Myrtle Beach State Park

Myrtle Beach State Park, three miles south of downtown, preserves a stretch of maritime forest, dunes, and beach that feels genuinely different from the commercial resort to the north. The park's 312 acres include hiking trails through the forest, a freshwater pond, a beach with a fraction of the crowds found on the main strand, and a fishing pier. A small fee is charged for entry.

The maritime forest is the real draw here — a dense canopy of live oaks, Carolina pines, and understory plants that provides actual shade and bird habitat, and gives the park a quality the commercial beach entirely lacks. Campsites and cabin rentals are available; book well in advance for summer. The fishing pier is 750 feet long and open to non-anglers for a small fee.

things to do sight
A story
Myrtle Beach State Park was established in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, which built the cabins, picnic shelters, and trails during the Depression. It was one of South Carolina's first state parks and, unusually for a beach park, deliberately preserved the maritime forest behind the dunes rather than developing it. The trees that shade the park today were growing when the CCC workers planted the trails through them nearly ninety years ago.