walk

If you’ve searched for a home to buy or rent over the past few years, chances are you’ve come across something called a Walk Score, a grade that attempts to quantify how pedestrian friendly a neighborhood is.

So, how walkable is the Myrtle Beach area? We’ll get to that in a minute.

First, let’s dive into what measures this Walk Score. The company Walk Score, a subsidiary of the real estate website Redfin, collects and interprets data using their own methodology that helps determine the walkability of ZIP codes throughout the United States and some cities abroad.

When grading how walkable a neighborhood is, Walk Score takes into consideration proximity to amenities such as grocery stores, medical services, schools and even restaurants. It also takes into account population density, how long blocks are and how dense intersections can get.

Walk Score is measured on a scale from 0-100 broken out into five classifications. Here’s what those scores mean:

• 0-24: Car Dependent where almost all errands require a car

• 25-49: Car Dependent but only most errands require a car

• 50-69: Somewhat Walkable meaning some errands can be done by foot

• 70-89: Very Walkable meaning most errands can be completed by foot

• 90-100: Walker’s Paradise meaning daily errands do not require a car

When it comes to more urban centers, a Walk Score can come in handy, especially if you don’t have a car, rely on public transportation or need to walk to run daily errands. But in the cases of more rural communities where cars are a necessity, like in the Grand Strand, the score can be misinterpreted to mean that the region is not walker-friendly.

Aside from Georgetown, South Carolina, which has a score of 70/100, meaning “Very Walkable,” most communities in the Myrtle Beach area score pretty low on the Walk Score scale with nearly every ZIP code in the region falling in the “Car Dependent” range.

So having a car is essential to navigating the Grand Strand, but there are plenty of pedestrian-friendly areas for you to enjoy throughout the Myrtle Beach area.

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Here are the region’s Walk Scores and recommendations on where to go for a stroll.

Little River

Walk Score: 7/100 Car Dependent

Where to go for a walk: Vereen Memorial Gardens has a walking trail that takes you through salt marshes and on a boardwalk along the waterfront.

Distance: 3 miles

Loris

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