09/17 to 09/24 Hudson Islanders at Ocean Lakes Family Campground

Ocean Lakes Family Campground

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

09/17 to 09/24/2026

The long trip from CPP to Myrtle Beach, SC, was a leisurely three-stop journey with overnight stays at KOAs in New Holland, Pennsylvania; Fredericksburg, Virginia; and Enfield, North Carolina. Traffic along the route varied from very light to moderate with the usual slowdowns for construction. Diesel prices ranged from $5.699 in Croton, NY to $6.199 in North Carolina.

 

When Ocean Lakes Family Campground opened in 1970, the Nelson family were kept busy overseeing thirty campsites and one bathhouse. Today, on their 310 oceanfront acres with nearly one mile of beachfront, they have 859 campsites and lease 2,572 sites, 5 bathhouses and have 700+ employees. It's one of the largest campgrounds in the United States. On an average seasonal day, this resort has 25,000 to 35,000 guests. Very impressive numbers. Take a 4-minute drone video tour of the campground HERE created by Bates Photography.

I  would love to know when they took this photo showing an empty campground. That water slide toward the right side of the photo is the area we occupied this year.

Some members of the Hudson Islanders stopped here last year on the way back home from our stay in Florida. It was then we booked for this year. Most of us agreed a two-week stay would be nice. As provided in my last blog, the link to read about our stay last year can be viewed HERE. 

This year's site assignment included:

24 - Tom & Vicki

34 - Gary & Bobbie Jean

44 - Dan & Melanie

45 - Roberta

52 - Jack

53 - Jim & Pat

54 - Charlie

62- Tony & Doreen

HH1 - John Sr & Johnny 

I felt my site, K-54, facing Periwinkle Drive was the best. With more than 1,100 golf carts in their rental fleet, the traffic driving by was "interesting" and fun to view during our morning coffee and afternoon cocktail hours. When you add the carts owned by the annual leasing residents and visitors who bring their own, the total on the grounds runs 4,000-5,000.

Morning coffee, afternoon cocktail hour and evening campfires were the opportunities for our 15 members to gather and share whatever. Some went to shows, some spent hours on the beach, others scouted out and ate at one of the many restaurants in the area. Having a personal "Uber" I was okay going anywhere the group felt like dining out:

Golden Corral. This was my first visit to this huge, all-you-can eat buffet restaurant. It was generally agreed there's a big difference between this restaurant in the south vs. those in the north. I was impressed to find it very clean. The food selections were varied, delicious and plentiful. The servers were constantly in and out of the kitchen refilling heated pans.

Dagwoods Deli and Sports Bar in North Myrtle Beach did not disappoint. Beginning in 1988, they've been making mouth watering sandwiches ever since.

Sitting almost anywhere inside, you had giant TV screens showing all sports events going on at that time. 

Bumstead's Club: A triple decker piled high with turkey, ham, Swiss & American cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes & mayonnaise on toasted sliced white bread. The Pub chips was an upcharge. 

Fire to Table 

Pitmaster BBQ Bacon Burger: 8oz's of beef, brisket & short rib blended patty, whiskey BBQ glaze, hickory smoked bacon topped with American & smoked gouda cheese, lettuce, and tomato. The side is a smoked gouda mac and cheese.

Their smoked old fashion caught my eye.

A couple of mornings, some of us made the short trip to...

One of the location was right next to...

That was good for a laugh

A late breakfast at the Waffle House took care of lunch as well. It was the first breakfast restaurant we'd ever gone to where our coffee was served AFTER the main meal. She did her best though, bless her heart.

Contrary to some opinions, the Waffle Houses I have visited were not the"Slide in and Slide Out" type. Each was Spic and Span clean.

To end our week, fifteen of us descended on and enjoyed dinner at Drunkin' Jack's.

There's a goat in this beautiful, huge, coloroful stained glass mural above our table. Can you spot it?

Hush puppies with honey butter were addicting.

One slice is missing from the 6oz. filet mignon.

Happy Birthday Mel

After dinner we enjoyed a Sunset Cruise offered by Express Water Sports.

"Sunset Happy Hour Cruises are simply the best! There is no better place to watch a Myrtle Beach sunset than from the deck of our boat!  Open Bar!! Free Wine, Beer, soft drinks and Punch with a Cheese and fruit tray. One price all included." That's Captain Ryan.

Jack

Birthday girl, Mel

Bobbie Jean. Jack. Repeat. Bobbie Jean.

Gary & Bobbie Jean

Mel & Dan

Bobbie Jean & Melanie; sisters from different mothers.

Jim

Pat

You guessed it: Jim & Pat

Vicky & Tom

Keeley, a student at Coastal Carolina University majoring in Marine Biology, served with a smile.

Jack, Charlie, Keeley

No sunset but a terrific cloud cover.

Opps. Didn't get Tony and Doreen together. 

Another sunset cruise on a sister boat.

After the cruise, a walk along Murrell's Inlet MarshWalk ended the evening.

Back at the campground, nightly campfires saw as many as twenty one folks enjoying the breezy chilly evenings. (Photos from my side of the circle missing)

Doreen with cousin Stacy's dog.

Saw this old fella rambling down the road toward the beach like he owned the place. Happy as could be, not a care in the world. Security came along and beckoned him with one of my treats as they awaited the owner.

Kept in the car until his owner and leash arrived.

My 7:00 a.m. view of sunrise from my RV.

Mel captured these shots right from the beach.

Thank you, Mel.

As the week came to an end, it was generally agreed that it made more sense to spend two weeks instead of one after the ~750 mile, 14 hour drive just for a week. And so, I made arrangements with their group reservation person, Theresa, to have eleven of us clustered as close as possible for two weeks in October, 2027. 

The week is done, the memories are collected, the relaxation phase is complete and now it's time to point Winnie north toward home.