Park hours:
December – February: 6am – 8pm, March – November 6am – 10pm

Pier Store hours:
6:30am – 6pm

Bikes:
May 1st – Labor Day: NOT allowed on the beach from 10am – 5pm.

Pets:
May 1st – Labor Day: NOT allowed on the beach from 10am – 5pm. As long as they’re on a leash under 6 ft, they can explore the outdoor areas of the park, excluding the cabins and the area around it.

History

Take in a piece of cool history because in 1936, Myrtle Beach State Park became the first State Park to be opened in South Carolina. It was donated by the Myrtle Beach Farms in 1934, and it’s one of the 16 State Parks built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in South Carolina.

Things to do at Myrtle Beach State Park

Patch Program

This is program is only available at Myrtle Beach State Park, and there’s different level of the program. You can earn a patch or become a Habitat Hero depending on how much you want to do. Our kids earned a patch by doing a self-led scavenger hunt. The other way to earn a patch is to attend three park programs.  If you want to become a Habitat Hero, then you need to attend 9 of the park programs.

Nature Center

A lot of time can definitely be spent here. We spent about 45 minutes doing the scavenger hunt outside, exploring inside, and asking the rangers questions. There’s also a lot of cool artifacts, animal fossils, and reptiles inside.

Playgrounds & Picnic Shelters

Looking at the area map, it looks like there are 2 playground areas. There’s a first come first serve picnic area, and 7 picnic shelters for rent. The toll free number to call to inquire about the rentals is: 1-866-345-PARK (7275).

Fishing pier & shop

If there is fishing, we are there! You don’t have to pay to get onto the pier, however, if you want to fish, you’ll need to purchase a wristband to show that you’re fishing. The sprouts under 5 are free, $3 for ages 6-15, $5 for the SC seniors, and $8 for everyone else. You don’t have to have a fishing license on the pier, and you can rent rods, and there’s hooks, lures, and bait for sale inside the shop. If you want to fish on the beach, you do need a South Carolina fishing license, and you can’t fish where the lifeguards are.

Trails

There are 2 official trails at the park – Sculptured Oak Trail, and Yaupon Trail. They’re both ranked as easy and are a half a mile or less. You can also ride your bike on these trails but be sure to check out the park website for any date and time restrictions.

Per ushe, we didn’t hit up the trails…. I know I know. Don’t knock us just yet because we did walk the boardwalk. It’s the wooden path that borders the beach and takes you from one end of the park to the other.

Horseback riding

Yes you read that right! You can go horseback riding on the beach or on the trail. There are specific dates and times that it’s allowed so make sure to check the park website for the most up-to-date info. If you’re fancy like that and have your own horse, there is a permit fee per horse and there’s horse paperwork that’s required. Otherwise, I’d just call the park and ask for a list of companies they recommend that do group riding tours. My only advise is to watch out for the horsey doo doo when you’re playing on the beach.

Beach

While one of our friends from Canada was helping Carter with fishing, the rest of were hanging out at the beach. If you’re looking for a clean beach in Myrtle Beach, I’d say this is it, minus the horse poo. If you’re lucky, you might spot a dancing mermaid…

Other things to do at Myrtle Beach State Park

These are the other notable things to do but we didn’t see or get to:

• Biking: Must follow traffic rules
• Birdwatching: Fall time is the best, and sometimes you can spot a bald eagle or two.
• Camping: There are 140 standard sites, 138 full hookup sites, and 30 tent sites. Make sure to call ahead to make your reservations.
• Geocaching: Make sure to check out the park map to see the locations
• Lookout for Loggerhead Sea Turtles: They’re considered federally threatened species aka may be considered endangered in the foreseeable future. Their season is May 1st through October 31st, so just be mindful of them, and report it to the rangers if you do see one.
• Swimming: You can swim anywhere in the ocean, however, if you want a lifeguard around, then make sure you go around May to September and hang out at the beach north of the pier.
• Bocce Ball, Corn Hole, & Horse Shoes: Only available for the campers

And there you have it my friends. Myrtle Beach State Park is filled with things to do. It’s great for the whole family, and I’d highly recommend it. If you’re looking for more things to do in Myrtle Beach, make sure to check out this post for a coupon to Broadway at the Beach .