Grand Strand Short-Term Rental Market Report: Myrtle Beach vs. North Myrtle Beach by the Numbers

Thomas Garner
6 days ago
14 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

The Grand Strand is not one market — it is two giants playing different games on the same sixty-mile coastline, and hosts who average their ZIP code with "Myrtle Beach" data are underwriting the wrong strategy. Myrtle Beach proper carries approximately 8,427 active short-term rental listings on AirROI's June 2025–May 2026 window at $251 ADR, 36.9% availability-adjusted occupancy, $103 RevPAR, and $24,391 average annual revenue per listing — condo-heavy, low-barrier, intensely fragmented commodity inventory where sameness is the enemy. North Myrtle Beach carries approximately 4,335 listings at $372 ADR, 36.0% occupancy, $146 RevPAR, and $33,593 average annual revenue — house-heavier, higher-rate, repeat-family driven, with Cherry Grove's 29582 corridor earning approximately $54,075 annually as the metro's top-performing sub-market. Supply grew 52.4% year-over-year in Myrtle Beach and 51.8% in North Myrtle Beach, yet revenue still rose 15.5% and 31.3% respectively — demand holds, but per-listing economics compress as identical inventory floods the search grid.

That split sits atop a tourism engine that remains enormous even after 2025's softening. The Myrtle Beach area drew 18.2 million visitors who spent $13.2 billion in direct visitor spending in 2024 — an all-time spending high on slightly below-peak person-stay volume, meaning the area earns more from fewer visitors. Golf supports a $1.6 billion industry with 3 million+ rounds played annually.

Feeder markets skew overwhelmingly drive-in: North Carolina ~20%, South Carolina ~17%, Virginia ~13%, Ohio ~8%, Pennsylvania ~7–8%, with Charlotte, Raleigh, Columbia, Atlanta, and Midwest metros within a 4–10 hour radius. Canada is the largest international market — and Canadian visitation remained down approximately 30% heading into 2026 amid trade tensions, a headwind Myrtle hosts must model. This report decodes the Myrtle-versus-North-Myrtle head-to-head, explains what the numbers mean for host strategy, and gives operators an honest 2026/2027 posture for two markets that platform pages collapse into a single misleading average.

Myrtle Beach vs. North Myrtle Beach: Head-to-Head by the Numbers

AirROI is the primary data spine: entire active market, June 2025–May 2026, availability-adjusted occupancy. Airbtics and AirDNA report higher booked-listing or median occupancy on different methodologies. Present both when underwriting; never blend without naming the denominator.

Market	Active listings	Occupancy (avail.-adj.)	ADR	RevPAR	Avg ann. rev/listing	YoY rev	YoY supply	Median (Airbtics)
Myrtle Beach	~8,427	36.9%	$251	$103	$24,391	+15.5%	+52.4%	~$42,000
North Myrtle Beach	~4,335	36.0%	$372	$146	$33,593	+31.3%	+51.8%	~$58,000

*Source: AirROI Jun 2025–May 2026; Airbtics median for actively-rented units.*

The ADR gap is the story. North Myrtle Beach commands a 48% rate premium over Myrtle Beach proper ($372 vs. $251) on AirROI — and the gap widens on median actively-rented units ($58,000 vs. $42,000 on Airbtics).

RevPAR runs 42% higher in North Myrtle ($146 vs. $103) despite nearly identical availability-adjusted occupancy (~36%). North Myrtle is not busier; it is priced higher because the product is different.

Property mix explains the premium. Myrtle Beach is 81.2% apartment/condo with 35.1% one-bedroom and 31.0% two-bedroom units — a small-unit commodity tower market. North Myrtle Beach is 67.2% apartment/condo but 30.6% houses, with 29.6% three-bedroom units and 53.4% sleeping eight or more — a multi-gen family beach-house market. North Myrtle's primary guest origin is Charlotte; average lead time runs 64 days versus 46 in Myrtle, signaling more deliberate family-week planning.

Seasonality is extreme in both, with North Myrtle earning more per peak month. Myrtle Beach July peak: approximately $6,481 monthly revenue, 58.7% occupancy, $294 ADR. January trough: approximately $1,570, 23.2% occupancy, $195 ADR — July runs roughly 4x January.

North Myrtle Beach July peak: approximately $9,262 monthly revenue, 61.5% occupancy, $424 ADR. January trough: approximately $2,089, 20.0% occupancy, $303 ADR. North Myrtle's winter floor ADR ($303) never collapses to Myrtle's sub-$200 January pricing — rate discipline holds through the trough.

