You just landed at MYR. The humid South Carolina air hits you the second you step off the plane, and honestly, the last thing you want to do is stand in a slow-moving line while a tired agent tries to upsell you on satellite radio. Getting an Alamo rental car Myrtle Beach airport doesn't have to be a headache, but if you approach it like a rookie, you’re going to waste an hour of your vacation before you even see the ocean.
Most people just wander toward the signs. They wait. They fret.
Here is the thing about Myrtle Beach International: it’s efficient, but it gets slammed during the summer and golf season. Alamo is positioned right on-site, which is a massive win because you aren't dragging your suitcases onto a shuttle bus to some dusty lot three miles away. You walk across the street from the terminal to the "Rental Car Center." It’s right there.
Why the "Skip the Counter" Option is Non-Negotiable
If you haven't heard of Alamo’s Skip the Counter, you’re doing it wrong. This isn't just some marketing gimmick; it is a genuine life-saver at an airport like MYR. Basically, you check in online 24 hours before you land. You put in your driver's license info and your credit card. They send you a barcode.
When you get to the garage, you don't even look at the desks. You walk straight to the cars.
There’s a specific section for Alamo. You find the "Full Size" or "Midsize" row that matches what you booked, pick the car that smells the least like old french fries, and drive to the exit booth. You show your barcode and license to the person in the little shack, and you're gone. It takes maybe three minutes.
Contrast that with the poor souls standing in the lobby. I’ve seen those lines snake back toward the baggage claim on a Saturday afternoon in July. Don't be that person.
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The Fleet Reality at MYR
Myrtle Beach is a weird market. You have families looking for minivans to haul sand-covered kids to North Myrtle, and you have groups of four grown men with massive golf bags heading to Pawleys Island.
If you are a golfer, do not book an economy car. Just don't. A Chevy Spark cannot hold four golf bags and four humans. You’ll end up at the counter begging for an upgrade, and that’s when the prices get ugly. Alamo at MYR usually stocks a heavy rotation of Nissan Altimas, Toyota Camrys, and a surprising amount of Jeep Wranglers for the "beach vibe" seekers.
Pro tip: The "Manager's Special" is a gamble. Sometimes you get a brand-new SUV because that’s all they have left. Other times, you get a high-mileage compact that’s seen better days. If you need space, book the space.
Hidden Fees and the Myrtle Beach "Hospitality" Tax
South Carolina has some specific taxes that catch people off guard. When you look at your Alamo rental car Myrtle Beach airport quote, the base rate might look like a steal—say, $35 a day. But by the time you add the "Customer Facility Charge," the "Vehicle License Fee," and the state sales tax, that $35 is suddenly $62.
It’s not Alamo being sneaky; it’s just the reality of renting at a municipal airport. If you want to avoid some of these, you could technically rent from a "neighborhood" location away from the airport, but then you’re paying for an Uber to get there. Usually, it’s a wash. Just be prepared for the final total to be higher than the headline rate.
Navigating the MYR Rental Car Center
The layout at Myrtle Beach International is pretty straightforward. Once you grab your bags, follow the signs for Ground Transportation. You’ll exit the terminal and walk across a covered pedestrian bridge.
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- The Alamo desk is inside the first building you hit.
- The actual cars are in the garage right behind that desk.
- Return lanes are clearly marked as you drive back into the airport—just follow the "Rental Car Return" signs.
One thing to watch out for: The return area can get bottlenecked. If you’re catching a flight home on a Sunday morning, give yourself an extra 20 minutes just for the return process. The "Express Return" is usually fast—you just park, grab your stuff, and an agent scans the VIN—but if the garage is full, it becomes a literal maze.
What Happens if Your Flight is Late?
This is a common fear. You’re stuck in Charlotte on a layover, and your 8:00 PM arrival becomes 11:30 PM. Alamo at MYR generally stays open until the last scheduled flight arrives, but they aren't miracle workers.
If you know you’re going to be late, call the local desk. Don't call the 1-800 number; you’ll get a call center in another time zone. Find the direct local number for the Myrtle Beach branch. If you’ve used the Skip the Counter feature, your car is usually held for you anyway, but a quick heads-up prevents them from marking you as a "no-show" and giving your SUV to a walk-up customer.
Fueling Up Before the Return
Don't buy the "Pre-paid Fuel" option unless you plan on rolling into the airport on absolute fumes. It’s almost always a bad deal.
There are several gas stations within two miles of the airport. The easiest one is usually the station on Jetport Road or the ones along US-17 Business. Just be careful: gas prices right next to the airport are often 20 to 30 cents higher per gallon. If you’re coming from the north, fill up in the city before you get to the airport perimeter.
Insurance: To Buy or Not to Buy?
Alamo agents are trained to sell the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). It’s their job.
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Check your credit card. Most "travel" cards like the Chase Sapphire or certain Amex cards provide primary or secondary rental insurance. Also, your personal auto insurance likely covers rentals within the US. If you have both, the $25-a-day Alamo insurance is basically burning money.
The only exception? If you don't want the hassle. If you get into a fender bender with the CDW, you basically hand them the keys and walk away. Without it, you’re filing claims and dealing with adjusters for three months. Decide how much your peace of mind is worth.
Final Logistics for Your Trip
When you finally get your Alamo rental car Myrtle Beach airport and pull out of the lot, remember that Myrtle Beach traffic is no joke. The "Bypass" (US-17) and the "Business" (US-17) routes are two very different things. The Bypass is faster for long hauls; Business is where all the hotels and mini-golf spots are.
Check your tires before you leave the garage. It sounds paranoid, but Myrtle Beach has a lot of construction. I’ve seen plenty of rental cars with slow leaks from stray nails. A quick walk-around and a glance at the dashboard for any warning lights will save you a massive headache on the side of the road later.
Actionable Steps for a Better Rental Experience
To ensure your rental goes smoothly, follow this specific checklist:
- Join Alamo Insiders: It’s free. It gets you a small discount and, more importantly, it makes the digital check-in process much faster.
- Complete "Skip the Counter" 24 hours prior: Do not wait until you land. You need the barcode ready on your phone or printed out.
- Photograph the car: Use your phone to take a 360-degree video of the car in the Alamo garage. Capture any existing scratches or dings. Lighting in the garage is okay, but use your flash if needed.
- Check the toll situation: South Carolina doesn't have many tolls near Myrtle Beach, but if you’re driving down toward Charleston or up into North Carolina, you might hit some. Ask the exit booth agent if the car has an E-ZPass or "TollPass" sticker and what the daily fee is if you use it.
- Return with a receipt: When you drop the car off, get the printed receipt or wait for the email. Don't just "drop and go" without some proof that the car was returned on time and with a full tank.
By following these steps, you turn a potentially stressful part of your trip into a minor footnote. You'll be on the golf course or the beach while everyone else is still arguing about car classes in the terminal.