Myrtle Beach State Park offers exceptional beachfront RV camping across 278 campsites with 138 full-hookup sites, combining pristine Atlantic Ocean beaches, maritime forest trails, and year-round family activities just 300 yards from the Grand Strand's white sand shores. Myrtle Beach RV rentals and North Myrtle Beach camper van options provide prime access to this 312-acre oceanfront wonderland featuring historic CCC-built cabins, a 758-foot fishing pier, and one of South Carolina's last stands of maritime forest.
Nestled along 60 miles of South Carolina's famed Grand Strand coastline, Myrtle Beach State Park offers a surprisingly green escape in the heart of one of America's busiest beach destinations. Famous for being South Carolina's first state park since opening in 1936, this 312-acre coastal treasure preserves a mile of undeveloped beach and towering maritime forest that provides shady relief from the bustling tourist scene just minutes away. Myrtle Beach State Park is the ultimate beach RV destination since it combines oceanfront camping with historic charm—six cozy cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s still welcome guests today.
You'll discover endless coastal adventure during your RV trip to Myrtle Beach State Park, from saltwater fishing and beachcombing to biking and wildlife watching. The park's 758-foot fishing pier stretches into the Atlantic Ocean, where anglers catch flounder, king mackerel, whiting, Spanish mackerel, drum, and blues. Nature enthusiasts love exploring the Sculptured Oak and Yaupon nature trails that wind through an ancient maritime forest home to live oaks, southern magnolias, and abundant birdlife. The Nature Center features interactive displays, saltwater aquariums, and live reptiles that educate visitors about coastal ecosystems and native wildlife.
Summer brings peak season to the Grand Strand, with temperatures reaching comfortable 80 to 90 degrees and seasonally lifeguarded beaches perfect for swimming. Spring and fall offer mild weather (60-80°F) with fewer crowds—ideal for those seeking a more peaceful beach experience. Even winter provides pleasant temperatures (50-65°F) for RV camping, with special beach access for horseback riding from mid-November through February. The park's unique location means you can enjoy pristine natural beauty while remaining minutes from Myrtle Beach's famous attractions, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
The park's campground stays consistently full during summer months, especially weekends, so advance reservations are essential. Day-use parking reaches capacity on summer weekends between 10 AM and 2 PM, with the park occasionally closing to new arrivals. Early arrival or mid-week visits offer the best experience during peak season. No matter when you visit, Myrtle Beach State Park delivers an unforgettable blend of natural coastal beauty and convenient access to Grand Strand attractions.
You can access Myrtle Beach State Park easily from US Highway 17 (South Kings Highway), located in the heart of the Grand Strand between Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach. The park entrance sits directly off Business US 17, making it impossible to miss with clear signage. From Interstate 95, take Exit 193 to SC Highway 501 East, which leads directly to Myrtle Beach—the park is approximately 10 miles south of downtown on US 17.
Most roads inside the park are well-suited for RVs, though some campground loops feature narrow sections typical of older state parks. The maximum RV length accommodated varies by site, with many sites handling rigs up to 40 feet. Important Note: You must be aware that the park is located near the end of Myrtle Beach International Airport's runway, resulting in frequent low-flying aircraft throughout the day—bring earplugs if you're sensitive to noise.
Primary Myrtle Beach Access: Myrtle Beach RV rentals position you perfectly for immediate park access, with the widest selection of RV types from Class A motorhomes to camper vans and travel trailers. The park sits just minutes from downtown Myrtle Beach, providing easy access while offering a natural retreat from the commercial beach scene.
North Myrtle Beach Alternative: North Myrtle Beach RV rentals offer convenient access from the north end of the Grand Strand, approximately 15-20 minutes from the park. This location provides slightly quieter surroundings while keeping you close to the beach action.
Located in the heart of Myrtle Beach, this family-friendly KOA offers resort-style amenities including pools, playgrounds, and organized activities. Full hookups, Wi-Fi, cable TV, and big-rig access make it popular among families wanting both beach access and entertainment options. Walking distance to beaches and a short drive to the boardwalk.
One of America's largest and most popular campgrounds, Ocean Lakes features nearly a mile of oceanfront with over 800 sites. This sprawling resort offers water parks, playgrounds, a nature center, live entertainment at Center Stage, bicycle rentals, modern laundry facilities, and endless family activities. A campground within itself—many guests never leave the property.
Oceanfront and lakeside camping with 700+ sites on 125 acres. This massive campground features indoor and outdoor pools, a lazy river, splash pads, a freshwater fishing lake, an oceanside restaurant, and full hookups. Excellent option for families wanting resort amenities with ocean views.
Explore more RV parks and campgrounds across South Carolina for your next adventure.
Myrtle Beach State Park's main campground offers 278 sites nestled beneath towering pines and live oaks approximately 300 yards from the Atlantic Ocean. This well-shaded campground provides a cool, green escape from the beach's heat while keeping you close enough to hear the ocean waves. The campground operates year-round, making it perfect for snowbirds seeking mild South Carolina winters or summer beach lovers wanting prime Grand Strand access.
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Reservations: Book through Reserve South Carolina Parks toll-free at 1-866-345-PARK (7275) or online. Reservations require a minimum two-night stay. For same-day reservations, contact the park directly at 843-238-5325.
