Is South Red Hill safe?
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates South Red Hill as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on South Red Hill
“Go. South Red Hill is a quiet, predominantly suburban and collegiate-adjacent area located just inland from Myrtle Beach and adjacent to Conway. It offers a safe, low-stress environment for visitors seeking affordable lodging or visiting Coastal Carolina University. Standard precautions regarding locking vehicle doors are all that is typically required.”
About the area
South Red Hill is an unincorporated residential and commercial district in Horry County, positioned between the coast of Myrtle Beach and historic Conway. The neighborhood features a mix of single-family subdivisions, student apartment communities, and highway-oriented retail centers. It serves as a practical, car-centric base for exploring the Grand Strand and the Waccamaw River region.
- Suburban
- College-Adjacent
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet Residential
Walking and biking in South Red Hill
Walk score: 24/100 · Bike score: 32/100
There is no public bike-share network; while Coastal Carolina University has local campus pathways, cycling along main highway corridors lacks dedicated infrastructure and is not recommended.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Substantially lower violent crime and property crime rates than the Myrtle Beach oceanfront strip
- Close proximity to Coastal Carolina University and Conway Medical Center
- Stable suburban residential base with modern housing developments
Cons
- High-speed arterial corridors (US-501 and SC-544) present pedestrian and vehicular traffic hazards
- Occasional opportunistic property theft and vehicle break-ins in dense student housing complexes
- Heavily car-dependent with minimal walkable community amenities
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is very low in this residential area, though occasional panhandling occurs at major commercial intersections along US-501.
What South Red Hill is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm with commuter and student traffic starting on major roads; completely safe for morning walks within subdivisions.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Busy along Highway 501 and Highway 544 retail plazas, while residential pockets remain quiet and safe.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Low-key neighborhood atmosphere with mild restaurant traffic near campus; safe for general visitor activity.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Suburban streets are dark and deserted, posing minimal crime risk, though unlit arterial roads are unsafe for pedestrians.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is provided by Coast RTA with limited bus routes (such as Route 16 connecting Conway and Myrtle Beach), but headways are long and personal vehicle travel is necessary.
Parking is abundant and free across all strip malls, residential developments, and commercial properties with no metered zones.
Things to do in South Red Hill
- Catch an NCAA sporting event at Coastal Carolina University's Brooks Stadium or HTC Center
- Play a round of golf at the General James Hackler Golf Course
- Explore the nearby historic Conway Riverwalk and scenic Waccamaw River trails
Local favorites
- Tong Thai Restaurant · Thai Restaurant · 4.6★ (720)Popular local eatery serving traditional Thai curries, noodle dishes, and fresh spring rolls.
- Rotelli Pizza & Pasta · Italian Restaurant · 4.3★ (860)Casual neighborhood staple offering specialty pizzas, pasta entrees, and garlic knots.
- El Cerro Mexican Bar & Grill · Mexican Restaurant · 4.4★ (1250)Lively spot known for generous portions of classic Mexican fare, fajitas, and margaritas.
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.