Cherry Grove (ZIP 29582) inherits North Myrtle metrics but outperforms the metro average at approximately $54,075 annual revenue — the highest-earning corridor, driven by large tidal-creek and oceanfront houses, the Cherry Grove Pier, and multigenerational fishing-and-family demand.

Cross-platform triangulation matters for underwriting. Airbtics median actively-rented revenue runs approximately $42,000 in Myrtle Beach and $58,000 in North Myrtle Beach — 70–40% above AirROI portfolio averages depending on sub-market. Present both figures with methodology named; never blend the two markets into a single "Grand Strand average" when investors ask what their listing will earn.

Myrtle Beach: The Volume Condo Market

Myrtle Beach proper is the Southeast's largest commodity STR pool by listing count — approximately 8,427 active units on AirROI with 81.2% apartment and condo inventory, 35.1% one-bedroom, and 31.0% two-bedroom product. The market draws 18.2 million visitors annually and supports event-driven demand spikes — CCMF (June 4–7, 2026), Sun Fun Festival (May 1–3), and bike rally weekends — but per-listing economics compress as identical tower inventory floods the search grid. Supply grew 52.4% year-over-year while revenue still rose 15.5% — demand holds, but differentiation is the only durable strategy.

The December 2024 conversion overlay east of Kings Highway (29th Avenue South to 82nd Avenue North) protects STR supply by banning visitor-lodging-to-long-term conversions in roughly 114 blocks — a stability signal for existing condo owners and a supply constraint that new long-term investors cannot bypass. Strategy for Myrtle operators: escape the commodity middle by naming tower, floor, oceanfront-versus-ocean-view honesty, and guest segment (golf buddies, summer families, snowbirds) rather than competing on rate alone. Combined guest tax in the city runs approximately 10% (7% state + 0.5% local accommodations + 1% city hospitality + 1.5% county hospitality).

North Myrtle Beach: The Family House Premium

North Myrtle Beach commands a 48% ADR premium over Myrtle Beach proper ($372 versus $251 on AirROI) despite nearly identical availability-adjusted occupancy (~36%). The product is different: 30.6% houses, 29.6% three-bedroom units, 53.4% sleeping eight or more — a multi-gen family beach-house market where Charlotte-origin guests plan 64-day lead times versus 46 days in Myrtle. RevPAR runs 42% higher ($146 versus $103) because rate discipline holds through the winter trough — January ADR never collapses below $303 in North Myrtle versus sub-$200 January pricing in Myrtle commodity condos.

Four historic sections — Cherry Grove, Ocean Drive, Crescent Beach, and Windy Hill — each attract distinct guest intent. Merchandise section personality: Cherry Grove marsh and pier, Ocean Drive esplanade nightlife, Crescent Beach wide sand, Windy Hill Barefoot Landing proximity. Private pools, golf-cart streets, and Shag-culture tradition (SOS Spring Safari) justify the $372 ADR. Regulatory tightening is the watch item: a proposed ordinance requiring annual permit, safety inspection, and a responsible local agent within 30 miles for out-of-town owners was not adopted as of October 2025 — verify status at publish.

Cherry Grove, Surfside Beach, and the Premium House Corridor

Cherry Grove (ZIP 29582) is the Grand Strand's top-performing sub-market at approximately $54,075 annual revenue on AirROI — driven by large tidal-creek and oceanfront houses, the Cherry Grove Pier, and multigenerational fishing-and-family demand. Surfside Beach's family-house corridor posts $43,646 average revenue and $422 ADR with the highest RevPAR in the broader town survey — a quieter alternative to North Myrtle's section-specific merchandising with similar large-home product.

Where competition is brutal: Myrtle Beach oceanfront condos in permitted RMV and resort corridors — 8,400+ listings, 52.4% supply growth, visual sameness in mega-towers. Where pricing power lives: North Myrtle single-family beach houses, Cherry Grove tidal-creek homes, and Surfside Beach's family-house corridor. Segment selection matters more than market selection. A well-differentiated Myrtle Beach 3BR oceanfront in a named tower can out-earn a generic North Myrtle 2BR — but an undifferentiated Myrtle studio will lose to every North Myrtle house on ADR and guest quality.

Two Markets, Two Strategies: Where Pricing Power Lives

Myrtle Beach fits volume operators with differentiated condo product in permitted visitor zones. The market draws 18.2 million visitors, CCMF (June 4–7, 2026 — largest four-day country festival on the East Coast), boardwalk and Broadway at the Beach demand, and the lowest STR entry barrier on the Southeast coast. Strategy: escape the commodity middle by naming tower, floor, oceanfront-versus-ocean-view honesty, and guest segment (golf buddies, summer families, snowbirds) rather than competing on rate alone.

