Less than 20 miles south of Myrtle Beach, SC is a place called Murrells Inlet. That is where you’ll find Huntington Beach State Park, 2500 acres of coastal paradise. Whether you come for the beach and the outdoor adventures, the nature center and the bird watching, or the art and the history, there really is something for everyone here.
The park’s page on the SC State Parks website has everything you need to plan a trip, including maps, campground information, and activity recommendations.
Where We Stayed
Huntington Beach State Park
| Campground Name | Huntington Beach State Park |
| Location | College Park, MD |
| Dates | August 7-9, 2026 |
| Site Number | Site 137 |
| Cost per Night | $97.13 (including taxes and fees) |
| Site Surface | paved parking pad, level |
| Hook-ups | Full hookups |
| Water Pressure | 60 psi |
| Voltage | 120 V |
About the Campground
There seem to be two sections to the campground, the North Campground and the South Campground. The North Campground has ~127 RV sites and 6 tent sites. A few have sewer hookups, but these are mostly water and electric (30 amp) only. The dump station is conveniently located on the way out of the campground.
With about 40 sites, the South Campground is smaller, but those sites all have full hook-ups including 50 amp electric.
Huntington Beach State Park Travel Tip
The map we received at check-in had a border of coupons. We’ve seen this before at other campgrounds, and the coupons are usually not of interest to us. However, the coupons here were better than I expected.
One was for some free fudge at a store called the Lazy Gator, which was just across the street from where we ate dinner Saturday Night (Drunken Jack’s). The store itself was much bigger than I expected and was filled with the traditional beachy gifts you expect to see in a coastal store like this. They also offered many varieties of fudge. After samping, we ended up purchasing 1/4 lb of triple chocolate and 1/4 lb of cappacino.
The map also included a QR code for $2 off admission to Brookgreen Gardens (which includes the Lowcountry Zoo). Unfortunately, we didn’t see it until after we went to the zoo.
Our Campsite
As far as state parks go, we thought these sites were on the smaller side. However, for a campground that is walking distance to the beach, they’re pretty spacious.
The site was pretty level, so we didn’t need our red leveling blocks, which is always nice. We had good afternoon shade.
Shortly after we got set up, I went back outside to get something out of the truck. I was very surprised to find a chicken hanging out on our site. We saw him several times over the weekend, but he was the only chicken we saw.
What We Did
Morning Run (Exploring Trails)
Saturday morning Jesse and I set out for our runs.
I started on Atalaya Straight Road, a flat, paved path that runs between Mallard Pond and Mullet Pond. I’m so glad I started my run here because it was a great place to look for alligators. I saw several during this part of my run.
Can you find the alligator in the photo below? Hint: He’s pretty close to the center. Then scroll down for a close-up.
Next I took Kerrigan Nature Trail. It was a short, unpaved trail. I took a quick detour to check out the observation deck over Mullet Pond. Then I ran through the other section of the campground and onto the beach. I ended by running along the water for a bit before heading back to the RV.
Jesse did a much longer run. He ran along the beach past the dog-friendly section and through the bird sanctuary where dogs aren’t allowed, all the way to the jetty.
Lowcountry Zoo
The Lowcountry Zoo is a small AZA-accredited zoo located within Brookgreen Gardens. Brookgreen Gardens is just across the main road. It was only a 15-minute drive from our campsite and though the gardens to the zoo parking.
Technically, you purchase tickets to Brookgreen Gardens, and that includes the Lowcountry Zoo. It was really hot that day, so we did not explore the gardens, but it’s a big place. I imagine you could pack a picnic lunch and spend the whole day between the zoo and gardens. The tickets aren’t cheap, but they’re good for 7 days, which is great if you’ll be in the area a while.
On such a hot day, we were pleased with the amount of shade in this zoo. Possibly because of the heat, we didn’t have too much luck spotting the animals on this trip, but the exhibits were interesting.
