I love camping in the mountains. There’s something about the trees, the cool air, and the quiet that grounds me. But this year, our annual friends trip took us somewhere a little different, camping at the beach. And while we couldn’t see the ocean from our site, we could hear it. The sound of waves crashing on the shore was constant, calming, and honestly pretty amazing.

Destination Spotlight: Huntington Beach State Park

Where: Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
Why Go: The beach, the wildlife, the trails, and the chance to explore something a little different
Activities We Loved: Camping, swimming, fishing, sunbathing, bird watching, checking out gators, walking trails, biking, and visiting Atalaya Castle

If you’re thinking about going, spring and fall are the best times. It’s less crowded, the weather is mild, and you’ll have more space to enjoy it all. You can book your site online or call the park directly.

Getting There and Getting Around

The park is just south of Myrtle Beach and super easy to get to by car. You can also bike in or hike nearby trails if you want to make the journey part of the adventure.

What I Recommend Bringing

• Binoculars for birdwatching and spotting wildlife in the marshes
• Sunscreen and a hat because beach sun is no joke
• Insect repellent especially in warmer months
• Hiking shoes or sturdy sandals for trails that wind through sandy beaches, boardwalks, and forest
• A camera or your phone because there’s a lot to capture, especially at Atalaya Castle and on the marsh trails

Campfire Chronicles

Our site was toward the back of the campground, about a five-minute walk to the beach and close enough to showers and restrooms to be convenient. After a full day at the beach, that walk felt like a gift.

Each site had storage boxes for food to keep wildlife out, which was great, until we lost a container of grapes to some very determined raccoons. One showed up during the day and poked around like it owned the place. Later that week, we spotted at least two more.

We’ve camped in the mountains a bunch of times, and I’ve never had raccoons be that bold. So, lesson learned: always secure the lid, even if you think it’s tight.

We had one rainy day, and I was glad our tent held up. We used the weather as an excuse to head into Myrtle Beach and check out the aquarium. I’m not usually big on super touristy spots, but the aquarium was fun. Penguins are either living their best life or just vibing, and I respect that.

We also rode the Skywheel, did some shopping along the strip, and took a day trip to Georgetown to check out the Naval Museum. Most of the town was closed since it was a Monday and the season was winding down, but it was still a cool place to walk through.

On one of our last days, I brought a chair and a book, set myself up near the guys who were fishing, and just read. No schedule, no rush. That kind of quiet is one of my favorite things about camping.

A Note on Unplugging

I only opened my laptop twice the whole trip. Once because I didn’t want to come home to a flood of emails, and once to check on something time-sensitive. Other than that, I stayed offline and enjoyed the break. It felt good to be present.

Camping at the beach was a great experience, and I’d definitely do it again. That said, I still prefer the mountains. I miss the forest trails and the variety of hikes. Walking along the beach is nice, but it doesn’t feed me in the same way.

Still, trying something new with good people and good food by the ocean? No regrets at all.

Have you ever camped at or near the beach? I’d love to hear what your experience was like.