Anyone who has tried to get a group of 20 people to a Friday night Pelicans game in July already knows the full scenario: half the group is scattered across hotel strips on Kings Highway, the other half is at a vacation rental in Carolina Forest, and US-17 is doing what US-17 does in peak summer — carrying over 150,000 vehicles on holiday weekends and turning what should be a 15-minute drive into something else entirely. Finding parking at Pelicans Ballpark (1251 21st Ave N, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577) costs $10 per car, the lot fills from Grissom Parkway, and the post-game rideshare window when 6,500 fans hit the parking lot at once is not something you want to navigate on a hot August night. There's a cleaner way to handle it.
Partybusmyrtlebeach.net connects groups to a large network of bus companies serving Myrtle Beach — so instead of coordinating a six-car caravan down a congested Kings Highway, splitting up to park, and drawing straws for who stays sober, your whole group boards one charter bus or party bus and shows up together, already set for the game. Below you'll find the verified logistics of how your bus gets in, where your group drops, what parking actually costs, and which vehicle fits your headcount. These details come from the Pelicans' own published parking guidance and real planning for the Grand Strand — not something a writer could piece together from a press release.
For the broader view of moving a group to sporting events across the area, the Myrtle Beach sporting event transportation page covers it all.
Why Rent a Party Bus or Charter Bus to Pelicans Ballpark
Pelicans games run April through early September, which means the back half of the season lands squarely in the Grand Strand's peak tourist crunch. US-17 — Kings Highway — is the main artery connecting hotel row to the ballpark, and it earns its reputation: summer holiday traffic on US-17 has been documented at over 150,000 vehicles per day, and US-501, the inland corridor that feeds fans coming from Conway and points west, is well known for stretching a 10-minute drive past the 40-minute mark on busy summer evenings. Your group is almost certainly spread across hotel strips along Ocean Boulevard, rental properties off Kings Highway, or vacation houses scattered through the Carolina Forest area.
Getting everyone to one pickup spot by 7:05 PM is its own project.
A Myrtle Beach party bus rental solves that coordination problem in one move. One pickup address — or a couple of hotel stops across the strip — one arrival at Grissom Parkway, one vehicle staged for pickup after the final out. Nobody is hunting for a parking spot in the $10 lot, nobody is figuring out who has to stay sober, and no one is competing with thousands of other fans for a rideshare when the game ends.
The bus runs on a flat, predictable rate split across your group — and once you divide it across 20, 30, or 40 people, the per-head cost often runs below what everyone would spend on parking and gas in separate cars anyway. That's the math that keeps making a Myrtle Beach charter bus rental the right call once groups grow past three or four cars' worth of people.
Charter Bus and Party Bus Drop-Off and Parking at Pelicans Ballpark
The Pelicans publish their parking rules clearly on the official directions and parking page: all general parking — including season ticket holders with standard packages and guests with handicap placards — must enter off Grissom Parkway. The 21st Avenue entrance is reserved exclusively for suite holders and media. That distinction matters for group planning, because a charter bus carrying a fan group approaches the same way every general admission vehicle does — via Grissom Parkway.
Parking is $10 per vehicle, payable in advance when you buy tickets online or at the lot by cash or card. The lots open two hours before game time. A charter bus drops your group at the Grissom Parkway lot entrance and can stage nearby or leave and return at a pre-arranged post-game pickup time — whichever your group coordinates when booking.
For specific bus staging arrangements or to confirm group access logistics ahead of a large outing, the Pelicans group sales team at 843-918-6000 can help sort it before game day. Check the official parking page before your trip — game-specific updates can affect lot access timing.
A 40-passenger charter bus replaces roughly 10 to 14 cars — each paying $10 for parking, each adding fuel, and each requiring a sober designated driver for the ride home. For a 40-person group, that's $100 to $140 in parking costs alone across separate vehicles, spread across a lot on Grissom Parkway that everyone still has to walk back from after the game. One bus delivers everyone together, waits or returns for the pickup, and keeps the evening predictable at a flat rate split across the group.
Pelicans Ballpark Transportation: Every Option Compared
Myrtle Beach has no game-day public transit running to Pelicans Ballpark. This is a bus-comparison site, so let's be straight: a private charter bus or party bus rental isn't the right answer for every group. Here's an honest look at how all the real options stack up for a Pelicans game group.
