SC has one of the most dangerous spring break destinations in US, new study says. Here’s why

With miles of Atlantic coastline, family-friendly attractions and popular golf spots, it’s no wonder Myrtle Beach consistently draws spring break visitors. But according to a new study, the city is also one of the United States’ most dangerous destinations.

Illinois-based personal injury law firm 844SeeMike recently identified risk categories to rank the most dangerous spring break spots with overall safety risk scores.

The study used Centers for Disease Control and National Highway Transport Safety Administration data to analyze alcohol-related deaths, drowning deaths, DUI-related fatal crashes, fatal crashes with cyclists, fatal crashes with pedestrians, hit-and-runs and homicides per 100,000 people.

Myrtle Beach came in at number five on the list, with an overall safety risk of 18.4 out of 100. The city had higher risk scores — between 23 and 27 points — for cyclist danger, alcohol-related fatalities, DUI incidents and hit-and-runs.

Other metrics posed moderate or low risks in Myrtle Beach, according to the study. The city scored 12 points for drowning and homicide risks,and just two points for pedestrian danger.

However, because the city statistics rely on year-round populations, the study doesn’t necessarily reflect the risks for cities where the number of people fluctuates significantly with tourism.

“While safety is always important, labeling Myrtle Beach the ‘#5 most dangerous spring break destination’ is misleading and lacks context,” city of Myrtle Beach public information officer Meredith Denari said in an email.

Although Myrtle Beach’s stable population is less than 40,000 people, according to the Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Grand Strand area receives nearly 20 million visitors every year, making it difficult to accurately evaluate the study’s risk score metrics.

“The study fails to account for Myrtle Beach’s massive seasonal population surge, where the city’s population jumps from around 39,000 permanent residents to hundreds of thousands of visitors during any given time,” Denari said. “This fact makes most studies using our seasonal population not only misleading, but inaccurate. Without adjusting for this influx, statistics like DUI rates and accident numbers are heavily skewed.”

One other city in the Palmetto State, Charleston, also made the list. Florida topped the list with three cities, but Tennessee also made multiple appearances.

Full list of most dangerous U.S. spring break destinations

1. Daytona Beach, Florida

Overall safety risk: 23.3

2. Panama City Beach, Florida

Overall safety risk: 20.8

3. Naples, Florida

Overall safety risk: 18.9

4. South Padre Island, Texas

Overall safety risk: 18.6

5. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Overall safety risk: 18.4

6. Tucson, Arizona

Overall safety risk: 17.5

7. New Orleans, Louisiana

Overall safety risk: 17.2

8. Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Overall safety risk: 16.5

9. Charleston, South Carolina

Overall safety risk: 15.7

10. Nashville, Tennessee

Overall safety risk: 14.5

This story was originally published March 21, 2025 at 6:00 AM.