Rent a Bus to the HTC Center: Coastal Carolina Basketball & Event Group Guide

If you are organizing a group trip to the HTC Center on the Coastal Carolina University campus in Conway, the single question every trip planner eventually hits is this: where exactly does the bus drop off, and where does it wait while we are inside? Most online guides skip that entirely, leaving a group of 30 people circling Founders Drive trying to figure out the answer in real time.

This guide answers it plainly, using the university's own published information and the current campus parking setup, then walks you through everything else a group outing needs — which vehicle fits your party, how the shuttle system works on event days, what the clear-bag policy covers, and how far the HTC Center actually sits from Myrtle Beach hotel strips and the airport. The HTC Center is one of the Grand Strand's best group-outing destinations, whether your group is there for a Chanticleers basketball game, a Sun Belt Conference showdown, or a CCU commencement weekend. Call 854-233-7160 any time for an all-inclusive quote, or read on for the full picture first.

What Is the HTC Center and What Happens There?

The HTC Student Recreation and Convocation Center — named for the Horry Telephone Cooperative, which bought the naming rights when the building opened — is a $35 million, 131,000-square-foot arena that sits on the eastern edge of the Coastal Carolina University campus in Conway. It opened in August 2012, replaced the older Kimbel Arena as CCU's primary venue, and handles a full calendar that stretches well beyond basketball season.

On the athletics side, the HTC Center is home to Coastal Carolina's men's and women's basketball programs and the women's volleyball team. The 2025–26 men's basketball schedule includes 13 home games at the HTC Center — nine of them Sun Belt Conference matchups — running from November through February. The arena holds 3,600-plus fans and features a single-level bowl where no seat sits more than 24 rows from the court.

That tight layout makes crowd noise noticeably loud, and the student section at the ends contributes heavily.

Beyond basketball, the HTC Center hosts CCU commencement ceremonies each May, the occasional touring concert (Darius Rucker was an early headliner), and community and regional events throughout the year. It also held the Myrtle Beach Invitational every November from 2018 through 2024 — a nationally televised ESPN eight-team early-season tournament that filled the arena over three consecutive days and drew out-of-state fan groups from every participating school. That tournament has concluded its run, but the pattern it established — large groups from multiple states coordinating hotel stays and arena arrivals — still applies every time a visiting team's fans make the trip to Conway for Sun Belt play.

Charter Bus Drop-Off and Parking at the HTC Center

Here is the part most rental pages leave vague, so let's go straight to what CCU actually publishes.

The HTC Center sits along Founders Drive on the eastern side of campus, and the parking lot directly in front of the arena — Lot AA — is reserved on event days for ADA-accessible vehicles and platform party members. Per the university's official commencement parking and shuttles page, which reflects the same campus logistics used for all major HTC Center events, general visitors — including large groups arriving by charter bus — are directed to the GG Lot, with shuttles running from that lot directly to the HTC Center.

For athletic events specifically, the university confirms free parking in Lots 21, YY, and WW, with campus shuttles connecting those lots to the arena. The YY Lot, accessed off SC-544, is the large commuter park-and-ride lot on the south side of campus and a natural spot for an oversized vehicle to park. A charter bus can unload passengers at the Lib Jackson Student Union — the campus hub where multiple shuttle routes converge — and then move to the YY Lot while the group is inside the arena.

One detail worth knowing before any HTC Center event: the university notes that “traffic will be heavy” and requires extra arrival time for bag checks at the entrance. For a charter bus group, this means building 20–30 minutes of cushion into your arrival window — the bus drops everyone near the Student Union, the group walks to the arena, and each person passes through the clear-bag check before entering. We confirm the current campus traffic plan for your specific event date when you book, since the routing can shift between a regular-season home game and a commencement weekend.

Always check the official CCU parking page before your visit for current lot and shuttle status.

How Far Is the HTC Center From Myrtle Beach Hotels and the Airport?

The HTC Center sits in Conway, which is Horry County's inland city — about 15 miles and 20–25 minutes from the central Myrtle Beach hotel strip via US-501. It is not a long drive, but US-501 between Myrtle Beach and Conway is one of the most consistently congested corridors in the Grand Strand. During summer tourist season, that 15-mile trip can stretch to 45 minutes or more.

