16 Things to Do in Myrtle Beach in May (2027 Guide), Top Attractions & Fun Activities
May is the month Myrtle Beach goes full throttle — literally. The Myrtle Beach Bike Week Spring Rally (May 7–16, 2027) fills 60 miles of coastline with 500,000+ motorcycles. The World Famous Blue Crab Festival packs Little River with seafood, live beach music, and thousands of crab lovers. Memorial Day Weekend launches the official summer season with fireworks, one-way traffic on Ocean Boulevard, and the Atlantic Beach Bikefest.
The Hot Summer Nights concert series kicks off at Plyler Park. Brookgreen Gardens debuts its Summer Light evening experience. And the weather — mid-70s to low 80s, ocean water finally hitting the 70s, 14 hours of daylight — makes May the month when every outdoor activity on the Grand Strand opens wide.
The 16 best things to do in Myrtle Beach in May 2027 include
- The Myrtle Beach Bike Week Spring Rally (May 7–16, 500,000+ riders the largest motorcycle rally on the East Coast)
- The World Famous Blue Crab Festival in Little River (seafood, live music, 100+ vendors)
- Memorial Day Weekend celebrations (fireworks, parades, Atlantic Beach Bikefest)
- The Brookgreen Gardens Memorial Day 5K
- Summer Light series debut
- Mayfest on Main in North Myrtle Beach
- The start of Hot Summer Nights free concerts at Plyler Park
- Full beach days in 75–82°F weather with ocean temps in the low 70s
- Golf on 80+ courses, Ripley’s Aquarium and Broadway at the Beach
- Sunset dining on the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk
- Kayaking and paddleboarding in warm water
- The SkyWheel at sunset on the Boardwalk
- The Carolina Opry and Alabama Theatre spring show lineups
- Barefoot Landing’s Spring Live Music Series (free, Fridays and Saturdays)
- Huntington Beach State Park for spring birding and beachcombing
- Mini golf on 50+ courses across the Grand Strand.
May is the Grand Strand’s transition month — the bridge between spring’s pleasant warmth and summer’s full intensity. Early May still feels like spring (fewer crowds, lower prices). Late May — Memorial Day Weekend — feels like summer. And the middle of the month delivers the best of both: warm weather, swimmable ocean, all attractions running at full capacity, and prices that haven’t yet hit peak-summer rates.
May Weather at Myrtle Beach
| Metric | May Average |
|---|---|
| Average High | 78–84°F (26–29°C) |
| Average Low | 60–66°F (16–19°C) |
| Ocean Water | 70–75°F — swimmable for most visitors |
| Rainfall | ~3.5 inches (8 rainy days, mostly afternoon thunderstorms) |
| Sunshine | 9–10 hours/day |
| UV Index | 8–10 (very high — sunscreen critical) |
| Daylight | ~14 hours (sunrise ~6:15 a.m., sunset ~8:15 p.m.) |
May is the first month where the ocean water is genuinely comfortable for swimming. Afternoon thunderstorms roll in fast (especially late May) but typically clear within an hour. Pack sunscreen, a light rain jacket, and expect to spend most of the day in beach clothes.
1. Watch 500,000 Motorcycles at Myrtle Beach Bike Week Spring Rally
The Myrtle Beach Bike Week Spring Rally runs May 7–16, 2027 — a 10-day motorcycle rally that draws 500,000+ riders and enthusiasts to the Grand Strand, making it the largest motorcycle rally on the East Coast and one of the biggest in the United States alongside Sturgis and Daytona. The rally has run since 1940 (approaching its 88th year in 2027).
The event isn’t confined to a single venue — the entire Grand Strand is the rally. Bars, restaurants, dealerships, and outdoor venues host bike shows, vendor expos, live music, scenic rides along the coastline, and the J&P Cycles “Rally on the Strand” at Murrells Inlet. The Kick-Off Party at Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson is the unofficial start of the rally.
What non-riders should know: Bike Week means heavier traffic on Highway 17 Business and Ocean Boulevard. Use Highway 31 (Carolina Bays Parkway) as your bypass. Even if you don’t ride, the people-watching and live music are some of the best of the year.
2. Eat Blue Crab at the World Famous Blue Crab Festival
The World Famous Blue Crab Festival in Little River draws thousands of seafood lovers for a 2-day celebration of local blue crab, fresh seafood, live beach music, 100+ arts-and-crafts vendors, food vendors, and family-friendly activities along the Little River waterfront. The festival has been running for over 40 years and is one of the most beloved food events on the Grand Strand.
