North Myrtle Beach campgrounds range from inland wooded settings to waterfront locations on the Intracoastal Waterway. The area receives around 40-45 inches of annual rainfall, creating lush vegetation at inland sites while offering sandy coastal terrain near the ocean. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-90°F, with higher humidity near the waterways.
What to do
Water activities at the Intracoastal Waterway: Located directly on the waterway, North Myrtle Beach RV Resort and Dry Dock Marina offers boat rentals and dock access within the campground. "You can watch the boats travel up and down," notes one camper, making it perfect for those who enjoy watercraft viewing.
Evening golf cart parades: Pirateland Family Camping Resort hosts nightly golf cart parades from 9-11pm, creating a unique after-dark activity. "Make sure to decorate it because there is a cart parade every night from 9-11," recommends a reviewer who enjoyed this distinctive social tradition.
Indoor recreation during rain: When afternoon storms arrive, Sun Outdoors Myrtle Beach provides indoor options including bowling and arcade games. "There are 4 pools and a water park for the kids...a beach house directly on the beach with shuttle service," mentions one visitor, highlighting the diverse activity options regardless of weather.
What campers like
Private beach access and pier amenities: Apache Family Campground includes fishing pier access with your stay. "They have a large pier for fishing located in the campground and if you are staying there they will provide tickets so you can use the pier," explains one camper, adding value beyond standard beach access.
Off-season tranquility: Myrtle Beach State Park Campground offers a different experience during winter months. "Off season so, our dog enjoyed a run on the beach everyday. It's noisy during the day with planes flying over (nearby airport) & barking dogs. Especially over the weekend. Much quieter during the week," reports one visitor who appreciated the seasonal variations.
Walking proximity to conveniences: Barefoot RV Resort stands out for its location near practical services. "You could walk to grocery store, liquor store, restaurants, the beach, and barefoot landing. You could drive a gulf cart to all these places too," explains one reviewer, highlighting the convenience factor not often found at campgrounds.
What you should know
Seasonal rules for extended stays: For long-term winter campers, Myrtle Beach State Park has specific policies. "Other than February and if you are older than 55 or so you must move out after 2 weeks and sometimes if enough sites you can move to another site. In February they allow 4 weeks stay," explains one seasonal camper.
Airport noise considerations: Several campgrounds experience flyover noise from the nearby airport. "It's noisy during the day with planes flying over (nearby airport) & barking dogs," mentions a camper, important information for light sleepers selecting a site.
Site variations within campgrounds: Myrtle Beach Travel Park features distinctly different camping sections. "Two different sections one wooded and shaded other in dead sun but closer to Ocean," notes one visitor, highlighting the importance of specifying preferences when booking.
Tips for camping with families
Water park amenities: Multiple campgrounds feature water recreation beyond the beach. "There's a arcade, mini golf, lazy river, pool, splash pad, the beach with walking distance!" one visitor to Myrtle Beach Travel Park shared, listing the various water features that kept children entertained.
Activity scheduling systems: During peak periods and Covid restrictions, campgrounds implemented reservation systems. "We were required to reserve pool time and arcade time," explained one family traveling with eight children to Myrtle Beach Travel Park, suggesting families plan ahead for popular amenities.
Age-appropriate water areas: Ocean Lakes Family Campground offers separated water facilities for different age groups. "The water park/pool was awesome. My husband and I floated in the giant lazy river as our kids used the water slides and splash area. The lifeguards are great with the kids and super nice," shared one parent, noting how the design accommodated multiple ages simultaneously.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for weather protection: Concrete pads provide advantages during rainy periods. "The concrete pad was very nice to have because the sand was hard to keep up with. I couldn't imagine how much sand there would have been in the camper if we were on sand," advised a camper at Ocean Lakes, highlighting the practical consideration for longer stays.
Early arrival timing: Campgrounds can experience congestion during peak check-in times. "We did pre check in before we arrived and they set all our paperwork in the mail. This was great bc all we had to do was place the tag on our mirror and drive in. Nice and easy after a 9 hr drive there," shared a visitor to Ocean Lakes Family Campground.
Laundry service availability: For extended stays, some campgrounds offer full-service laundry. "The wash and fold service. I dropped my clothes off at 830am and they were cleaned and ready for pickup by 1030am. Best part it only cost me 21.00," noted an Ocean Lakes camper, a valuable service after beach activities.
