Murrells Inlet, South Carolina – The Clever Boater

Brookgreen Gardens Horses — Brookgreen Gardens – Horse Sculpture

Location

Region: Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway
Latitude: 33.551° N
Longitude: -79.0414° W
Waterway Guide: Murrells Inlet, SC

Destination: Murrells Inlet

Murrells Inlet is on the Waccamaw River, touted as one of the most beautiful sections of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Located 20 miles north of Georgetown, South Carolina, and 32 miles South of Myrtle Beach, it’s a great stop that offers some special attractions for boaters.

Murrells Inlet is an inlet off of the Atlantic Ocean, known as the Seafood Capital of South Carolina. Most boaters do not stop at the official “Inlet” but pull into Wacca Wache Marina, located right on the ICW. From here, you have easy access to the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk, an area of restaurants and shops, and Brookgreen Gardens, one of the most beautiful sculpture gardens in the USA.

Murrells Inlet was our home port for 8 years, so we know the area well! And I want to put in a plug for Wacca Wache Marina. First, it’s an easy stop right on the river. Second, they have the lowest fuel prices in North and South Carolina. Third, the staff is great. They continue upgrading the marina and have recently installed new boater showers, bathrooms, and laundry facilities. There is a restaurant on sight, Outriggers Bar & Grill, that is excellent. Also, Wacca Wache has the best sunset views in the area!

Slide 00 Front Slip Sunset — Sunset from Wacca Wache

The premier attraction in Murrells Inlet is Brookgreen Gardens. It is 9,000 acres of botanical and sculpture gardens with paved walking paths. Founded in 1931, it has hundreds of sculptures on display outside and in the galleries. You can easily spend an entire day wandering the shady paths, looking at the extensive collection of sculptures. Located 6 miles from Wacca Wache, you can get there by rideshare or bicycle. There are paved back roads and bicycle trails along Route 17 that will bring you to the entrance. If you happen to visit during the Christmas season, Brookgreen has an event called “Nights of 1,000 Candles,” where they decorate the gardens with millions of Christmas lights and line the paths with candles. They open at dusk, and it’s an amazing display!

Across the street from Brookgreen is Huntington Beach State Park, which offers several miles of beach and hiking trails. The park’s centerpiece is Atalaya Castle, the picturesque Moorish-style winter home of Archer and Anny Hyatt Huntington, who developed Brookgreen Gardens.

Atalaya Castle, Huntington Beach State Park

Also noteworthy in Murrells Inlet is the “Marsh Walk.” This is a boardwalk along the inlet in Murrells Inlet proper, 3.5 miles from the marina. It is, again, an easy bike ride or a short Uber/Lyft ride. The Marsh Walk features eight restaurants, from steak houses to Murrells Inlet’s famous seafood. Many restaurants have live music in the evenings, and you can stroll along the boardwalk between the restaurants and the marsh that is Murrells Inlet.

Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk Aerial — Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk

Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk Evening — The Marsh Walk In The Evening

From Murrells Inlet, you can take an Uber or Lyft to Myrtle Beach proper to enjoy the area’s many attractions.

Where To Eat

We recommend Outrigers Bar & Grill, right at the marina—it’s literally on the dock!

If you venture to the Marsh Walk, our long-time favorite is Dead Dog Saloon, an American eatery with a wide selection. If sushi is your thing, you can’t do better than Wahoo’s Fish House, and if all you want is a light bite, Bubba’s Love Shack is for you! J. Peters, next door, runs Bubba’s, which is an excellent choice for higher-end food.

There are other great restaurants along the same road. If you head south a bit, Hot Fish Club, Inlet Prohibition Company, and Russell’s Seafood Grill are all together just a short distance down the road. Also in the same area is Nance’s Restaurant, famous for its Oysters. When we lived in Murrells Inlet, we tended to go to this cluster of restaurants as the crowds were less. Hot Fish Club was our once-a-week stop.

Shopping Therapy

There are several grocery options in Murrells Inlet. Publix, Lowe’s Foods, Walmart Neighborhood Market, and a Super Walmart are three to five miles away. Lowe’s Foods and Publix are closest at three miles, which is an easy bicycle ride. Also, if you go to the Marsh Walk, stop in at Lazy Gator Gifts for an interesting collection of South Carolina gifts and souvenirs.

A Home Depot and a West Marine are also within a few miles of Wacca Wache marina. There is plenty of shopping in Myrtle Beach, with The Coastal Grand Mall at the center of the shopping area.

Getting Around On Shore

Aside from Walter’s restaurant at the marina, there is not much within walking distance. If you have bicycles, Brookgreen, supermarkets, Home Depot, West Marine, and the Marsh Walk are all easily accessible by bike. If you are going further afield, there are plenty of Uber and Lyft drivers serving the area, as well as taxi service.

If you need to fly, Myrtle Beach International Airport is accessible by Uber/Lyft or taxi from Wacca Wache. Southwest, Spirit, Delta, United, Allegiant, Frontier, and Breeze offer many flights to all the major hubs and several major cities across the US.

Keeping Entertained

Located in Murrells Inlet:

Brookgreen Gardens – Extensive sculpture gardens and arboretum.
Atalaya Castle – Home of the Huntingtons, open for tours at Huntington Beach State Park.
Huntington Beach State Park – Beach, walking trails, and Nature Center.

Located in Myrtle Beach:

Broadway At The Beach – A restaurant, entertainment, and amusement park complex.
Myrtle Beach Boardwalk – Skywheel, shops, bars, restaurants, and attractions along the famous Myrtle Beach.
The Carolina Opry – Dinner and Show. Great musical entertainment.
Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show – A fun evening of food, adventure, and music!

Getting There

Murrells Inlet is on the ICW, and you will pass through it as you go up or down the Waccamaw River from Georgetown, SC, to or from Myrtle Beach. It is located 20 miles north of Georgetown, South Carolina, and 32 miles South of Myrtle Beach.

If you are staying in Georgetown or Myrtle Beach and pass Murrells Inlet, you can still visit the attractions from either end by Uber or taxi.

Marinas and Anchorages

Wacca Wache Marina – Our first choice and a great place to stay. Gas, Diesel, and pump out with full boater facilities and a restaurant on sight.
Cow House Creek Anchorage – Right across the river from Wacca Wache, a sheltered anchorage. You can use the public boat ramp next to Wacca Wache to dock your dinghy.
Safe Harbor Reserve Harbor – Four miles south of Wacca Wache. If you have a Safe Harbor membership, this might be an option. However, it’s a bit remote from all of the attractions and services.