The December 2024 conversion overlay east of Kings Highway (roughly 29th Avenue South to 82nd Avenue North) protects STR supply by banning visitor-lodging-to-long-term conversions — a stability signal for existing condo owners. Combined guest tax in the city: approximately 10% (7% state + 0.5% local accommodations + 1% city hospitality + 1.5% county hospitality).

North Myrtle Beach fits premium family-house operators who own neighborhood identity and repeat-booking relationships. Four historic sections — Cherry Grove, Ocean Drive, Crescent Beach, Windy Hill — each attract distinct guest intent. Strategy: market the return-trip family beach, not the one-night transient.

Merchandise section personality (Cherry Grove marsh and pier, Ocean Drive esplanade nightlife, Crescent Beach wide sand, Windy Hill Barefoot Landing proximity), private pools, golf-cart streets, and Shag-culture tradition (SOS Spring Safari). Higher amenity expectations justify the $372 ADR. Regulatory tightening is the watch item: a proposed ordinance requiring annual permit, safety inspection, and a responsible local agent within 30 miles for out-of-town owners was not adopted as of October 2025 — verify status at publish.

Segment selection matters more than market selection. A well-differentiated Myrtle Beach 3BR oceanfront in a named tower can out-earn a generic North Myrtle 2BR — but an undifferentiated Myrtle studio will lose to every North Myrtle house on ADR and guest quality. Match property type to target segment: golf groups (spring/fall shoulder), summer families (June–August), snowbirds (October–March monthly blocks).

Demand Engine, Feeder Markets & the 2025–2026 Reality Check

The Grand Strand's demand durability case rests on scale, drive-market insulation, and golf — not on ignoring 2025's softening. Hotel occupancy fell 3.3% in 2025; Q3 accommodations-tax revenue dropped 10.8% ($5.6M to $4.99M); overall tourism declined approximately 3% per the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber. Drivers: Canadian boycott (30–40% monthly decline through summer 2025), increased rainfall (~183% more rain May–June 2025 than 2024), and inflation pricing out lower-income drive visitors. South Carolina statewide tourism set records the same year — the Grand Strand underperformed its own state.

Counter-signals matter for 2026 forecasting. Tripadvisor named Myrtle Beach the No. 1 U.S.

vacation destination in its 2026 Summer Travel Index (up from #3 in 2025). Domestic drive demand is strengthening even as Canadian visitation lags. STR supply growth (+50%+ YoY in both major markets) remains the dominant 2026 risk — occupancy compression even as ADR and revenue trend up.

Three demand seasons drive calendar architecture. Peak summer families (June–August) dominate occupancy and ADR; July is the revenue apex everywhere. Spring and fall golf shoulder (March–May, September–November) sustains occupancy through 80 courses and 3 million annual rounds — the off-season smoother beach-only markets lack. Snowbirds (October–March) fill monthly blocks from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Midwest, Northeast, and Canadian feeders; structure winter stays within compliant short-term limits inside Myrtle's overlay zone.

Feeder geography confirms the drive-market thesis: ~97% domestic, 4–10 hour drive radius, top states NC/SC/VA/OH/PA. Average party size 2.67 persons; average stay approximately 4.5 nights (DK Shifflet); STR guest stays run longer (~9 days on Airbtics). Near two-thirds of visitors are repeat — the direct-booking opportunity North Myrtle hosts exploit and Myrtle condo hosts ignore.

Regulation Backdrop: Overlay Protection vs. Permit Tightening

Regulation shapes supply and strategy on both sides of the split.

Myrtle Beach — December 2024 conversion overlay: Bans converting STR buildings (more than two units, used for rentals under 90 days) to long-term rentals within the overlay east of Kings Highway to the ocean, 29th Avenue South to 82nd Avenue North (~114 blocks). Protects lodging-tax base; city projected ~$2.48M annual loss per 1,000 conversions. Generally helps existing STR owners.

Grandfather clauses exist for pre-ordinance long-term licenses. Stays must remain under 90 continuous days. STRs prohibited in standard R-zones except RMV and small grandfathered sets.

North Myrtle Beach — proposed 2025–2026 tightening (verify adoption): Annual STR permit with safety inspection, responsible local agent able to be on-site within one hour (owners beyond 30 miles must retain a licensed local property manager), and escalating fines for violations. As of October 2025, no ordinance had been formally adopted. Approximately 1,700 of ~5,400 registered rentals lacked local owners — the accountability gap driving the debate.

