Is East Longs safe?
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates East Longs as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on East Longs
“Go. East Longs is a quiet, developing rural-suburban community inland from the Grand Strand that offers a peaceful residential and golfing environment. While you will need a car for everything and lighting on rural backroads can be sparse, violent crime is low and visitor safety concerns are minimal.”
Recent Horry County reporting focuses primarily on rapid residential development, road widening along Highway 9, and regional stormwater management projects.
About the area
East Longs sits just northwest of North Myrtle Beach and Little River, characterized by golf course communities, residential subdivisions, and rural woodlands. It serves primarily as a tranquil, lower-cost inland enclave for golfers, retirees, and commuters working along the coast.
- Quiet Exurban
- Golf Haven
- Car-Dependent
- Rural-Suburban
Walking and biking in East Longs
Walk score: 12/100 · Bike score: 24/100
There are no dedicated bike lanes, paved trails, or bike-share programs; cycling is only practical within internal subdivision loops due to high-speed traffic on Highway 9 and secondary connectors.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent and property crime rates than downtown Myrtle Beach
- Affordable access to premier championship golf courses and nature spots
- Quiet, low-density residential atmosphere with growing modern housing stock
- Convenient driving access to North Myrtle Beach amenities and beaches
Cons
- Completely car-dependent with virtually no pedestrian infrastructure
- Pockets of rural poverty and older unpaved roads off the main highway corridors
- Poor street lighting on rural routes increases nighttime driving and walking risks
- Limited commercial dining, shopping, and entertainment options within immediate reach
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically non-existent in East Longs, as social services and shelters are concentrated in coastal Horry County municipalities like Myrtle Beach.
What East Longs is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm, with golfers heading out to local courses and light residential commuter traffic along Highway 9.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet and laid-back across residential neighborhoods, with low activity outside of golf clubhouses and local retail strips.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Settled and quiet, though caution is advised when driving along unlit rural roads without sidewalks.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark and desolate; safe within gated subdivisions, but pedestrian travel along rural highways is strongly discouraged.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is virtually nonexistent in East Longs; Coast RTA does not provide regular fixed-route service this far inland, making personal vehicle ownership essential.
Parking is abundant and entirely free across all local businesses, golf courses, and residential developments, with no meters or paid garages.
Things to do in East Longs
- Tee off on the challenging Jack Nicklaus signature course at Long Bay Golf Club
- Play 27 holes across three distinct nines at Aberdeen Country Club
- Shop for local produce, fresh baked goods, and country staples at local roadside farm markets
Local favorites
- Long Bay Golf Club · Golf Course · 4.3★ (380)Acclaimed Jack Nicklaus-designed championship golf course featuring deep pot bunkers and scenic fairways.
- Aberdeen Country Club · Golf Course · 4.2★ (320)Classic Scottish links-style golf facility nestled along the Waccamaw River nature preserve.
- Sun-Up Restaurant · Southern Restaurant · 4.6★ (290)No-frills local diner serving classic Southern breakfast platters, biscuits, and hearty lunch specials.
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.