Myrtle Beach vacation math gets weird fast. You budget for beach days — free, right? — and then you're somehow $400 into a Tuesday. This guide breaks down what a family of four actually spends at 36 real Myrtle Beach activities, from $0 to over $200 a day. No vague "prices vary" hedging. Real numbers.
Free Activities in Myrtle Beach
There's more free stuff here than most families realize.
Savannah's Playground is rated 4.9 stars from 2,597 reviews — one of the highest-rated free attractions in the entire area. Bring water, snacks, and sunscreen. Cost: $0.
Myrtle Beach itself is free to access, but budget $20–40 for parking and $50–80 for food if you're not packing a cooler. A full beach day runs $70–120 for a family of four when everything adds up. Pack your own lunch and park a few blocks back to cut that in half.
McLean Park is North Myrtle Beach's flagship community park — tennis courts, playground, picnic grounds. 1,189 reviews at 4.6 stars. Cost: $0. Bring your own picnic and sports gear.
McLean Park playground, All Children's Park in Surfside Beach (173 reviews, 4.7 stars), North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex (163 acres of trails and fields), and Nature Center are all completely free. Pavilion Park, Elsie's Playground, Socastee Recreational Park (469 reviews, 4.5 stars), and Plyler Park at the oceanfront boardwalk all cost $0 to enter. Budget $10–20 at Plyler if kids spot ice cream.
Budget Picks (Under $50 for a Family of Four)
Backstage Mirror Maze at Broadway at the Beach runs $40–60 for a family of four and takes 30–60 minutes. Good add-on, not a standalone day trip.
Boardwalk Arcade and Fun Plaza are classic boardwalk arcades on N Ocean Blvd — both run $40–80 depending how many tokens your kids burn through. Set a per-child spending limit before walking in and buy tokens in bulk for better per-game value.
Kids Climb Free on N Kings Hwy has a perfect 5-star rating. Budget $40–70 estimated — the name suggests possible free climbing for kids under certain conditions, worth verifying with a quick Facebook check before you go.
Mid-Range Activities ($50–$100 for a Family of Four)
Zero Gravity at Broadway at the Beach earns a 5-star rating. Budget $50–90 for your family depending on which activities you choose. Broadway at the Beach has free parking, so this fits into a larger day at the complex.
Star Academy North Myrtle Beach is a 4.8-star indoor play space on Main St — family session runs $50–80. The best choice for families staying in North Myrtle Beach who don't want to drive south.
Fun Walls Kids Climbing & Arcade in North Myrtle Beach runs $50–80. Call ahead (843-361-0047) to confirm hours.
Interactive Experience Unleashed on N Kings Hwy runs $50–90 for a family. 4.5 stars. Verify operating days at interactiveexperienceunleashed.com — limited schedule.
Lowcountry Zoo at Brookgreen Gardens runs $60–90 for zoo admission alone. The combined Brookgreen Gardens ticket is $100–140 but is genuinely the better value if you have a full day — native SC wildlife including river otters, alligators, and birds of prey.
EdVenture Myrtle Beach is a hands-on children's museum at $60–80 for a family of four. 4.2 stars. Check for AAA discounts before buying at the door.
Free Fall Thrill Park runs $60–100 depending on which rides your kids want. Pay per-ride rather than bundling if they only want specific attractions.
Soar + Explore and Garden City Pavilion Arcade & GiGi's Grill both run $60–100. The Pavilion has food on-site, which eliminates a separate restaurant stop.
Myrtle Beach Virtual Reality runs $80–120 for two adults and two kids. 4.6 stars. Book in advance — sessions sell out in summer.
Sandy Harbor Family Fun Center runs $80–120 for a full visit with rides and arcade. 4.6 stars. Multi-activity packages beat per-ride pricing.
Big Air Trampoline and Adventure Park has 1,422 reviews at 4.8 stars. One-hour sessions for two kids and two adults: $80–120. Book online — summer spots sell out fast.
Sky Zone Trampoline Park runs $80–120 for two kids and two adults. 4.4 stars. Book at skyzone.com/myrtlebeach and check for Toddler Time sessions at lower pricing.
LuLu's Beach Arcade and Ropes Course runs $70–110 for ropes course and arcade. 4.4 stars. Combo packages give better value than buying separately.
The Track - Myrtle Beach runs $80–130 for a family of four with multiple activities. 4.3 stars. Buy activity packages.
Stars and Strikes at Coastal Grand mall covers bowling, laser tag, arcade, and a restaurant — $80–130 for a family of four including food. 4.3 stars. The combo packages make this a full afternoon in one stop.
Ripley's Believe It or Not\! has 6,635 reviews at 4.2 stars — one of the most-visited paid attractions in the area. Family admission: $80–100. Ripley's combo tickets bundle multiple Myrtle Beach venues at a discount; always buy online.
Splurge-Worthy Experiences (Over $100)
Broadway Grand Prix runs $100–150 for multiple track races and activities for a family of four. 4.3 stars. Multi-race packages beat per-race pricing significantly. Worth every penny for families with kids who are actually into racing.
Myrtle Waves Water Park is the biggest number on this list: admission runs $120–160 for a family of four, plus $40–60 in-park food, putting a full day at $160–220. 4.2 stars. Buy tickets online in advance for a discount. Bring your own water bottles and snacks — in-park food prices are aggressive. Arrive at opening to get maximum ride time before lines build.
Money-Saving Tips in Myrtle Beach
- Pack a full cooler for beach days. Boardwalk food costs $50–80 for a family. A cooler cuts that to $15–20.
- Park away from the oceanfront. Street parking 2–3 blocks back is cheaper or free. Oceanfront lots run $20–40.
- Cluster Broadway at the Beach activities. Zero Gravity, Backstage Mirror Maze, Elsie's Playground, and Action Park are all walkable from the same free parking lot.
- Book trampoline parks online. Sky Zone and Big Air both offer online discounts. Summer sessions sell out — book a day ahead.
- Use Ripley's combo tickets. If you're visiting multiple Ripley's attractions, the bundle saves $10–20 over individual pricing.
- Lowcountry Zoo plus Brookgreen Gardens combined ticket. Better value than zoo-only if you want a full outdoor day.
- Bring your own grip socks. Sky Zone and Big Air charge $3–4 per person. A multi-pack from Amazon costs $10 for the whole family.
- Weekday afternoons beat weekends. Broadway Grand Prix and The Track have shorter lines Tuesday–Thursday, so you actually get more for your money.
What a Typical Family Spends
Budget day — two free parks + beach with packed cooler + boardwalk arcade: - Beach parking: $15 - Boardwalk Arcade tokens: $50 - Packed lunch and snacks from home: $20 - Total: ~$85
Average day — one paid attraction + beach + restaurant lunch: - Big Air Trampoline: $100 - Beach parking: $20 - Casual restaurant lunch: $60 - Total: ~$180
Splurge day — water park + dinner out: - Myrtle Waves admission: $140 - In-park food: $50 - Dinner: $80 - Total: ~$270
A realistic two-day Myrtle Beach trip mixing one splurge day and one budget day runs $350–450 in activity and food costs before hotel. That's the honest number. Plan for it and you won't be caught off guard on checkout morning.