Location: Little River waterfront (30 minutes north of central Myrtle Beach)
Cost: Free admission; food and drink at vendor prices
Expect: Steamed crab, crab cakes, fried shrimp, hush puppies, and every Lowcountry seafood staple
3. Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend on the Grand Strand
Memorial Day Weekend (late May) is the unofficial launch of summer at Myrtle Beach — fireworks along the Boardwalk, live entertainment at Plyler Park, the Military Appreciation Days Parade & Picnic at The Market Common, and the Remembrance Ceremony at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.
Memorial Day Weekend is also when the Atlantic Beach Bikefest rolls into historic Atlantic Beach near Crescent Beach in North Myrtle Beach — a separate motorcycle event that draws a different crowd from the Spring Rally, centered on Ocean Boulevard with meet-and-greets, parties, custom vehicles, live entertainment, and great food.
Traffic warning: Ocean Boulevard goes to a one-way southbound traffic pattern (29th Ave N to 29th Ave S) starting Friday morning of Memorial Day Weekend. The heaviest congestion hits Thursday afternoon and Monday afternoon. Arrive Friday morning to beat the rush.
4. Run the Brookgreen Gardens Memorial Day 5K and See Summer Light
Brookgreen Gardens hosts its annual Memorial Day 5K on the Monday of the holiday weekend — a scenic race through the sculpture gardens and nature preserve in Murrells Inlet. Registration is required.
Starting in late May, Brookgreen Gardens debuts Summer Light — a summer evening event running Wednesdays and Saturdays through August, featuring light installations through the sculpture garden, a pop-up gallery, live music, and a completely different atmosphere from the daytime garden experience.
5. Dance at Mayfest on Main in North Myrtle Beach
Mayfest on Main is North Myrtle Beach’s spring street party — Main Street in Ocean Drive is blocked off for live beach music, food vendors, and shag dancing under the open sky. Bring a beach chair and claim your spot near the Horseshoe stage. It’s a free, family-friendly celebration of the beach-music culture that defines NMB.
6. Catch the Start of Hot Summer Nights Free Concerts
The Hot Summer Nights free concert series launches in late May at Plyler Park on the Boardwalk — live music every Wednesday and Friday evening through September, with nightly street entertainment (stilt walkers, fire performers, foam parties) from Over the Moon Productions every night of the week. Wednesday nights also feature fireworks at 9 p.m. from Second Avenue Pier.
Hot Summer Nights is the best free thing to do in Myrtle Beach all summer — and it starts in May.
7. Spend Full Beach Days in Warm Water
May is the first month where the ocean is genuinely swimmable — water temperatures reach 70–75°F by mid-month, and the air hits the low 80s by afternoon. The beach is warm enough for all-day sitting, swimming, boogie boarding, and sandcastle building.
Best May beaches: Myrtle Beach State Park ($8, quietest and most natural), Surfside Beach (wide, family-friendly), Cherry Grove (NMB, uncrowded), and the main Myrtle Beach strand (central, walking distance to everything).
Lifeguards return to duty at designated stations by Memorial Day Weekend.
8. Play 80+ Golf Courses in Perfect Weather
May golf on the Grand Strand is warm-weather golf at its best — 80+ courses, $60–$100/round (below peak summer), azaleas still blooming on several courses, and temperatures in the upper 70s to low 80s that make morning and late-afternoon rounds ideal. The May tee-time window is long — with 14 hours of daylight, you can play until 8 p.m.
Top May picks: Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, TPC Myrtle Beach, Grande Dunes Resort Course, Barefoot Resort (4 courses), and Tidewater Golf Club.
9. Explore Ripley’s Aquarium and Broadway at the Beach
Ripley’s Aquarium at Broadway at the Beach remains the Grand Strand’s #1 indoor attraction — the Dangerous Reef shark tunnel, the Stingray Experience, the Penguin Encounter, and the Sloth Exhibit are all operating at full capacity in May. Plan 2 to 3 hours.
Broadway at the Beach — the 350-acre entertainment complex surrounding the aquarium — adds WonderWorks, Dave & Buster’s, Duplin Winery, The Escape Game, and dozens of restaurants. In May, the lake fountain shows resume and the outdoor evening energy picks up.
10. Dine at Sunset on the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk
May is when the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk hits full stride — every restaurant deck is open, live acoustic music plays nightly from the waterfront stages, and the sunset over the salt marsh (the MarshWalk faces west) is the most beautiful evening dining experience on the Grand Strand. Wicked Tuna, Drunken Jack’s, Dead Dog Saloon, and Creek Ratz all have waterfront sunset seating.
Drive from central Myrtle Beach: 20 minutes south
Arrive: 30–45 minutes before sunset for a table with a view
11. Kayak and Paddleboard in Warm Water
May’s water temperatures (low 70s) make kayaking and paddleboarding genuinely comfortable for the first time all year. Launch from Murrells Inlet’s tidal creeks, the Cherry Grove back channel, or the Intracoastal Waterway behind Barefoot Landing. Guided eco-tours ($40–$60/person, 2 hours) include dolphin spotting, marsh wildlife narration, and a guided paddle through the salt marsh creeks.