The aviary was one area where we did see multiple animals. In particular, this great egret and cattle egret posed for the perfect photo to demonstrate the differences between them. The great egret is much taller than the cattle egret. He also has that striking yellow beak, as opposed to the cattle egret who has a black beak but yellow feet.
We also found this pair of sleeping owls.
The wolf exhibit seemed spacious compared to some other zoos, but there wasn’t a ton of tree cover.
There was a spot that appeared to be holes dug into the hillside. I’m inclined to think the wolves dug them, though I didn’t ask anyone to confirm.
Sadly, we didn’t spot any otters in their exhibit, but the exhibit design is what really caught my attention. The otter exhibit is open to the tidal Waccamaw River tributary that runs behind it. When the tides come in, the water flows through the fencing and into the otter exhibit. When the tide goes out, the water from the otter exhibit goes with it. I believe we were there pretty close to low tide, but I’d love to come back and see what it looks like during high tide.
There was a spot in the zoo that had some amazing spiders (and webs). The zoo even put up signs about their resident orb weavers. To be clear, these spiders are not part of an exhibit. They are wild, native spiders who are living on zoo property.
On the way out, we saw the Enchanted Storybook Forest next to the zoo. The Brookgreen Gardens website describes it as “a wonderful collection of storybook playhouses created by local builders, architects, and organizations. Each house is based of a classic children’s story or nursery rhyme.”
Huntington Beach State Park Nature Center
Whether you’re traveling with or without kids, you really should check out the nature center. Included with the materials you get at check-in is a schedule listing the programs happening in the park. Some are free, such as the alligators meet and the snakes/reptiles program, while others have an extra cost to cover materials needed, such as the sun prints program and pollinator pot painting.
They have a spot outside the nature center with several bird feeders and a bird bath. Inside, they have binoculars by the windows. I was thrilled to have my first painted bunting sighting here!
You can also rent binoculars from the nature center so you can take them with you when you go exploring elsewhere in the park.
List for Next Time
There’s never enough time to see everything. Here’s our list of things we want to see/do the next time we’re in this area.
- Atalaya Ghost Tour: Atalaya Castle was built to be the winter home of the Huntingtons after Mrs. Huntinton got tuberculosis. Admission is $2 and is not included with your campground reservation. I believe there are guided and self-guided tours. They also offer ghost tours for $5. We always had the dogs with us whenever we passed the castle, and dogs are not allowed inside, so we never ended up touring the castle. However, it looks neat and I’d like to try it next time.
- The rest of Brookgreen Gardens (if it’s not so hot)
- More nature center programs
Where We Ate
Spoonbills Ice Cream
Spoonbills is the ice cream shop within the state park. It’s a pretty basic ice cream shop, but it’s walking distance from any othe campsites as well as from the beach, so it’s super convenient.
We got a single scoop of vanilla and a single scoop of chocolate. Both were good enough that we’d visit again.
Drunken Jack’s
We’ve been to Drunken Jack’s before, and we love the outdoor seating. We’ve only ever sat on their back patio, so I can’t speak to the interior of the restaurant.
They have a bit of bar-style seating that overlooks the water as well as the boardwalk known as Marsh Walk.
This time, we got to watch some boats come in and out as well as a couple cleaning some fish they caught.
Here, instead of bread, the waitor brings hushpuppies to the table. The menu has a lot to choose from. We’re not big on seafood, but we particularly like the burgers.
Wildlife
Jesse found this beautiful anhinga on his run. They are very striking birds!
These are moorhens, a medium-sized water bird.
Everywhere you went at Huntington Beach State Park there were crabs!
When I stopped at the observation deck over Mullett Pond, I came across this beautiful green heron. Several times, he stretched himself out like he was going to try to catch something. I really wanted to get it on video, but he never tried while I was there.
It’s a little difficult to see in this photo, but there were so many tiny fish in the water at Mullett Pond.
Found this lovely little lizard, which I believe to be an anole, while walking the dogs around the campground.
This alligator was pretty far out in Mallard Pond, so I had to zoom in a ways for this photo.
More Photos
The Lowcountry Zoo has some beautiful trees!
Happy travels!
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