Quick Definition
Myrtle Beach anchors the Grand Strand — 60 consecutive miles of sandy Atlantic beach stretching from Little River in the north to Pawleys Island in the south, drawing over 14 million visitors per year. The city itself offers 100+ golf courses within 30 miles (the highest concentration of golf per capita in the US), the 187-foot SkyWheel, Barefoot Landing retail/dining complex, Broadway at the Beach (350-acre entertainment district), and Brookgreen Gardens (9,100 acres, 1,400+ sculptures, oldest sculpture garden in America). Ocean Lakes Family Campground (310 acres, 4,500+ sites) is the largest campground on the East Coast. Myrtle Beach State Park spans 312 acres on the south end. Peak June–August rates run $45–$70/night; shoulder season $30–$45/night. For a broader view of the coastal region, see South Carolina Lowcountry RV Parks.
TL;DR
- Grand Strand = 60 miles of beach, 14M+ visitors/year, highest golf concentration per capita in the US
- Ocean Lakes Family Campground = 310 acres, 4,500+ sites, two outdoor pools, lazy river, direct beach access
- Myrtle Beach State Park = 312 acres, 5 miles of uncrowded natural beach, 4.5-mile biking/walking trail, fishing pier
- Brookgreen Gardens = 9,100 acres, world's largest collection of American figurative sculpture (1,400+ works), free with some memberships
- SkyWheel = 187-foot Ferris wheel, open year-round, 360-degree Grand Strand views
- Booking windows = Peak season book 4–6 months ahead; shoulder season 30–60 days
- Hurricane season = June–November; monitor nhc.noaa.gov for Atlantic storm activity
Grand Strand RV Zones
The Grand Strand stretches across four distinct RV zones, each with its own character and rate structure.
North Myrtle Beach / Little River offers a quieter, residential-oriented experience. These areas sit 10–15 minutes from the main commercial strip, ideal for travelers who want beach access without constant crowds. Rates run $32–$48/night, making this zone the most budget-friendly option on the Strand. You'll find fewer attractions within walking distance, but plenty of local dining and a more authentic beach-town vibe.
Myrtle Beach Central is the heartland. Ocean Boulevard and Broadway at the Beach cluster most of the commercial amenities—restaurants, shops, attractions, nightlife. Ocean Lakes Family Campground anchors this zone. Expect peak crowds, peak season rates ($45–$70/night), and the most booking competition. If you're here for entertainment and convenience, this is your zone.
Myrtle Beach State Park Area occupies the south end of the main strip. It's quieter than central, featuring state park camping with easy beach access. The state park itself offers 312 acres of natural beach and trail systems. Rates range $30–$42/night at the state park, substantially lower than central, with a far more peaceful environment. Trade some commercial amenities for tranquility and uncrowded sand.
Murrells Inlet / Pawleys Island marks the southern boundary of the Grand Strand proper. This zone is known as the seafood capital of South Carolina—working waterfronts, fish shacks, and a slower pace define the area. Huntington Beach State Park (2,500 acres) sits here, rated among the best beaches in South Carolina. Quieter than central, with rates $28–$45/night. If you want to escape Myrtle Beach's tourism machine while staying on the Strand, this is where to camp.
For comparison with other South Carolina regions, check South Carolina Midlands RV Parks.
What to Do at Myrtle Beach
Ocean Lakes Family Campground (310 acres directly on the beach; 4,500+ sites with full hookups; two outdoor pools; lazy river; water park; mini golf; Sandy's Meet & Eat food court). This is the largest campground on the East Coast, and it proves that scale doesn't require sacrificing amenities. Sites accommodate big rigs, and oceanfront pull-throughs are available. Peak rates run $55–$75/night; book direct at oceanlakes.com and reserve 4–6 months ahead for June–August. The water park alone keeps families entertained for days.
Myrtle Beach State Park (312 acres with 5 miles of natural, undeveloped beach; 4.5-mile biking and walking trail; butterfly garden; 35-foot fishing pier). Visit Myrtle Beach State Park for booking. The state park offers primitive to full-hookup sites and feels worlds apart from the commercial strips. Far less crowded than central Myrtle Beach. If you want to wake up on the beach without the theme park atmosphere, this is your answer.
Brookgreen Gardens (opened 1932; 9,100 acres; world's largest collection of American figurative sculpture, 1,400+ works; live oak-lined allées; tram tours; Lowcountry Zoo). Admission is $22 for adults. Visit Brookgreen Gardens. This isn't a quick stop—plan a full day. The scale is staggering: sculptures scattered across formal gardens, walking trails, and natural habitat. Many memberships include free admission. The Lowcountry Zoo focuses on native species and complements the gardens perfectly.
