Myrtle Beach once again made TripAdvisor’s annual list of “Top 10 U.S. Destinations for Fall Travel,” showing that U.S. travelers continue to seek our warm weather this fall. Myrtle Beach placed 8th on the list for the past two years.
“Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand provides residents and visitors the opportunity to experience an extended summer with our subtropical climate, 60 miles of free beaches, golfing, outdoor experiences, abundance of festivals and events, 2,000-plus diverse restaurants, and much more,” said Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (MBACC) and Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) President and CEO Karen Riordan.
The region is rich with fall festivals, including:
- Conway Burger Week, Sept. 18-24;
- Atalaya Arts & Crafts Festival, Sept. 22-24;
- Beach 'n Chili Fest, Sept. 29-Oct. 1;
- Irish Italian International Festival, Sept. 30;
- Vintage Market Days Friday, Sept. 29-Oct. 1;
- Myrtle Beach Bike Week Fall Rally, Oct. 2-Oct. 8;
- Surfside Beach Family Festival, Oct. 7;
- 3rd Annual OktoberFest at Barefoot Landing, Oct. 7;
- Fall Taste of The Market Common – Oct. 7;
- Harvest Home Festival, Oct. 7;
- Taste of the Town, Oct. 10;
- Little River ShrimpFest, Oct. 14-15;
- Myrtle Beach Mini-Marathon, Oct. 14;
- Myrtle Beach Jazz Festival, Oct. 20-22;
- Myrtle Beach Jeep Jam, Oct. 20-22;
- Loris Bog-Off Festival, Oct. 21;
- Georgetown Wooden Boat Show, Oct. 21-22;
- Fall Jerk Fest, Oct. 29;
- Brew at the Zoo at Brookgreen Gardens, Nov. 4; and
- Myrtle Beach Invitational, Nov. 16-19.
Riordan also noted that a strong fall tourism season helps local residents to remain employed, especially within the hospitality sector. On Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, the CVB released its Fall 2023 Travel Outlook, showcasing updated data and trends for the coming months.
• Traveler sentiment remains high for fall with 74 percent of Americans surveyed reporting they will travel this fall, well above 61 percent planning to travel at the same time last year. (Source: TripAdvisor’s 2023 Seasonal Travel Index)
• Horry County vacation rental occupancy bookings are currently pacing at 44 percent for the next 30 days with reservations increasing up to the day of stay. (Source: KeyData) CVB officials noted fall accommodation bookings are coming in last-minute and at a slower pace compared to the last two years, but visitation remains higher than pre-pandemic levels seen prior to 2020.
• Business travel is expected to have grown by double digits in both volume and spending by the close of 2023. (Source: U.S. Travel Association) Here in Myrtle Beach, these conventions, group and sporting events are a cornerstone of the fall travel season.
• While international travel recovery remains behind, inbound visitations from Canada have already surpassed pre-pandemic levels. (Source: U.S. Travel Association) Along the Grand Strand, many of our Canadian friends will return this fall and throughout the winter with Can-Am Days happening March 9-17, 2024.
VisitMyrtleBeach.com offers additional information on enjoying fall along the Grand Strand.
