The Ultimate Guide to Ocean Lakes in the Off-Season (What’s Actually Open November to March)

I’ve gotten more messages the last few weeks asking the same question: is it still worth coming to Ocean Lakes in the winter? The indoor water park is torn up for construction, the indoor pool is gone, mini golf is closed, and the outdoor water park shut down after Labor Day. Fair questions, all of them. This is the honest answer.

I’m Shawn. I run 34 houses inside Ocean Lakes Family Campground in Myrtle Beach, and 33 of them come with a golf cart. I rent in every season, and the off-season (roughly November through March) is a different trip than July. It’s quieter, cheaper, and a lot of guests like it better than the summer. But you need to know what you’re walking into before you book.

What’s closed at Ocean Lakes November through March?

Let me get the bad news out of the way first.

• The outdoor water park (Sandy Harbor Family Fun Center) is closed. It runs seasonally and shuts down after Labor Day weekend. Lazy river, slides, big pool: all closed until next summer.
• The old indoor pool is gone. It was torn out to make room for the new indoor water park that opens Memorial Day weekend 2027. I’ll be straight with you: the old indoor pool wasn’t anything special anyway. I wouldn’t have swam in it. The new one is going to be a different animal.
• Mini golf is closed. The putt-putt sat where the new indoor water park is being built, so it’s gone during construction. Ocean Lakes has said it will be relocated nearby, but no new location is announced yet [TEAM REVIEW: confirm mini golf relocation details on oceanlakes.com before publishing].
• The Sandy Mart cafe is on reduced hours. The main Sandy Mart is open year-round but the food side scales back in the off-season.
• The Recreation Center programming is lighter. Big summer events like outdoor movies and nightly pool parties don’t run.
• The dog park hours shift. Summer hours are 7 AM to 8 PM. Off-season is roughly 8 AM to 5 PM, which is still plenty of time [TEAM REVIEW: confirm current off-season dog park hours on oceanlakes.com before publishing].

If your trip was built around the indoor pool and the outdoor water park, I’d tell you to wait for 2027. If it wasn’t, keep reading.

What’s actually open in the off-season?

Here’s what’s running from November through March, and most of it is good.

• The beach. Open every day, every month. In the off-season you can walk a mile of sand and see maybe five people. Dogs are allowed on the beach in the off-season too (restrictions tighten up for peak summer).
• The campground itself. Streets, playgrounds, basketball courts, the lake, and the fishing pond are all open.
• Cornhole every Saturday. Ocean Lakes runs a cornhole tournament every Saturday year-round at the Recreation Center. It’s casual and anyone can jump in.
• Christmas at Thanksgiving. The campground decorates end to end the first weekend after Thanksgiving. Light show, Santa visits, Pet Photos with Santa, Campground Canvases. I wrote a whole piece on this one.
• Thanksgiving week events. A full week of activities including a 5K, Turkey Bingo, rock painting, butter making, pet costume contest, and more. The campground is way more active than I realized before I started paying attention.
• Polar Plunge, December 31. The traditional cold-water run into the ocean to send off the year.
• Dog park, playgrounds, basketball, fishing. All open.
• Sandy Mart (store side). Open year-round for essentials, firewood, snacks, and the stuff you forgot to pack.
• Rec Hall and seasonal events. Bingo, karaoke, movie nights depending on the week.

The campground is quieter but it isn’t closed. It’s a working year-round community with a few hundred permanent residents, so it never fully goes to sleep.

What’s there to do within 15 minutes of Ocean Lakes in winter?

The campground is 10 to 15 minutes from most of Myrtle Beach’s indoor attractions. In the off-season this becomes more important because you’re more likely to want an indoor backup for a cold or rainy afternoon.

• Broadway at the Beach. Open year-round with Ripley’s Aquarium, WonderWorks, and the IMAX.
• Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Indoor and open winter.
• The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk. The arcades, SkyWheel, and shops on the oceanfront strip are mostly open year-round, though some vendors run shorter hours.
• Prestwick Country Club sits right next door to Ocean Lakes and plays through the winter.
• Family Kingdom closes for the season after Halloween weekend, so that one’s out.
• Tanger Outlets. Open year-round and gets busier the closer you get to Christmas.

