NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — July 17, 2026
By the Thomas Beach Vacations Editorial Team
The national travel publication ranked the destination No. 8 among the 10 most affordable U.S. places to visit this August, at an average of $486 for a round-trip flight and one-night hotel stay — and credited the Visit Myrtle Beach “Make More Myrtle Moments” promotion.
Myrtle Beach has earned a spot on Travel + Leisure’s list of the 10 Most Affordable Places to Travel in the U.S. this August, ranking No. 8 nationally with an average combined cost of $486 for a round-trip flight and a one-night hotel stay.
The ranking, published in June, was built on Kayak flight and hotel search data collected May 1–26, 2026, for travel throughout August — a month the booking platform’s analysts identified as a strong value window, with domestic flight savings of up to nine percent available to travelers willing to push their trips later in the season. Every destination on the resulting list came in under $500.
Myrtle Beach appeared alongside Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Atlanta, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Houston, Austin, Phoenix, and Dallas — making it the only Atlantic beach town in the top 10.
Destination Promotion Earns a National Nod
Notably, the publication specifically referenced Visit Myrtle Beach’s “Make More Myrtle Moments” promotion as a reason August is one of the best times to find a Grand Strand beach deal. The destination-wide campaign includes offers such as extra free nights at participating hotels and resorts along the 60-mile coastline.
The write-up also highlighted the breadth of experiences that keep late-summer visitors busy — the boardwalk, arcades, mini-golf courses, and beach bars, along with the waterfront entertainment districts Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach and Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach. Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach and The Carolina Opry earned mentions among the area’s family attractions, and the publication noted the region’s expanding dining scene, from seafood shacks and Southern staples to newer additions such as Ole Smoky Distillery.
Value as a Competitive Advantage
According to the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, the mention demonstrates how destination marketing efforts reinforce one of the area’s strongest competitive advantages: value. By working with lodging partners on compelling offers, Visit Myrtle Beach positions the Grand Strand favorably among travelers who are increasingly focused on affordability when making vacation decisions — and third-party recognition from trusted travel publications adds credibility while broadening the reach of those efforts.
Tourism officials note that recognition of this kind strengthens the destination’s position in a competitive marketplace while creating additional opportunities for local tourism businesses, from hotels and restaurants to attractions and retailers across the region. The full ranking is available at TravelAndLeisure.com, and current destination offers can be found through VisitMyrtleBeach.com.
Travelers planning a late-summer Grand Strand getaway can find oceanfront homes and condos in North Myrtle Beach through Thomas Beach Vacations, with availability across the Cherry Grove, Ocean Drive, Crescent Beach, and Windy Hill sections at www.northmyrtlebeachvacations.com or by phone at (843) 273-3001.
Sources: Travel + Leisure, “10 Most Affordable Places to Travel in the U.S. This August” (June 2026, based on Kayak search data); Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce / Visit Myrtle Beach.