Is North Loris safe?
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates North Loris as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on North Loris
“Go. North Loris is a quiet, low-density rural community inland from the bustling Grand Strand that poses minimal violent crime risk for visitors. While economic indicators like median income are lower and street lighting is sparse, day-to-day safety concerns are largely limited to isolated property thefts and rural road hazards.”
About the area
North Loris is an inland, agrarian portion of Horry County situated just north of downtown Loris and roughly 35 minutes northwest of Myrtle Beach. The area is characterized by open farmland, wooded parcels, modest single-family homes, and local small businesses along rural corridors like SC-9 Business and US-701. It offers an unhurried, small-town Southern atmosphere far removed from the tourist corridor.
- Rural
- Quiet
- Car-Dependent
- Sprawling
Walking and biking in North Loris
Walk score: 18/100 · Bike score: 28/100
There are no dedicated bike lanes, multi-use paths, or bike-share stations, making cycling on fast-moving two-lane country roads inadvisable.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Very low rates of random violent street crime compared to urban centers in the metro
- Tight-knit, quiet rural environment with low population density
- Affordable access to local Southern diners and fresh regional produce stands
Cons
- Elevated poverty rates and lower household incomes compared to coastal Horry County
- Isolated property crime and occasional burglaries affecting outbuildings and vehicles
- Sparse emergency services coverage and unlit rural roads creating night driving risks
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence in North Loris, with few if any visible encampments or individuals panhandling.
What North Loris is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm with light local traffic and school buses navigating rural two-lane highways.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Very quiet with minimal activity outside of local commercial strips and farming equipment on roads.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Darkness sets in quickly due to a lack of municipal street lighting, though the area remains generally peaceful.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Extremely quiet and secluded with virtually no pedestrian activity; caution is advised when driving on unlit rural routes.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is virtually nonexistent here; Coast RTA operates fixed routes primarily along the coast and Conway, leaving North Loris entirely dependent on private vehicles.
Parking is abundant and universally free, with wide open surface lots at all commercial establishments and ample private driveway space.
Things to do in North Loris
- Sample traditional South Carolina chicken bog at local country diners nearby
- Visit local farm stands and pick-your-own berry farms along rural county roads
- Explore downtown Loris during the annual Loris Bog-Off Festival just south of the area
Local favorites
- Shorty's Grill · Southern Restaurant · 4.6★ (380)A beloved local staple serving hearty country breakfasts, burgers, and classic meat-and-three lunches.
- Santino's Pizza & Sub · Pizza Restaurant · 4.5★ (290)Casual neighborhood eatery dishing out hand-tossed pizzas, calzones, and hot subs.
- Loris Nature Park · City Park · 4.4★ (115)A nearby community park offering paved walking paths, a disc golf course, and picnic shelters.
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.