By Donna Fitzgerald
Whether you’re visiting family and friends during the holidays or just want to escape colder weather, Myrtle Beach is a popular travel destination, especially during the holiday season.
Here are some holiday travel tips to consider when visiting Myrtle Beach.
Watch The Weather
While the weather changes and the temps drop slightly in Myrtle Beach during December and January, 50 and 60-degree weather can be a welcome change for visitors who live in a snowy climate.
If you’re visiting Myrtle Beach and the surrounding areas, it’s important to pay attention to the forecast even if you consider yourself to be a seasoned winter driver. While it’s highly unlikely to see any snowflakes while you’re visiting over the holiday season, the extended forecast predicts a chance of rain and ice.
Whether you’re renting a car or driving your own, always check out the weather forecast before hitting the road.
High-Traffic Areas
Myrtle Beach residents are well aware of where some of the busiest areas are located and which roads are more likely to be congested. When the holiday season arrives, highways can get even more crowded, so it’s best to know which areas to avoid and if you can’t, just be more aware and focused while driving.
Having a traffic app on your phone like Waze can be beneficial in seeing traffic conditions and any changes in real time, but as with any app, make sure that you aren’t looking at your phone and driving at the same time. You should always look up directions and plan a route before you drive.
Highway 17 is considered to be one of the deadliest highways in the area, and Route 501 is well-known for frequent traffic congestion, but here are some areas that are notorious for being busy.
● Southbound lanes of Route 17
● Ocean Boulevard is a tourist hotspot, which means more traffic
● Ocean Boulevard, between 25th Avenue North & 10th Avenue South should be avoided due to heavy traffic
● Some residents recommend Kings Highway or Grissom Parkway as an alternate route
● When Route 501 is busy, try Route 22
A quick note to Myrtle Beach residents; keep in mind that some of the most accessible and heavily traveled roads will be busier during the holiday season. Plan accordingly and consider an alternate route.
Avoid Driving
One of the easiest ways to avoid traffic congestion and reduce your risk of a car accident is to simply avoid driving as much as you can while visiting Myrtle Beach. Depending on where you’re staying, you may be within walking distance of restaurants, bars, the beach, and other attractions; just make sure you have a comfortable pair of walking shoes packed.
Need to get somewhere outside of walking distance? Consider taking an Uber; this is a great option, especially if you’re planning on attending a holiday event and plan to drink alcohol. You don’t want to ring in the new year with a DUI or by causing an accident.
Learn More: https://www.joyelawfirm.com/myrtle-beach/