Is Central Red Hill safe?
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Central Red Hill as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Central Red Hill
“Go. Central Red Hill is a generally safe, suburban-collegiate area located conveniently between Conway and the Grand Strand coast. Violent crime is rare for visitors, with basic awareness needed mainly for traffic safety along highway corridors and routine vehicle security.”
Local law enforcement maintains regular joint patrols with university police along the US-501 and Highway 544 corridors to curb traffic incidents and occasional property crimes.
About the area
Central Red Hill is an unincorporated suburban community in Horry County characterized by residential subdivisions, apartment complexes serving Coastal Carolina University, and commercial strip centers. It offers a relaxed, inland atmosphere distinct from the bustling beachfront tourist corridors.
- Suburban
- Collegiate
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet
Walking and biking in Central Red Hill
Walk score: 28/100 · Bike score: 37/100
There is no public bike-share program; while campus grounds have paved multi-use paths, surrounding arterial roads lack dedicated bike lanes and are poorly suited for casual cycling.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rates than downtown Myrtle Beach oceanfront districts
- Suburban stability with active campus police presence from nearby Coastal Carolina University
- Affordable local dining and shopping plazas with ample, accessible infrastructure
Cons
- Periodic property theft and vehicle break-ins in large off-campus rental complexes
- High vehicular traffic and minimal pedestrian safety features along major thoroughfares like US-501
- Limited street lighting on secondary residential roads outside master-planned communities
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal in Red Hill, with occasional individuals panhandling near major highway intersections along US-501, as primary shelter facilities are located in central Myrtle Beach and Conway.
What Central Red Hill is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and safe as residents commute and university students head toward campus along major arteries.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Busy and functional with bustling retail centers, student activity, and high visibility throughout the area.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Calm in single-family residential streets, though caution is advised when driving along unlit side roads.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet across most neighborhoods, with occasional noise or localized minor disturbances around student-heavy apartment complexes.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is provided by Coast RTA (Waccamaw Regional Transportation Authority) via Route 16 along US-501, though bus service has long headways and there is no passenger rail service.
Parking is exceptionally easy, with free surface lots available at all shopping centers, businesses, and residential communities, and no paid street parking.
Things to do in Central Red Hill
- Catch a Chanticleers football, baseball, or basketball game at Coastal Carolina University facilities
- Play a round of golf at The Hackler Golf Course, a university-managed public 18-hole course
- Browse local shops and enjoy southern dining along the Highway 501 commercial corridor
Local favorites
- El Cerro Mexican Bar & Grill · Mexican Restaurant · 4.4★ (1150)A popular local gathering spot serving sizzling fajitas, margaritas, and classic Mexican favorites.
- Rotelli Pizza & Pasta · Italian Restaurant · 4.3★ (860)Casual neighborhood Italian joint known for gourmet pizzas, pasta dishes, and hearty subs.
- Cook Out · Fast Food Restaurant · 4.2★ (1420)Iconic regional drive-thru staple offering charbroiled burgers, Carolina barbecue, and dozens of milkshake flavors.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.