Beach State Parks in South Carolina?

[BMW442]

Hey everybody

Looking for info on any of these campgrounds:

Edisto Beach SP
Myrtle Beach SP
Hunting Island SP
Huntington Beach SP

Basically just wondering about any tips, preferred sites, etc. I know there are tons of private CGs in the Myrtle Beach area but we're looking for something mellower, just 2 adults no kids, small popup TC and small budget.

Unfortunately our timeframe is mid-April which coincides with Spring Break so a lot of the sites are already booked. Myrtle Beach SP has the most still available though looking at pics they seem really close together?

We will probably be coming down through Western NC and thinking about staying at either Hamilton Branch SP or Calhoun SP on the way there. We don't need hookups so boon docking would be fine too.

We've been through Savannah and Pawleys Island before but this would be our first trip down there with the camper. Any advice is much appreciated!

[magnusfide]

TriumphGuy wrote:
be careful with some of the sites. Almost as if someone purposely designed them to be back-in from the wrong direction, with trees strategically placed to pull off your slide topper. I watched it happen when a big 5er came in next to me back then.

Dyslexic park designer maybe??

[TriumphGuy]

Late to the party - but unless things have changed since we've been to HI years ago, be careful with some of the sites. Almost as if someone purposely designed them to be back-in from the wrong direction, with trees strategically placed to pull off your slide topper. I watched it happen when a big 5er came in next to me back then.

Otherwise it's a super park for the natural experience.

[kohldad]

James Island could be booked already, so an alternate is KOA Mt Pleasant. Years ago they were miles from anything, now they are within walking distance from Walmart but still secluded enough not to feel like you are in town.

Would recommend Buck Hall NF also as it is along the ICW. Most sites have a great view across the ICW and marsh. Visiting downtown Charleston is only a 30-40 minute drive down 17 so makes a wonderful secluded place as a base.

Poinsett is a very nice rustic park, but to call the lake is very small. You can walk around it in about an hour. Campground is also about 1/4-1/2 mile from the lake.

Santee is nice, but in April starting to get busy on the weekends. Lake Moultrie is a true large lake. A few of the campsites have wonderful views of the lake.

[terrytrailertra]

I 2nd the previous poster about James Island in Charleston. Definitely go there instead of a hotel. If they are already booked get on the wait list. It generally moves along quickly. Santee and Poinsett Parks are good inland choices. Poinsett is very small and very isolated. It is pretty though because of the unique topography and CCC structures. The current manager there has also done a good job with increasing programs at the park. Santee is on a much bigger lake where sport fishing is a big draw. It also has a lot of geocaches if you are into caching. It is not as far off the beaten path as Poinsett. You may be able to score a lakefront site at Santee. The cg at Poinsett is not on any of its small lakes.

[Bill_T]

NCWriter - The beachfront loops were the only loops available when we attempted to make reservations. We are going to try again later on in the year.

Sorry I should have been more clear and stated that not all loops will be closed.

[NCWriter]

Bill T wrote:
Some of the SC state parks are going thru renovations and loops will be closed. You may want to call the selected park for info on your desired loop and site availability. Not sure when this will begin. We tried reserving our favorite site at Hunting Island for Christmas/New Year, it's on the backside from the beach #58 and #59 and was told it and other loops will be closed.

That's interesting...maybe they arbitrarily closed the loop for some starting timeframe until the end of 2015 as a cutoff, because I booked a beachfront site the other day for January 2016.

Might have availability later if the work gets completed sooner than expected?

[Bill_T]

Some of the SC state parks are going thru renovations and loops will be closed. You may want to call the selected park for info on your desired loop and site availability. Not sure when this will begin. We tried reserving our favorite site at Hunting Island for Christmas/New Year, it's on the backside from the beach #58 and #59 and was told it and other loops will be closed.

[Merrykalia]

Unless you just HAVE to stay in a hotel, James Island outside of Charleston is a great place.

I don't know when their shuttle starts, but they have one that will take you to downtown and back. You might want to give them a call.

[NCWriter]

I was booking my 2016 Hunting Island site today, and saw on the website that they now have free wifi in the park, and are renovating the bathrooms during 2015. Good improvements.

Enjoy your stay at H.I. Great place for a campfire, and they sell wood at the store/office where you check in.

Huntingon Beach is really nice, too. A short walk over the dunes to the unspoiled, wide beach. We need to plan another trip down there - enjoyed it a lot.

[wbwood]

Here's a video of a drive through Myrtle Beach State Park back in January. Part of it was closed then.

[BMW442]

Awesome stuff, thanks a lot guys!

I was able to book one night at Hunting Island, and one night (on the beach) at Edisto.
We're gonna do one night (in a hotel) in Charleston since we've never been there before, and then maybe one night at Huntington Beach too.

Also planning to do a night somewhere at an inland SP on our way down, looking at either Santee or Poinsettia for that (they both have lakes).

Thanks again for all the help!

[dahkota]

We rank
Hunting Island first. Always first. I would live there if they wold let me. Best I can do is about three weeks per year. But only if you have the sites close to the beach. Not a fan of the sites further out. If you can book a few days at one site then a few more at another, it will give you an opportunity to dump in between if you need it.

Edisto Beach second. But only if you can get in the Beach campground. There really isn't a lot to do but a beach site will make up for it.

Huntington Beach third. Not really a bad site in the bunch. Not on the beach but close enough. There are other things to do there besides sit on the beach which, is a great beach.

Myrtle Beach fourth. Nothing wrong with it and anywhere else it would be great. But the others are better, in our opinion....

[RGar974417]

WE stayed at Huntington Beach SP over Christmas 2013. I believe we were in site 127.Very isolated which is what we like.We had water and electric and were a few steps from the bath house. It was about a 3 minute walk to the beach.They have great ranger programs and the price is great.We paid $180 for the whole week.

[NCWriter]

I love Hunting Island enough to go there every January when it can be beautiful or freezing. The oceanfront sites do book up early, to be sure, but it's a lovely place with a terrific stretch of unspoiled beach and lighthouse you can visit. The nearest city, Beaufort, is worth visiting, too. Nice waterfront.

[AikenRacer]

Edisto Island, going there in 2 weeks, one of our favorites,can hear the waves at the campsites, one of our favorites. Hunting Island, probably our favorite of all, more beachy area, no frills, real nice...both are 30 amps or they were on the last visit.