Huntington Beach State Park Day Trip from Myrtle Beach

Huntington Beach State Park is in Murrells Inlet, south of Myrtle Beach. A car trip is the practical way to plan the day.

Before you set off, account for the park’s capacity limits: the South Carolina park page cautions that temporary closures may occur on weekends and holidays when visitation is high and parking is limited. It identifies 10 a.m.–2 p.m. as peak visitation hours and advises considering arrival outside that window.

You can reserve parking up to one month ahead and at least two days before your chosen date. A reservation does not include park admission, but it guarantees entry from 6 a.m. until noon even if the rest of the park reaches capacity.

After noon, reserved spaces that remain open become first-come, first-served; vehicles must leave by closing, and overnight parking is not allowed in reserved spaces.

The park map labels beach access, the Sandpiper Pond Nature Trail, the Kerrigan Nature Trail, a boardwalk and observation decks, alongside picnic shelters and a boat ramp. These features give you several ways to spend time outdoors, from a beach visit to a walk through coastal habitat. The map marks the jetty 1.2 miles away.

Dogs are permitted on the south end of the beach, but not in park buildings or on the north end, from the north parking-lot beach access to the jetty. Keep dogs on a leash no longer than six feet and clean up after them.

If you want to make another nature-focused outing part of your Myrtle Beach plans, Brookgreen Gardens is another day-trip subject to consider.

The park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with hours extended to 9 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time. Admission costs $8 for adults, $5 for South Carolina seniors, and $4 for youth ages 6–15; children 5 and younger enter free.

Atalaya, the park’s historic house, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with hours extended to 5 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time. Entry costs $2 per person for ages 6 and up, while children 5 and under enter free. Atalaya may close for events, so check the official site before you go.

Start by choosing your main focus: beach time, a nature trail, or a visit to Atalaya. Then check the opening hours and admission costs, and decide whether a parking reservation suits your plans. If you’re visiting during a busy weekend or holiday, the park’s advice to consider arriving outside 10 a.m.–2 p.m. can help you plan around peak visitation.

Keep the dog rules in mind if you’re bringing a pet, especially the beach restriction between the north parking-lot access and the jetty. For a different kind of coastal day, Myrtle Beach’s beaches offer another subject to weigh up as you plan.