Labor Day marked the end of the first season of parking reservations at two South Carolina state parks.
During the summer months, South Carolina allowed visitors to reserve parking at two coastal state parks. The move is seen as a way to manage the crowds that fill the state’s beaches each summer.
South Carolina State Parks say they frequently have to close parking lots and turn visitors away when the lots reach capacity. The new reservation system was meant to ensure that some visitors won’t be forced to leave disappointed even during peak usage periods.
The parking reservation program was trialed at Huntington Beach State Park and Myrtle Beach State Park. The program ended on September 2 this year but will likely be revived next summer in 2025.
South Carolina parks officials characterized the move as a success.
“Thanks to the new reserved parking option, if a group will be traveling in more than one car for their beach day, they can all reserve a parking spot in advance to guarantee their entry, worry-free,” said South Carolina State Parks Director Paul McCormack. “Locals and visitors from all over will benefit from this ability to plan ahead and enjoy the park.”
The office clarified that visitors are not required to reserve parking ahead of time when they are taking parking reservations.
Most of the parking spaces will remain available on a first-come, first-served basis. Only about 20% of the parking spots will be included in the reservation system, and only for the busy summer months.
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Park Info
Park Name:
Myrtle Beach State Park
Location:
South Carolina, USA
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