If you're brave enough to take on the surf - dive on in! Swimming in the Atlantic is permitted, but all at your own risk. Lifeguards of Horry County are stationed along the beach on the northern end of the pier, however, they only watch these waters from mid-May until mid-September. For this reason, only strong swimmers should brave the waters as they can be very dangerous, depending on the tide and the currents.
A South Carolina fishing license is required to partake in shore or surf fishing, however, the park's fishing pier is open to everyone. This prime point for casting your line stretches far out into the Atlantic. Didn't bring your rod? Equipment rentals can be made at the pier gift shop. Expect a daily cost for fishing the pier, but also anticipate snagging a few good catches. King mackerel, flounder, trout, and others are sure to take a couple of bites.
When you've got little ones, you've got lots of energy to burn off during the day. The playground is a perfect, safe location to get the kids moving. There are two main playgrounds in the park. You'll find one at the main picnic area near the beach. This location is great for families who want to do more than just sit down for lunch. Another playground is situated between campground circles three and five; a great spot for families staying overnight.
Patch Programs are a great way to make your fantastic RV vacation an educational experience. Anyone who is five years and older (that means adults, too), can join in this state park's unique take on learning. Get a total of nine patches to become a Habitat Hero, and even earn a unique tenth patch - the Sea Turtle Patch - when you attend three Sea Turtle Patrol programs. Be sure to check the park website to see when the Patch Programs are happening during your stay.
You can park your RV at designated campground sites or at day-use parking areas near the beach and visitor facilities.
Parking Advisory: Parking is first-come, first-served and extremely limited, especially during summer weekends and holidays. The park strongly encourages arriving outside peak hours (10 AM - 2 PM) to avoid being turned away at capacity. Day-use parking is NOT available to departing campers after check-out on weekends (Friday-Sunday) or holidays due to capacity limitations.
Beach parking areas are located on both sides of the fishing pier, providing convenient access via boardwalks through the dunes. Restrooms and outdoor showers make beach days comfortable. The park may close entirely when capacity is reached—if you leave during busy periods, re-entry wait times can be extensive, and you may be turned away.
Public transportation is not available to or within Myrtle Beach State Park. However, the Coast RTA (Regional Transportation Authority) operates regular bus service throughout Myrtle Beach and connecting areas, with stops near (but not at) the park entrance. RVers and campers must drive personal vehicles or rental RVs to access the park and its facilities.
Myrtle Beach State Park's Campground is open year-round, with reservations required for most sites. A few campsites are held out of the reservation system to allow for passing visitors and other drive-up campers. So, it is possible to get a site without reservations, but if you're planning on arriving during peak seasons, don't get your hopes up. Summer months and holiday weekends are busy days for this state park, especially because of its ideal location by the beach. Early spring, late fall, and through winter, you'll certainly have more opportunity, but as such a popular place, it's still advised to plan accordingly by securing a spot.
Six cozy cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s offer a charming alternative to RV camping, located just 200 yards from the beach. These historic structures provide:
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During peak summer season (June, July, and August), an additional 45 overflow tent sites open to accommodate increased demand. These rustic sites are tent-only (no RVs), do not provide electricity, and have central water access. This overflow area offers a more primitive camping experience for tent campers seeking budget-friendly beach access.
Be sure to pack up your bikes, especially when your main wheels are going to stay (mostly) parked. Biking is one of the best ways to get around and see as much of the park as you can. The nature trail is open to biking, though please be cautious of hikers along the path. Feel free to venture all throughout the park, as long as you remain vigilant and obey all traffic rules. Biking can even be done on the beach, however, only before 10:00 AM and after 5:00 PM.
Another great way to learn about the park and take in all this landscape has to offer, is through scavenger hunts. There are two educational hunts that each take about an hour to complete. Both include a mile-long walk. With these scavenger hunts, the whole family can set out to explore the maritime forest or the entire park. Make it even more interesting by trying the scavenger hunt BINGO.
There are many marine treasures waiting to be found here, washed ashore from the Atlantic. Some of the best times to go beachcombing is around low tide and after rougher seas from a storm. A good tip: always search along the water's edge and wrack line (high tide line). So many shells, plants, and creatures end up getting beached. Just be sure to return any live specimens back to the waters.
The trails that wind through the forests of Myrtle Beach State Park give access to a vast range of oak, wax myrtles, poplars, magnolias, and more. The interpretive trails, Yaupon Nature Trail and the Sculpted Oak Nature Trail are all relatively easy to navigate and relatively flat. They are short walks that are full of natural history and teeming with wildlife. When you don't want to walk through the forest, there's always the boardwalk, the pier, or numerous walkways that wind throughout parking and picnic areas.
Did you enjoy reading this guide? For more South Carolina coastal adventures, check out our Huntington Beach State Park guide and explore additional South Carolina state parks.
The 312-acre park provides plenty of landscape for all sorts of bird species. Some common sightings include waterfowl, sandpipers, and herons. You can grab a birding checklist online or at the Nature Center. Spring and fall migrations are the best time to get your binoculars out, so remember to pack them in your campervan before you depart on your trip. Another South Carolina hotspot for birding is Huntington Beach State Park, which is only 20 minutes away!
Horses can be ridden along the beach from the third Saturday in November on through the last day of February. An additional fee must be paid for every horse that enters the park on top of the daily admission fee. Overnight stays are not permitted, however, the state park is the only available section of Myrtle Beach where horses are allowed. There's nothing quite like looking out across the ocean atop such a creature. Venture along the beach, take the trails, and wander through wetlands.