| Option | Cost shape | Arrive together? | Drop-off point | Post-game pickup | Best group size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private charter bus or party bus | One flat rate, split by the group | Yes — one vehicle, one arrival | Grissom Parkway lot entrance, steps from the gates | Pre-arranged pickup; bus stages or returns at set time | 15–56 |
| Rideshare (Uber / Lyft) | Per car, each way + post-game surge | No — multiple cars, staggered ETAs | Standard curbside near lot | Surge pricing when thousands leave at once | 1–4 per car |
| Everyone drives and parks | $10 per car + gas per car | No — separate arrivals, split up in the lot | Wherever space opens in the lot | Whoever drove stays sober; post-game lot crawl | 1–3 cars, practical ceiling |
| Walk from Broadway at the Beach | Free | Yes, if your group is already at Broadway | Approach from 21st Ave side of the ballpark | Walk back at night across 21st Ave | Small groups already at Broadway |
For one or two people already staying within walking distance of the ballpark — or a pair coming from a hotel a mile up the strip — driving over or ridesharing is straightforward, no reason to rent a bus for two. But the moment your group grows past a handful of cars' worth of people, the coordination math shifts hard toward one vehicle. Separate parking fees, separate designated drivers, separate pickup ETAs after the game — all of it collapses into one flat rate and one pickup the moment you go with a charter bus or party bus rental instead.
What Size Party Bus Rental Fits Your Pelicans Ballpark Group
Pelicans Ballpark holds 6,599 fans, and groups of 15 or more qualify for the Pelicans' own group experience packages — meaning a dedicated bus almost always goes hand-in-hand with a group that already qualifies for group ticket pricing. Here's how the vehicle options break down for a Grand Strand ballpark run.
| Vehicle | Seats | Best for | Key amenities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sprinter van | Up to ~14 | Small groups, suite package holders, VIP transfers | Comfortable seating, A/C, USB charging, tinted windows |
| 15- to 20-passenger party bus | ~15–20 | Birthday outings, bachelorette groups, small fan groups | LED lighting, Bluetooth sound, bar area |
| 15–35 passenger minibus | ~15–35 | Mid-size fan groups, company outings, family reunions | Reclining seats, strong A/C, overhead storage |
| 40–56 passenger charter bus | Up to 56 | Large fan groups, corporate outings, team travel | Reclining seats, climate control, WiFi, power outlets, onboard restroom, undercarriage storage |
A 25-passenger party bus is the sweet spot for a group of family and friends hitting a Friday fireworks night — enough room for everyone, LED lighting and sound already built in, and the ride back from Grissom Parkway is already handled before the first pitch. For a larger company outing or a group of coworkers coming in from across the Carolinas, a full-size charter bus handles the headcount and the undercarriage — coolers, beach bags, whatever the group is bringing from the hotel — without asking anyone to leave anything behind. ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network; just note it when you request your quote.
Pelicans Ballpark Fireworks Nights and High-Demand Dates for 2026
The 2026 Pelicans season runs April 2 through September 6, with 66 home games at Pelicans Ballpark and a home opener on April 14 against the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers — first pitch at 7:05 PM, with a post-game fireworks extravaganza to kick things off. After that, every Friday and every Sunday from June 14 through September 6 is a post-game fireworks night, for a total of 20 fireworks nights across the season, per the team's published 2026 promotional schedule. The Hickory Crawdads are in town June 30 through July 5, putting a home game on July 4th — with fireworks.
Why that calendar matters for your bus: fireworks Fridays in July and August are when Myrtle Beach's summer tourist surge and a packed Pelicans crowd hit the same roads at the same time. Post-game rideshare demand spikes the moment fans exit the Grissom Parkway lot. Booking a party bus or minibus for a July or August fireworks night — especially July 4th or a late-August Sunday — means your group already has a confirmed return pickup instead of competing with thousands of other fans for the same rideshare pool.
For peak fireworks dates and holiday weekends, booking several weeks in advance is strongly advised. Vehicle availability on the Grand Strand during summer is not unlimited, and the right-size buses go first.
Beyond fireworks, the Pelicans run themed weekly promotions throughout the season — $2 taco Tuesdays, dog-friendly Wednesdays, half-price beer Thursdays — plus one-night themed events like Star Wars Night, Dino Night, and military appreciation games. The full Pelicans promotions schedule has specific dates and start times for every game so you can match your group's night to the right event before you finalize your bus booking.
From Myrtle Beach Airport and Area Hotels: Getting Your Group to Pelicans Ballpark
Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) sits less than 3 miles from Pelicans Ballpark — a short run south on US-17 Bypass that takes roughly 5 to 10 minutes off-peak. For out-of-town groups flying in for Opening Night, a July 4th game, or a themed-night weekend, a charter bus from MYR to Pelicans Ballpark keeps everything in one coordinated move: one pickup at baggage claim, a straight shot to Grissom Parkway, and the same vehicle picks the group up after the final out. Nobody is splitting up for rideshares on arrival evening with luggage in hand.
The MYR airport bus and shuttle guide covers the full airport approach in detail.