Pending statewide: SC S.442 (2025–2026) would affirm local authority to cap or ban STRs, mandate responsible local representatives and $1M liability insurance, and remove the ≤6-bedroom owner-occupied state accommodations-tax exemption. Not passed as of March 2025 referral to Senate Judiciary.

Tax stacks: Myrtle Beach city approximately 10% combined on STR rentals. North Myrtle Beach city + county local accommodations and hospitality (exact combined rate, likely ~11–13%). Horry County unincorporated (Garden City, parts of Murrells Inlet north, Little River): ~12% cited with 3% hospitality fee outside city limits.

2026/2027 Operating Posture: Which Game Are You Playing?

The honest 2026/2027 summary: do not buy or market the average. Myrtle Beach is a volume commodity market where differentiation, tower specificity, and segment targeting separate winners from the 8,400-listing middle. North Myrtle Beach is a premium family-house market where neighborhood identity, repeat-booking loops, and section-specific merchandising justify $372 ADR. Both face 50%+ supply growth and 2025 occupancy headwinds; ADR and revenue have held, but per-listing economics are thinning.

Build strategy by market, not by "Grand Strand" label. Myrtle operators: name your tower, floor, and guest segment; merchandise the December 2024 overlay as supply stability; calendar-price CCMF, Sun Fun (May 1–3), and bike rallies; run honest January trough management with snowbird monthly blocks inside the 90-day framework. North Myrtle operators: own your section (Cherry Grove, Ocean Drive, Crescent Beach, Windy Hill); invest in private-pool and multi-gen photography; build repeat-guest email capture for direct rebooking; monitor NMB permit ordinance adoption and line up a responsible local agent if the 30-mile rule passes.

Investor disclosure: occupancy methodology varies 20–25 points by vendor; median actively-rented revenue runs 70–140% above portfolio averages; Canadian visitation remains soft; Q3 2025 accommodations tax fell 10.8%. The Hammock Coast premium tier (Pawleys, Litchfield, Murrells Inlet) offers higher ADR with more regulatory complexity — see the Hammock Coast market report for that parallel universe.

November publish-window note: Dickens Christmas Show (November 12–15, 2026) and holiday-light openings (Great Christmas Light Show November 23, Brookgreen Nights of a Thousand Candles November 27) are the off-season demand inflection — the calendar anchors for marketing and pricing content published this month.

The Property Management Competitive Landscape

North Myrtle Beach runs deeper professional-management culture than Myrtle's fragmented condo tower market — repeat-guest databases, Saturday-to-Saturday family-week discipline, and section-specific merchandising that corporate templates rarely match. Myrtle's 8,400-listing pool mixes national operators and regional managers competing on tower specificity and event-calendar pricing — CCMF, Sun Fun, and bike rally weekends require minimum-night discipline that static seasonal grids miss.

Corporate managers win on distribution and inventory count. Independent hosts win on per-listing attention, tower-and-floor photography honesty, section-specific North Myrtle copy, and named-search content targeting phrases like "Cherry Grove pier rental" and "North Myrtle Beach family house sleeps 10" — queries corporate property pages rarely pursue. Your marketing job is not to out-list the Grand Strand's largest manager. It is to out-position the commodity condo that has no story beyond sand proximity in a market adding 50%+ supply year-over-year.

Seven Marketing Moves by Grand Strand Market

Myrtle Beach hosts should lead with tower name, floor, and oceanfront-versus-ocean-view honesty in the first three description sentences, merchandise the December 2024 conversion overlay as supply stability for existing owners, and calendar-price CCMF, Sun Fun, and bike rallies with event-tier minimum nights. North Myrtle hosts should own their section (Cherry Grove, Ocean Drive, Crescent Beach, Windy Hill), invest in private-pool and multi-gen photography, and build repeat-guest email capture for direct rebooking before peak summer publishes on OTAs.

Cherry Grove and Surfside hosts should merchandise tidal-creek and pier proximity, sleeps-10-plus layout, and golf-cart street access where applicable. All Grand Strand operators should lock 2027 summer calendars during January–March planning surge, run honest January trough management with snowbird monthly blocks inside Myrtle's 90-day framework, and monitor North Myrtle permit ordinance adoption — line up a responsible local agent if the 30-mile rule passes. Own named-market search on direct sites; corporate templates do not write host-education pages targeting town-specific phrases.

