A Moorish-style castle sits behind the dunes at Huntington Beach State Park, its arches and courtyards looking distinctly out of place against the Grand Strand’s typical beach-town backdrop. Atalaya, the winter home of sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington and philanthropist Archer Huntington, anchors a park that also happens to host over 300 recorded bird species and a freshwater causeway where spotting an alligator is practically guaranteed. It’s an unusual combination, three miles of uncrowded beach, a National Historic Landmark, and genuinely excellent wildlife viewing, all inside one 2,500-acre property near Murrells Inlet.
Here’s what to know about fees, current closures, and how to plan a 2026 visit around both the castle and the coastline.
Huntington Beach State Park Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Location | Murrells Inlet, SC, between Pawleys Island and Myrtle Beach |
| Park size | About 2,500 acres |
| Park hours | 6 a.m.–6 p.m. daily (extended to 9 or 10 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time) |
| Park admission | $8 adults; $5 S.C. seniors; $4 youth (6–15); free ages 5 and under |
| Atalaya hours | 9 a.m.–4 p.m. daily (extended to 5 p.m. during DST) |
| Atalaya admission | $2 per person, ages 6+; free ages 5 and under |
| Bird species recorded | Over 300 |
| Camping | 104 standard sites (water/electric); 66 full-hookup sites; 6 rustic tent-only sites |
| Dog policy | Dog-friendly year-round; leashed (6 ft max) at all times |
| Current 2026 closure | Nature Center Marsh Boardwalk closed since May 11 for construction |
| Busy periods | Weekends and holidays, especially 10 a.m.–2 p.m. |
Two Tickets, Two Experiences
Understanding the fee structure here matters before you arrive, since Huntington Beach charges separately for general park admission and for touring Atalaya itself. The standard park entrance runs $8 for adults, with discounted rates for South Carolina seniors and youth, and covers the beach, trails, camping areas, and general grounds. Atalaya, the historic castle, carries its own separate $2 per-person admission on top of that, for anyone 6 and older.
If your visit is purely about the beach, trails, and wildlife, you only need the general park admission. But if touring the Moorish-style architecture and courtyards of Atalaya is part of your plan, budget for both fees. Self-guided and audio tours of Atalaya run year-round, while guided tours follow a specific program schedule worth checking in advance if a docent-led visit matters to you.
Current Construction: The Marsh Boardwalk Closure
As of May 11, 2026, the Nature Center Marsh Boardwalk has been closed to the public for ongoing construction, with no announced reopening date at the time of this writing. This is one of the park’s popular spots for marsh views and birdwatching, so if this specific boardwalk was central to your visit plans, check the park’s current alerts before arriving, since “until further notice” closures at this park have sometimes extended for a considerable stretch. The rest of the park’s trail network and the causeway remain unaffected by this particular closure.
Beating the Crowds: When to Actually Arrive
Huntington Beach explicitly warns visitors that temporary closures can occur on weekends and holidays due to high visitation combined with limited parking. The park specifically recommends arriving outside the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. window during peak periods, since that’s when parking areas tend to fill and gate closures become most likely. If your schedule allows flexibility, an early morning or late afternoon arrival gives you a considerably better shot at avoiding a turned-away experience, especially during summer weekends when Myrtle Beach-area tourism peaks.
Where to See Alligators and Birds
The park’s causeway, connecting the entrance area to Atalaya, is the single best spot for wildlife viewing in the park. Alligators are commonly spotted on the freshwater side of the causeway, as well as along the straight road leading from Atalaya’s entrance to Highway 17, often close enough for excellent photography from a safe distance. For birders specifically, the marsh side of the causeway and the Sand Piper Pond Nature Trail offer the strongest sightings, and with over 300 species recorded here, including rarities like painted buntings and bald eagles, this ranks among the better birding destinations on the entire East Coast.
As with any wild alligator population, keep pets and children close to you near the water, and never approach or feed the animals, no matter how still or docile they appear from a distance.
Touring Atalaya: What to Expect
Atalaya’s Moorish-style architecture, courtyards, and studios reflect its origins as the working winter retreat of Anna Hyatt Huntington, whose sculptures are showcased extensively at the adjacent Brookgreen Gardens, and Archer Huntington, whose philanthropy helped establish both properties as a joint legacy. The castle functions as a genuine event venue too, hosting weddings and the well-known Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival each September, a juried event drawing regional artists and large crowds to the castle grounds.
Because Atalaya hosts frequent events throughout the year, it’s occasionally closed to general visitors during those bookings. If a specific date matters for your Atalaya visit, calling the park office to confirm current access rather than assuming standard hours apply is worth the extra step, particularly around September when the arts festival takes over the grounds.
Camping Options: Choosing the Right Site Type
With more than 170 total campsites split across three categories, Huntington Beach offers a range of camping styles to fit different needs. The 104 standard sites include water and electric hookups, while 66 full-hookup sites add sewer connections for extended stays without needing a dump station run. Six rustic tent-only sites serve visitors wanting a more basic, back-to-nature camping experience without RV neighbors nearby.
Given the park’s popularity as a coastal Myrtle Beach-area destination, booking ahead through South Carolina’s reservation system is strongly advised rather than counting on walk-up availability, especially for summer weekends when demand for Grand Strand camping runs high.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Do I need to pay separately to visit Atalaya, or is it included with park admission?
Atalaya requires a separate $2 per-person admission on top of the standard park entrance fee. If touring the castle is part of your plan, budget for both charges rather than assuming one fee covers everything.
Q2. Is the Nature Center Marsh Boardwalk open right now?
No, as of May 11, 2026, it remains closed for construction with no announced reopening date. Check the park’s current alerts before your visit if this specific boardwalk was part of your plans, since other trails and the causeway remain accessible in the meantime.
Q3. What time should I arrive to avoid the park reaching capacity?
Aim to arrive before 10 a.m. or after 2 p.m., particularly on weekends and holidays, since the park explicitly warns that high visitation combined with limited parking can trigger temporary closures during that midday window.
Q4. Can I bring my dog to Huntington Beach State Park?
Yes, the park is dog-friendly year-round, though dogs must remain leashed (six feet maximum) at all times and owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets throughout the park.