For groups staying across the strip, a Myrtle Beach charter bus or minibus does a multi-stop hotel pickup along Ocean Boulevard or Kings Highway before heading to Grissom Parkway — so no one is driving from a different hotel or trying to meet at a common point. Groups coming in from the south (Georgetown, Murrells Inlet, Surfside Beach) take US-17 Bypass North past Coastal Grand Mall and over US-501, then turn left onto Grissom Parkway; after about half a mile the ballpark signage comes into view. Groups from North Myrtle Beach or Little River take US-17 Bypass South and veer right onto Grissom Parkway heading south toward downtown.
Either way, all general fans — and charter buses carrying general fan groups — funnel into the same Grissom Parkway lot entrance.
The 2026 Pelicans Ballpark Upgrades and What They Mean for Groups
The 2026 season launched a new chapter at Pelicans Ballpark. The team unveiled a full slate of improvements headlined by The Diamond — a 9,380-square-foot event venue inside the ballpark that accommodates up to 625 guests for private events, corporate meetings, and functions. A brand-new 2,228-square-foot video board now anchors right field, paired with a new sound system and outfield wall LEDs that transform the game-day atmosphere.
The seating bowl got new Sport Mesh seats behind home plate — designed to reduce surface temperature by up to 50 degrees, a genuine upgrade for South Carolina summer heat — plus expanded hospitality areas and a new D.K. Mason Roofing Field Suite. Full details are in the team's 2026 ballpark announcement.
For groups, The Diamond opens up options beyond a standard game-day outing. Corporate events, private group functions, and non-baseball gatherings can now use a fully equipped event space inside the ballpark — and a Myrtle Beach corporate charter bus rental keeps the team together from the office or hotel to The Diamond without anyone navigating the Grissom Parkway lot separately. On game days specifically, the expanded hospitality areas mean more group-friendly venue options alongside the existing picnic packages and group seating — worth checking the Pelicans group experiences page when planning your outing.
Tips for Your Pelicans Ballpark Group Trip
- Enter via Grissom Parkway — not 21st Avenue. The official Pelicans parking guidance routes all general fans through Grissom Parkway. The 21st Avenue entrance is reserved for suite holders and media only. Your bus and your group come in from the Grissom Parkway side.
- Parking is $10 per car, cash or card. Lots open two hours before game time. Pre-purchasing when you buy tickets avoids any arrival scramble. A single charter bus means one vehicle, not 10 cars paying separately.
- Groups of 15 or more get dedicated options. The Pelicans offer group packages for 15+ people, including group seating, picnic areas with an all-you-can-eat buffet, and the Sun Cruiser Beach Party experience for groups of 75 or more. Contact the Pelicans group sales team to coordinate group tickets alongside your bus booking. Picnic packages need at least one week of advance notice.
- Book buses early for July and August fireworks nights. Peak summer on the Grand Strand puts real pressure on vehicle availability — especially on Friday fireworks nights, July 4th, and summer holiday weekends when the entire Myrtle Beach area is at or above capacity.
- No outside food or beverages past the gates. Per the team's published policies, no bottles, cans, food, or beverages may be brought into Pelicans Ballpark. Plan your group's pre-game plan accordingly.
- Review game-day specifics before you go. The official Know Before You Go page has the current bag rules, gate opening times, and any game-specific updates that could affect your group's arrival plan.
Myrtle Beach Party Bus and Charter Bus Rental Prices for Pelicans Ballpark
Partybusmyrtlebeach.net shows quotes in under 30 seconds — no account required, no obligation. Pricing moves with vehicle size, total hours booked, your exact pickup locations, and the date. To give you a planning sense: a minibus rental in Myrtle Beach runs roughly $200 to $250 per hour on weekdays and $200 to $275 per hour on weekends.
A 25-passenger party bus runs approximately $250 to $350 per hour on weekdays and $275 to $375 on weekends. A full 40- to 56-passenger charter bus ranges from about $200 to $350 per hour either way. These are planning ranges — your actual quote reflects your specific itinerary, not these figures.
Your final price moves with the date, the vehicle, and your pickup plan.
Once you split a charter bus rate across 30, 40, or 50 people, the per-head number gets competitive fast — especially against parking ($10 a car), gas, and post-game rideshare surges on a hot summer night. See the Myrtle Beach party bus prices page for more context, or call 854-233-7160 any time for a free quote at no obligation.
A game-day example: A 28-person fan group books a 30-passenger party bus for a Friday fireworks night in July. Two hotel pickups on Ocean Boulevard at 5:30 PM, at Pelicans Ballpark by 6:15 PM — 50 minutes before the 7:05 start. A 5-hour rental at that vehicle size might come to around $1,875 — roughly $67 per person for 28 riders, with the return pickup already built in.
The final number shifts with your date and exact route, but that's the planning range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does a charter bus or party bus drop off at Pelicans Ballpark?
