Cherry Grove Beach – North Myrtle Beach

✓ Last Updated: March 2026

About Cherry Grove Beach

Cherry Grove Beach occupies the northernmost section of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, sitting at the point where North Ocean Boulevard curves toward the Cherry Grove Inlet and the salt marsh ecosystem of the Grand Strand’s interior. It is one of four historic beach communities — along with Ocean Drive, Crescent Beach, and Windy Hill — that merged to form the City of North Myrtle Beach in 1968.

What sets Cherry Grove apart from the other three neighborhoods is its character: more nature-forward, more residential, and genuinely quieter than the rest of NMB. The beachfront here is lined with classic three-story beach houses rather than high-rise resort towers. Behind the oceanfront, a lattice of tidal channels winds through the community, making Cherry Grove one of the only beach neighborhoods on the Grand Strand where you can fish, kayak, or crab from the backyard of your vacation rental home.

Families have been coming to Cherry Grove for generations — many say they’ve been visiting since childhood and continue to return year after year. That multigenerational loyalty is the best measure of what this neighborhood delivers.

The Beach Experience

The beach at Cherry Grove is wide, clean, and generously sized — especially during low tide, when the strand expands dramatically and gives families plenty of room to spread out, build sandcastles, and play in the surf without feeling hemmed in. It is consistently rated one of the best beaches in South Carolina, and it’s easy to see why: the water is warm, the sand is soft, and the lack of a commercial strip behind the dunes means you can hear the waves rather than the crowd.

Lifeguards are stationed at key access points during the summer season. The City of North Myrtle Beach maintains multiple public beach accesses along North Ocean Boulevard, with some accommodating golf carts — a popular way to reach the northern access points. Paid parking is in effect from March 1 through October 31; parking is free before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. year-round.

Dogs are welcome on Cherry Grove Beach under leash rules — check the current 2026 North Myrtle Beach beach ordinance for seasonal hours.

Cherry Grove Pier

The Cherry Grove Pier is the neighborhood’s most iconic landmark and one of the most beloved fishing piers on the entire Grand Strand. Stretching nearly 1,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean, the pier is open to both anglers and sightseers — you don’t need a rod to walk out and enjoy the views.

For fishing, the pier is stocked with everything you need: rod and reel rentals, bait, tackle, and knowledgeable staff who can point you toward whatever is running. Visitors have pulled in everything from flounder and bluefish to Spanish mackerel and the occasional baby shark. An on-site café keeps you fueled throughout the day. The pier is also a prime sunrise photography spot — the views up and down the coastline from the far end are genuinely spectacular.

Cherry Grove Point: The Local Secret

If Cherry Grove has a best-kept secret, it is The Point — a secluded sandbar at the very northern tip of Cherry Grove Beach where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Cherry Grove Inlet. Getting there is simple: drive north on Ocean Boulevard until it dead-ends, then walk out to the water.

What you find at The Point is a wide, wind-swept stretch of open beach that feels a world away from the rest of the Grand Strand. During low tide, the sandbar expands significantly, creating a vast and open shoreline that attracts shorebirds, dolphins in the inlet, and the rare solitude that beach lovers dream about. It is an excellent spot for long walks, shelling, and quiet time.

Things to Do in Cherry Grove

Dining & Local Eats

Cherry Grove has developed a strong reputation for excellent locally-owned seafood restaurants. Snooky’s Oceanfront serves fresh seafood on a patio overlooking the ocean and is a long-time neighborhood institution. Duck Dive Bar and Grill is the quintessential local hangout — pub food, cold drinks, and a reliably good time in a casual beach setting. For coffee and light bites, Salty Brews has become a new local favorite, offering sandwiches, coffee, beer, wine, and even a sushi corner. Boulineau’s IGA is the neighborhood’s beloved local market — a family-owned grocery that has served Cherry Grove for decades and carries local seafood alongside all the staples you need.

Nature & Outdoor Adventures

Cherry Grove sits at the edge of one of the most ecologically rich areas on the South Carolina coast. The Cherry Grove Inlet and its surrounding salt marsh form a living ecosystem where fiddler crabs, blue herons, oystercatchers, and bottlenose dolphins are regular visitors. The Intracoastal Waterway is accessible via the neighborhood’s public boat ramp on 53rd Avenue, making Cherry Grove an excellent base for boating, jet skiing, and fishing on the waterway.

Heritage Shores Nature Preserve at the end of 56th Avenue North is one of the area’s most rewarding natural destinations: a natural island in the salt marsh accessible by foot, with elevated boardwalks, observation docks, picnic shelters, and hiking trails through maritime forest. It is free, open to the public, and genuinely beautiful.

Vacation Rentals in Cherry Grove

Cherry Grove is one of the best vacation rental destinations on the Grand Strand, with an inventory that ranges from oceanfront condos to large channel homes with private docks, pools, and marsh views. Channel homes are a Cherry Grove specialty — these properties sit along the tidal creeks that run through the neighborhood, offering water views, private dock access for crabbing and kayaking, and a sense of being genuinely embedded in the coastal landscape.

Thomas Beach Vacations has offered vacation rentals in Cherry Grove since 1962. With deep local knowledge and a curated selection of oceanfront condos and channel homes, the team can match your group size, budget, and vacation style to the right property.

Getting Around & Nearby Attractions

Frequently Asked Questions