Planning your next family getaway? Look no further than Myrtle Beach, South Carolina! Only two hours away from Charleston, the Myrtle Beach area is a family-friendly tourist destination. It’s packed with beaches, nightlife, golfing, watersports, amusement park rides, and delicious, fresh seafood.
Additionally, many Myrtle Beach tourists flock to the too-good-to-be-true deals at the Tanger shopping outlets.
But you may crave a little extra adventure on your much-awaited vacay. If you love sightseeing and thrills, a helicopter ride offers an exhilarating experience for the whole family.
Now, we’re not discounting the beach’s gentle waves or the numerous piers filled with great restaurants, bars, and entertainment. Plus, you still have some exploring to do if you haven’t tried a famous Myrtle Beach corned beef hash or delectable scallops.
But the pièce de résistance for your South Carolina escapade is the joyous, weightless feeling you’ll experience gliding across the horizon. While most people only see Myrtle Beach from the ground, you could have a bird’s eye view of this beautiful destination.
Ready to have an unforgettable Myrtle Beach vacation? Let’s walk through your options for helicopter adventures in lovely Myrtle Beach!
Helicopter Rides: Why They’re Fun
A helicopter is a small aircraft that offers riders an exquisite aerial view of the surrounding scenery. First, helicopters have unique functionality and spunk, a point of interest for any budding engineering enthusiast or excited 8-year-old.
Surely, you’ve seen the trademark rotating blades atop each chopper that make them fly. A helicopter’s special blades allow them to shoot straight up into the air and straight down. In addition, the aircraft moves backward and sideways and can even stay stationary while in flight.
These wonderful features help you see custom sights — a truly, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Need to inch a bit closer to take in the colors of a school of fish swimming by? No problem. In addition, helicopters are smaller and, therefore, more agile than planes, allowing for quick maneuvers.
But if the functions don’t spark much interest, let’s talk about the main attraction: the gorgeous sites. Myrtle Beach spans 60 miles of pristine shorelines, with sunshine illuminating the awe-inspiring contrast of blue waves to tan sand. And if you’re flying at twilight? Feast on the city’s lights, glowing and buzzing with excitement. You can imagine the chatter of bubbling families, couples, and friends exploring the amusement park and relishing the luminescent sunset.
We know what you’re thinking — the window seat in an airplane isn’t all that exciting, right? A helicopter might be the same.
Actually, helicopters fly at much lower heights than planes. Meaning? You’ll experience a much more detailed view of the area below. On top of that, helicopters can even bring you low enough to see marine life. Ever seen a Loggerhead sea turtle? Think regular sea turtles with bigger heads!
Every helicopter tour company in Myrtle Beach flies choppers over the Atlantic Ocean — the mysterious stomping ground of sharks, dolphins, herring, and even alligators!
But the best part of a helicopter ride is the subtle thrill, a feeling of weightlessness as you surrender to the seamless glide through blue skies and beyond.
Now, when can you experience a helicopter ride atop the Golden mile?
Best Season for Helicopter Rides in Myrtle Beach
Many visitors come to Myrtle Beach in the summertime, particularly for the soft sandy beaches. But, if you look closely, you’ll notice a blushing, pinkish hue in each grain, beaming in the sunlight. Helicopter rides get windy, so summertime is a natural preference for the season. But do you have to limit helicopter rides to warm summers? Not necessarily!
You can actually tour in a helicopter all year round! If you’re experiencing Myrtle Beach in the winter, just inquire with one of the helicopter companies on our lists (keep reading) to book a winter helicopter tour. Double-check availability for special holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving — some helicopter tours might be postponed, though you might get lucky with a special reservation if you call ahead.
Top Helicopter Ride Companies in Myrtle Beach
Oceanfront Helicopters
Photo Credit: presmadison via Instgaram
3000 South Kings Highway
Oceanfront Helicopters has 4.6/5 stars across nearly four thousand reviews on Google, and it seems people can’t get enough! Open 363 days per year, Oceanfront Helicopters is applauded for its charming pilots and support, who are knowledgeable and enthusiastic without coming across as predatory sellers.
The company delivers incredible views and beginner-friendly experiences for all ages to enjoy. Pick from various routes and customize your trip based on coordinates or price.
Here are some of the highlights from Oceanfront’s offerings:
- Intro Tour
- $20 per person
- Flies right over the beach
- North Beach Tour
- $39.99 per person
- Breathtaking views of the Grand Strand and Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
- South Beach Tour
- $45.99 per person
- Best for people interested in seeing unique birds, alligators, and more wildlife in Myrtle Beach State Park
- Broadway Tour
- $59.99 per person
- Fly along the coastline with incredible views of the Skywheel and other land attractions.