All general fan parking at Pelicans Ballpark enters off Grissom Parkway, per the team's official parking guidance — and a charter bus carrying a fan group approaches the same way. The 21st Avenue entrance is reserved for suite holders and media only. Your bus will drop your group at the Grissom Parkway side of the lot.
For groups wanting to confirm specific bus staging or coordinate logistics with the team in advance, call the Pelicans group sales team.
How much does parking cost at Pelicans Ballpark?
Game day parking is $10 per car, purchasable in advance when you buy tickets online or paid by cash or card at the lot. Free parking applies to Myrtle Beach city residents with a city decal and to season ticket members with 22-game-or-above packages. Lots open two hours before game time.
For current details, see the official Pelicans parking page.
Can a charter bus or party bus wait at Pelicans Ballpark during the game?
The bus is booked as a block of hours, so it can drop your group at the Grissom Parkway entrance and either stage nearby or leave and return at a pre-agreed post-game pickup window. Setting that pickup time before the game starts means the bus is right there when the final out happens — no one standing in a rideshare queue while thousands of fans hit the lot at the same time.
How far is Myrtle Beach International Airport from Pelicans Ballpark?
Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) is less than 3 miles from Pelicans Ballpark — roughly a 5- to 10-minute drive via US-17 Bypass off-peak. A charter bus pickup at baggage claim with a direct run to Grissom Parkway is one of the clearest airport-to-ballpark transfers on the Grand Strand, especially on game nights when the strip is congested. The MYR airport shuttle guide covers the full approach.
How early should I book a bus for a fireworks Friday or July 4th game?
For fireworks Fridays and Sunday fireworks nights in July and August — and especially for July 4th and peak summer holiday weekends — booking at least three to four weeks in advance is strongly recommended. Grand Strand vehicle demand in peak summer is real, and the best buses go first. For Opening Night in April or a weeknight game in May, two weeks out is usually workable.
Call 854-233-7160 as soon as your date is confirmed.
What is the best vehicle for a group of 20 heading to a Pelicans game?
A minibus fits a group of 20 comfortably and handles the Grand Strand's surface streets without any of the oversized-vehicle complications. If your group wants the party atmosphere for a birthday outing or a bachelorette weekend that includes a game, a 20-passenger party bus brings the LED lighting and sound system along for the ride. Both options can be quoted and compared side by side in under 30 seconds — or call 854-233-7160 for help picking the right fit.
Does Pelicans Ballpark offer group ticket packages?
Yes. The Pelicans offer group experiences for parties of 15 or more, including group seating, all-you-can-eat picnic packages (15+ people, from about $31 per person), and the Sun Cruiser Beach Party for groups of 75 or more. All food-included packages need at least one week of advance notice.
Contact the Pelicans group sales team at 843-918-6000 or check the Pelicans group experiences page for what's available on your game date.
How much does renting a charter bus to Pelicans Ballpark cost?
Pricing depends on vehicle type, total hours, your pickup locations across Myrtle Beach, and the date. As a planning range: a minibus runs roughly $200 to $275 per hour on weekends, a party bus in the 25- to 30-passenger range runs about $275 to $425 per hour on weekends, and a full charter bus runs $200 to $350 per hour. Get your actual quote in under 30 seconds — no account needed, no obligation.
Call 854-233-7160 or use the online tool. The Myrtle Beach party bus prices page has more context on what shapes the final number.
What is the Pelicans' bag policy at the gate?
Per the team's published policies, no outside bottles, cans, food, beverages, or containers may be brought into Pelicans Ballpark. Check the official Know Before You Go page for current security details before your group's visit — policies can be updated between seasons.
Can my group tailgate before a Pelicans game?
The Pelicans' ballpark lot opens two hours before game time, which gives your group a window before first pitch. Pelicans policy prohibits outside food and beverages inside the gates, so pre-game plans happen in the lot or at nearby spots before the group heads in. Broadway at the Beach sits directly across from the ballpark on 21st Avenue, making it a natural starting point for groups that want dinner or drinks before walking over — and a Myrtle Beach party bus can drop the group at Broadway first, then loop to the Grissom Parkway entrance for game time.
Book Your Bus to Pelicans Ballpark
A Pelicans game is one of the most accessible nights out on the Grand Strand — affordable tickets, a freshly upgraded ballpark with a brand-new video board and expanded hospitality, post-game fireworks twice a week through the summer, and a relaxed atmosphere that works for just about every kind of group. Getting there should be the easy part. Partybusmyrtlebeach.net makes it straightforward to compare charter buses, party buses, and minibuses serving Myrtle Beach — pricing in under 30 seconds, no account needed. Fill out the quick online form or call 854-233-7160 any time to get a free quote for your group's trip to Pelicans Ballpark.
Also planning other stops on your Grand Strand trip? The Broadway at the Beach group bus guide and the House of Blues Myrtle Beach guide cover those drop-offs with the same verified detail.
