Just want to know how far is Charlotte from any lovely beach on the East Coast? I only have a couple of days to do a short road trip and am stuck on which beach would be lovely to visit from Charlotte and how long it will take? Please advise.

Cheers.

My vote would be the Outer Banks, but I don't think that is a "short" road trip from Charlotte.

Charlotte is 3 1/2 hours from Myrtle Beach. I suggest you go just a bit south of there to Pawley's Island/Litchfield or even Garden City for a beautiful beach experience--MUCH less congestion/traffic. Excellent restaurants. Tell me what you want and I will try to help. We have been to NC and SC beaches--own at Litchfield.

Agree with Gretchen. Pawley's/Litchfield is a lovely area -- and don't miss Brookgreen Gardens.

The South Carolina Beaches are a shorter trip than the North Carolina Beaches.

I agree.....avoid Myrtle Beach at all costs! But calculate your time carefully...lots of road construction in North and South Carolina...and once you're off the interstate, it is very slow going.

Downtown Myrtle Beach is very crowded, congested, and overbuilt. Lots of tourist traps, shops selling 3 t-shirts for $10 and beach towels that fall apart the first time you wash them, etc. However, there are some absolutely gorgeous beaches just north and just south of Myrtle Beach proper. Much less crowded and nicer. The beach itself around Myrtle is great -- nice sand, and you can walk pretty far out before the water gets deep. Fun to splash around and walk along the edge of the water, especially around sunrise and sunset. The beach itself in and around Myrtle is one of my favorites on the entire East Coast. Either side of the city of Myrtle Beach and you will have a great time.

Everyone is telling you the same thing--avoid Myrtle Beach. If you want directions tell me. We go from Charlotte often and it is easy. Look on google.com and enter Litchfield Beach and Golf resort--or anything close.

Good thing Rich was here to take all the anti-Myrtle Beach jibes. Although I will be happy to relieve him now.

Rich has it absolutely right about MB and the areas North and South of ground zero.

And I agree with the majority that Litchfield/Pawleys is a wonderful place, although it adds another 1/2 hour to your drive from Charlotte.

Another possibility (about 3.5 hours from Charlotte) is Sunset Beach just north of the SC/NC line. Wonderful, well-preserved beach, almost all houses, with a few condos. You would take 74 from Charlotte and then either go south to 9 (via 701), skirt North Myrtle Beach heading North on 17 and follow the signs--or stay on 74 and take Highway 130 to the Sunset Beach area (then follow the signs).

Wherever you go, have a great time!

Sunset Beach is good but all the Brunswick Islands (Oak Island, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle)have mostly weekly rentals only in season. You might try Wilmington (NC) or even Charleston. We go all of these places on long weekends throughout the year. ((We reside in Charlotte). By all means avoid Myrtle.

Just got back from Topsail Beach, NC. Had a great time. Beautiful beach but uncrowded. My son on my shoulders, dolphins gave him a show fifty feet from shore.