If you’re staying in Myrtle Beach and looking for a change of scenery, a day trip to Murrells Inlet is one of the easiest and most activity filled choices you can make. It’s close enough to feel effortless, yet different enough to feel like you’ve genuinely gone somewhere new.
Murrells Inlet is slower, more connected to the water, and built around a seafood and marsh culture that sets it apart from anything you’ll find further up the Grand Strand.
Known as the Seafood Capital of South Carolina, it draws visitors for its waterfront dining, wildlife-rich estuary, and some of the best boat tours on the entire coast.
With Landmark Resort as your home base in Myrtle Beach, you’re perfectly positioned to spend a full day exploring Murrells Inlet.
Getting to Murrells Inlet
One of the biggest advantages of a Murrells Inlet day trip is the drive itself. From Landmark Resort, it’s about 25 to 30 minutes south along Highway 17, passing through Garden City before the marsh views start opening up along the road. This short distance means you can leave after breakfast, explore at a relaxed pace, and return without travel eating into your day.
Morning: Brookfield Greens & Biking
Start your day early to beat the heat and crowds—morning in Murrells Inlet is when the marsh is calm, the light is best, and everything feels a little more laid-back.
Start with Brookgreen Gardens
The best way to start your day in Murrells Inlet is with a visit to Brookgreen Gardens. This National Historic Landmark covers more than 9,000 acres of sculpture garden, botanical grounds, and wildlife preserve.
It holds the largest collection of American figurative sculpture in the United States, and the setting alone makes it worth the trip.
Wander the walking paths lined with bronze and marble sculptures, explore the Lowcountry Trail through native landscape, and stop by the Native Wildlife Zoo to see alligators, river otters, and birds of prey in naturalistic habitats.
The property’s unique history, originally part of rice plantation land purchased and preserved by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, adds depth to everything you’re looking at.
Exit through the gift shop to find a special souvenir and support the gardens.
Bike the Waccamaw Neck Bikeway
If you want to explore Murrells Inlet at a slower pace before or after the MarshWalk, the Waccamaw Neck Bikeway runs more than 18 miles of paved path from Garden City down to Pawleys Island, weaving through maritime forests, salt marshes, and coastal neighborhoods along the way.
Afternoon: The Murrells Inlet MarshWalk
By midday, head into the center of Murrells Inlet and spend a few hours on the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk. This mile-long waterfront boardwalk connects eight seafood restaurants and bars along the edge of the tidal marsh, and on a clear afternoon, it delivers breathtaking views in every direction.
The estuary stretches out wide, boats move through the creek channels, and the salt air keeps things cool even in warmer months.
The MarshWalk is as much about the stroll as anything else. Walk the full length of it, take in the views, and then double back to wherever looked good on the way through.
Lunch on the Water
For a late lunch, the MarshWalk restaurants cover every end of the spectrum from casual dockside bars to full sit-down seafood. Any of the eight MarshWalk restaurants will give you a meal with a view, which is the whole point of lunch here.
Dead Dog Saloon is one of the most visited spots on the strip, known for its lively atmosphere, cold drinks, fresh shrimp, and water views that make it easy to stay longer than planned. It’s a great place to settle in, watch boats on the inlet, and let the afternoon slow down around you.
Wahoo’s Fish House is another great option, with locally sourced fish and crab that reflect what the inlet is known for.
Get Out on the Water: Crazy Sister Marina
After lunch, make your way to Crazy Sister Marina, located at the south end of the MarshWalk adjacent to the Wicked Tuna restaurant.
Crazy Sister Marina runs some of the best eco tours and boat tours on the South Carolina coast, and a cruise through the Murrells Inlet estuary is one of those experiences that sticks with you.
Dolphin Cruise
The dolphin cruise is the most popular option. Aboard a USCG certified cruise vessel, the crew heads out through the inlet and toward the open ocean, where Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins are spotted with a high success rate.
Pirate Adventures
For families, the pirate adventures cruise on the Sea Gypsy is a standout. Children are outfitted with a lucky treasure hunting vest, handed a map, and guided through a mission to find sunken treasure by a tour guide who brings real energy to the whole thing. It plays well for younger kids, and it gives parents an enjoyable experience without anyone checking their phone.
Eco Tours
The best eco tours are designed for guests who want to visit Murrells Inlet with a greater focus on wildlife.
A naturalist-guided marsh cruise moves through the saltwater estuary, with the crew identifying osprey, egrets, pelicans, and bald eagles in their natural habitat, and a live touch tank demonstration that brings local crabs and other sea creatures on board for a closer look.
Evening: Sunsets & Live Music
As the afternoon fades, the MarshWalk shifts into evening mode, and Murrells Inlet becomes a different kind of place. The restaurants fill up, outdoor bars get busy, and live music starts up at several spots along the boardwalk.
It’s a lively spot with an atmosphere that feels relaxed and celebratory at the same time, especially as the sun sets over the marsh.
Watch the Sunset from the MarshWalk
Find a waterfront seat, order a drink, and watch the sky change over the inlet. The light here in the evening is one of those favorite things visitors mention again and again, and it’s easy to understand why once you’re sitting in it.
The unbeatable views from the boardwalk hit differently as the sun drops behind the marsh, turning the water gold before the night takes over.
Sunset Cruise
For a romantic evening, the sunset cruise is consistently a favorite activity on the Grand Strand. The 75-minute Sunset Dolphin and Sealife Cruise runs from the inlet out toward open water as the sun sets, turning the South Carolina coast sky into shades of pink, purple, and gold.
Make It a Special Occasion
If you’re celebrating something, combining the sunset cruise with an evening on the MarshWalk is a pairing that’s hard to beat anywhere on the South Carolina coast. The cruise handles the breathtaking views, and the MarshWalk handles the rest. Stay as long as you like. The drive back to Myrtle Beach is short.
Live Music at Dead Dog Saloon
Dead Dog Saloon and several other MarshWalk spots feature great music from local acts on weekends, which gives the whole strip a block-party energy without the crowd feeling overwhelming.
It’s a great place to linger over a drink, enjoy the atmosphere, and let the evening unfold without a schedule.
Murrells Inlet vs. Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach delivers boardwalk energy, major attractions, and nonstop entertainment. Murrells Inlet, SC, offers a different kind of value: quieter streets, direct contact with the marsh and wildlife, and a dining scene rooted in fresh local seafood rather than tourist volume.
That contrast is exactly what makes the trip to Murrells Inlet so satisfying. You get the energy of Myrtle Beach when you want it and the pace of the inlet when you need it.
The two places complement each other well, which is why staying in Myrtle Beach and spending a day in Murrells Inlet is one of the best ways to spend a week on the Grand Strand.
Let Landmark Resort Make it Easy
When you’re planning your next trip, where you stay shapes what you can explore. Landmark Resort sits oceanfront in Myrtle Beach, putting Murrells Inlet, Brookgreen Gardens, and Crazy Sister Marina all within easy reach while keeping you close to the Boardwalk, restaurants, and entertainment in Myrtle Beach proper.
Whether you spend the day in the marsh or out on the water, Landmark gives you a comfortable, well-located base to come back to.
Book your stay today and start planning your Murrells Inlet day trip.
