The Myrtle Beach area celebrated a festive Labor Day holiday weekend with live entertainment, spectacular fireworks shows and cultural festivals. Labor Day weekend events included the Waves of Praise Gospel Fest in Myrtle Beach, Hot Summer Nights at Myrtle Beach’s Plyler Park, Surfside Beach End-of-Summer Fireworks Festival and the Gullah Geechee Festival in Atlantic Beach to name a few.
If you didn't get to experience those events, no worries, there's much more in store. The post-Labor Day season in Myrtle Beach offers a blend of festive celebrations, coastal charm and the laid-back atmosphere. With fewer crowds and blue skies and sunshine well into late fall, you can experience more of what you love while getting great value.
Here are some quick resources for things to do in September at The Beach:
- Things to do in September in Myrtle Beach
- Fall Festivals in Myrtle Beach
- These Campgrounds Make Fall Camping in Myrtle Beach Unforgettable
- Best New Restaurants In Myrtle Beach for 2025 & What’s Coming Soon
Additionally, some of the beach rules have loosened after Labor Day with more opportunities to enjoy the beach with your furry friends and bicycles. You can learn more about the beach rules here.
A Look At Labor Day Tourism Results
The Labor Day holiday weekend was an opportunity for more summer all while kicking off the exceptional fall season along the Grand Strand. Before many families and students across the country get back to their schooltime schedules, they took to the Myrtle Beach area or one more beach trip before hitting the books.
Initial lodging data was released by Visit Myrtle Beach on Sept. 5, showing the Myrtle Beach area’s resiliency despite headwinds impacting the national tourism industry.
Initial Occupancy Data - Labor Day Holiday 2025
- Hotels (Source: STR/Luckie & Co.)
Myrtle Beach area hotel occupancy rates for Labor Day weekend 2025:- Thursday, Aug. 28: 51 percent (Down 11.7 percent from 2024, year-over-year)39.3
- Friday, Aug. 29: 77 percent (Down 4.4 percent from 2025, year-over-year
- Saturday, Aug. 30: 91.5 percent (Up 1.5 percent from 2024, year-over-year)
- Thursday - Saturday Average: 73.5 percent occupancy (68.3 percent occupancy 2024)
- Short-Term Rentals (Source: KeyData)
Myrtle Beach area short-term rental (like AirBnB properties) occupancy rates for Labor Day weekend 2025:- Thursday, Aug. 28: 59 percent (Up 1 percent from 2024, year-over-year)
- Friday, Aug. 29: 75 percent (Up 2.6 percent from 2024, year-over-year)
- Saturday, Aug. 30: 76 percent (same as 2024, year-over-year)
- Thursday - Saturday Average: 70 percent occupancy 2025 (68.8 percent occupancy 2024)
The most recent lodging data is updated each Friday and found online at myrtlebeachareacvb.com/lodging-dashboard.
Myrtle Beach captured strong last-minute demand for the core Labor Day weekend despite softer pacing midweek. Hotels surged Saturday to near-capacity levels, while vacation rentals held steady gains on Friday and Saturday before easing into the back half of the weekend. Early signs show travelers remained value-sensitive but willing to book last-minute trips, reinforcing Myrtle Beach's strength as a drive-market destination.
Myrtle Beach Area Faring Better Than Other Destinations
While full summer tourism data is not yet available, Visit Myrtle Beach officials note that the data so far is promising with Myrtle Beach remaining ahead of comparable markets, outperforming both state and national averages as it leans on its family-friendly appeal, accessibility and value.
For example, over the month of July, STR data shows the average occupancy rate at hotels in the Myrtle Beach area was 76 percent, less than one percent down from 2024 (0.9 percent). The peak summer month proved successful despite a shorter holiday weekend with July 4th falling on a Friday and Tropical Storm Chantel making landfall in the region on July 6.
Comparable destinations such as Fort Lauderdale, Fla., saw occupancy down 3.3 percent year-over-year for the month of July and Daytona Beach, Fla., was down 5.8 percent.
National Tourism Headwinds Continue
Nationally, travel demand is down with destinations across the U.S. navigating an evolving landscape of shifting traveler behaviors, increased competition, reduced international travel and economic pressures. Increasingly, travelers are making last-minute decisions about booking travel.
As a result, destinations like Myrtle Beach are seeing “softness” in demand, especially for certain lodging segments such as independent and economy hotels.
Yet, despite the headwinds, overall visitation to Myrtle Beach is expected to finish near 2024 levels, demonstrating the region’s resiliency rooted in its core strengths as an accessible, drive-to market that delivers exceptional value and enduring family appeal.
Along with ranking as the top U.S. beach destination for summer travel in Tripadvisor’s 2025 Summer Travel Index, PrivacyJournal.net’s July report, “America’s Most Wanted Beaches,” placed Myrtle Beach as the top out-of-state beach that potential travelers are searching for online.
What Visit Myrtle Beach Is Doing To Capture Demand
Visit Myrtle Beach is working hard as the official destination marketing organization for the Myrtle Beach area, promoting the region as a vibrant, welcoming destination made up of 14 unique communities stretching 60 miles along the northeast coast of South Carolina.
The organization contributes to the quality of life for local residents by fostering a sustainable tourism economy that supports local jobs and generates critical funding for public services, schools and infrastructure.
To ensure the Myrtle Beach area continues to stand out in a competitive travel market, Visit Myrtle Beach continues to:
- Leverage high-impact digital and traditional media channels in key feeder markets to reach both repeat visitors and new audiences.
- Roll out creative initiatives such as Emmy-nominated original programming, earned media and influencer collaborations to showcase the destination in fresh, authentic ways.
- Build upon partnerships with airlines, event producers and local partners to bring new audiences to the Grand Strand and extend the visitor season.
- Closely monitor performance indicators to quickly adapt to traveler behavior shifts in order to pivot messaging, adjust media buys and highlight offerings that resonate with last-minute bookers.
- Support efforts to enhance the overall guest experience to ensure repeat visitation and positive word of mouth, which are critical to long-term demand.
- As stewards of tourism promotion funding, Visit Myrtle Beach publishes regular accountability reports, ensuring stakeholders understand the return on investment and the broader economic benefits generated by tourism.