Broadway at the Beach (350-acre entertainment district with 20+ restaurants, IMAX theater, MagiQuest, Ripley's Aquarium, dozens of shops). Entry to the grounds is free; individual attractions are priced separately. This is concentrated tourism—good for a day when you want structured entertainment, less good if you want to avoid crowds in peak season.
Huntington Beach State Park (Murrells Inlet; 2,500 acres; Huntington Beach State Park; full-hookup RV sites; Atalaya Castle, a National Historic Landmark and 30-room Moorish-style mansion with free tours; active shorebird nesting habitat). This park is rated among the best beaches in South Carolina and sits far enough south to feel removed from Myrtle Beach's commercial center.
For more activities across the state, check South Carolina Upstate RV Parks.
Practical Tips for Myrtle Beach RV Visitors
Ocean Lakes reservation strategy: With 4,500+ sites, Ocean Lakes still books out peak season. Reserve direct at oceanlakes.com 4–6 months ahead for June–August. The park assigns sites by preference—oceanfront, interior, near specific amenities—so be specific in your request. Flexibility on dates (arriving mid-week rather than Friday–Sunday) opens more availability at better rates.
Myrtle Beach State Park strategy: The state park is much less crowded than Ocean Lakes and books through southcarolinaparks.com. Plan 30–60 days ahead for peak season. You'll get a quieter beach experience, fewer amenities (no water park, limited food court), and substantially lower rates ($30–$42/night). The trade-off is worth it if peace is your priority.
Hurricane Season (June–November): Myrtle Beach sits on the Atlantic coast and faces hurricane season exposure. Monitor nhc.noaa.gov (National Hurricane Center) regularly. Book with flexible cancellation policies June–October. Both Ocean Lakes and state parks enforce 72-hour evacuation protocols during hurricane watches. This is real—2024 and 2025 saw multiple activations. Have an exit plan if you're camping during peak season.
Golf package RV trips: If you're visiting for golf, coordinate your tee times and RV park booking simultaneously. Peak winter–spring golf season (January–April) at the 100+ courses runs $40–$120/round. Grand Strand golf associations offer package deals bundling accommodations and multiple rounds. Reserve courses 60–90 days ahead in peak season.
Avoiding summer gridlock: US-17 Business (Ocean Boulevard area) and US-501 are notorious summer traffic corridors. US-31 (Carolina Bays Parkway) offers north-south movement that bypasses the worst bottlenecks. Arrive weekdays rather than weekends; traffic on Friday–Sunday summer afternoons is parking-lot-level congestion. If you're pulling a large rig, avoid midday drives in July–August.
For more regional tips, check Georgia RV Parks.
Cost Math
Three scenarios show the RV advantage over traditional hotel stays:
Ocean Lakes peak season: $65/night × 3 nights = $195 total (full hookups, beach access, amenities) vs. beachfront hotel at $280/night × 3 = $840. Savings: $645 on a long weekend.
Myrtle Beach State Park: $36/night × 3 nights = $108 total (full hookups, uncrowded beach) vs. nearby hotel at $175/night × 3 = $525. Savings: $417.
North Myrtle Beach park, shoulder season: $35/night × 3 nights = $105 total (full hookups, quieter location) vs. hotel at $140/night × 3 = $420. Savings: $315.
These calculations assume a family or couple traveling with their RV. Factor in the cost of fuel, and the comparison narrows slightly—but the extra space, kitchen access, and ability to stock groceries still favors RV camping over hotel stays for trips longer than 3 nights. For more coastal savings comparisons, see Mississippi RV Parks.
