Highways don't have crosswalks, and drivers can expect to have very few stoplights (compared to freeways, which should have exactly 0 stoplights or pedestrians whatsoever).

Streets can have frequent crosswalks and stoplights.

Sooo having a street between hotels and a beach would be no biggie, since guests could safely cross it on foot, at a crosswalk.

But with a highway there, you cannot safely cross on foot. No crosswalks. Or if there's something that looks like a crosswalk, it sure wouldn't feel safe to cross it.