A Complete Walking Tour of Ocean Lakes Family Campground
Ocean Lakes covers 310 acres with nearly a mile of oceanfront (per Ocean Lakes’ homepage, https://www.oceanlakes.com/). A first-time visitor walks or carts through and sees a lot without understanding the layout. This walkthrough goes section by section from the front gate to the beach, with what to expect at each stop.
I rent 34 houses inside Ocean Lakes and I walk the campground regularly. Here’s the tour I give visiting family the first time they come.
Stop 1: The front gate
Ocean Lakes is at 6001 South Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach. The main entrance is on the west side of the campground off Highway 17. You need a car pass to get through the gate, which your rental company (Dune Life or whoever) arranges before your arrival.
Just past the gate on the right sits the main office where check-ins for campsites happen, the Ocean Lakes Properties sales office, and the Ocean Lakes Golf Cars retail location. Straight ahead is the campground’s main artery, which curves east toward the beach.
Stop 2: Camptown Center
About a quarter-mile east of the front gate is Camptown Center, the campground’s version of a town square (per Ocean Lakes’ Camptown Center page). Everything commercial and social clusters here:
– Sandy Mart: the grocery / beach gear / basics store. Open daily, extended hours in peak season.
– Sandy’s Meet ‘n Eat: breakfast, burgers, sandwiches, ice cream.
– Coffee & Creamery: self-explanatory.
– Laundry Services + Fluff n Fold: two options depending on how hands-off you want laundry to be.
– Center Stage: outdoor venue for live music, DJ nights, movies under the stars.
– Free Wireless Zone: open Wi-Fi hotspot area.
You’ll cart through Camptown Center multiple times during a stay. Even if your rental has coffee, you’ll end up at the Coffee & Creamery within 48 hours of arrival.
Stop 3: Sandy Harbor Family Fun Center
Stop 3: Sandy Harbor Family Fun CenterA short cart ride east of Camptown Center puts you at Sandy Harbor, the campground’s biggest amenity cluster. See our full water park guide for the deep dive, but the walk-through version:
– Sandy Harbor Water Park: lazy river, water slides, splash zone, kids’ area
– Sandy Harbor pools: Olympic outdoor pool, family pool, indoor pool
– Sandy Harbor Mini Golf: 18 holes
– Sandy Harbor Game Center: arcade
– Sandy Harbor Café: poolside food and drinks
This is where families spend most of their non-beach time. Kids can walk between the water park, arcade, and mini golf without adult supervision (with wristbands verifying they’re staying at Ocean Lakes).
Stop 4: The main rental home sections
North and south of Sandy Harbor are the majority of Ocean Lakes’ rental houses. These sections are numbered (1000s, 5000s, and mixed lettered sections like M, P, Q, X, MH). Some are stick-built beach houses, some are manufactured homes (per Ocean Lakes’ campsite page).
Most Dune Life properties sit in these mid-park sections. See our site numbers guide for the full section breakdown. The mid-park experience is the “typical” Ocean Lakes vibe: golf carts on the roads, kids on bikes, families walking to the beach.
Stop 5: Lakeside and Magnolia Lake
On the inland side of the campground is Magnolia Lake, one of several small lakes inside the property. Around Magnolia Lake sit some of the quieter rental sections plus:
– Lakeside Paws N’ Play: the 1-acre off-leash dog park
– Sandy’s Wash N’ Wag: DIY dog wash stations right next to the dog park
– Nature Center Discovery Lab: interpretive nature center
– Walking trails: paths that loop around the lakes
Lakeside is where dog owners spend time. It’s also where guests who want a quieter section of the campground book. Bookings in the 3000 and 4000 inland sections nearby tend to be less expensive per night.
Book your next Myrtle Beach vacation
Stop 6: The oceanfront sections (2000, I, H, HH, K)
East side of the campground, closest to the beach (per Ocean Lakes’ campsite info). These are the sections where you hear the ocean from your porch. They command the highest rental rates and book earliest.
Walking through oceanfront sections in peak summer, you’ll see the highest foot traffic because every other guest at Ocean Lakes is walking toward the beach access points here. In shoulder season, oceanfront calms down significantly.
Stop 7: The beach
Stop 7: The beachOcean Lakes’ private beach runs nearly a mile of oceanfront on the Atlantic. Multiple gated access points bring you from the campground to the sand. Wristbands are checked during peak season.
