North Myrtle Beach gives student groups more to do in a single week than most people plan for. The beach and the bars are the obvious anchors — and they’re enough to fill a week on their own — but Ocean Drive also has watersports, a handful of restaurants that actually work for groups, activities within a short drive, and day trip options that give the week some variety without stranding anyone miles from the house.
This guide covers everything worth doing in North Myrtle Beach as a student: every category of activity, every venue worth naming, and a realistic picture of how most groups actually spend their time across a week near Ocean Drive. Whether you’re planning Spring Break in March, Beach Week in May, or Senior Week in June, this is what the week actually looks like.
10 Things to Do in North Myrtle Beach for Students
- Spend the day on the beach at Ocean Drive — the access points along Ocean Boulevard between 1st and 9th Avenue are the center of the student beach scene during Spring Break, Beach Week, and Senior Week
- Hit the Spanish Galleon on Ocean Boulevard — the highest-energy DJ club on the Main Street strip and the one most groups end up at every night
- Visit Fat Harold’s Beach Club at 212 Main Street — the most historically significant bar on Ocean Drive, known for shag dancing and beach music, worth a visit on any student trip
- Rent jet skis or paddleboards along Ocean Boulevard — multiple watersport operators run rentals from the beach during student season
- Try cable wakeboarding at Shark Wake Park — 4575 Highway 17 S, about ten minutes from Ocean Drive, one of the best group activity options in the area
- Eat at Hoskins Restaurant on 405 Main Street — a North Myrtle Beach institution open since 1947, reliable for big group breakfasts and lunches near the bar scene
- Catch a live band at Duck’s Night Life at 231 Main Street — the best live music venue on Ocean Drive and the right call on weeknights when the Galleon is quieter
- Take a day trip to Myrtle Beach — 15 to 20 minutes south on Highway 17, Broadway at the Beach and the Boardwalk give the week some variety without a long drive
- Visit Alligator Adventure at 4604 Highway 17 S — a legitimate group activity with thousands of reptiles on display, worth an afternoon early in the week before the routine sets in
- Walk the OD Arcade rooftop at 100 South Ocean Blvd — the right start to any evening on Ocean Drive, with a deck, karaoke, and billiards before the clubs hit their stride
The Beach in North Myrtle Beach
The beach is the center of every student day near Ocean Drive. The access points along Ocean Boulevard between 1st Avenue North and 9th Avenue South are where the bulk of the student crowd gathers during Spring Break, Beach Week, and Senior Week — a wide, clean stretch of Atlantic coastline with public access at every numbered avenue.
Sea Aire properties on 1st Avenue North — The Decoy Condos and Ocean Breeze — sit under two minutes on foot from the beach access on Ocean Boulevard. Groups on 2nd Avenue South are a short walk from the same stretch. The practical effect is that most Sea Aire groups walk to the beach in the morning, come back to the house for lunch, and return to the beach in the afternoon without planning anything.
What to bring and what to expect
The Ocean Drive beach is wide enough to handle the student crowd during peak season without feeling overcrowded. Bring a cooler, chairs, and sunscreen — there are no permanent vendor setups on the beach itself during most of the student season. Restrooms and rinse stations are available at several of the public access points along Ocean Boulevard. The water temperature along this stretch of the Grand Strand runs from the low 60s in March to the mid-70s by late May and June, which matters for groups planning Beach Week or Senior Week versus Spring Break.
Watersports & Ocean Activities in North Myrtle Beach
Multiple watersport operators run rentals from the beach along Ocean Boulevard during spring and summer student season. Availability varies by date and operator — spring break season in March and April has more competition for equipment than Beach Week or Senior Week in May and June.
1 Jet Ski Rentals — Ocean Boulevard, North Myrtle Beach
Jet ski rentals are the most popular paid watersport among student groups near Ocean Drive. Multiple operators run rentals directly off the beach along Ocean Boulevard during student season. Groups typically book two or three skis at a time and rotate riders. Rates vary by operator and season — rates during peak Spring Break weeks run slightly higher than Beach Week or Senior Week rates. Book in the morning for afternoon slots during busy Spring Break weekends.
