Have lived in MB for a dozen years, camped here for almost 30. Favorite privately owned CG on the ocean front is MB Travel Park. Sites seem roomier, owners and staff are great, and its location towards the northern end of MB is good too. Some shady spots, others good for Sat TV access. Never seems overcrowded. Bath houses are fine. The other "big 3" (Pirateland, Lakewood and Ocean Lakes, all on Kings Highway (17 Business) at the south end of MB, are huge, crowded even in the fall, with many sites tightly bunched. Absolutely LOVE Huntington Beach State Park, farther south on the Grand Strand near Murrells Inlet and Litchfield. Sites are large, many shady, and it has immediate access to the ocean (although none of the sites are oceanfront). If Sat TV is a priority, there are a number of sites here where access is no problem. It's also a bit cheaper than the private CGs - but less than 1/3 are sewered and there is no real access to WIFI except by the office. Myrtle Beach SP is fine too. More wooded than Huntington Beach SP, so Sat TV is a no go in most sites, and many are not sewered. Most sites are roomy, and, like Huntington, there is ocean access but no sites on the ocean. It's closer to the "action" of MB. We do like the KOA. It's in MB proper, in the middle of everything. It's about a 1/2 mile from the ocean. Sites are roomy, great bathhouses, and good amenities. Not nearly as "crazy crowded" as those on the ocean front. One we honestly would never recommend is Apache CG - it's farther north in MB, has oceanfront access, but the sites are really, really tight, and it seems, IMHO, to have suffered from overcrowdedness, too many 'permanent' campers, and a bit of neglect. Even though you are planning to stay in October, suggest you make ressies ASAP. Sites, at least in the two state parks, may be hard to get even this far ahead. Might want to check out www.rvparkreviews.com for others opinions on CGs in MB area. I use it whenever I'm planning a trip to a place I have not gone before.
Two young retirees restless to GO!
Life is too short to wait too long to do all we want to do!!
Go and enjoy!!