Huntington Beach State Park

Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

Huntington Beach State Park located in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina is a 2500 acre oceanfront state park, only a few miles from Myrtle Beach. There are plenty of outside activities for everyone to enjoy, salt marshes, the beach, a freshwater lagoon, fishing, bird watching. There are some over 300 species of bird at the Huntington State Park including blue heron, snowy egrets, and brown pelicans. You'll be able to enjoy canoeing & kayaking, and camping facilities. Educators are available from March to November for viewing alligators and exploring the marshes and nature trails. While on one of these "field trips'' you'll get an in-depth history of Antalaya.

Camping sites are available for rent at Huntington Beach State Park, 107 sites with water and electricity from $23-$25 per night, 24 sites with water, electricity, and sewer are $25-$28 per night, and 6 tent sites (with tent pads) for $17-19 per night. Camping at the State Park will allow an excellent opportunity to hike the local trails.

When visiting Huntington Beach State Park take a tour (available year round) of Antalaya, the Spanish-style castle, once the home to Anna Hyatt Huntington, the celebrated American sculptor, and her philanthropist husband, who also endowed the nearby Brookgreen Gardens. Both Antalaya and the Brookgreen Gardens were built on the ruins of four former rice plantations.

Canoeing is available and you'll be able to canoe out to Drunken Jack Island, the legendary site of Blackbeard's (the pirate) treasure. The coastal waterways are very slow moving and give you the chance to see alligators and dolphins in their natural habitat. Two hour guided tours of the salt marshes are available for those ages 9 and older. Price is $30 per person.

Try you hand at salt-water fishing from the miles of uninhabited shore. A variety of species can be found, depending on the season. If you're looking to catch some Spotted Seatrout, use live bait and will be easier to catch in the spring & fall, opposed to summer. Flounder, Sheepshead, Red (which any under 15'' are not legal and must be thrown back) and Black Drum, and Pompano are plentiful in the summer months. South Carolina prefers a tag and release policy for fishing any fish you're not going to eat. A fishing license is required.

Since Huntingdon Beach State Park is a nature preserve, protecting the natural habitat of fish, birds, and wildlife. The Sandpiper Pond Trail and the Kerrigan Nature Trail will give you the chance to hike the beautiful trails with native vegetation and ponds.

September brings the Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival, where you'll be able to find unique arts and crafts, woodworking, paintings, needlework, and jewelry. Some 10,000 people come and visit the artisans and food vendors at the festival every year.

The park is open from 6am-10pm daily with a $5 per adult (16 & over), $3 per child ages 6-15, and children 5 and under are free. South Carolinian Seniors receive a discount admission for $3.25.