Murrells Inlet

Around Murrells Inlet

Photo: Pollinator · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Town and around · South Carolina · 66k people

Murrells Inlet

Locals say Hammock Coast · “Seafood Capital of South Carolina”, “The Inlet”

Salt air, marsh grass, and a plate of shrimp

Coastal Carolina tealCoastal Carolina bronze

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Welcome to the Hammock Coast, where the salt air and slow pace let you unwind. Whether you're here for the seafood, the marshes, or the friendly folks, you'll find a home among the creeks and oaks.

Clubs for Murrells Inlet

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The room

One room for everyone around Murrells Inlet. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

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Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Murrells Inlet. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • Brookgreen Gardens A sculpture garden and wildlife preserve with centuries-old live oaks.
  • Huntington Beach State Park Beach, marsh, and the historic Atalaya Castle, a favorite for nature lovers.
  • The Marsh Walk A boardwalk along Murrells Inlet lined with seafood restaurants and bars.
  • Front Street (Georgetown) Antebellum homes, boutiques, and waterfront dining in historic Georgetown.
  • Georgetown Lighthouse A historic lighthouse on North Island, accessible by boat tour.
  • South Carolina Maritime Museum Exhibits on shipbuilding, fishing, and the region's maritime heritage.
  • Outdoors Kayak through the salt marshes
  • Outdoors Fish off the piers
  • With kids Brookgreen Gardens
  • With kids Huntington Beach State Park
  • Evenings Live music on the Marsh Walk
  • Evenings Sunset cruises
  • Locals love Seafood shacks
  • Locals love Boat landings

Through the year

  • Murrells Inlet Seafood Festival October A waterfront celebration of local seafood with live music and family fun.
  • Atalaya Arts & Crafts Festival September Juried arts and crafts show set against the historic Atalaya Castle.
  • Georgetown Wooden Boat Show October Classic and handcrafted wooden boats on display along the harbor.
  • Nights of a Thousand Candles December Brookgreen Gardens lit by thousands of candles for a magical holiday walk.
  • Front Street Art Walk Monthly Monthly gallery strolls in historic Georgetown with artist meet-and-greets.

Subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Best in spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are the most comfortable, with mild temps and low humidity.

Talk like a local

“Hammock time”
A relaxed, unhurried pace of life.
“Pluff mud”
The dark, rich mud found in salt marshes.
“Creek”
A tidal creek that winds through the marsh.
“The inlet”
Murrells Inlet itself, often called 'the inlet'.

Getaways

  • Myrtle Beach Amusement parks, boardwalk, and nightlife just 45 minutes away.
  • Charleston Historic downtown, carriage rides, and world-class dining in the Lowcountry.
  • Florence Shopping, dining, and the Florence Civic Center for concerts and events.
  • Wilmington Riverwalk, USS North Carolina, and the historic district on the Cape Fear.

Local flavour

Rooting for Myrtle Beach Pelicans (MiLB, Carolina League), Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (NCAA Division I)

Eat and drink

  • Shrimp and grits A Lowcountry staple, often made with local wild-caught shrimp and stone-ground grits.
  • She-crab soup A creamy soup made with crab meat and roe, a Charleston-area classic also popular along the Hammock Coast.
  • Lowcountry boil Also called Frogmore stew, a one-pot dish of shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes, a social meal for gatherings.
  • Oysters Served raw, roasted, or fried, often from nearby tidal creeks and marshes.
  • Calabash-style fried seafood Lightly battered and fried, a style originating from the nearby town of Calabash, North Carolina, but beloved here.

Where people go

  • Salt marshes Vast expanses of Spartina grass that define the landscape and support the local ecology.
  • Fishing piers Public piers where locals and visitors cast lines for flounder, trout, and red drum.
  • Seafood shacks Casual, often family-owned restaurants serving fresh catches, many along the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk.
  • Boat landings Public access points for kayaks, skiffs, and charter boats to explore the creeks and the Atlantic.
  • The Marsh Walk A boardwalk in Murrells Inlet lined with restaurants, bars, and live music, overlooking the marsh.
  • Historic plantations

Heritage and traditions

Murrells Inlet and Georgetown are proud of their rich Gullah Geechee heritage, historic rice plantations, and a laid-back coastal lifestyle centered on fishing, shrimping, and the salt marshes.

