Myrtle Beach is known far and wide as a great place to get away from the daily grind. And one spot in particular on the Grand Strand allows visitors to truly escape the hustle and bustle of the modern world. Located along the coast on the southern end of Myrtle Beach – and just a 5-minute drive south of Compass Cove Oceanfront Resort – Myrtle Beach State Park serves as a true oasis of quiet and natural beauty.
Consisting of 316 acres primarily occupied by maritime forest, and boasting a full mile of wide and undeveloped white-sand beaches, Myrtle Beach State Park was opened in 1936 as the first park in the South Carolina State Parks system. The park offers an array of outdoor activities for visitors, all available after paying the entry fee of $5 per adult/$3 per child age 6-15. The next time you’re looking for some outdoor fun during a visit to Myrtle Beach, consider these activities available at Myrtle Beach State Park:
Camping – With more than 300 campsites and six cabins available for rent, there are plenty of spots at Myrtle Beach State Park to catch some rest while enjoying quality time with nature and one another. The six-loop campground, which includes standard tent sites equipped with electricity and water as well as RV-ready sites with electricity, water and sewer hookups, is located just a short walk from the beach. And for those who don’t want to make a complete break from the modern world, complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the campground.
Visiting the Beach – The park’s beautiful, mile-long stretch of largely undeveloped beach can be easily reached via multiple boardwalks on the property, and conveniences like bathrooms and outdoor showers for rinsing off after a swim are located nearby. Lifeguards are stationed on the beach’s north section from mid-May through mid-September, and they have umbrellas and beach chairs available for rent to interested visitors.
Hiking – The park’s half-mile Sculptured Oak Trail offers a woodlands trek though a maritime forest filled with oaks, wax myrtles, poplars, magnolias and more, as well as many species of birds, amphibians and reptiles. The 0.4-mile Yaupon Trail offers similar scenery and wildlife, and both trails lead to the beach.
Fishing – Visitors can throw a line into the Atlantic from the beach or the pier at Myrtle Beach State Park. Surf fishing requires a South Carolina saltwater fishing license, while no license is required to fish from the pier, which requires a $5 adult/$2.50 child age 6-15 daily fee. Rod rentals are available at the pier gift shop for $10/day, and fish commonly caught at the park include flounder, mackerel, trout, whiting, drum and blues.
Picnicking – The park offers several first-come, first-served picnic areas, many outfitted with both picnic tables and grills, and seven picnic shelters of various sizes are available for rent. For the little ones joining your picnic, the main picnic area near the beach features a playground.
Learning – The park’s nature center is home to a collection of saltwater aquariums, live reptiles and interactive natural history displays, and an on-site outdoor wildlife habitat features a butterfly garden, bird feeders, bird houses and nature sculptures. The park also hosts a range of programs and events throughout the year.
Horseback Riding – For those with horses, the park’s beach is open to horseback riding from late November through the end of February. A fee of $25 per horse is required, and horses are not allowed to remain in the park overnight.
During your next visit to Compass Cove Oceanfront Resort, make the short drive south to Myrtle Beach State Park to truly get away from it all and into the great outdoors. Click here to learn more about the park, and book your getaway at Compass Cove today!