Basketball season runs November through February, which means the tourist crunch is mostly gone — but a Friday or Saturday night game still draws enough regional traffic to make US-501 unpredictable.

One route note worth knowing: US-544 (Veterans Highway / the Conway Bypass) runs directly past the southern edge of the CCU campus — the same road where the YY Lot is accessed — and is typically faster than US-501 for groups coming from Surfside Beach or the southern end of the Grand Strand. For groups coming from the hotel corridor closer to Broadway at the Beach, the US-501 North run through Conway is the straightforward option. A charter bus handles that US-501 stretch in one vehicle, keeps everyone on a shared timeline, and cuts out the parking scramble that individual cars face when every surface lot near campus fills before tip-off.

Which Vehicle Fits Your Group?

The HTC Center holds 3,600-plus fans, which means group trips to Chanticleers games range from a 14-person tailgate crew to a full alumni charter of 56. The right vehicle is the one that fits your headcount without leaving a dozen empty seats you are paying for.

For a regular-season home game where your crew is coming from a hotel block on Kings Highway, a 15- to 35-passenger minibus with powerful A/C and plush reclining seats is often the cleanest fit — easy to park in the YY Lot while your group is inside, and quick to load up on the way out when 3,600 fans are all heading for their cars at once. For a larger alumni outing, a 40–56 passenger charter bus makes the case on the per-person math: one flat rate split across the full group, one bus waiting outside, and undercarriage bays that swallow tailgate gear for the pregame. ADA-accessible vehicles are always available — just let us know before your event date so we can arrange the right fit.

Bus vs. Driving vs. Rideshare for a Group

Conway is not a rideshare-dense city. During a sold-out Chanticleers home game, the pool of available rideshares near the CCU campus runs thin — especially post-game, when a few thousand fans all request rides within the same 15-minute window. Surge pricing on US-501 back toward Myrtle Beach on a Saturday night is the rule, not the exception.

And parking on campus for event days is managed: the free lots closest to the arena (Lot AA) are restricted, the general lots require the campus shuttle, and off-campus street parking near Conway's residential neighborhoods is limited and not posted for large vehicles.

A charter bus from Myrtle Beach takes all of that off your plate. Your group loads at the hotel, rides together up US-501, gets dropped at the Student Union hub, and the bus waits in the YY Lot while everyone is inside. No one is hunting for a rideshare at 10 p.m. on the median of US-501.

No one is splitting the group into five separate cars and coordinating convoy timing. One bus, one flat rate, one pickup after the final buzzer.

What to Know About Coastal Carolina Basketball Season

The Chanticleers compete in the Sun Belt Conference, which runs through a packed home slate at the HTC Center from November into early March. The 2025–26 schedule includes 13 HTC Center home dates — nine conference games plus four non-conference matchups — with tip-off times typically in the 7 p.m. range on weeknights and 1 or 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Gates open roughly 90 minutes to two hours before tip-off.

The most in-demand home dates are the rivalry matchups within the Sun Belt. Appalachian State, James Madison, and Marshall all bring traveling fan contingents, and those games tend to fill the arena faster than standard mid-week conference games. If your group is organizing around a specific rivalry or marquee non-conference opponent, lock in transportation early — those game nights also tend to pull higher demand from the Myrtle Beach hotel strip, meaning other groups are booking the same vehicle window.

Call 854-233-7160 as soon as your date is confirmed and your headcount is firmed up.

Women's basketball and volleyball run on overlapping schedules through the same building. If your group is attending a volleyball match or a women's game, the same logistics apply — Founders Drive drop-off, YY Lot parking, shuttle connection to the arena.

Commencement, Concerts, and Non-Athletic Events

The HTC Center's second-busiest season is commencement, which typically runs across two days in May — one day for fall graduates and a full spring ceremony weekend. The university runs multiple college-specific recognition ceremonies at the HTC Center followed by a campuswide commencement ceremony, and the CCU campus becomes one of the more traffic-compressed environments in Horry County during those weekends.

For commencement groups — families flying into MYR and coordinating from a Myrtle Beach hotel — a charter bus solves the exact friction the university warns about in its own parking guidance: heavy traffic and the need for extra arrival time. A bus picks up the family group at the hotel, runs the 14-mile leg to CCU, unloads near the Student Union, and picks everyone up post-ceremony while the parking lots are gridlocked. One call handles the whole plan.

