The Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk — Attraction in South Carolina

We are locals who decided to show our family from out of town the Marshwalk and surrounding restaurants. The guy at the booth in the parking lot asked what we were doing and my husband replied "just looking around and walking the marsh" the man then said "10 dollars to park" my husband said "no way we will just turn around". My parents were behind us on their motorcycle and the guy asked them the same question but they said they were going to the bar so he let them in for free!!! Talk about discrimination!!! I agree with the other reviews...they are taking advantage of people! This belongs to the state and is kept clean by volunteers and locals each year. The money they are charging for parking isn't going to the Marsh conservation...it's going to the restaurants. This is their way to get some tax free money. They need to be investigated! How ridiculous to charge people to park. I've been here numerous times throughout the years and never had to pay for parking. We never end up just walking the marsh we always end up purchasing food or drinks from one of the overpriced establishments so it's disgraceful for them to charge 10 dollars to park if you say your just walking the marsh.... words of wisdom say your eating at one of the restaurants and you won't have to pay! It's even better that on the local channel they advertise to come to Murrells Inlet and walk the Marsh for free....

With over 2,000 glowing reviews, I was expecting something a little more wow. Instead, we started our adventure by scanning a QR code for parking, which boldly demanded $20 for a minimum of two hours. Two hours! We weren’t planning to move in. Luckily, street parking saved the day because, let’s be real, free parking is undefeated.

As we approached, there was an outdoor market on the side of the MarshWalk, but let’s just say… nothing called to us. Unless you’re really into random knick-knacks, you’re good to skip it. There was also a Santa, looking a bit tired of life, offering free kid pics. Generous, sure, but we kindly declined—we weren’t ready for that level of holiday melancholy.

The walk itself? Fresh, brisk, and over in about five minutes. So if you’re looking for a long, soul-cleansing stroll, this ain’t it. On the bright side, the marsh didn’t stink like some reviews warned, so that’s a win. It was a cool day, and at the end of the walk stood a Christmas tree valiantly powered by a generator. I imagine it’s magical at night, but in the daytime? Meh.

As for the restaurants? They were abundant, but we weren’t hungry, so that didn’t add much to the experience. In summary, it’s a quick, pleasant-ish stop if you’re in the area, but I wouldn’t pay $20 to park...

The marsh walk offers great opportunities for exploration for a wide variety of interests, ages, and abilities. The walk is a wherlchair-accessible boardwalk with beautiful salt marsh views on one side and a selection of restaurants on the other. It is short, so is easy to fit in around other activities, but you can also slow it down and take your time.

We went in the morning, because of the heat, and it was almost deserted. Fishing and sightseeing tours and boat rentals are available along the walk. Fishing can be done from the dock below, with license. Wildlife and bird viewing are great. We saw at least six different species of water birds and a similar number of land birds, along with crabs, lizards, and several types of fish. The goats on goat island are adorable and so interesting to watch. My daughter loved it.

Most of the restaurants open at 11 and are family-friendly during the day, but also have bars attached. In the evening, the atmosphere becomes more party-like. My cousin, who lives local, says that the walk becomes something of a snack-and-bar crawl after dark, with most of the restaurants offering signature drinks and snacks.

Overall, we had a fabulous time on our morning walk. I would highly recommend...