Myrtle Beach

Located in the city of Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach State Park is a 312-acre state park that has a wide white sand beach which is approximately a mile long. A maritime forest and sand dunes are present near the beach. The beach also has a pier named Myrtle Beach State Park Pier. A creek also flows through the beach into the Atlantic Ocean. Myrtle Beach State Park was the first South Carolina State Park, and has been named the 14th Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach." Myrtle Beach State Park has lifeguards in its northern portion between mid-May and mid-September.  

The state park also has many other amenities including picnic areas, a playground, a boardwalk, restrooms, hiking trails, and showers. It is important to note that a majority of the state park’s amenities are present in the northern part of the beach. Dogs are not allowed on the beach in Myrtle Beach State Park between 10 am to 5 pm between May 1 and September Labor Day. Leashed dogs are allowed at all other times on the beach.

Myrtle Beach State Park offers many fun activities including hiking, camping, picnicking, wildlife watching, beachcombing, sunbathing, fishing, surfing, kitesurfing, horse riding, windsurfing, paddle-boarding, kayaking, canoeing, jet-skiing, surf-skiing, boating, wakeboarding, and parasailing. If you are planning to enter the water near Myrtle Beach State Park, we recommend being careful as the water here is known to have dangerous and unpredictable rip currents. In addition, jellyfish are also known to be occasionally present in Myrtle Beach State Park - these animals can inflict painful stings if disturbed. Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of animals in the water near Myrtle Beach State Park including dolphins and sea turtles. If you like fishing, the Myrtle beach State Park Pier offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the Grand Strand region shoreline and it is also a great fishing spot - depending on the time of the year, you can catch many kinds of fish in the water near Myrtle Beach State Park including Spanish mackerel, spots, trout, and whitings. However, if you are planning to fish in the water near Myrtle Beach State Park, we recommend following the local fishing regulations. Horse riding is allowed on Myrtle Beach State Park between the third Saturday of November and the last Friday of February. However, if you are planning to ride your horse on the beach in Myrtle Beach State Park, please ensure that you have the proper permit for the same. You can visit the South Carolina State Parks’ website for more information regarding equestrian permits and horse-riding regulations.   

Myrtle Beach State Park has a vibrant landscape consisting of many kinds of habitats including sand dune fields and maritime forests - you can explore the state park’s vibrant biodiversity and landscape via the hiking trails present here. In addition, the state park also has campgrounds and cabins for visitors - you can visit the South Carolina State Parks’ website for more information regarding camping and cabin prices and regulations. The state park’s nature center also has interesting exhibits on local natural history and the state park also hosts many educational programs throughout the year

Getting to Myrtle Beach State Park is easy - the park is present near 4401 South Kings Highway. A parking lot is also present in Myrtle Beach State Park - you can easily walk to the beach from the parking lot. It is important to note that you need to pay a fee for accessing Myrtle Beach State Park.

There are many attractions near Myrtle Beach State Park. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is a two-story "odditorium" that has a wide variety of unique and wacky memorabilia including shrunken heads and a vampire-hunting kit. The Hollywood Wax Museum has wax figurines of prominent celebrities including race car drivers, Hollywood actors and actresses, and pop stars. In addition, the museum also has a mirror maze and an exciting zombie-themed section. Family Kingdom Amusement Park has 38 fun rides including roller coasters and a bumper cars area. This amusement park also has go-kart tracks and a gaming arcade. If you are looking for another attraction near Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach Boardwalk & Promenade is a waterfront promenade that has many amazing rides including a 187-feet tall Ferris wheel, and also has an arcade, shopping stores, and restaurants. The promenade also hosts many fun events throughout the year including Myrtle Beach Seafood Festival and the Carolina Country Music Fest.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Myrtle Beach State Park. Sea Captain’s House is an upscale restaurant that offers delicious gourmet dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner - this restaurant is particularly known for serving amazing seafood. King Street Grille is a restaurant and bar which serves amazing dishes for lunch and dinner including seafood, burgers, and sandwiches. If you are looking for another good affordable restaurant near Myrtle Beach State Park, Simply Southern Smokehouse serves amazing Southern United States-style and barbecued dishes for lunch and dinner.

If you are looking for a hotel near Myrtle Beach State Park, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Anderson Ocean Club And Spa is a 25-minute drive away and offers many amenities including a seasonal poolside bar and a spa (available for a fee). In addition, the hotel also offers many other amenities for a resort fee including an exercise room, a mini-golf course, a lazy river, and multiple pools. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront which offers many amenities including a pool, multiple children’s pools, an 18-hole mini-golf course, and two restaurants. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Myrtle Beach State Park, the 2-Star Red Roof Inn Myrtle Beach Hotel - Market Commons offers many amenities including a pool, a picnic area, a coin-operated laundry, and complimentary coffee.