Myrtle Beach is a resort city located in Horry County, South Carolina, within the United States. It sits in the northeastern part of the state on the East Coast, positioned centrally along the Grand Strand, a continuous sixty-mile stretch of beach. The city lies on the historic King's Highway, now U.S. Route 17, and is separated from the continental United States by the Intracoastal Waterway. This geographic separation has influenced its development, keeping the urban core close to the coast while bordering other tourist towns like North Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach.

The area was originally inhabited by the Waccamaw people before European settlers arrived in the late eighteenth century. The Withers family established a prominent presence here, with Wither's Swash named in their honor. Franklin Burroughs later targeted the region for resort development, and his sons completed a railroad to the beach and opened the Seaside Inn in 1901. A contest led to the name Myrtle Beach, honoring local wax-myrtle shrubs. The community incorporated as a town in 1938 and as a city in 1957.

The city features several sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Myrtle Heights-Oak Park Historic District and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Station. The Gay Dolphin Gift Cove on the Boardwalk, built in 1946, claims to be the nation's largest gift shop. The area is heavily developed for tourism, characterized by wide beaches and a high concentration of miniature golf courses. The urban landscape is defined by its coastal location and the dense infrastructure supporting millions of annual visitors.

Myrtle Beach is a major center for tourism in South Carolina and the United States, attracting over twenty million visitors annually. It is widely known for its numerous golf courses, seafood restaurants, and outlet-style shopping. The city serves as a popular spring break destination and a haven for Snowbirds from the North. Its warm subtropical climate and miles of beaches draw crowds seeking recreation, with the area offering extensive dining and entertainment options tailored to the resort economy.

The city had a year-round population of 35,682 as of the 2020 census, making it the thirteenth-most populous city in South Carolina. The broader metro area experienced significant growth, reaching an estimated 479,426 residents by 2024. Access is provided via Myrtle Beach International Airport and major highways like U.S. Route 17 and Interstate 95. The climate is humid subtropical, with hot, humid summers and mild winters, supporting a tourism-driven economy that relies on seasonal visitor influxes.