Concerts and community events at the HTC Center follow the same parking setup. The venue has hosted regional touring acts in its 3,600-seat configuration, and the campus surface lots fill at the same pace regardless of whether the event is basketball or a live show. For a group night out to a concert at the HTC Center from a Myrtle Beach hotel block, a Myrtle Beach party bus rental with a built-in bar and sound system turns the 20-minute ride into part of the evening rather than a logistics chore.

What a Charter Bus to the HTC Center Costs

Party Bus Myrtle Beach provides all-inclusive pricing online in under 30 seconds — you will know the exact price before you ever book. The quote is shaped by a few clear variables:

• Vehicle size — a 56-passenger charter bus and a 14-passenger Sprinter van run at different rates, and a minibus fits the middle.
• Total hours — the HTC Center's game-day timeline (90 minutes pre-game, through two halves, plus post-game wait time) typically puts a Myrtle Beach roundtrip in the 4–6 hour range.
• Date and event type — a rivalry Saturday prices differently than a Tuesday non-conference game; commencement weekends in May see higher demand.
• Pickup location — a hotel on Kings Highway is a different run than a pickup in North Myrtle Beach or Surfside Beach.

For real ranges to anchor your estimate: Sprinter limos run $170–$344/hour; 15–20 passenger party buses run $204–$378/hour; 20–30 passenger party buses run $244–$414/hour; 35–50 passenger party buses and minibuses run $294–$490/hour; and 40–56 passenger charter buses run $150–$300/hour. Pricing depends on mileage, time of year, and vehicle type, and you will never be surprised by hidden costs. The per-person math often settles the decision: a 40-passenger charter bus on a 5-hour booking, split across a full group, lands at a flat per-head number that beats the combination of individual gas, parking, and post-game rideshare pricing.

Call 854-233-7160 for a free, all-inclusive price quote.

A Real Game-Day Example

To put numbers behind the math: for a Sun Belt home game in late January, a 34-person alumni group staying at a hotel near Broadway at the Beach booked a 35-passenger minibus. Pickup was at 5:30 p.m. from the hotel lot, at the Student Union drop-off by 6:05 p.m. — nearly two hours before a 7:00 p.m. tip-off. The bus waited in the YY Lot through the game.

Post-game pickup was 9:45 p.m. back at the Student Union, and the group was back at the hotel by 10:15. The 4.5-hour all-inclusive rental came to about $1,350 — roughly $40 per person, with parking, navigation, and post-game rideshare surge all taken out of the picture.

Clear Bag Policy at the HTC Center

The HTC Center enforces a clear bag policy at all athletic events and major gatherings, with bag checks conducted at the arena entrances. The policy mirrors the standard college athletics clear-bag framework: attendees may bring one clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag (typically up to 12″ × 6″ × 12″) or a small non-clear clutch purse. Backpacks and oversized bags are prohibited.

The university notes that bag checks cause entrance delays, which is the specific reason it advises extra arrival time on event days.

For a group arriving by charter bus, this is easy to plan for: remind everyone to sort bags at the hotel before boarding, not at the arena entrance. A group of 30 people each fumbling through non-compliant bags at the HTC Center entrance turns a smooth arrival into a 20-minute bottleneck. Sort it out at the hotel, board the bus, and walk straight through the check.

Always review the current policy at the HTC Center's official event page before your visit, since specifics can update between seasons.

Trip Types We Handle to the HTC Center

Different groups, same goal: everyone arrives together, gets in quickly, and gets home without a parking-lot ordeal. A few of the runs we coordinate most often for HTC Center events:

• Alumni and fan groups. Large contingents from Myrtle Beach hotel strips heading to Chanticleers home games — the group pregame starts on the bus, and no one is navigating US-501 alone after a night game.
• Visiting team fan groups. Out-of-area supporters traveling to Conway for a Sun Belt road game, often coordinating from a Grand Strand hotel block. One bus keeps the group together from the hotel to Founders Drive and back.
• Commencement family groups. Multi-family parties flying into MYR and coordinating from Myrtle Beach hotels for spring or fall graduation weekend at the HTC Center. A single charter bus solves the campus traffic puzzle that the university itself flags as a challenge.
• Corporate and group event outings. Companies or organizations attending a community or private event at the HTC Center, with employees or guests dispersed across Grand Strand hotels.
• School and youth groups. Athletic teams, school groups, or youth organizations attending a live college basketball game as an event — a full-size charter bus with overhead storage, climate control, and onboard restrooms makes the ride comfortable for every age.

