Myrtle Beach State Park

Myrtle Beach State Park preserves 312 acres of maritime forest and natural beach on the northern Grand Strand in South Carolina, located 3 miles south of the Myrtle Beach commercial strip. Established in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the park protects one of the last intact maritime forests remaining along the Grand Strand, a coastal forest dominated by live oaks, yaupon holly, wax myrtle, and sabal palmetto, with sand dunes estimated to be approximately 2,500 years old along the park's interior. The park includes approximately one mile of ocean beach, a 750-foot freshwater fishing pier, and a nature center with exhibits on coastal ecology and wildlife. Several short walking and nature trails (ranging from 0.5 to 1.25 miles) wind through the maritime forest where painted buntings, red-headed woodpeckers, and migratory warblers are frequently spotted in season. The beach within the park is notably less crowded than the public Grand Strand beaches to the north and attracts families specifically seeking a natural rather than commercial beach experience. The nature center coordinates sea turtle nest monitoring from late May through August, and staff conduct educational programs for visitors. Beach equipment including umbrellas, chairs, and kayaks is available for rent at the park's beach rental center during summer months. Camping is available with 320 sites including hookup sites, tent sites, and primitive options. The park's pier is popular for surf fishing and for watching Atlantic bottlenose dolphins that frequently swim within sight of the shore in summer months.