2 Paddleboard & Kayak Rentals — Ocean Boulevard, North Myrtle Beach
Paddleboard and kayak rentals are available from beach operators along Ocean Boulevard and provide a quieter alternative to jet skis for groups who want time on the water without the noise and speed. Morning conditions along the Ocean Drive beach are typically calmer than afternoons, making early sessions the better choice for paddleboarding in particular.
3 Parasailing — North Myrtle Beach
Parasailing operators run trips from the beach along Ocean Boulevard during student season. Most rides go up two people at a time and last 8 to 12 minutes in the air. It’s not a group activity in the traditional sense — the rest of the group watches from the boat or the beach — but for groups that want at least one genuinely memorable experience during the week, parasailing delivers that. Best on calm, clear days earlier in the week when weather uncertainty is lower.
4 Shark Wake Park — 4575 Highway 17 S, North Myrtle Beach
Shark Wake Park on Highway 17 South offers cable wakeboarding on a freshwater lake — a self-contained, supervised activity that works well for student groups of any size and experience level. The cable system pulls riders across the lake without a boat, which means beginners can learn without the cost and logistics of boat-based wakeboarding. Most groups spend two to three hours here in the morning or early afternoon before returning to the beach for the rest of the day. It’s roughly ten minutes from Ocean Drive by car — the one activity near North Myrtle Beach that reliably requires wheels.
Ocean Drive Nightlife for Students
The nightlife on Ocean Drive is the reason most student groups choose North Myrtle Beach over every other Grand Strand destination. Every major venue — the Spanish Galleon on Ocean Boulevard, Fat Harold’s Beach Club at 212 Main St, Duck’s Night Life at 231 Main St, OD Arcade & Lounge at 100 South Ocean Blvd, and Pirate’s Cove — sits within a ten-minute walk of Sea Aire properties on 1st Avenue North and 2nd Avenue South.
Most groups fall into a natural nightlife rhythm by the second night: early evening at OD Arcade or Main Street Taphouse at 693 Main St, then Fat Harold’s or Duck’s around 9:30 or 10, then the Spanish Galleon for the peak hours after 10:30. That circuit covers the best of Ocean Drive without requiring any transportation and without anyone getting separated from the group.
For the complete venue-by-venue breakdown including cover charges, dress code, and timing, see our Ocean Drive Nightlife Guide for Students.
Restaurants Near Ocean Drive for Student Groups
Most student groups near Ocean Drive eat most meals at the house — stocking groceries at Boulineau’s Foods Plus at 700 Sea Mountain Highway on arrival day and cooking breakfast and lunch there keeps the food budget in check across the week. But a handful of restaurants near Main Street are worth knowing for the meals you do eat out.
5 Hoskins Restaurant — 405 Main Street, North Myrtle Beach
Hoskins Restaurant at 405 Main Street has been feeding Ocean Drive visitors since 1947 and remains the most practical group dining option near the bar scene. It’s a no-frills diner — big portions, reasonable prices, reliably open during student season. For a group of 15 or 20 that wants one proper sit-down breakfast during the week without spending a lot per person, Hoskins is the right call. The Main Street location puts it within easy walking distance of every Sea Aire property near Ocean Drive.
6 Duffy Street Seafood Shack — 202 Main Street, North Myrtle Beach
Duffy Street Seafood Shack at 202 Main Street is the best casual seafood option within walking distance of Ocean Drive. It works well for a group lunch or early dinner before the nightlife portion of the evening begins — the outdoor seating and relaxed format suit large groups better than more formal restaurant settings. The menu runs standard Grand Strand seafood: shrimp, fish tacos, crab cakes, and similar, at prices that don’t punish a group of 20 for choosing to eat somewhere other than the house.
