Yes, we’ve already written a post about Myrtle Beach (two in fact). However, this trip was shorter and was all about the state park. Read on for a restaurant recommendation, a dog-friendly hike, and a kid-friendly state park activity.
Where We Stayed
This was an interesting campground. Let’s talk about the negatives first, because there aren’t many.
- The first drawback we noticed is that the campground roads are a bit tight. We had to be careful taking the turn onto our loop, and it took a fair bit of maneuvering to get the RV backed into the site. There were larger RVs than ours, but I’m glad we weren’t any longer than we are.
- The next thing we noticed was the plane noise. The camp store is less than three miles, as the crow flies, from the furthest end of the runway at Myrtle Beach International Airport. The closest end is just 0.75 miles away. There is a lot of plane noise. We heard it when we sat outside. We heard it when we were in the RV. We heard it at night while we slept. (One way to turn lemons into lemonade is by taking advantage of the pretty cool photo ops you get because of the airport. When the planes come in for a landing, they come in over the ocean and are pretty low going over the beach. I did not bring my phone with me when we did our beach day, so I wasn’t able to get the photo I’m imagining, but I recommend you try it.)
- The last drawback is the traffic. Anyone entering the park must stop at the guard shack to pay the admission fee. While there is a separate lane for pass holders (including registered campers), that lane is not open all the time, so getting back in the state park can be a pain. There wasn’t much traffic late Friday afternoon when we checked in, and we left the campground one evening and came back without a problem, but when we left the campground one morning, we had to sit in a long line before we could get back in.
Myrtle Beach Travel Tip
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, “only umbrellas measuring up to 7 ½ feet in diameter are allowed.” This rule was being enforced while we were on the beach, and we saw someone who had to take down their tent.
Now for the positives about this campground…
- Like most other state park campgrounds we’ve been to, there are lots of trees and therefore plenty of shade. (The sites vary in terms of size and available hookups, so you’ll want to pay attention to the details when making a reservation.)
- The campground is walking-distance to the beach. If you’re in one of the sites at the back, it might be a little far to schlep all the beach essentials, but you can decide when you get here. It was about 0.45 miles from our site at the back of the campground, so it would be less than that for almost any other site.
- Probably no one else cares about this, but access to recycling was another positive for me! I look for this at every campground we visit, and most don’t have it, so I was thrilled! The bottles/cans recycling is very easily accessible, with containers right next to the dumpster, and they have signs posted about where you can recycle other materials.
- The camp store here is great! They have an extensive campground sticker selection. They also have a lot of toys and activities. Think games, puzzles, etc.
| Campground Name | Myrtle Beach State Park Campground |
| Location | Myrtle Beach, SC |
| Dates | June 7-9, 2024 |
| Site Number | Site 312 |
| Site Surface | Packed sand |
| Hook-ups | Full hookups + 50-amp electric |
| Cost | $95.20 per night (including taxes and fees) |
| Water Pressure | 60 psi |
| Voltage | 120 V |
| Verizon Speed Test | 24 Mbps down; 3 Mbps up |
| T-Mobile Speed Test | 3 Mbps down; 2 Mbps up |
| Campground WiFi | 1.80 Mbps down; 0.28 Mbps up |
And now for a few miscellaneous notes that don’t really fit as a positive or negative…
The drive from the state park entrance to the campground was beautiful.
We almost missed the campground playground because it’s on another loop. We just happened to notice this small sign when walking Corona.
Follow the path between two sites and you end up here.
What We Did
If you are looking for more things to see and do in the area, have a look at this post and this post. This trip was significantly shorter than those, so we didn’t do as much.
Sculptured Oak Trail
Corona does not like the ocean. Waves are scary, so we opted for a walk through the woods. We passed the Nature Center and Activity Center and picked up the Sculptured Oak Trail, which is beautiful and shady.
The only sunny part was when the trail ended at the parking lot. We walked along the road/parking lot to get back into the campground. In hindsight, it probably would have been better to treat it as an out-and-back and just walk back the way we came.
There was some interesting signage in the park, including some on the trail. This one about sapsuckers, a type of woodpecker, caught my eye. It explains that sapsuckers drill holes in straight lines. The sign is right in front of a tree where you can see one of the bird’s hard work.
Nature Center
Be sure to check out the Nature Center while you’re here, especially if you have kids! They have several tanks with a variety of critters, aquatic and terrestrial.
They post times for activities, such as when they feed the animals.
Where We Ate
Drunken Jack’s
Drunken Jack’s Restaurant and Lounge is about 10 miles from the campground. It’s pricey, but you’re paying for delicious food and a terrific atmosphere.
It was a beautiful day, so we opted to eat outside. They have a covered patio that looks out onto Murrells Inlet. We lucked out and got seats at the counter along the back of the patio so there weren’t any other tables obstructing our view. I felt underdressed when we were inside, but the people on the deck were dressed more casually.
The restaurant sits on the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk, which is a boardwalk along the inlet lined with several restaurants. It was the perfect spot for a short, scenic walk after dinner.
Wildlife
There are several signs around the campground about copperheads. They made it a point when we checked in to tell us to wear shoes when we went outside and to carry a flashlight at night. I like snakes, so I was disappointed not to see any.
We did see plenty of other wildlife all without leaving the campground.
Corona was very interested in this little guy she spotted at the campsite next to ours.
It was fun to watch this pileated woodpecker do his thing.
These little holes were all over our site. I didn’t know who called them home…
…until I saw this guy hovering around one we must have stepped on, accidentally covering up the hole. They look like some sort of bee to me, but they never bothered us.
Happy travels!
