stop in Myrtle beach

[Evelyne]

On our next trip to WDW we will be driving. We usually drive straight true, this time would like to stop in Myrtle Beach for a night, would try to get there by noon and leave early 4-5 AM. Any of you did it, give me some advice on where to stay and what to see.

1990 to 1992 Off site
1994 and 1995 Off site
1998 and 1999 Off site
2000 to 2003 All star Sports
2004 to 2011 Pop Century
2012 The World was great again (Pop Century) without the kids for the 1st time
2013 March Disneymoon with the kids
2013 September 2th adult trip, kind of another Disneymoon
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[dancin Disney style]

Myrtle Beach is pretty much Niagara Falls with a beach. Not really anything that exciting...cheesy, expensive attractions. It's a decent place to vacation for a few days but not worth a detour from FL....IMO. The shopping and restaurants are all the same ones that they have in Orlando.

Stop off in Daytona or somewhere in FL if you want to visit the beach. It will get you more time as it's not that far off your road home.

 

[Josh Hendy]

We dropped into Myrtle Beach for one night on the way home from Florida about 10 years ago. One of the things that surprised me was how much time was eaten up getting off the highway and traveling cross-country to get there. It's hard to pop in for only 1 night and then get back on the interstate without losing a lot of time. It's still a nice place to visit, but hard to enjoy when you only have 1/2 day or less.

Another side excursion that takes less time is to drive a portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. Even a 1 hour side trip is very pleasant and the scenery is beautiful. For example you can get off I-95 at Buena Vista VA, continue north on the parkway, and go back to I-95 at Vesuvius near Staunton VA. Or you can continue all the way north to Front Royal VA which would take maybe 5 hours, but all of it in the same direction you are going. (adding only about 3 more hours to your trip compared to driving I-95 all the way)

 

[bankr63]

I agree with PP about MB being difficult to reach for only an overnight. The drive from 95 is pretty much all 2 lane with some lower speed 4 lane (not interstate). Traffic can be a nightmare at times in the summer.

If Myrtle is near where you want to be stopping however, I would suggest going a little farther south for a stop at historic Charleston SC which has interstate right to the downtown (but still a bit of a detour), or Savannah GA which is on 95. Both have plenty of attractions to keep you busy for an afternoon.

If it's just a beach stop you want, try Hilton Head near Savannah. Lots of resorts to spend the night at. Access is much quicker than Myrtle. That's a pretty good stop for a final push down to Orlando.

PS - I am assuming by next trip you mean the summer trip in your ticker. If it is the winter trip, many, many attractions in Myrtle are closed for the season; it really is a summer only destination. We quite enjoyed a weeklong visit there last March, mostly because of how quiet it was.

Accommodation:
Myrtle: every hotel chain known has a location there. As Sheraton owners we enjoy Sheraton Broadway Plantation, but it is a couple of long blocks from the ocean.
Charleston: if you are arriving around noon, the Charleston Visitors Centre runs a service for last minute bookings with discounted rates at the many B&B's and smaller hotels in the core. Most of the bigger chains are out near the airport (Charleston is small, think DDO to Dorval for distance).
For Hilton Head and Savannah, I don't have any suggestions, but check online

Fun Stuff:
Myrtle Beach:
Broadway at the Beach (dining, shopping, mini-golf, amusements, Ripley's aquarium)
The Sky Wheel (enclosed cabin ferris wheel)
Family Kingdom amusement park (small)
Mini-putt (more courses than anywhere else!)
Brookgreen Gardens (but you likely won't have that much time)

Charleston SC:
Fort Sumter Tour
The Old Slave Market (fascinating history, but boring for the young ones)
The downtown Market
Just walk around, history oozes out of this place!