Horry County Plans Walking and Biking Trail Network Linking Conway and Myrtle Beach

Conway, S.C. · October 14, 2026 · By Thomas Beach Vacations

CONWAY, S.C. — Horry County is developing a countywide trail master plan built around one primary goal: a continuous network of walking and biking paths connecting Conway, the county seat, with Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand. After weeks of gathering ideas from residents on an interactive map, the county closed its online survey on Monday, October 12, and plans to hold public input meetings in November, according to WBTW and WPDE.

Rather than drawing routes in advance, county planners asked residents to shape them. On the county’s map, people placed green pins at destinations they want to reach, red pins at problem areas and blue pins where they see a chance for a new connection. Rajiv Myana, Horry County’s deputy planning director, told WBTW that the feedback helps planners understand current conditions, where people want to go and what they expect from a trail. Hundreds of suggestions came in, including a request for a safer way for pedestrians to cross the Intracoastal Waterway near the Horry County Bike and Run Park.

Several Routes on the Map, None Chosen Yet

The county announced the master plan in late August, describing a continuous trail linking Conway with Myrtle Beach as the primary corridor, with secondary connections that could extend into surrounding communities and rural areas. The plan will review existing trails, identify gaps, and set priorities for a safe, connected network for residents and visitors, with improved access to schools, parks and services.

County maps show multiple route options for the Conway-to-Myrtle Beach link, each with its own cost estimate, and no route has been selected. State lawmakers have allocated $2 million for the path, and some options are expected to cost more than that, so the county is exploring grants and partnerships. Kimberly Clifford, the county’s public information officer, told WPDE that if partnerships come through, Conway would build its section, Myrtle Beach would build a section, and the county would build the connecting segments.

The corridor follows a long-discussed idea. In 2022, planners at a trail summit at Coastal Carolina University discussed a roughly 35-mile rail trail along the old railroad bed from the Myrtle Beach train depot to Aynor, built in phases over as long as 20 years, with Conway’s city administrator estimating costs at about $2 million per mile, WMBF reported at the time.

Lighting, Water Fountains and Golf Cart Access Among the Questions

The survey also asked what the trail should include. Clifford said the county wants input on features such as golf cart access, bike access, pet stations, water fountains and nighttime lighting, and residents weighed in on benches and other amenities. Ed Mondello, a local trail user, told WBTW that exercise space in green areas is one of the things that draws people to a place, and that practical details such as a well-lit parking lot, changing rooms, restrooms and fresh water make a difference for users.

Clifford noted that a trail would serve people who cannot drive and those who could walk to work if a safe path existed, and that it could take some vehicles off local roads.

What Happens Next

The plan remains in its early stages. Public input meetings on the latest draft are planned for November 2026, and the completed master plan would guide which segments are built first and how future funding is spent. Conway is already moving on its end of the corridor: once Depot Road outside the city is repaved, the city plans to take ownership of it and add a bike lane connecting to the Kingston Ferry on the Waccamaw River, where surveyors were expected to stake out a boardwalk area in late September.

Visitors to the Grand Strand do not have to wait for the plan to enjoy a walk. In North Myrtle Beach, the House Creek boardwalk in Cherry Grove and the parks in our guide to nature trails and parks in North Myrtle Beach are open now, and the beach itself runs unbroken from Cherry Grove through Ocean Drive and Crescent Beach to Windy Hill. Downtown Conway’s Riverwalk is dressed for the City of Halloween all month. Guests in our oceanfront home rentals and oceanfront condos can find more ideas in our guide to things to do in Myrtle Beach, and we will follow the trail plan on our local news page.

Sources: WBTW (Oct. 12–13, 2026); WPDE (Oct. 12–13, 2026); Horry County Government (Aug. 25, 2026); WMBF (May 12, 2022). Plans, routes, funding and meeting dates are subject to change; confirm with Horry County.