12. Ride the SkyWheel at Sunset
The Myrtle Beach SkyWheel — 200 feet above the Boardwalk, climate-controlled gondolas, panoramic views of the Atlantic coastline — is at its best during a May sunset. With sunset around 8:15 p.m., you can walk the Boardwalk in the golden-hour light, ride the SkyWheel as the sky turns pink and orange, and catch the Plyler Park entertainment afterward.
Cost: $19.99/adult | No reservation needed
13. Hear Free Live Music at Barefoot Landing
Barefoot Landing’s Spring Live Music Series runs every Friday evening and Saturday afternoon through late May at the Dockside Village stage — free live performances of beach music, rock, country, and cover bands overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. Combine with dinner at one of Barefoot Landing’s waterfront restaurants for a full evening.
14. Visit Huntington Beach State Park for Birding and Beachcombing
Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet is one of the best birding destinations on the South Carolina coast — May brings late spring migration, nesting shorebirds, and the park’s undeveloped beachfront at its most active wildlife moment of the year. The Atalaya ruins (the Moorish-style winter home of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington) add a historic element. The beach is wide, quiet, and uncrowded even in May.
Cost: $8/adult | Drive from central MB: 25 minutes south
15. Catch a Show at the Carolina Opry or Alabama Theatre
May’s live-show calendar is packed: the Carolina Opry runs its signature house variety show (music, comedy, dance — featured by The New York Times, USA Today, and CNN), the Alabama Theatre runs the ICONIC variety show, tribute concerts play weekly at the Greg Rowles Legacy Theatre and GTS Theatre, and the House of Blues hosts touring acts. A Scotty McCreery concert and “Beginnings – A Celebration of the Music of Chicago” tribute both played the Carolina Opry in May 2026.
Tickets: $35–$65 | Book online for weekend shows
16. Play 50+ Mini Golf Courses Across the Grand Strand
Myrtle Beach is the mini-golf capital of the world — 50+ courses ranging from family-friendly to absurdly elaborate, all open and running at full capacity in May. The warm evenings (mid-60s to low 70s after dark) make nighttime mini golf — with neon lights, water features, and themed obstacles — one of the most fun things to do in Myrtle Beach in May with kids or groups.
Top courses: Professor Hacker’s Lost Treasure Golf (mining train to the first hole), Topsy-Turvy (indoor neon), Captain Hook’s Adventure Golf, and Hawaiian Rumble.
Things to Do in Myrtle Beach in May: By Interest
| What You Want | Best May Activity |
|---|---|
| Motorcycle culture | Bike Week Spring Rally (May 7–16, 500,000+ riders) |
| Seafood festivals | World Famous Blue Crab Festival (Little River) |
| Patriotic celebrations | Memorial Day Weekend (fireworks, parade, ceremony) |
| Free live music | Hot Summer Nights at Plyler Park, Barefoot Landing Spring Series, Mayfest on Main |
| Beach days | Full beach season — 70–75°F ocean, 78–84°F air |
| Golf | 80+ courses, peak condition, $60–$100/round |
| Family with kids | Ripley’s Aquarium, SkyWheel, mini golf, Family Kingdom, beach |
| Couples | MarshWalk sunset dinner, SkyWheel at golden hour, Brookgreen Summer Light |
| Nature | Huntington Beach SP birding, kayaking Murrells Inlet, Myrtle Beach State Park |
| Nightlife and shows | Carolina Opry, Alabama Theatre, House of Blues, Bike Week live music |
May Hotel Prices at Myrtle Beach
| Accommodation | Early May | Memorial Day Weekend | Summer (June–Aug) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget motel | $80–$120 | $110–$160 | $100–$150 |
| Mid-range oceanfront | $140–$220 | $180–$280 | $180–$300 |
| Oceanfront condo | $130–$240 | $170–$300 | $200–$350 |
| Luxury resort | $200–$380 | $280–$450 | $350–$500+ |
Early May (before Bike Week) is the last window of spring shoulder pricing.
Bike Week (May 7–16) and Memorial Day Weekend both spike rates. Book Bike Week 4–6 weeks early. Memorial Day Weekend 6–8 weeks early.
Explore more About Myrtle Beach
- Things to Do In Myrtle Beach in August
- Things to Do In Myrtle Beach in September
- Things to Do In Myrtle Beach in October
- Things to Do In Myrtle Beach in November
- Things to Do In Myrtle Beach in December
Practical Tips for Myrtle Beach in May
- Bike Week means traffic. Use Highway 31 (Carolina Bays Parkway) to bypass the congestion on Highway 17 Business, especially around Murrells Inlet and NMB. The heaviest traffic is mid-rally (weekends).
