Three days in Myrtle Beach is enough time to hit the beach, knock out the best paid attractions, and still not feel like you've been marched through a checklist. This itinerary assumes a family of four (two adults, two kids), keeps geographic driving to a minimum, and gives you honest costs at every step. The total spend for three days of activities lands around $350–500 — not counting hotel and meals.
Day 1: The Beach + Broadway at the Beach
Start with the reason you came, then transition into the entertainment complex that anchors the middle of the strip.
Morning: Plyler Park and the Boardwalk
Plyler Park sits at the entry to the famous Myrtle Beach Boardwalk — wide paved paths, ocean views, and easy boardwalk access. Cost: $0. Arrive by 8:30 AM before the crowd builds. Walk the boardwalk (1.2 miles, flat and stroller-friendly), then transition to the beach by 9:30.
Myrtle Beach — beach access is free. Budget $20–30 for parking if you haven't found a free spot on a side street. Stay through 11:30 AM before it gets hot and crowded. Pack your own snacks and drinks.
Logistics: Bring a pop-up shade tent, sand toys, and a full cooler. Paid parking near the boardwalk runs $20–30. Free street parking is available 2–3 blocks back.
Afternoon: Broadway at the Beach
Broadway Grand Prix — multiple go-kart tracks with different difficulty levels. Budget $100–150 for a family of four with multiple race runs. Buy multi-race packages. This is the activity that kids talk about for the rest of the trip. 4.3 stars.
After racing, walk across the Broadway at the Beach complex to Zero Gravity — 5-star rating, budget $50–90 depending on activities. Broadway offers free parking for the whole complex.
Evening: Broadway at the Beach (continued)
Backstage Mirror Maze — $40–60 for the family, takes 30–60 minutes. 4.2 stars. Good post-dinner activity when you don't want to spend a lot but need one more thing. Pair with dinner at one of the Broadway complex's many restaurants.
Day 1 estimated activity spend: $190–300 (beach parking + Grand Prix + Zero Gravity + Mirror Maze)
Day 2: North Myrtle Beach + Indoor Adventures
Group your North Myrtle Beach activities together to avoid back-and-forth driving on the strip.
Morning: McLean Park
McLean Park is North Myrtle Beach's premier community park — 1,189 reviews at 4.6 stars. Tennis courts, playground, athletic fields, and wide open space. Cost: $0. Pack a full picnic. Plan 2–2.5 hours here.
Hit McLean Park playground (4.7 stars, free) as part of the same visit — it's within the park complex.
Logistics: Free parking at the park. Bring your own sports equipment. No on-site food, so the cooler from Day 1 carries over.
Mid-Morning to Afternoon: Star Academy and Fun Walls
Star Academy North Myrtle Beach — 4.8-star indoor play space on Main St in NMB. Budget $50–80 for a family session. Plan 1.5–2.5 hours. This is the best option for families with mixed ages (toddler + big kid) staying in North Myrtle Beach.
After lunch (pack it or grab something in North Myrtle Beach), head to Fun Walls Kids Climbing & Arcade — indoor climbing walls plus arcade. 4.3 stars. Budget $50–80. Call 843-361-0047 to confirm hours.
Afternoon: Savannah's Playground
Savannah's Playground — 4.9 stars from 2,597 reviews, completely free, and one of the best playgrounds in the entire Myrtle Beach area. Visit: 1.5–2 hours. Cost: $0. A genuinely great end to a busy day. Bring water and sunscreen.
Evening: North Myrtle Beach area dinner
Stay in North Myrtle Beach for dinner rather than driving back south. You've already seen everything in this area and the food options are solid without the tourist markup of the main strip.
Day 2 estimated activity spend: $100–160 (Star Academy + Fun Walls; everything else is free)
Day 3: Water, Wildlife, and the South End
Use your final day for the big water experience and the zoo — both are best done on a weekday if possible.
Morning: Myrtle Waves Water Park
Myrtle Waves Water Park is Myrtle Beach's largest water park. Go straight to it when it opens (10 AM) to get maximum ride time before lines build. 4.2 stars. Admission: $120–160 for a family of four. Budget $40–60 for in-park food, or pack snacks to offset. Buy tickets online in advance for a discount. Plan 3–5 hours.
Logistics: Bring reef-safe sunscreen, water shoes, towels (rentals are available but pricey), and a change of clothes for the drive home. Don't skip the wave pool — it's the one element that's equally fun for every age.
Afternoon: Lowcountry Zoo
Lowcountry Zoo at Brookgreen Gardens is 30–40 minutes south of the main strip, but it's worth the drive. River otters, alligators, white-tailed deer, and birds of prey in an intimate setting where kids can actually see the animals clearly. 4.6 stars. Zoo-only admission: $60–90 for a family. Combined with Brookgreen Gardens (gardens, sculptures): $100–140.
If energy is flagging after the water park, do the zoo-only ticket. If everyone has gas in the tank, the combined Brookgreen Gardens experience is a genuinely beautiful full afternoon.
Evening: Socastee or South End
Head back toward your hotel via Socastee Recreational Park — 469 reviews at 4.5 stars, completely free, good for a final run-around before dinner and packing. Or skip it and head straight to dinner.
Day 3 estimated activity spend: $180–250 (Myrtle Waves + Lowcountry Zoo)
Three-Day Total
| Day | Activities | Estimated Spend | |-----|-----------|----------------| | Day 1 | Beach + Broadway Grand Prix + Zero Gravity + Mirror Maze | $190–300 | | Day 2 | Star Academy + Fun Walls + free parks | $100–160 | | Day 3 | Myrtle Waves + Lowcountry Zoo | $180–250 | | Total | | $470–710 |
Meals and hotel are separate. Activity spend lands in this range assuming two kids, two adults, and a mix of free and paid options each day. The Day 2 light spend offsets the heavier Days 1 and 3 — that balance is intentional. Don't try to pack paid activities into every day; beach time and free parks are genuinely good and give everyone a chance to recharge.