You planned beach days. The radar says otherwise. Myrtle Beach gets summer afternoon storms that roll in fast, and if you're here for a week, odds are at least one full day goes sideways. The good news: 19 solid indoor options exist, spread from the main strip to North Myrtle Beach and Garden City. Here's how to fill an entire rainy day without losing your mind.
Best Indoor Museums and Cultural Spots
These are worth doing even when it's sunny — on a rainy day, they're first priority.
EdVenture Myrtle Beach is a hands-on children's museum built for kids who go stir-crazy in regular museums. Every exhibit is interactive — a child-sized town where kids role-play as community workers, science stations with real equipment, and creative building zones. 4.2 stars. Family admission: $60–80. Plan 2–3 hours. This is the best single rainy day destination for families with kids under 10.
Ripley's Believe It or Not! has 6,635 reviews at 4.2 stars and is fully indoors. The exhibits are genuinely strange — shrunken heads, world records, two-headed taxidermy — and kids want to tell someone about every single one. Family admission: $80–100. Plan 1.5–2.5 hours. Buy Ripley's combo tickets if you're planning to visit multiple Ripley's attractions in Myrtle Beach — bundles save money.
Nature Center is Myrtle Beach's free coastal nature museum. 4.7 stars. Small but genuinely good — focused on the local SC coastal ecosystem. Indoor and outdoor sections; stick to indoor on rain days. Plan 1–1.5 hours. Cost: $0. A low-stakes first stop before a bigger paid venue.
Entertainment Venues
Big Air Trampoline and Adventure Park earns 4.8 stars from 1,422 reviews — the highest-rated indoor activity venue in Myrtle Beach. Open trampoline areas, dodgeball courts, foam pits, climbing walls, and a dedicated toddler section. Fully indoor. Budget $80–120 for one-hour sessions for two kids and two adults. Book online before you go — summer sessions sell out even on rain days. Plan 1.5–2.5 hours.
Star Academy North Myrtle Beach on Main St in North Myrtle Beach is a 4.8-star indoor play space ideal for families staying on the north end who don't want to drive south. Budget $50–80. Plan 1.5–2.5 hours.
Sky Zone Trampoline Park is the national brand trampoline option — well-maintained, reliably clean, dodgeball and foam pits included. 4.4 stars. Budget $80–120. Book at skyzone.com/myrtlebeach. Plan 1.5–2 hours.
Stars and Strikes at Coastal Grand mall is a full entertainment complex: bowling, laser tag, arcade, and a restaurant all indoors. 4.3 stars. Budget $80–130 for a family of four including food. Plan 2–3 hours. The combination of activities makes this a solid half-day stop — bowling then laser tag then food means you're set.
Myrtle Beach Virtual Reality is fully indoor and delivers experiences that can't happen anywhere else — VR sessions where kids step into space, underwater environments, and digital worlds. 4.6 stars. Budget $80–120 for two kids and two adults. Plan 1–2 hours. Best for ages 8+ due to headset fit.
Soar + Explore at Broadway at the Beach is an immersive indoor flight simulation experience. 4.5 stars. Budget $60–100. Plan 1–2 hours. Weekend-only hours — confirm before planning.
Interactive Experience Unleashed on N Kings Hwy is a hands-on interactive tech experience. 4.5 stars. Budget $50–90. Plan 1–2 hours. Verify operating days before visiting.
Fun Walls Kids Climbing & Arcade in North Myrtle Beach combines climbing walls and arcade games under one roof. Indoor. 4.3 stars. Budget $50–80. Call 843-361-0047 to confirm hours.
Arcades: When You Just Need to Kill an Hour
Boardwalk Arcade on N Ocean Blvd is indoor and right on the boardwalk strip. 4.5 stars. Budget $40–80. Set a per-child token budget before walking in — these places are good at extracting money.
Fun Plaza is steps away on the same strip. 4.4 stars. Budget $40–80. Buy tokens in bulk for better per-game value.
Garden City Pavilion Arcade & GiGi's Grill in Garden City Beach has the added advantage of GiGi's Grill on-site — you can eat without leaving the building. 4.4 stars. Budget $60–100 for tokens plus food. Plan 1.5–2.5 hours.
Backstage Mirror Maze at Broadway at the Beach is indoor, cheap, and genuinely funny. 4.2 stars. Budget $40–60 for a family. Plan 30–60 minutes. Good palate cleanser between bigger activities.
Free or Low-Cost Indoor Options
Zero Gravity at Broadway at the Beach is a 5-star indoor amusement center. Budget $50–90 depending on activities. Free parking at Broadway — combine with Backstage Mirror Maze and Soar + Explore for a full Broadway at the Beach rain day.
Sandy Harbor Family Fun Center has both indoor and outdoor sections. On a rainy day, the arcade and covered areas keep you busy. 4.6 stars. Budget $80–120 for a full visit. Plan 2–3 hours.
North Myrtle Beach Parks & Rec runs indoor programs at recreation centers — check nmb.us for current schedules and any drop-in activities available during your stay. Parks access is free; program fees vary.
Kids Climb Free on N Kings Hwy is a 5-star indoor climbing center. Budget $40–70. Check Facebook for current hours before visiting.
Quick Picks by Age Group
Toddlers (under 5): - EdVenture Myrtle Beach — $60–80, 2–3 hours, nursing room available - Star Academy North Myrtle Beach — $50–80, nursing and changing room on-site - Nature Center — $0, low stimulation, good for a short window
Big Kids (6–12): - Big Air Trampoline and Adventure Park — $80–120, book in advance - Ripley's Believe It or Not! — $80–100, 1.5–2.5 hours - Stars and Strikes — $80–130 including food, bowling + laser tag + arcade
Teens (12+): - Myrtle Beach Virtual Reality — $80–120 - Sky Zone Trampoline Park — $80–120 - Boardwalk Arcade — $40–80, let them loose
Full rainy day strategy: Start at EdVenture (2–3 hours), lunch somewhere nearby, then Big Air or Stars and Strikes for the afternoon (2–3 hours). You're covered from 9 AM to dinner without driving all over the strip.