s. The light show will be closed from Dec. 23 through Dec. 30 and will then open from Dec. 31 through Jan. 6.
Traffic can back up near the gardens and then as people exit the gardens during the event which is from 4 to 9 p.m.
