Huntington Beach State Park Review

Huntington Beach State Park, in Murrells Inlet, SC just South of Myrtle Beach, has a fantastic beach and a nice campground.

Huntington Beach State Park Overview

Huntington Beach State Park was founded in 1960. Before that, it was the winter home of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington. They purchased a former plantation and built Atalaya. Anna had a studio in which she created numerous sculptures. You can see some of them at Brookgreen Gardens, right across the highway from the park.

In addition to Huntington Beach State Park, the Huntingtons helped create several other nature preserves and musuems, including Collis P. Huntington State Park in Connecticut and the Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, VA.

At 2,500 acres, Huntington Beach State Park is a medium-sized state park. The main attractions are the 3 mile long beach, Atalaya, and a nice nature center.

Huntington Beach State Park Video

Join us as we show you some of highlights of Huntington Beach State Park including the beach, trails, and campground.

Huntington Beach State Park Amenities

The Beach

There are three miles of Atlantic beach. It’s a beautiful, wide beach, perfect for enjoying a day of fun in the sun or taking a long beach walk.

Hiking at Huntington Beach State Park

You can enjoy a hike on the Sandpiper Pond Nature Trail. It is a one-way hike of one mile that starts at the North Campground and ends at an observation deck. You can choose to walk back on the trail or use the road. The trail is fairly level and easy. There are some interesting trees and water views along the way,

There are also hiking trails that provide access to the beach from the campground.

Bicycling at Huntington Beach State Park

There is a nice, paved bike path that goes along a pond. On the return trip, you might bicycle along the causeway at the park entrance. If you are looking for a longer ride, the trail in the park connects to to the 25 mile long Waccamaw Neck Bikeway.

As you ride between Mallard and Mullet Ponds, keep a lookout for wildlife. You might see egrets or even alligators.

Atalaya Mansion

Atalaya was the home of Archer Huntington and Anna Hyatt Huntington. It served as their winter home and as a studio for Anna’s sculpture work. Built during the Great Depression on the site of a former plantation, Atalaya is an interesting landmark to see during your visit to Huntington Beach State Park.

Note that the home is not furnished. The Huntingtons stopped using it as a residence back in the 1940s. However, the $2 admission fee is worth it to see this interesting home.

Huntington Beach State Park Campground

The campground at Huntington Beach State Park is open all year. There are 173 RV campsites, divided into two sections. There are also six tent sites.

North Campground

Sites 1-133 and the six tent sites are found in the North Campground. Sites in the North Campground are back-in sites with 30 Amp electric and water hookups. Some have full hookups. Sites are generally level.

We had site 116 which was spacious and offered plenty of shade.

While some sites were wooded like ours, others are adjacent to a large field, perfect for group gatherings or playing games.

For images of a few more sites, check out our Huntington Beach State Park YouTube video where we show more of the campground and camp sites.

There are two beach access trails. The nature trail also starts in the North Campground.

There are three bathhouses available in the North Campground. The facilities were in good repair and where clean during our visit.

You’ll find a dump station with three dumps on the way out from the North Campground.

South Campground

Sites 134-175 are found in the South Campground. Sites in the South Campground are back-in paved sites with 50 Amp electric, water, and sewer hookups. Behind each pad is an area with a picnic table and fire pit.

The South Campground has one beach access trail. The entrance is located between sites 166 and 167.

There is one bathhouse in the South Campground. It has a laundry facility with 3 washers and 2 dryers.

Huntington Beach State Park Campground Other Information

Cellular reception on Verizon was OK. Signal at our wooded site wasn’t sufficient to stream content with a Fire Stick. However, we were able to use multiple over-the-air TV stations.

The park provides free wi-fi. From our site, the signal wasn’t available. However, there are two picnic tables with power plugs located next to the bathhouse with the wi-fi antenna.

Road and other noise was minimal. During our stay, we didn’t hear noise from planes or trains. In some parts of the park, you may hear highway noise from highway 17. From our site, we could hear the ocean waves.

There is no playground in the park.

Huntington Beach State Park Camping Rates

Campsite prices range from $38 to $60 per night. Reservations can be made on the South Carolina Parks reservation website or by calling 1-866-345-PARK.

Visiting Huntington Beach State Park With Dogs

Huntington Beach State Park is a dog-friendly location. Dogs are allowed on the trails and on the beach.

Dogs are not allowed in Atalaya or other park buildings. Just be sure to observe park rules including keeping your dog on a leash.

Huntington Beach State Park Directions

Huntington Beach State Park is located on Highway 17 about 15 miles south of Myrtle Beach, SC. We tried Apple and Google Maps, both of which provided effective directions to the park.

If you are driving south from Myrtle Beach, it will be a left turn into the park. Note that the sign for the entrance of Huntington Beach State Park is not large. The gate is locked when it is dark. You’ll be provided with a lock code with your reservation in case you need to use the entrance after hours.

Attractions Near Huntington Beach State Park

Huntington Beach State Park is located in Murrells Inlet, SC. There are some good dining options in the area. It is approximately 15 miles from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. There are plenty of activities available. Check out the Visit Myrtle Beach website for ideas.

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What’s your favorite Myrtle Beach campground?

We love Huntington Beach State Park. If you are looking to stay on the north side of Myrtle Beach, an option is the North Myrtle Beach RV Resort. It’s right on the intracoastal and has a nice beach nearby.

Leave a comment to share your experiences with Myrtle Beach camping.

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