7 The Anchor Cafe — 205 Main Street, North Myrtle Beach
The Anchor Cafe at 205 Main Street is a reliable lunch and dinner option in the heart of the Ocean Drive bar district — convenient for groups who want to eat near the nightlife area before the evening starts. The menu covers standard American fare with a coastal influence: burgers, sandwiches, seafood baskets. It’s not a destination restaurant but it’s well-positioned and consistently open during student season.
Activities & Attractions Near North Myrtle Beach
8 Alligator Adventure — 4604 Highway 17 S, North Myrtle Beach
Alligator Adventure at 4604 Highway 17 South is the most legitimate daytime attraction near North Myrtle Beach — thousands of reptiles including alligators, crocodiles, giant tortoises, and rare albino alligators on a well-maintained property. It sounds like an odd fit for a student beach trip but consistently ends up being one of the more memorable two-hour stretches of the week, especially for groups that want one activity early in the stay before settling into the beach-and-bars routine.
9 Mini Golf & Go-Karts — Highway 17, North Myrtle Beach
Multiple mini-golf and go-kart venues operate along Highway 17 in North Myrtle Beach, within five to ten minutes of Ocean Drive by car. These work as filler activities on overcast days when the beach is less appealing, or as something to do for the portion of the group that wants an activity while others nap or recover. Nothing about them is specifically notable — they’re standard beach town entertainment — but they’re accessible, inexpensive, and useful when the group needs something to do that isn’t the beach or a bar.
Golf Near North Myrtle Beach
The Grand Strand has more golf courses per square mile than almost any destination in the United States, and several of the best are within a short drive of Ocean Drive in North Myrtle Beach. For student groups that include golfers, this is worth planning for.
10 Robbers Roost Golf Course — 1400 Highway 17 North, North Myrtle Beach
Robbers Roost at 1400 Highway 17 North is one of the most accessible and well-regarded public courses near the Ocean Drive area — a full 18-hole layout with a practice facility and a pace of play that suits a group of students who want a proper round without the formality of some of the Grand Strand’s premium resort courses. For groups where half the people golf and half don’t, Robbers Roost works as a morning activity for the golfers while the rest of the group sleeps in or heads to the beach.
Day Trips from North Myrtle Beach for Students
Most student groups make one or two day trips during a week-long stay near Ocean Drive. These are the destinations worth driving to — close enough to not waste a full day in transit, different enough from the beach house routine to be worth the trip.
| Destination | Drive Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Myrtle Beach | 15–20 min south via Hwy 17 | Broadway at the Beach, SkyWheel, Boardwalk, larger shopping and dining selection |
| Wilmington, NC | ~1.5 hrs north via Hwy 17 | Historic riverfront, USS North Carolina battleship, Wrightsville Beach, downtown bars |
| Charleston, SC | ~2 hrs south via Hwy 17 / I-26 | Historic district, Fort Sumter, Rainbow Row, exceptional restaurant scene, City Market |
| Pawleys Island, SC | ~45 min south via Hwy 17 | Quieter beach, historic hammock shops, a different pace from Ocean Drive |
| Georgetown, SC | ~1 hr south via Hwy 17 | Waterfront historic district, good for a half-day drive through before continuing south |
Myrtle Beach is the most common day trip and the easiest to execute — 15 minutes down Highway 17, no planning required, and a genuinely different experience from Ocean Drive with Broadway at the Beach, the SkyWheel on the boardwalk, and a larger selection of restaurants and shops. Charleston is worth the two-hour drive for groups that have a free day and want something genuinely different — it’s one of the best cities on the East Coast for a day visit, with enough to fill eight or ten hours comfortably.