RV Parks Near Myrtle Beach: At a Glance
| Park Name | Location | Full Hookups | Pull-Thru | Nightly Rate | Pets | Wi-Fi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Lakes Family Campground | Myrtle Beach (south) | Yes | Yes | $55–$75 | Yes | Yes |
| Myrtle Beach State Park | Myrtle Beach | Yes | Yes | $30–$42 | Yes (fee) | Limited |
| Huntington Beach State Park | Murrells Inlet | Yes | Limited | $28–$38 | Yes (fee) | Limited |
| KOA Myrtle Beach Myrtle Beach | Yes | Yes | $48–$68 | Yes | Yes | |
| Lakewood Camping Resort | Myrtle Beach | Yes | Yes | $42–$58 | Yes | Yes |
| Grand Strand RV Resort | North Myrtle Beach | Yes | Yes | $38–$52 | Yes | Yes |
| Pirateland Family Camping Resort | Myrtle Beach | Yes | Yes | $45–$65 | Yes | Yes |
| Barefoot RV Resort | North Myrtle Beach | Yes | Yes | $40–$58 | Yes | Yes |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ocean Lakes Family Campground? Ocean Lakes is the largest campground on the East Coast—310 acres with 4,500+ sites directly on Myrtle Beach. Every site comes with full hookups. Amenities include two outdoor pools, a lazy river, water park, mini golf, and Sandy's Meet & Eat food court. Peak rates run $55–$75/night. It's designed for families and large groups and books months in advance during summer.
What is the Grand Strand? The Grand Strand is 60 consecutive miles of sandy Atlantic beach running from Little River (north) to Pawleys Island (south). Myrtle Beach is its largest city. The region draws 14+ million visitors annually and is home to 100+ golf courses, the highest per-capita golf concentration in the US.
How far is Myrtle Beach State Park from the main strip? Myrtle Beach State Park sits on the southern edge of the city, roughly 8–12 miles from the Ocean Boulevard commercial district and Broadway at the Beach. It's close enough for day trips into town but far enough to feel removed from the tourism machine.
What is Brookgreen Gardens? Brookgreen Gardens is a 9,100-acre sculpture garden founded in 1932. It holds the world's largest collection of American figurative sculpture (1,400+ works). Admission is $22. The property includes formal gardens, natural trails, a Lowcountry Zoo, and tram tours. Plan a full day for a visit.
What's the best time to visit Myrtle Beach by RV? Shoulder season (April–May and September–October) offers the best balance: warm weather, lower rates ($30–$45/night), and smaller crowds. Winter (November–March) is quieter but cold. Peak summer (June–August) is warm but crowded and expensive ($45–$70/night). Hurricane season runs June–November; book with flexible cancellation if visiting during this window.
How far in advance do I need to book Ocean Lakes? For peak season (June–August), book 4–6 months ahead. For shoulder season, 60–90 days is usually sufficient. For winter, you can often book 30 days out. Always check oceanlakes.com directly—the park manages its own reservations, and peak weeks can fill even faster.
What should I know about hurricane season at Myrtle Beach? Hurricane season runs June–November. Myrtle Beach sits on the Atlantic coast and faces storm exposure. Both Ocean Lakes and state parks enforce 72-hour evacuation protocols during hurricane watches. Monitor nhc.noaa.gov regularly. Book policies with flexible cancellation June–October. This is not a theoretical risk; multiple hurricane watch activations occurred in 2024–2025.
Are there RV parks near the Myrtle Beach golf courses? Yes. Most major RV parks (Ocean Lakes, KOA, Lakewood, Grand Strand Resort) sit within 10–20 minutes of the main golf courses along the Strand. The 100+ courses are spread across the 60-mile region, so no single park is closest to all of them. Check your preferred course's location, then book accordingly.
How busy is Myrtle Beach in summer? June–August is peak season. Ocean Boulevard, Broadway at the Beach, and the beach itself are crowded, especially Friday–Sunday. Weekdays are markedly quieter. Peak season rates ($45–$70/night) reflect the volume. If you hate crowds, visit shoulder season (April–May, September–October) instead.
What is Huntington Beach State Park? Huntington Beach State Park is a 2,500-acre park in Murrells Inlet at the southern end of the Grand Strand. It's rated among the best beaches in South Carolina and features full-hookup RV sites ($28–$38/night), Atalaya Castle (a 30-room Moorish-style National Historic Landmark with free tours), and active shorebird nesting habitat. It's quieter than central Myrtle Beach and ideal for travelers seeking nature over tourism infrastructure.
Thinking About Selling Your Myrtle Beach RV Park?
The Grand Strand is one of the highest-occupancy RV markets in the US. Over 14 million visitors per year flow through the region. Ocean Lakes proves what's possible at scale—4,500+ sites operating near capacity year-round. Investor interest in beachfront South Carolina is extremely strong, particularly for properties with direct ocean access and proven operational histories.
If you own a Myrtle Beach-area RV park and are considering a sale, the market window is open. Strong occupancy trends, reliable cash flow from tourist seasons, and scarcity of beachfront supply create favorable conditions.
Let's talk.
Jenna Reed · jenna@rv-parks.org · /sell