For the full list of what’s near the gate, see attractions within 15 minutes of Ocean Lakes.

Is it worth coming to Ocean Lakes in winter?

My honest answer: yes, for the right trip.

If you want crowded pools, nightly events, and the full summer campground scene, no, come back in June. If you want a quiet beach week with your family, your dog, a golf cart, and a house for a fraction of the summer rate, the off-season is a sleeper. The campground to yourselves. The beach empty. Rates significantly lower. Last-minute booking actually possible, which it isn’t in July.

A lot of my repeat guests tell me the off-season is their favorite week of the year. They’re not wrong.

How much cheaper is off-season at Ocean Lakes?

Rates in the off-season run roughly 40 to 60 percent lower than peak July rates on the same houses. A beach house that rents at a peak summer rate in July can be meaningfully more affordable in January or February. Thanksgiving week and the week between Christmas and New Year’s are the two off-season weeks that price higher because demand jumps.

For current pricing on specific dates, the fastest answer is to check booking.duneliferentals.com/all-listings or text me at 336-382-1415.

What should I pack for off-season Ocean Lakes?

The beach is open but the weather isn’t July. Daytime highs in December and January run roughly 55 to 62F, with nighttime lows in the upper 30s to mid 40s (per Current Results Myrtle Beach monthly averages). Pack like you would for a mild East Coast spring.

• Jacket and a warmer layer for mornings and evenings
• Long pants plus shorts for the warm afternoons that do happen
• Beach-walking shoes, not just flip-flops
• A knit hat for the Polar Plunge if you’re brave
• Rain layer. Winter rain happens.
• Dog gear if you’re bringing one. Towels, long leash, a warmer coat for a short-haired dog.

When does the indoor pool reopen?

The old indoor pool is permanently closed. The new indoor water park at Ocean Lakes opens Memorial Day weekend 2027. It’s a full indoor water park, not a lap pool, and it’s going to change the off-season experience the following winter.

Can I bring my dog to Ocean Lakes in the off-season?

Yes, and the off-season is the best dog window of the year. Dogs are welcome at my houses year-round, the on-site dog park is open (shorter hours than summer, but open), and the beach has looser dog rules outside of peak summer season. Guests with dogs who come in January and February tell me it’s the only trip of the year that actually feels like a dog vacation.

Frequently asked questions

Is the water park closed at Ocean Lakes in winter? Yes. The outdoor water park (Sandy Harbor) closes after Labor Day. The old indoor pool is gone. The new indoor water park opens Memorial Day weekend 2027.

Is the mini golf open at Ocean Lakes right now? No. Mini golf is closed through construction. It sat where the new indoor water park is being built.

Is the beach open in the off-season? Yes. The beach is open 365 days a year and dog rules are more relaxed in the off-season.

Can I book last-minute in the off-season? Yes. Unlike July, last-minute booking in the off-season is realistic. Text 336-382-1415 for same-week availability.

How cold does it get at Ocean Lakes in December and January? Daytime highs run roughly 55 to 62F. Lows run upper 30s to mid 40s. Not swim weather, but a jacket and a hoodie get you through.

Is Ocean Lakes safe in the off-season with fewer people around? Yes. The campground is gated with security 24/7 year-round. There are also hundreds of permanent residents who live inside the gates, so it never empties out.

What events happen at Ocean Lakes in December? Christmas at Thanksgiving, Pet Photos with Santa, Campground Canvases, cornhole tournaments every Saturday, and the Polar Plunge on December 31.

Can I still get a golf cart with my rental in winter? Yes. 33 of my 34 houses include a golf cart year-round.

Last updated: October 30, 2026

About the author: Shawn Huffines runs Dune Life Rentals at Ocean Lakes Family Campground in Myrtle Beach, SC. Text or call 336-382-1415.