Grand Strand North vs South — The 55+ Community Location Guide

The Grand Strand runs 60 miles from Little River in the north to Pawleys Island in the south. The communities covered on this site sit across most of that range, and the geography matters more than most buyers realize before they visit. North Myrtle Beach (Little River, NMB proper): quieter, more residential, less tourist infrastructure. Del Webb North Myrtle Beach and Bridgewater are here. 5–10 minutes to Cherry Grove Beach, 10–15 minutes to the main resort strip. Central Myrtle Beach (Market Common, the resort strip): maximum entertainment density, Ocean Boulevard, The Broadway at the Beach, multiple hospital systems nearby. Cresswind sits in Market Common. This is the most urban part of the market. South Strand (Murrells Inlet, Surfside Beach, Garden City): quieter, more authentic, residential coastal character. Seasons at Prince Creek West and Myrtle Trace are in this zone. The Marshwalk in Murrells Inlet, Brookgreen Gardens, Huntington Beach State Park. Conway (inland): 20–25 miles from any beach. Myrtle Trace is here. Authentic small-city character, lowest cost of living in the market, Coastal Carolina University nearby. For buyers choosing between communities on different parts of the corridor: visit each geography separately on a Tuesday and a Saturday to understand the traffic, the character, and whether it matches your vision for daily life.