The beach is wide enough that even on busy Saturdays you can find your own stretch. Ocean Lakes has beachfront workout stations, playgrounds, and grill areas within a short walk of the sand.
Stop 8: Sandy’s Down Under Skate Park
South side of the campground. An outdoor skate park for guests who bring boards, scooters, or bikes. Not something you’d know about from Ocean Lakes’ front-of-website marketing, but it exists and is a fun spot to practice your kickturn!
Stop 9: The recreation building
Central location near Camptown Center. Hosts seasonal fitness classes (yoga, water aerobics), craft activities, ping pong, holiday-themed events, and rally / group event space. I recommend stopping by at the beginning of your trip to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the fun activities! My personal favorite is the fall chili cook off!
Stop 10: Sports courts and playgrounds
Scattered throughout the campground:
– Basketball courts
– Volleyball courts (some beachfront)
– Shuffleboard
– Cornhole
– Horseshoes
– Multiple playgrounds
If your kids are like mine, you’ll have to drag them off the playgrounds to come back for dinner. Our kids have had so much fun playing and making new friendships during our trips!
The layout, summarized
If you imagine Ocean Lakes as a rectangle laid out east-west:
– Front gate on the west
– Camptown Center a little east of the front gate
– Sandy Harbor Family Fun Center in the middle
– Rental home sections north and south of Sandy Harbor
– Magnolia Lake and quieter sections on the far inland (west) side
– Oceanfront sections on the east side
– Beach along the entire east edge
Most guests spend their time on the east half (Sandy Harbor + oceanfront + beach). The west half (Magnolia Lake, inland sections, dog park) is quieter and less traveled.
What’s the typical daily flow inside the campground?
Rough pattern from watching guests over multiple summers:
– 7 AM: early risers walk the beach or grab coffee at the Creamery
– 10 AM: water park opens, Sandy Harbor gets active
– 12 PM: lunch break, split between families going back to houses and Sandy Harbor Café
– 2 PM: afternoon downtime, cart rides, quieter beach time
– 4 PM: kids return to pools and water park
– 6 PM: water park closes, dinner starts at rental porches
– 8 PM: Center Stage or family movie nights in summer
– 9 PM: kids to bed, adults on porches soaking in the moonlight
The rhythm is consistent across the season. Off-season shifts earlier as sunset comes sooner.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Ocean Lakes really?
310 acres. Big enough that a golf cart is meaningful transportation.
How long does it take to walk from a mid-park house to the beach?
Typically 10-15 minutes. Cart ride is 3-5 minutes.
Where’s the main office located?
Just past the front gate on the right, at 6001 South Kings Hwy.
Is Camptown Center walkable from most rental houses?
From mid-park sections, yes (5-10 minute walk). From oceanfront or inland, cart is easier.
What’s the quietest part of the campground?
Inland sections (3000, 4000) around Magnolia Lake.
What’s the busiest part?
Sandy Harbor Family Fun Center and the beach access points on peak summer days.
Can I explore the whole campground in a day?
Yes, easily. A full cart tour takes about 90 minutes. Walking tour takes 3-4 hours.
Are there maps at the front gate?
Yes. Printed maps at the main office, Ocean Lakes Golf Cars, and Ocean Lakes Properties. Digital map on Ocean Lakes’ maps page (https://www.oceanlakes.com/about-us/maps/).
Where’s the closest grocery store outside the gate?
Food Lion, about 5 minutes north on US-17.
Sources
– Ocean Lakes size (310 acres, mile of oceanfront): Ocean Lakes Family Campground homepage (https://www.oceanlakes.com/)
– Camptown Center amenities: Ocean Lakes Camptown Center page (https://www.oceanlakes.com/amenities/camptown-center/)
– Sandy Harbor Family Fun Center: Ocean Lakes Sandy Harbor page
– Lakeside Paws N’ Play: Ocean Lakes dog park page (https://www.oceanlakes.com/amenities/dog-park-dog-wash/)
– Campsite section overview: Ocean Lakes campsite information page (https://www.oceanlakes.com/lodging-2/campsites-2/)
– Ocean Lakes campground maps: Ocean Lakes maps page (https://www.oceanlakes.com/about-us/maps/)
—————————————-
Last updated: September 30, 2026
About the author: Shawn Huffines has walked the perimeter of Ocean Lakes more times than he can count, usually checking on a property or dropping off a forgotten beach chair. He runs Dune Life Rentals. Text or call 336-382-1415.