Myrtle Beach Intl. Airport - Spotting Guide - spotterguide.net (2024)

Myrtle Beach International Airport (KMYR) is the second largest airport in South Carolina with a record 3.2 million passengers passing through in 2021. The airport has lots of former military history as the former Myrtle Beach General Bombing & Gunnery Range, the Myrtle Beach Army Airfield, and most notably, the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. After the Air Force Base closed in 1993, the joint civilian/military airport was turned over to the city of Myrtle Beach to become the Myrtle Beach International Airport.

MYR hosts a great amount of military and other unique traffic year-round such as F-16s from Shaw AFB, C-17s from JB Charleston, Omega Aerial Refueling’s KC-707 and KDC-10, Metrea Strategic Mobility’s KC-135s, and Boeing 787 test flights from Charleston.

Written by Jake. Last change: September 2023 (Spot 5 updated).

Rating
MovementsMyrtle Beach Intl. Airport - Spotting Guide - spotterguide.net (1)
Airline VarietyMyrtle Beach Intl. Airport - Spotting Guide - spotterguide.net (2)
Photo LocationsMyrtle Beach Intl. Airport - Spotting Guide - spotterguide.net (3)
WeatherMyrtle Beach Intl. Airport - Spotting Guide - spotterguide.net (4)
Airport Information
Runways
18/362,897 m (9,503 ft) Asphalt and Concrete
TerminalsOne terminal (Terminal A) and 2 concourses (A and B) served by Avelo, American, Allegiant, Delta, Delta Connection, Southwest, Spirit, and United Express, with Porter, Sun Country, Frontier, and United operating seasonal service.
Spotting Information
LadderNot useful for any spots.
Car/Public TransportA car is needed to get to most spots. Spots on the south side of the airport are within walking distance.
Drinks/FoodPlenty of options around the Market Common.
HotelsThere are many hotels and resorts along the beach.
SeasonSummer months have the most traffic throughout the year due to tourists flying in. Military traffic is year-round, but more in the winter months when there is less tourist traffic.
SecuritySecurity shouldn’t be an issue, but always be aware.
Runway Usage
18/36Used in all directions. There is no preferred side.
Myrtle Beach Intl. Airport - Spotting Guide - spotterguide.net (5)Spot #1 – Oceanfront Helicopters – 36 Arrivals, 18 Departures & Heli Traffic
WHEREOceanfront Helicopters is located at the southeast of the airport, off of South Kings Highway. Just get rid of the car at their parking lot. There is a sidewalk which runs along the south side of the airport which can be used for different photos as well as the parking lot next to a gas station. The helicopter tours don’t open until 9am, and there is a fence that’s closed till that time. In this case park at the gas station/Adventure Golf and spot from the sidewalk.
WHATBest for 36 arrivals, and helicopter tour traffic. 18 heavy departures are possible too.
TIMEMorning and afternoon, just position yourself on different sides of the sidewalk.
MISC.There is a restroom available inside of the ticketing building of Oceanfront Helicopters.
FOCAL LENGTHRed R44 – 230mm; Allegiant – 150mm; Southwest 737 – 175mm
Myrtle Beach Intl. Airport - Spotting Guide - spotterguide.net (6)Spot #2 – Warbird Park – 36 Arrivals & 18 Departures
WHEREWarbird Park is located Southwest of the airport and is off Farrow Parkway. It is a park and memorial of the former Myrtle Beach AFB. Once you have approach the parking lot walk through the park to the fence.
WHATBest for 36 arrivals. 18 heavy departures are possible too. Planes lining up on 36 can be spotted in the distance.
On display is an A-7 Corsair, F-100 Super Sabre, and A-10 Thunderbolt, all of which used to serve at the Myrtle Beach AFB. There are also walking trails with signs that contain information about the former base.
TIMEFrom early afternoon until sunset.
MISC.There are picnic tables to sit down and trees spending shadow.
FOCAL LENGTHA319 – 210mm; 717 – 155mm; P-8 – 155mm; KC-135 – 180mm


Myrtle Beach Intl. Airport - Spotting Guide - spotterguide.net (9)Spot #3 – Airdrome Ave – Ramps
WHEREDrive to Airdrome Ave at the western part of the airport. Get rid off the car at the FBO and walk around the fence to photograph the different ramps or you can just park on the side of the road and hop out.
WHATUse any of the spots along this road for photos of parked aircraft. Just shoot through the fence.
TIMENoon until sunset. Depends on the parking postion of the planes.
MISC.Nothing nearby.
FOCAL LENGTHKC-135 – 90mm; Citation – 70mm; L-39 – 175mm

Myrtle Beach Intl. Airport - Spotting Guide - spotterguide.net (12)Spot #4 – Emory Road – 18 Arrivals
WHEREYou can take Fred Nash Blvd off of Highway 17 to here or Farrow Parkway coming from Market Common. Good spot for 36 departures. It is almost adjacent to the touchdown markers, though there is a fence.
WHAT36 departures.18 arrivals will be tricky as there is a fence in the way, but there is a chance you can catch them on approach.
TIMEFrom early afternoon until sunset.
MISC.There will most likely be heat haze during the summer months, so this spot may be better during winter months.
FOCAL LENGTHCRJ – 200mm; 717 – 200mm

Myrtle Beach Intl. Airport - Spotting Guide - spotterguide.net (14)Spot #5 – X-Gym – 18 Arrivals
WHEREThere is a sports gym/store located off of George Bishop Pkwy. Plenty of parking is available where you can spot from.
WHATBest for 18 arrivals.
TIMEFrom early afternoon until sunset.
MISC.There are facilities inside if need be.
FOCAL LENGTHUsually 100-200mm for airliners and 300mm+ for general aviation.