This time of year in Murrells Inlet

  • Rice harvest Fall Fall marks the historic rice harvest with demonstrations and festivals.
  • Georgetown Rice Festival October Honors the rice plantation history with demonstrations and tastings.

Say it like a local: “nyam” — To eat (Gullah)

Festivals

  • Blessing of the Fleet May A May ceremony blessing shrimping boats for a safe season.
  • Gullah Geechee Heritage Festival June Celebrates African American heritage with music, food, and crafts.
  • Georgetown Rice Festival October Honors the rice plantation history with demonstrations and tastings.
  • Murrells Inlet Oyster Roast Winter A winter community gathering with steaming oysters and live music.
  • Georgetown Harbor Fest Spring Spring celebration with boat rides, arts, and local food.

Landmarks with a story

  • Hopsewee Plantation An 18th-century rice plantation house, now a bed and breakfast, with river views.
  • The Rice Museum Georgetown's museum dedicated to the rice industry and its impact on the region.
  • Prince George Winyah Episcopal Church A historic church from the 1750s with colonial-era architecture.
  • Bethel AME Church A historic African American church with roots in the Gullah community.
  • Kaminski House Museum A preserved 18th-century home in Georgetown with period furnishings.

Food traditions

  • Oyster roasts In winter, locals gather to steam oysters over a fire, a tradition from the region's coastal harvesting.
  • Gullah red rice A tomato-based rice dish with bacon and spices, brought by West African ancestors and a staple of Gullah cuisine.
  • Shrimp peeling parties When shrimp are plentiful, families and friends gather to peel together, often followed by a Lowcountry boil.
  • Benne wafers Sesame seed cookies introduced by enslaved Africans, a sweet treat with a deep heritage.
  • Rice perloo A one-pot rice dish with meat or seafood, reflecting the rice plantation legacy.

Music and arts

  • Gullah sweetgrass basket weaving A centuries-old craft using sweetgrass, pine needles, and palmetto leaves.
  • Beach music and shag dancing The region shares the Grand Strand's love of beach music and the shag, a smooth partner dance.
  • Sculpture at Brookgreen Gardens The largest collection of American sculpture in a garden setting, with rotating exhibits.

A little history

  • 1730s Georgetown founded as a port town
  • 18th–19th centuries Rice plantations along the Waccamaw River using enslaved Africans, giving rise to Gullah culture
  • 1860s Georgetown occupied by Union forces during the Civil War
  • Early 20th century Shrimping industry booms in Murrells Inlet
  • 1989 Hurricane Hugo devastates the coast
  • Game day Fishing tournaments
  • Game day Shag dancing competitions
  • Outdoors Crabbing off the docks
  • Outdoors Oyster harvesting
  • With kids Crabbing off the docks
  • With kids Ice cream at the Marsh Walk

The local dialect is a Southern Lowcountry accent, with Gullah influences in the African American community. You'll hear soft vowels, dropped 'r's, and phrases like 'y'all' and 'fixin' to'.

Only here

  • Murrells Inlet is called the 'Seafood Capital of South Carolina'.
  • Georgetown is the third oldest city in South Carolina, founded in 1729.
  • The Waccamaw River is a blackwater river, stained dark by tannins from cypress swamps.
  • The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor runs through this area, preserving African American traditions.
New here? A few tips
  • Pronounce Murrells Inlet as 'MURR-ells' (rhymes with 'squirrels').
  • Be ready for hot, humid summers and occasional hurricanes; have a plan for storm season.
  • Try the local shrimp and grits or a Lowcountry boil at a seafood shack—it's a rite of passage.
  • Explore the Gullah Geechee heritage through museums, churches, and festivals.
  • Expect tourist crowds on Highway 17 during summer; use back roads like Highway 701 for a quieter drive.

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Part of Myrtle Beach area

Nearby

Every area
Myrtle BeachSouth CarolinaSalt air, sea breeze, and endless summer days.CharlestonSouth CarolinaWhere marsh meets sea and history breathes.DillonSouth CarolinaWhere the Pee Dee flows through tobacco towns and open skiesManningSouth CarolinaWhere the pines meet the waterFlorenceSouth CarolinaWhere the Pee Dee flows and the South feels like homeSumterSouth CarolinaWhere Southern spirit takes flightLumbertonNorth CarolinaRiver town roots and Lumbee prideOrangeburgSouth CarolinaWhere peaches and Bulldogs grow.

Murrells Inlet, SC. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.

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