Rainy Day in Myrtle Beach: Your Senior Week Backup Plan

A rainy day during Senior Week in Myrtle Beach doesn’t have to be a lost day. Head indoors to Ripley’s Aquarium or WonderWorks, ride the enclosed SkyWheel, turn lunch into a long Club Card deal, and rest up for tonight’s party. Here’s the backup plan.

Indoor attractions

Make lunch the event

Rain is the perfect excuse for a long, cheap meal with the crew. These Club Card deals work rain or shine:

• The Bossy Hen: 20% off food (9707 N Kings Hwy).
• The Original Geno’s Pizza: 15% off the entire menu.
• Backyard Sports Bar & Grill: $10 burger, fries and a drink (9703 N Kings Hwy).
• Dirty Myrtle Wing Company: 10% off the food menu (2297 S Kings Hwy).
• Shore Drive Creamery: buy one, get one 50% off (9619 Shore Dr). Yes, ice cream in the rain counts.

More options are in the cheap eats guide.

Stay-in ideas

Sometimes the best rainy day is a reset day. Ideas that cost nothing:

• Nap. Seriously. You’ve got a party tonight.
• Outfit planning: check the schedule and lay out looks for the rest of the week. White for Snowfall, neon for LIT, swimwear-friendly for Aqua.
• Movie and snack night before heading out.
• Edit the week’s photos into one shared album.
• Charge everything: phones, power banks, speakers.

When the sun comes back

Myrtle Beach storms often blow through fast. Keep a quick-switch list ready:

• Walk the boardwalk while the crowds are still inside.
• Check whether the watersports outfitters are running again. See our parasailing guide.
• Grab golf carts: Beach Golf Cart Rentals and Sales gives cardholders $10 off a 24-hour rental (609 S Kings Hwy).

A sample rainy day

Pack for the rain

• A cheap poncho or light rain jacket. Umbrellas and beach wind don’t mix.
• A waterproof phone pouch, which also helps on foam night at Aqua.
• An extra pair of shoes, so you’re not wearing soaked sneakers to a party.
• A deck of cards or a small speaker for rental-day hangouts.
• A power bank. Rainy days are phone-heavy days.

The weather can’t change your dates, so a little prep keeps a gray day from turning into a wasted one. And if the forecast looks bad all week, front-load the indoor stuff and save the beach for the sunny days.

Keep the crew together

Rain is when groups split, with half the crew wanting to stay in and half wanting to go out. Settle it with a quick group-chat vote before noon, then commit. If you do split up, agree on one meeting time and place before the night’s party, and make sure everyone has their Club Card and ID on them before they leave the rental. Nobody wants to be the friend who doubled back across town in the rain for a card.

Rainy-day safety

• If you hear thunder, get out of the water and off the beach.
• Rain makes balconies, pool decks and boardwalk planks slippery, so slow down.
• Wet roads plus beach traffic means extra time for rides to your party venue.

FAQ

What can you do in Myrtle Beach when it rains?

Ripley’s Aquarium, WonderWorks and the shops at Broadway at the Beach, plus the enclosed SkyWheel gondolas and a long lunch using Club Card deals.

Are Senior Week parties canceled when it rains?

Theme parties are at House of Blues and 3001 Nightlife. In the very unlikely event one is canceled, the prorated value of that night is refunded to your original payment card, per the FAQ.

Does the SkyWheel run in the rain?

Its gondolas are glass-enclosed and temperature-controlled. For lightning or high wind, check with the SkyWheel directly.

Should I still go to the beach if it’s drizzling?

A light drizzle is fine for a walk, but get off the sand and out of the water at the first sign of thunder or lightning, and wait for the storm to fully pass.

What Club Card deals work on a rainy day?

All the food deals: The Bossy Hen, Geno’s Pizza, Backyard, Dirty Myrtle Wing Company and Shore Drive Creamery, among others. See the discounts page.