Huntington Beach State Park Tours

Huntington Beach State Park which includes a sunset, landscape views and wetlands
Huntington Beach State Park which includes general coastal views
Huntington Beach State Park showing general coastal views, a sunset and a sandy beach
Huntington Beach State Park featuring bird life, a bridge and tranquil scenes
Huntington Beach State Park which includes heritage elements


Natural beauty abounds at this oceanfront respite famous for its pristine beach, wooded hiking trails and historic castle.

Huntington Beach State Park, 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Myrtle Beach, is a nature lover’s playground. Swim or fish along three miles (five kilometers) of unspoiled oceanfront. Explore the labyrinth of walking trails, stopping at the observation decks dotted through the 2,500 acres (1,011 hectares) of wooded parkland. A large, freshwater lagoon is home to alligators. The park is also rated one of the best birding sites on the East Coast, thanks to more than 300 resident bird species.

One of the first points of call should be Atalaya Castle, a sprawling estate close to the park’s entrance. Atalaya was the winter home and studio of renowned 20th-century sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington and her husband Archer Huntington, a philanthropist and Spanish scholar. The Huntingtons loved Spanish culture and so they built their castle, completed in 1931, in the style of a Spanish Andalusian villa. The building and surrounding grounds were donated to the state.

Guided tours of Atalaya are offered by the Friends of Huntington Beach State Park between March and October and are included in the castle entry price. Outside of those months, pick up a 45-minute audio guide for a small fee.

Huntington Beach State Park is a great place to discover some of South Carolina's native wildlife. Bird watching is a popular pursuit, with many native Southern varieties easy to spot, including spoonbills, ducks and ocean birds. The Friends of Huntington Beach State Park offer a variety of wildlife excursions (weather dependent, and not run during winter). You can look for alligators in the wetlands or search the salt marshes for crabs. Check the website for tour specifics.

Tours are generally included in the park admission price, which is very reasonable. Entry to Atalaya attracts an additional small fee. Children under five enter the park and castle for free. A park store sells some grocery items, souvenirs and fishing supplies.

Plan a trip to see Huntington Beach State Park

Price found within the past 48 hours. Click for updated prices.
Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort
Sands Ocean Club Resort
Maritime Beach Club

Reviews of Huntington Beach State Park

4.6
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
109
5 - Excellent 70%
4 - Good
39
4 - Good 25%
3 - Okay
4
3 - Okay 3%
2 - Disappointing
4
2 - Disappointing 3%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Beautiful beach and scenic walking area.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Really enjoyed the beach at Huntington Beach State Park. Not crowded at all, clean easily accessible restrooms, shaded picnic area nearby. $5.00 admission per adult for a day pass enables you to come and go throughout the day until 10:00 PM. After spending the day at the beach, we went back to our hotel, out to dinner, returned to the park to enjoy observing wildlife from boardwalks on the marshes and another walk on the beach at night.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Has bathrooms and changing rooms, outside showers, large beach with lifeguard also nature walks, small store snack items available. One of our favorite places.

5/5 - Excellent

Ontario

We went between here and Brookgreen gardens since the garden pass is good for 7 days & they are across from each other.

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