The Myrtle Beach Invitational — What It Was and What Replaced It

From 2018 through 2024, the HTC Center hosted the Myrtle Beach Invitational, an ESPN-produced eight-team early-season men's college basketball tournament played over three consecutive days in November. The format brought national-level teams and their fan bases to Conway for a stretch when the Grand Strand is past peak season and hotel rates drop significantly. Past participants included schools from the Missouri Valley, Ivy League, American Athletic, and Mid-American conferences, and all games were broadcast on ESPN platforms.

ESPN announced in 2024 that the tournament would cease operations after that year's event. For groups who built a November trip around the Myrtle Beach Invitational each year, the CCU home schedule — particularly the Sun Belt home opener and early rivalry games — is now the main draw for a basketball-centered Grand Strand trip. The HTC Center itself is unchanged; the venue, the atmosphere, and the campus logistics are exactly what they were during the Invitational run.

Conway Dining and the Drive Back

Conway's historic downtown sits about three miles from the CCU campus along Main Street, and the Conway Riverwalk along the Waccamaw River is a natural post-game stop for groups who want to extend the evening. Rivertown Bistro (1111 Third Ave, Conway, SC 29526) is the most-cited dinner option near campus for groups. For larger parties, the US-501 corridor between Conway and Myrtle Beach has a dense run of chain options.

The practical upside of a charter bus for the return leg: if the group wants to stop at a Conway restaurant post-game, the bus can make that stop without everyone independently coordinating two vehicles. Tell us the plan when you book — we can build a post-game dinner stop into the itinerary and park the bus at the restaurant lot while the group eats. That is the difference between a bus rental and a rideshare app.

Booking Your HTC Center Bus

Booking a Myrtle Beach charter bus rental for the HTC Center is straightforward, and a little planning makes the day seamless:

1. Request a quote with your group size, pickup location (hotel name and address), event date, and approximate tip-off or event start time.
2. Confirm the vehicle and drop point. We match you with the right size bus and confirm the current campus approach route and Student Union drop-off zone for your specific event date.
3. Set your post-event pickup window. Agree on the return pickup spot — typically the Student Union hub — and a rough time window after the final buzzer or ceremony end, so the bus is there and ready when your group walks out.

A few questions we hear regularly: how early should the bus pick up the group? For a 7 p.m. tip-off with a 90-minute gate opening, a 5:15–5:30 p.m. hotel pickup gets your group to the arena before the student parking rush and with time for concessions. For commencement, the university specifically advises extra arrival time because of bag checks — plan for a 45-minute buffer before the ceremony start.

Can the bus stay on campus? Yes — the YY Lot is where oversized vehicles park, and the bus waits there through the event. Call 854-233-7160 or use our online tool for an instant quote with no obligation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly does a charter bus drop off at the HTC Center?

Charter buses approach the HTC Center via Founders Drive on the eastern edge of campus. Lot AA directly in front of the arena is restricted to ADA and platform party vehicles on event days. The practical drop-off point for large groups is near the Lib Jackson Student Union, the campus shuttle hub, with the bus then moving to the YY Lot off SC-544 to wait through the event.

We confirm the current drop routing for your event date when you book, since the plan can vary between a regular home game and a commencement ceremony. Check the official CCU parking page before your visit for the latest event-day layout.

Where does a charter bus park while the group is inside the HTC Center?

The YY Lot, accessed off SC-544 on the southern edge of campus, is the main commuter and oversized vehicle parking area. It is free and large enough to fit a full-size charter bus without the maneuvering constraints of the surface lots closer to the arena. After the event, the bus comes back to the Student Union drop point for pickup.

How far is the HTC Center from Myrtle Beach?

