Huntington Beach State Park: The Best Beach You Haven’t Been To Yet
Most visitors to the Grand Strand head straight to Myrtle Beach. The ones who know better take a short drive south to Murrells Inlet, and while they’re here, they spend a morning at Huntington Beach State Park.
Huntington Beach is widely considered the best-preserved beach on the Grand Strand, and it shows. No high-rises, no crowds, no boardwalk chaos. Just three miles of wide, open beach with sweeping Atlantic views and scenic marshland behind it. State ParksPawleysisland
The park covers 2,500 acres and includes camping, hiking trails, picnic shelters, and Atalaya Castle — a National Historic Landmark that served as the winter home of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington. It’s a genuinely interesting stop, especially for families looking to break up a beach day. South Carolina Hammock Coast
Birders consider it one of the best spots in all of South Carolina, with more than 300 bird species logged in the park. You don’t have to be a birder to appreciate it — herons, eagles, and shorebirds are just part of the scenery here. South Carolina Hammock Coast
Admission is a few dollars per person. Dogs on leashes are welcome on the south end of the beach.
The perfect Murrells Inlet day: morning inshore charter with Fish Finder Charters, lunch on the MarshWalk, afternoon at Huntington Beach. Hard to beat.
