You’re driving down Highway 17 Business, past the neon signs of Myrtle Beach, and suddenly the vibe shifts. The air smells different—saltier, earthier, like pluff mud and slow-cooked seafood. This is Murrells Inlet. It’s the "Seafood Capital of South Carolina," but if you're looking for the standard high-rise hotel experience, you’re in the wrong place. That’s where Inlet Sports Lodge Murrells Inlet SC comes in. It sits tucked away, looking more like a private coastal estate than a commercial hotel, and honestly, that’s exactly why people obsess over it.
It isn’t for everyone. If you want a 500-room resort with a lazy river and a DJ at the pool, go ten miles north. But if you want a place that actually understands the "Sport" part of its name—think world-class golf, serious offshore fishing, and kayaking through the salt marsh—this is the spot.
What the Rooms Actually Feel Like (Hint: It’s Not a Marriott)
Most hotel rooms feel like they were decorated by a committee in a windowless boardroom. Here, the aesthetic is "upscale lodge." Think hand-carved mahogany, pine floors, and granite countertops. It’s rugged but expensive.
You’ve got 34 rooms total. That’s it. It’s intimate. Each Deluxe Studio or Two-Bedroom Suite comes with a kitchenette. Now, usually, "kitchenette" is code for a microwave and a sad little sink. At the Inlet Sports Lodge Murrells Inlet SC, they actually give you a full-sized stainless steel refrigerator, a two-burner glass cooktop, and a dishwasher. It’s designed for the person who went out on a charter boat all day and actually wants to sear their own tuna or keep their craft beer at a specific temperature.
The bathrooms are surprisingly huge. Walk-in showers with rain showerheads are the standard. It’s the kind of place where you can actually scrub the salt and sand off after a day at Huntington Beach State Park without hitting your elbows on the wall.
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The Location Logic: Why Murrells Inlet Trumps Myrtle
People get confused. They see "Grand Strand" and assume everything is the same. It’s not. Murrells Inlet is a fishing village at heart. Staying at the Lodge puts you exactly one mile from the MarshWalk.
Basically, the MarshWalk is a half-mile wooden boardwalk lined with the best restaurants in the state. We’re talking Wicked Tuna, Dead Dog Saloon, and Drunken Jack’s. You can walk it, or take a quick Uber, and you’re right there in the thick of live music and fresh oysters.
But there’s a trade-off.
The Lodge isn’t on the beach. It’s on the marsh side. For some, that’s a dealbreaker. For those who know better, it’s a blessing. You avoid the screaming crowds and the bumper-to-bumper traffic of Ocean Boulevard. Plus, you’re less than five minutes from the entrance of Huntington Beach State Park. That park has 2,500 acres of pristine beach and marshland. It’s arguably the most beautiful stretch of sand in South Carolina, and it’s right in your backyard.
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Golfers and Fishers: This is Your Hub
The "Sports" in the name isn’t just marketing fluff. They are partnered with some of the heaviest hitters in the golf world. If you stay here, you get priority access and discounted rates at Caledonia Golf & Fish Club and True Blue Golf Club.
Caledonia is consistently ranked in the top 100 courses in the country by Golf Magazine and Golf Digest. It’s built on an old rice plantation. The drive in—an avenue of ancient oaks draped in Spanish moss—is worth the trip alone. True Blue is the contrast; it’s massive, open, and rugged. Having these two courses as "sister" properties is a massive flex for a small lodge.
Then there’s the fishing.
Murrells Inlet is legendary for redfish, flounder, and trout. The Lodge is set up for people who bring their own boats. There is designated boat trailer parking with wash-down stations. Try finding that at a major hotel chain. You can’t. They’ll tell you to park in the back of a dark lot and hope for the best. Here, the staff usually knows what’s biting and which captains are actually putting people on fish.
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Food and Drink: COSTA and Beyond
Right on the property is COSTA Coastal Kitchen & Bar. It’s not your typical "hotel restaurant." It’s an Italian-influenced seafood spot that locals actually frequent. That’s always the litmus test: do the people who live here eat there? At COSTA, the answer is yes.
The menu is a mix of traditional Italian—think Veal Saltimbocca—and local Lowcountry catches. The atmosphere is dark, moody, and sophisticated. It’s a great place to wind down after a day in the sun, especially if you aren’t in the mood to fight the crowds at the MarshWalk.
The Realities: What You Might Not Like
Let’s be real for a second. If you don’t have a car, staying here is tough. Murrells Inlet isn't a "walkable" town in the traditional urban sense. You need wheels to get to the beach, the grocery store, or the shops.
Also, the pool is small. It’s clean and nice for a dip, but it’s a "plunge" pool, not a "spend all day doing laps" pool. If your vacation is centered around poolside service and frozen margaritas delivered to your lounger every fifteen minutes, this isn't the vibe. It’s more of a home base for active people who are going to be out doing things.
Practical Steps for Your Trip
Don't just wing it. This place fills up months in advance, especially during the spring golf season and the fall fishing runs.
- Book the Golf Package Early: If you plan on playing Caledonia or True Blue, don't book your tee times separately. Call the Lodge directly. Their "Stay & Play" packages are almost always cheaper than booking the room and the golf individually.
- State Park Pass: Ask the front desk about Huntington Beach State Park. Sometimes they have passes or tips on the best times to go to avoid the $8 per person entry fee or just to find the best bird-watching spots near Atalaya Castle.
- The Boat Situation: If you’re towing a boat, call ahead to confirm your parking spot. The lot is spacious, but it’s first-come, first-served.
- Dining Strategy: Make your reservations for COSTA at the same time you book your room. During the summer, even on a Tuesday, they get slammed.
- Explore the Backwaters: Rent a kayak from a local outfitter like Black River Outdoors. They can meet you near the Lodge. Paddling through the salt marsh at high tide is the only way to see the "real" Murrells Inlet that most tourists miss.
Inlet Sports Lodge Murrells Inlet SC represents a specific kind of South Carolina luxury. It’s about the quality of the wood in the floors, the proximity to the best greens in the South, and the quiet of the marsh at sunset. It’s for the traveler who wants to feel like a local, not a tourist.