About 15 miles via US-501, typically a 20–25 minute drive during off-peak hours. US-501 between Myrtle Beach and Conway is one of the busiest roads in Horry County — on weekend evenings, add 10–15 minutes for realistic planning. Basketball season runs November through February, which means the summer tourism surge is largely gone, but Saturday night games still generate enough traffic to make individual car coordination stressful.

A charter bus handles the US-501 run as one vehicle, one timeline, no parking decisions required.

How much does a charter bus to the HTC Center cost?

Pricing depends on vehicle size, total hours booked, event date, and your pickup location along the Grand Strand. A 4–5 hour Myrtle Beach roundtrip for a regular-season game is the most common booking. As a general guide: 15–35 passenger minibuses run $294–$490/hour and 40–56 passenger charter buses run $150–$300/hour.

The per-person cost typically drops significantly once the group exceeds 20–25 people. Call 854-233-7160 for a free, all-inclusive, no-obligation quote — or use our online tool for instant availability.

Does the HTC Center have a clear bag policy?

Yes. The HTC Center enforces a clear bag policy at all athletic events and major gatherings. Bag checks are conducted at the arena entrances, and the university specifically notes that this causes delays — which is why extra arrival time is recommended.

Attendees may bring one standard-size clear plastic or vinyl bag plus a small non-clear clutch. Backpacks and non-clear bags are prohibited. Always confirm the current policy at the official HTC Center events page before your visit.

What parking is available at the HTC Center on game days?

Free parking is available on campus in Lots 21, YY, and WW, with campus shuttles connecting those lots to the HTC Center. Lot AA directly in front of the arena is reserved for ADA vehicles and special event participants on major event days. The university notes that parking fills on busy event nights, so early arrival is advised.

The GG Lot is used as overflow for the largest events, with shuttles running throughout. For the most current event-day parking layout, review the CCU parking page before game day.

Can a charter bus pick up my group from a Myrtle Beach hotel and get to the HTC Center in time for tip-off?

Absolutely. The 15-mile run from the Myrtle Beach hotel corridor to the CCU campus takes 20–25 minutes under normal conditions. For a 7 p.m. tip-off with gates opening 90 minutes prior, a pickup from Kings Highway or Broadway at the Beach around 5:00–5:15 p.m. gets your group to the Student Union drop-off well before the first rush.

We build in the right buffer when we put your itinerary together so no one is sprinting to their seat at tip-off.

Is the HTC Center accessible via Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) by charter bus?

Yes, and it is one of the cleaner airport-to-venue connections in the Grand Strand region. Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) (1100 Jetport Rd, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577) sits approximately 14–15 miles from the HTC Center — about the same distance as the central hotel strip. For visiting team fan groups flying into MYR before a CCU road game, or for out-of-state families flying in for commencement, a single charter bus picks up the full group at baggage claim and runs them directly to the CCU campus without everyone splitting across multiple rideshares.

For groups landing at MYR, make sure everyone is together before calling for the bus to move from the parking area to the terminal curb.

How early should we book a charter bus for a Coastal Carolina home game?

For a regular-season weeknight game, two to four weeks of lead time is workable. For weekend rivalry dates — particularly home games against Appalachian State, Marshall, or James Madison, which draw larger visiting fan contingents — book as soon as your date is confirmed. Commencement weekend in May is the highest-demand period on the CCU calendar: the entire Grand Strand hotel market fills simultaneously, bus availability tightens, and the groups booking last often end up with the wrong vehicle size or no availability at all.

The earlier you lock in for commencement, the better the vehicle selection and pricing. Call 854-233-7160 to check availability for your date.

Book Your HTC Center Bus Today

The right Myrtle Beach charter bus rental for your next HTC Center trip is one call away. Whether your group is heading to a Chanticleers home game against a Sun Belt rival, coordinating commencement weekend transportation for families flying into MYR, or organizing a group outing to a concert or community event at the arena, Party Bus Myrtle Beach has access to a fleet of Sprinter vans, minibuses, party buses, and full-size charter buses across the Grand Strand. One bus, one flat quote, and your group arrives at Founders Drive together — no US-501 caravan, no post-game rideshare scramble, no parking-lot shuffle at 10 p.m. on a Saturday.

Give us a call any time at 854-233-7160 for an all-inclusive price quote, or use our online tool for instant availability.