How the Grand Strand Differs From the Hammock Coast

The Grand Strand sells volume, events, and drive-market family beach at $251–$372 ADR tiers — a different product universe from the Hammock Coast premium corridor (Pawleys Island, Litchfield, Murrells Inlet) where ADR runs higher with more regulatory complexity and quieter Saturday-to-Saturday rhythm. Myrtle Beach is the commodity condo tower market; North Myrtle is the premium family-house market; Cherry Grove is the top-earning house corridor within North Myrtle's four sections.

Conflating Myrtle and North Myrtle in one listing title — "Grand Strand beach condo" without naming the city, tower, or section — competes in the wrong comp set and confuses guests who search by market when they want commodity tower volume versus premium family-house positioning. Front-load city name, bedroom count, sleeps count, and named anchors with distances; consistency across OTA, direct site, and Google Vacation Rentals feed builds the topical signal platform search rewards.

Work with Crest & Cove Creative

Ready to translate Grand Strand market data into listing positioning, pricing tiers, and guest-guide copy?

We help hosts and investors in Grand Strand with sub-market positioning analysis, seasonal calendar architecture, anti-commodity listing merchandising, and guest guidebooks tuned to how guests actually search. If you want hands-on help implementing any of that on your property, our team takes a limited number of new engagements per quarter — Reach out at crestcove.co — we'll take an honest look at where your listing stands and tell you plainly whether we can help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Myrtle Beach or North Myrtle Beach better for STR investment? Different products, different strategies. Myrtle offers lower entry cost and higher volume at $251 ADR but brutal condo competition (8,400+ listings). North Myrtle commands $372 ADR and higher median revenue ($58K vs. $42K on Airbtics) with family-house product. Match property type to market — do not average them.

What is Myrtle Beach STR revenue potential? AirROI shows approximately $24,391 average annual revenue per listing (portfolio average), $251 ADR, 36.9% availability-adjusted occupancy, and +15.5% revenue growth against +52.4% supply growth. Median actively-rented units run ~$42,000 on Airbtics.

What is North Myrtle Beach STR revenue potential? AirROI shows approximately $33,593 average annual revenue, $372 ADR, 36.0% occupancy, and +31.3% revenue growth against +51.8% supply growth. Median actively-rented units run ~$58,000 on Airbtics. Cherry Grove corridor ~$54,075.

Why does North Myrtle Beach have higher ADR but similar occupancy? Product mix — larger family houses sleeping 8+ at $372 ADR versus Myrtle's condo-heavy 1–2BR commodity inventory at $251. North Myrtle guests plan longer (64-day lead time) and book repeat family weeks, supporting rate integrity.

What does the Myrtle Beach conversion overlay do? Bans converting STR buildings to long-term rentals east of Kings Highway (29th Ave S–82nd Ave N). Protects visitor-lodging supply and lodging-tax base. Generally benefits existing STR owners; does not ban operating STRs.

What are the North Myrtle Beach STR permit rules? City business license required now. Proposed annual permit, safety inspection, and 30-mile responsible-local-agent rule were not adopted as of October 2025 — verify current status at publish. Trash, parking, noise, and occupancy compliance enforced.

When is peak season on the Grand Strand? July is the universal apex in both markets. June–August concentrates 50%+ of annual revenue. Golf shoulder (spring/fall) and snowbird monthly blocks (October–March) smooth the winter trough.

Is the Grand Strand STR market saturated? Supply grew 50%+ year-over-year in both major markets while revenue still rose — demand holds but per-listing economics compress. Differentiation matters more than entry timing. 2025 occupancy and accommodations-tax declines add a demand-side headwind beyond supply alone.

About the Authors

Crest & Cove Creative is a Southeast-focused short-term rental marketing agency founded by Thomas Garner and Jacob Mishalanie. We build direct-booking brands, listing optimization systems, and market-specific content strategies for independent STR operators across the Gulf Coast, Appalachian Mountains, Coastal Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, and Southeast lake country.

Sources

AirROI — Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach market reports, Jun 2025–May 2026. Airbtics — Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach annual revenue. AirDNA — Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach overviews. DK Shifflet — 2024 Myrtle Beach Visitor Volume and Spending. Tourism Works for the Grand Strand — 2024 economic impact. PlayGolfMyrtleBeach — golf $1.6B impact. City of Myrtle Beach — hospitality/local accommodations tax (10% total). WMBF — conversion overlay Dec 10, 2024; NMB ordinance not adopted Oct 2025. Post & Courier — 2025 SC tourism vs. Grand Strand decline. WMBF — Canadian tourism down ~30% Feb 2026. Carolina Country Music Fest — June 4–7, 2026. Visit Myrtle Beach — Dickens Christmas Show Nov 12–15, 2026. SC Legislature — S.442. CrazySisterMarina — feeder-market analysis.