Myrtle Beach Intl. Airport - Spotting Guide - spotterguide.net (16)Spot #6 – Medieval Times – 18 Arrivals
WHERENorth of the airport, in a parking lot in the back of Medieval Times. Get onto Fantasy Harbour Blvd and follow the signs to Medieval Times.
WHATBest for 18 arrivals.
TIMEFrom sunrise until noon.
MISC.Nothing nearby. Medieval Times performance starts in the afternoon, so there is no conflict with the visitors.
FOCAL LENGTH738 – 140mm; CL350 – 250mm

Myrtle Beach Intl. Airport - Spotting Guide - spotterguide.net (19)Spot #7 – The Crazy Mason – 36 Departures
WHEREGet to the “The Crazy Mason” milkshake bar at the Coastal Grand Mall, which can be reached via Highway 17. The bar itself is located on the eastern corner of the mall. Just get on there parking place and start shooting.
WHAT36 Departures only.
TIMEMorning to around noon in the Summer and morning to around 11am in the Winter.
MISC.Planespotting friendly! Stop by at 7am to get yourself a coffee or 1pm to get a delicious milkshake! Otherwise there are plenty of hotels, supermarket, restaurants…
FOCAL LENGTHUsually 100-200mm for airliners and 300mm+ for general aviation.
Myrtle Beach Intl. Airport - Spotting Guide - spotterguide.net (2024)

FAQs

Is plane spotting illegal? ›

Generally absent a specific prohibition you can take a photo of anything you can see with your eyes from public property (like a sidewalk). That includes airports, airplanes, bridges, tunnels, police officers, kittens, and unicorns.

Do military planes fly out of Myrtle Beach airport? ›

MYR has a helipad primarily used by charter tour companies at the base of runway 36. In the year ending April 30, 2023, the airport had 149,968 aircraft operations, average 411 per day: 55% air taxi, 22% airline, 18% general aviation, and 5% military.

How long is the Myr runway? ›

Consider these fast facts about Myrtle Beach International: The airport's runway is 9,503 feet long — which is nearly 1.8 miles.

What gear do you need for plane spotting? ›

You should use a system camera (DSLRs or DSLM) and a long focal length lens for planespotting. In some cases, bridge cameras may also be useful. However, they must have a particularly good zoom capability.

Is there a plane spotting app? ›

Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker on the App Store.

Can you go to an airport to watch planes? ›

Plane spotters must remain in publicly accessible, non-secure areas of the airport. Access to secure areas is not permitted.

Why was Myrtle Beach AFB closed? ›

By the late 1980s the facility had 3,600 active-duty military and five hundred civilian personnel. As a result of cuts to military spending brought on by the end of the cold war, Myrtle Beach AFB was closed in 1993.

What is Myrtle Beach Air Force Base now? ›

The remainder of the former base has largely been redeveloped, with only a few former military buildings remaining. The flight line, hangars, and the former base operations control tower are being used for general aviation operations across the runway from Myrtle Beach International Airport.

Is Myrtle Beach a small airport? ›

Best small airport in the U.S.

With more than 50 nonstop destinations, low average fares, and exceptional customer experience, Myrtle Beach International Airport is your gateway to the world. Your next adventure starts here.

Who owns Myrtle Beach Airport? ›

The Myrtle Beach International Airport is owned by Horry County and operated by the Department of Airports. Myrtle Beach International Airport is under the day-to-day management and direction of the Director of Airports who reports directly to the Horry County Administrator.

What airport has the longest runway ever? ›

The longest fully paved runway is in China's Qamdo Bamda Airport and is 3.4 miles long. The longest runway is part paved and part unpaved in America's Edwards Air Force Base. This runway is 7.5 miles long, topping the list.

What is the shortest runway in the world? ›

Yrausquin Airport (IATA: SAB, ICAO: TNCS) is an airport on the Dutch Caribbean island of Saba. Its runway is widely acknowledged as the shortest commercial runway in the world, with a length of 400 m (1,312 ft).

What is the best F stop for plane spotting? ›

For jets, aperture priority works best. I like to shoot at f/5.6 to f/8 and let the camera deal with shutter speed. For propeller planes, I like to use shutter priority with a speed of 1/25 second to 1/125 second so the props blur and the aircraft look like they're really flying, not hanging from a string.

What to bring to plane spotting? ›

Of course a camera is mandatory, in the best case not only the mobile phones camera, but a DSLR or mirrorless camera. There are dozens of manufactuers of cameras like Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, just to mention a few, but in this article we don't focus on a special manufacturer.

What is a plane spotter called? ›

I would like to add that normally a aviation enthusiast that likes to go to airport areas to see and photograph all the airplanes is called a planespotter. A more general designation is Avgeek.

Is it illegal to spotlight aircraft? ›

Any distraction to the pilot can cause devastating consequences, including fatal crashes. As a result, shining a light at an aircraft in order to impair its operation is illegal pursuant to California Penal Code Section 248 PC.

Is it illegal to take pictures on a plane? ›

There's no federal law that prohibits in-flight photography.

Is it illegal to record on a plane? ›

Some airlines specifically prohibit the recording of other passengers, and not just for privacy reasons. “Any photography or recording of other customers or airline personnel that creates a safety risk, or that interferes with crew members' duties is prohibited,” a 2018 released from United Airlines read.

Is it illegal to take pictures of military aircraft? ›

Generally photographing military aircraft in flight near a base is not an issue and if there was anything of a sensitive nature it would be flown at night and kept inside a restricted and guarded hangar during daylight.

References

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