Myrtle Beach State Park

Myrtle Beach State Park offers families something increasingly rare along the Grand Strand: a wide, clean beach backed by pristine maritime forest instead of highrise hotels. This 312-acre park at the southern end of Myrtle Beach preserves one of the last remaining natural coastal environments in the area and provides families with a beach experience that feels refreshingly wild and uncommercial compared to the busy public beaches just a few miles north.

The beach itself is the primary draw, and it is beautiful. A long stretch of wide sandy shore faces the Atlantic with none of the density and noise that characterize the hotel-district beaches. The water is typically clearer here, and the limited number of visitors (controlled by parking capacity) means kids have room to spread out, build elaborate sandcastles, and run without dodging crowds.

Lifeguards are on duty during summer season. The shells here tend to be better than on the public beaches — kids can spend an hour collecting olive shells, whelks, and sand dollars.

Beyond the beach, the park's nature trail system winds through maritime forest that has existed for centuries. The Sculptured Oak Nature Trail is the family favorite — a 0. 75-mile loop through ancient live oaks twisted into dramatic shapes and draped in Spanish moss and resurrection fern.

For kids, walking this trail feels like entering an enchanted forest. The trees form natural tunnels, and wildlife sightings including deer, raccoons, painted buntings, and the occasional fox keep young eyes scanning the underbrush.

The park's fishing pier extends into the Atlantic and offers one of the best pier fishing experiences on the Grand Strand. Rod and reel rentals are available for families who did not bring their own equipment. Kids regularly catch whiting, Atlantic croaker, spot, and occasionally small sharks and rays — exciting enough to keep even restless children focused for an hour or more.

The pier also provides excellent vantage points for dolphin watching, especially in morning and late afternoon.

One of the most memorable family activities at Myrtle Beach State Park happens after dark: ghost crab hunting. After sunset, the beach comes alive with small translucent ghost crabs that emerge from their burrows to feed. Armed with flashlights, kids race across the sand spotting and gently corralling these quick-moving crabs.

It is a simple activity that children find absolutely thrilling, and the park's less-lit beach makes it far better for crab hunting than the artificially illuminated hotel beaches.

The park offers both tent and RV camping for families who want to extend the experience overnight. The campground sits within the maritime forest, and waking up to birdsong before walking to the beach through the woods is a fundamentally different Myrtle Beach experience than waking up in a hotel. Campsite reservations fill quickly for summer weekends, so book well in advance.

Day-use facilities include picnic shelters with charcoal grills, restrooms with outdoor showers, and a small park store with basic supplies. Bringing a packed cooler with lunch, drinks, and snacks lets families spend the entire day without leaving. The combination of beach, forest trails, fishing, and nature exploration makes this park one of the highest-value family outings in the Myrtle Beach area.