- Garden City Tour
- $59.99 per person
- Best for wildlife views, greenery, and marshlands along the coastline.
- Myrtle Beach Tour
- $79.99 per person
- The ultimate “Golden Mile” tour, showcasing Myrtle Beach’s multi-million-dollar beachfront properties.
- Apache Tour
- $99.99 per person
- End your ride floating above the Apache Pier, the oldest and most historical on the Grand Strand.
- Inlet Tour
- $129.99 per person
- Perfect for the nature lover.
- Grand Tour
- $179.99 per person
- This tour tips the border of North Carolina, reaching Cherry Grove’s Eastern dunes and infamous pier.
Things to Note:
- Up to 3 passengers per flight (children under two years do not count — they’ll sit on your lap)
- A 300-pound weight limit for each passenger, total weight limit of 650 to 700 pounds for all passengers
- Accessible for people with physical disabilities
- 100% perfect safety record!
- FAA commercially rated and certified pilots
How to get to Oceanfront Helicopters:
Head south on Kings Highway toward the Market Common shopping district. The helicopter company is located on Myrtle Beach International Airport Runway, across from the Midway Par 3 golf course.
Helicopter Adventures
Photo Credit: sheilatoothman via Instagram
1860 21st Avenue North
Helicopter Adventures has five landing pads and ten helicopters, boasting an average 4.6/5-star rating on Google. Reviews praise the company’s standard of excellence for pilots and staff and recommend purchasing longer trips to see the ocean.
A nice bonus? Summertime waits average a mere 17 minutes, which is a refreshing efficiency compared to the long lines of many Myrtle Beach attractions.
Here are some facts about these adventurous helicopter rentals:
- Fly 4 Fun Ride
- $20 per person
- 2 miles
- Covers Broadway at the Beach, Myrtle Waves, and Ripken Baseball fields
- Boardwalk Adventure
- $39.99 per person
- 7-8 miles
- All of the first-tier coverage + Atlantic Ocean and Skywheel
- Pine Lakes Adventure
- $59.99 per person
- 12-13 miles
- Includes sites of Broadway at the Beach, Pine Lakes Country Club, dolphins in the Atlantic Ocean, and Ripken Baseball fields
- Dunes Adventure
- $79.99 per person
- 18-20 miles
- Traverses the Intracoastal Waterway, the Grande Dunes Country Club and Golf Courses, Pirates Voyage, and Carolina Opry
- Briarcliff Adventure
- $99.99 per person
- 24-26 miles
- Covers all of the Dunes’ landmarks plus Briarcliffe Acres and the Apache Pier
- Barefoot Adventure
- $129.99 per person
- 30-32 miles
- Includes Broadway at the Beach, Pine Lakes Country Club, the Intracoastal Waterway, the Grande Dunes Country Club and Golf Courses, Pirates Voyage, Carolina Opry, Briarcliffe Acres, Apache Pier, the Atlantic Ocean, Skywheel, and Ripken Baseball fields
- Grand Adventure
- $179.99 per person
- 40-42 miles
- Every landmark you could think of, plus the Cherry Grove and Little River areas.
Things to Note:
- Custom tours and charters are available!
- Up to 3 passengers can fly at a time, not including children under two years old.
- A 300-pound weight limit for any one passenger, but a slightly lower overall limit of 580 pounds
- Handicap accessible
- 100% Perfect Safety Record
- Rentable headsets for $5 per person per flight
- FAA commercially rated and certified pilots
How to get to Oceanfront Helicopters:
Walk across from Broadway on the Beach, behind the Grand Prix SpeedPark and the Hollywood Wax Museum.
Additional Helicopter Companies
Photo Credit: meredithavawillett via Instagram
While these companies do not have websites, you can also look up:
- Executive Helicopters (4.3 stars, 27 ratings)
- Myrtle Beach Biplanes and Helicopter Rides (4.5 stars, 136 ratings)
Relish Myrtle Beach with Viagem
If you’re inches away from booking a helicopter ride, hold back a moment and make sure your accommodations match that same appeal.
Looking for a laid-back condo along the beach with rustic wood finishes and hygge-style decor? Or perhaps you’re craving a more spacious retreat, complete with the expected amenities of the most luxurious unit.
No matter your preference, Viagem can help you secure a comfortable place to rest your head after a bustling day in Myrtle Beach. Book a Viagem property today!
Featured Image Credit: YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV
