Last Updated on August 17, 2026 by PorchLightReading
Family camping trip to Huntington Beach State Park, South Carolina. What to expect, campsite photos, and things to do in Murrells Inlet.
Driving two hours North, we finally made it to our camping destination at Huntington Beach State Park, South Carolina. We could tell we arrived someplace truly special the second we reached the causeway.
On either side of the road were families enjoying their evening. Couples looking for alligators in the pond, kids riding bikes along the sidewalk, and groups admiring the birds and wildlife in the distance.
We pulled into the visitor center to check-in and could not wait to get settled into our campsite home for the next 4 days.
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- Table of contents: Huntington Beach State Park Campground
- Campsites, amenities, and photos
- Best and worst campsites
- Things to do at Huntington Beach State Park
- Octopus tree and trails
- Things to do nearby
- Tips for camping at Huntington Beach State Park
- What we loved about camping here
- Frequently asked questions
When we first moved to the area, we almost immediately booked a camping trip to Murrells Inlet, SC. Unfortunately two hurricanes postposed our plans but that didn’t stop us from daydreaming about the beach and looking up things to do in the area for when we were finally able to make the trip!
And thank goodness we did because our bucket list was getting pretty long.
Huntington Beach State Park Campground
The campground at Huntington Beach State Park consists of 179 campsites. 107 offer water and electric, 66 are full hookups, and 6 are rustic tent sites.
Since it’s right on the beach it can book up months in advance! So if you’re interested in camping 6 months from now, I’d highly recommend reserving a spot sooner rather than later.
Campsites and Amenities
- Huntington Beach State Park Camping
- 107 Campsites with water and electric
- 66 With full hookups
- 6 Rustic tent sites
- 4 Bathhouses
- 3 Pull through dump stations
Campsites and Privacy
Now, when booking you’ll notice a North and South Camping area. Each have a few pros and cons and I’ll tell you our favorite areas, but you might be looking for something different so keep that in mind when booking your stay. -Huntington Beach State Park Campground Map-
North Campground
The North Campground offers mostly water and electric sites with 24- 30 Amp full hookups sprinkled in. The ones along the outer edges of the map offer more privacy with a few trees and shrubs between the sites. You also get a more sense of privacy with how you back in your camper at an angle from the road.
The campsites in the middle don’t offer as much privacy as there are less trees and more open fields, which can be okay for larger groups wanting to play football or families looking to camp together and let the kids play in the shared open space.
For our stay we were in campsite 43, which we really enjoyed. It was mostly shaded, had enough space in between neighbors, and was at a nice angle so it felt a little more private from the road.
If you’re looking for even more privacy then be sure to check out campsites 103-133 since those sites are mostly in the woods and surrounded by a lot of vegetation.
- North Campground
- 107 Campsites
- 83 Water and eletric
- 24- 30 Amp full hookups
- 6 Rustic tent sites
- Three bathhouses
- Fire ring with picnic table
- 2 walking paths to the ocean
- Many shaded, some wooden, the ones in the middle of the map are closer together with less privacy and shade.
South Campground
The South campground offers full hookup which a lot of people love while camping at the beach! Each day you can rinse off in your own rig and not worry about water usage.
The driveway is a level parking pad and each site has a picnic table and fire ring. It even has it’s own walkway to the beach.
However, it’s not really my style when it comes to camping. The campsites are incredably close together with no privacy and some picnic tables feel like you’re eating in your neighbors dinning room.
Now we are at the beach so if you’re not spending a lot of time at the campsite, this might not bother you. To each their own!
- South Campground
- 42 Campsites
- 50 Amp full hookups
- Easy path to beach
- Level parking pad
- Picnic tables and fire ring
- No privacy
- Close together
Best and Worst Campsites
This section of the article only really works if you’re looking for the same things in a campsite that I am. So just keep in mind that this is really my own opinion and observations.
However, it might give you a good place to start with a few helpful tips on what to look for.
Campsite size and privacy- We love trees! Climbing trees, hammock trees, trees for privacy. If it has nice vegetation and a bit of space to spread out, then it’s scoring higher in my book.
- Best campsites
- 1, 3, 5, 19, 21, 23, 27, 29, 43, 103, 107, 120, 121, 125
- Worst campsites
- 2, 4, 52, 54, 56, 57, 90
Things To Do At Huntington Beach State Park
Beach, trails, nature, boardwalks, ice cream, and castles!
Visit Atalaya Castle
Atalaya Castle might not look like much from the outside, but was so beautiful on the inside! This (almost) 100 year old castle consists of one story with over 40 rooms! There is no furniture any more and actually stays cool enough even in the summer.
There is an additional admission fee of $2 per person but it’s a great way to get in a little history while enjoy the gardens and courtyard.
Spend the day at the beach
This one is a no brainer no matter the season! I am always up for a walk on the beach and it’s even more fun when you can boogie board with the kids!
The gift shop is stocked with everything beach related so if you happen to have forgotten your goggles or toys, don’t worry! They have most everything you need.
- Helpful Amazon Finds
- Beach dolly with big wheels- We packed ours full and it was so easy to roll on the sand! 4 chairs, 4 towels, umbrella, sand toys, cooler, and blanket.
- Backpack beach chairs with cooler
- Beach Umbrella Anchor- It can get windy! Most people have this beach canopy, but we haven’t made it there yet. Thankfully this umbrella anchor helps keep our old fashioned umbrella stay strong even on windy days!
Explore the nature trails
There are only a few nature trails at the park, and most of them aren’t very long but there are enough to keep you busy!
A couple of our favorites were Kerrigan Nature Trail (behind the visitors center) and Octopus Tree! Kerrigan Nature Trail is only 0.3 miles long but has a great observation deck that jets out over the pond.
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It’s just magical in the evenings with the sun setting and all the birds getting a final meal before bed. Don’t forget to look for alligators!
- Nature Trail Map
- Kerrigan Nature Trail 0.3 miles
- Atalaya Straight Road 0.5 miles
- Sandpiper Pond 1 mile
- North beach up towards the Jetty
- Wide walking paths up the causeway road to an observation deck along the ponds.
- Visit the Nature Center to learn more about the area
The Octopus Tree at Huntington Beach State Park
On one of our searches while waiting for our camping trip, we came across octopus tree as a “things to do.” Although I thought it a little silly as a “thing,” this tree is so cool!
Blown over during a hurricane years ago, this determined tree decided to keep on living while completely on its side. But the tree didn’t just survive, it thrived!
This Angel Oak tree planted it’s roots deep and has these octopus like branches that come from every direction! It’s really something to see in person and I would definitely bring the kids as it is a pretty cool “thing to do.”
- Fallen Angel Oak Tree
- Looks like octopus tentacles
- Kids loved exploring the limbs
- Easy walk on a nice and shaded trail
- Tips for visiting
- It was so hot during our camping trip that we didn’t want to walk the entire Sandpiper Pond Trail. Instead, park at North Beach Access parking lot and walk the trail south. You’ll come to this tree approximately 0.25 miles down the trail. I promise, you can’t miss it.
Things To Do Nearby
Brookgreen Gardens- Brookgreeen gardens is an absolutely must see. Let’s start off strong by mention that (at this time) they offer a discount for those camping at Huntington Beach State Park. Your admission ticket is also good for 7 consecutive days!
This garden is a world of its own with several areas to see. Since your ticket is good for seven days, you can take a morning walk here and still spend all afternoon at the beach! Be sure to get the most up to date information at Brookgreen Gardens website.
- Brookgreen Gardens
- Sculpture garden, Lowcountry zoo, arboretum and more!
- 5 Minutes from the campround
- Ticket good for 7 consecutive days
- Discounts for Huntington Beach State Park Campers
- Stunning winter lights display
- Summer garden lights display in the evenings! (separate ticket for this activity. After hours event.)
Downtown Murrells Inlet
This small town is so charming and has just enough to do with a great view. You’re going to want to start at the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk. This boardwalk is located behind the restaurants and right on the marsh. It helps you get a better feel for the area and you can not beat this view!
*Note- Be sure to make your way all the way up to the point that jets over the marsh for the best views!
Grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants on the water or do a little souvenir shopping at the Lazy Gator across the street. While over there, stop by Drippy’s for homemade ice cream and enjoy each bite while rocking in the rocking chairs on the front porch.
- Downtown Murrells Inlet
- Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk
- Restaurants along the water
- Visit Lazy Gator Gifts for souvenirs
- Enjoy Drippy’s Homemade Ice Cream
- Bonus- Check out Neals Creekhouse for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! I mention this spot specifically because they allow good dogs on the patio and they have live music and family trivia nights!
Tips For Camping at Huntington Beach State Park
We, mostly, did things right but since we now know a little bit more about the area, we’re planning the next visit even better! That’s right. Just a few weeks after coming home from our camping trip we’ve already booked another and know exactly what we’ll be doing differently. So let me pass on what we’ve learned to better help you out.
- Make reservations early
- This place books months ahead of time, so plan early if you want a good spot.
- Bring bikes
- There is a lot of ground to cover and you’ll want bikes or scooters for the little ones.
- Bring comfortable shoes
- Silly me thought flip flops and walking sandals would be enough. It’s not. Bring the sneakers.
- Plan around the heat
- If it’s the hot summer months I’d recommend visiting Atalaya Castle or Brookgreen Gardens in the morning and enjoying beach and restaurants in the late afternoon. (Remember Brookgreen Garden tickets are good for 7 consecutive days, so you can enjoy the gardens a few hours at a time each morning.)
- Bring a beach wagon
- It’s not a long walk to the beach but it is long enough. Bring the wagon for the beach.
- Check the weather
- Initially we had two other camping trips planned before this one but bad weather and hurricanes postponed the trip. It wasn’t just us cancelling for a little rain, the park will shut down if it’s dangerous.
What We Loved About Camping At Huntington Beach State Park
Looking on the map all I could see was an overcrowded campground where everyone was trying to get to the beach, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. The map and photos do not do this place justice!
The Beach Is So Close!
Every morning we were excited to walk the beach and since dogs are allowed year round, our whole family (and fur baby) was allowed to enjoy this early morning stroll. *Note- Dogs are not allowed on the northern point where the bird sanctuary or jetty are. But it is very from from the campground beach area.
Later in the afternoon we’d go back to the water with all of our beach gear and enjoy a practically empty location since the campsite beach access is further from the public beach area in the park (and this was in July)!
There Is So Much To Explore
Four days is not nearly enough when your days are filled with the beach, trails, castles, botanical gardens, and enjoying the restaurants downtown by the boardwalk. But we made a good go of trying it all!
- Visit Atalaya Castle
- The gift shop has great souvenirs and boogie boards!
- Ice cream right inside the state park at Spoonbills Ice Cream Shop
- The Nature Center and the programs they offer
- Several walking trails
- An observation deck next to the causeway
- Kerrigan Nature trail (0.3 miles) Trail and pier behind the visitors center
- Sandpiper Pond Nature Trail (1 mile)
- Octopus Tree!
- Beach walk up to the Jetty
It Feels Like More Than a Beach Campground
Initially I was worried that this campground would feel too crowded with very little privacy, but it turned out it was just on the right side of busy even in July! Kids would ride their bikes around the campground, families were playing football in the field, and you’d notice camping neighbors a few beach towels over from you at the ocean.
In the evenings as the sun was setting over the marsh, everyone would wander in that direction to do some birdwatching and to get the kids out one more time before bed.
Frequently Asked Questions
The rate per night depends on the season and whether you are booking for full hookups. During the peak season you can expect to pay around $85 per night for water and electricity, and as high as $110 per night for full hookups. During the off season you can see rates go as low at $60 per night.
Yes, they have 24- 30 Amp campsites and 42- 50 Amp campsites.
Yes! This was one of our favorite reasons for camping here. Not only can you walk to the beach, they also have designated paths to the beach from the camping area, making the beach less crowded than the public beach area.
Yes, there are 3 bathrooms/showers in the North campground, and 1 bathroom/shower in the South campground. They were also very clean.
Final Thoughts
Our four day camping trip to Huntington Beach State Park wasn’t nearly long enough, but it did give us a nice break from the everyday busy schedule.
Each morning as a family we would walk the beach that was nearly empty, watching the sun come up over the ocean. And each evening we made our way to the boardwalks overlooking the pond to enjoy a sunset together. Watching the egrets walk along the shallow water and baby alligator slowly swim around the edges of the pond.
Trips like this remind us just how important it is to make these slow, quiet memories with our children. Days without social media, texting, scrolling, and everything else that goes with it. We were able to unhook and unwind and no one was sad to keep the technology at home.
We’ll see you on our next adventure!
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