- Memorial Day Weekend has one-way traffic on Ocean Blvd. Southbound only from 29th Ave N to 29th Ave S starting Friday morning. Arrive Friday morning to beat the Thursday-afternoon and Monday-afternoon peak congestion.
- Sunscreen is now critical. UV index hits 8–10 in May. SPF 50+, reapply every 2 hours, wear a hat. May sunburn is sneaky — the ocean breeze masks the heat.
- Afternoon thunderstorms are real but short. May brings quick afternoon pop-up storms that blow through in 30–60 minutes. Have a rainy-day backup (Ripley’s, WonderWorks, Escape Game) but don’t cancel your day for a forecast.
- Book the Blue Crab Festival weekend early. Hotels near Little River fill for this event. The festival is free admission but plan for parking and food vendor spending.
- Lifeguards return for Memorial Day Weekend. Swim near lifeguard stations, check beach flags, and respect rip-current warnings — May’s warming waters increase ocean activity.
- Hot Summer Nights starts in late May. Free concerts Wednesday and Friday at Plyler Park, nightly street entertainment. Check visitmyrtlebeach.com for the launch date.
- Early May is the last “deal” window. Before Bike Week and Memorial Day push rates toward summer levels, the first week of May offers spring weather at near-April prices.
Final Thoughts
The things to do in Myrtle Beach in May fill every corner of the Grand Strand — 500,000 motorcycles on the coast for Bike Week, thousands of crab lovers at the Blue Crab Festival in Little River, fireworks over the Boardwalk on Memorial Day Weekend, free concerts launching at Plyler Park, the ocean finally warm enough to swim, the golf courses at their peak, and 14 hours of daylight stretching every beach day to its maximum.
May is the month when Myrtle Beach stops being a spring destination and becomes a summer one — and catching that transition, especially in early May before Bike Week and Memorial Day push rates and crowds toward summer levels, is one of the best-value windows on the entire Grand Strand calendar.
Come for the Blue Crab Festival. Stay for the Boardwalk at sunset. Ride the SkyWheel. Eat on the MarshWalk. Play 18 holes at Caledonia. And when you’re sitting on the beach at 7 p.m. in 80-degree air with the ocean finally warm on your feet and 2 more hours of daylight ahead — that’s May at Myrtle Beach. That’s when you know summer is here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is May a good time to visit Myrtle Beach?
May is one of the best months to visit Myrtle Beach — warm weather (upper 70s to low 80s), swimmable ocean (70–75°F), all attractions at full capacity, and prices that are still below peak summer rates (except Bike Week and Memorial Day weekends). Early May is the sweet spot for value and weather.
Can you swim at Myrtle Beach in May?
Yes — May is the first month where the ocean water is genuinely comfortable for swimming, reaching 70–75°F by mid-month. Lifeguards are on duty at designated stations starting Memorial Day Weekend. Swim near lifeguards and check beach flags for current conditions.
What events happen in Myrtle Beach in May 2027?
Key May 2027 events include the Myrtle Beach Bike Week Spring Rally (May 7–16, 500,000+ riders), the World Famous Blue Crab Festival (Little River), Mayfest on Main (North Myrtle Beach), Memorial Day Weekend celebrations (fireworks, Military Appreciation Parade, Atlantic Beach Bikefest), Brookgreen Gardens Memorial Day 5K and Summer Light debut, the launch of Hot Summer Nights concerts, and live shows at the Carolina Opry, Alabama Theatre, and House of Blues.
What are the best free things to do in Myrtle Beach in May?
Free May activities include beach days (60 miles of free coastline), Hot Summer Nights concerts at Plyler Park (launching late May), Barefoot Landing Spring Live Music Series (Fridays and Saturdays), Mayfest on Main (NMB), the Blue Crab Festival (free admission), walking the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk walk, and the Burroughs-Chapin Art Museum (free year-round).
What should I know about Bike Week in Myrtle Beach?
Myrtle Beach Bike Week Spring Rally (May 7–16, 2027) draws 500,000+ riders to the Grand Strand. Traffic on Highway 17 increases significantly — use Highway 31 as a bypass. Hotel rates spike during Bike Week. Even non-riders enjoy the live music and people-watching. The Atlantic Beach Bikefest is a separate event over Memorial Day Weekend.
What are the best things to do in Myrtle Beach in May with kids?
Ripley’s Aquarium (shark tunnel, stingrays, penguins), the SkyWheel (200-foot views), Family Kingdom Amusement Park (no gate fee), mini golf (50+ courses), full beach days (swimmable ocean), the Blue Crab Festival (free admission, family-friendly), and the Boardwalk with free Plyler Park entertainment are the best things to do in Myrtle Beach in May with kids.