A Sample Student Week in North Myrtle Beach
This is how a typical well-planned student week near Ocean Drive actually breaks down — realistic rather than aspirational, based on what most groups actually do rather than what sounds good on an itinerary.
| Day | Daytime | Evening / Night |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 — Arrival | Check in, stock groceries at Boulineau’s at 700 Sea Mountain Hwy, settle into the house | OD Arcade rooftop → Fat Harold’s at 212 Main St → Spanish Galleon |
| Day 2 | Full beach day on Ocean Boulevard | Dinner at Duffy Street Seafood Shack (202 Main St) → Duck’s at 231 Main St → Spanish Galleon |
| Day 3 | Alligator Adventure (4604 Hwy 17 S) → back to beach afternoon | Main Street Taphouse (693 Main St) → Spanish Galleon |
| Day 4 | Jet ski rentals on Ocean Boulevard → beach afternoon | Group dinner at Hoskins (405 Main St) → Fat Harold’s → Spanish Galleon |
| Day 5 | Day trip to Myrtle Beach — Broadway at the Beach, boardwalk | Back to Ocean Drive → Duck’s → Spanish Galleon |
| Day 6 | Shark Wake Park (4575 Hwy 17 S) morning → beach afternoon | Low-key night — OD Arcade, Pirate’s Cove, wherever the group ends up |
| Day 7 — Departure | Final beach morning, pack up, check out | — |
Most groups end up going out four to five nights rather than every night — not from lack of enthusiasm but because the natural rhythm of the week builds in recovery time that makes the bigger nights better. The groups that try to go out every night hard typically hit a wall by day four or five. The ones that pace it end the week wanting one more night.
Frequently Asked Questions — Things to Do in North Myrtle Beach for Students
Is North Myrtle Beach good for college students?
Yes. North Myrtle Beach is one of the best destinations on the East Coast for student groups. The Ocean Drive district offers a walkable neighborhood where rental houses, the beach, and the Main Street bar scene — Fat Harold’s (212 Main St), the Spanish Galleon (Ocean Boulevard), and Duck’s (231 Main St) — are all within ten minutes on foot. The student crowd during Spring Break, Beach Week, and Senior Week is almost entirely other students, and the private rental house model keeps per-person costs lower than equivalent hotel destinations.
What is there to do in North Myrtle Beach besides the beach and bars?
North Myrtle Beach has watersports rentals along Ocean Boulevard (jet skis, paddleboards, kayaks), Shark Wake Park at 4575 Highway 17 S for cable wakeboarding, Alligator Adventure at 4604 Highway 17 S, mini-golf, go-karts, and easy day trips to Myrtle Beach (15 min), Wilmington NC (1.5 hrs), and Charleston SC (2 hrs). Most groups fill daytime hours with beach time and one or two of these activities across the week.
What are the best restaurants in North Myrtle Beach for student groups?
For groups near Ocean Drive, the best options are Hoskins Restaurant at 405 Main Street (open since 1947, good for big group breakfasts), Duffy Street Seafood Shack at 202 Main Street (casual, group-friendly seafood), and The Anchor Cafe at 205 Main Street (reliable lunch and dinner near the bar scene). Most groups also stock groceries at Boulineau’s Foods Plus at 700 Sea Mountain Highway on arrival day to keep food costs down across the week.
What watersports are available in North Myrtle Beach for students?
Jet ski rentals, paddleboard rentals, kayak rentals, parasailing, and banana boat rides are available along Ocean Boulevard in North Myrtle Beach during student season. Shark Wake Park at 4575 Highway 17 S offers cable wakeboarding for groups who want a structured activity without ocean conditions. Most operators along Ocean Boulevard are open from late March through September.
What day trips can students take from North Myrtle Beach?
The most popular day trips from North Myrtle Beach are Myrtle Beach (15–20 min south via Highway 17) for Broadway at the Beach and the Boardwalk, Wilmington NC (approximately 1.5 hrs north) for the historic riverfront and USS North Carolina battleship, and Charleston SC (approximately 2 hrs south) for the historic district, Fort Sumter, and the restaurant scene. Most groups make one or two day trips during a week-long stay.
Base Your Trip at Sea Aire — Ocean Drive, North Myrtle Beach
Sea Aire Rentals has student houses on 1st Avenue North and 2nd Avenue South — under two minutes from the beach, under ten from every club on Main Street. Properties sleep 3 to 40. Spring Break, Beach Week, and Senior Week dates fill fast.
Sea Aire Rentals & Vacation Homes • Ocean Drive, North Myrtle Beach, SC • walktothebeach.com