Barefoot Marina — North Myrtle Beach Marina Guide
A practical guide to Barefoot Marina at Intracoastal Waterway mile marker 354 in North Myrtle Beach: 1,100 feet of concrete floating docks, fuel, transient dockage to 150 feet, resort-style amenities, the Barefoot Queen riverboat, and how the marina relates to Barefoot Landing across the waterway.
By BeachLoco Editorial Team
North Myrtle Beach has two waterfronts, and most visitors only ever see one of them. The ocean side is the reason people book the trip. The Intracoastal Waterway, a mile or so inland, is where the boats actually are — and where the pace of the Grand Strand drops noticeably.
Barefoot Marina sits on that second waterfront at mile marker 354, on the west bank of the waterway. It is a resort-style facility rather than a working fishing harbor: concrete floating docks, a pool, fuel, showers and laundry, a riverboat that runs cruises from the property, and a well-known shopping and entertainment complex directly across the water.
Why Barefoot Marina Matters
The stretch of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway between Little River and Myrtle Beach carries a steady flow of cruising boats, and it does not offer many places to stop with real facilities. Barefoot is one of the substantial ones — the marina describes 1,100 feet of concrete floating docks available for transient dockage, and positions itself as offering the services boaters expect at a resort marina.
That framing is accurate, and it is the key to understanding the place. This is not a charter-fishing dock or a boatyard. There is no travel lift and no line of headboats selling trips. What there is instead is a comfortable, secure, well-equipped stop with a pool, a restaurant option on the property and a walkable entertainment district a short distance away — which makes it a natural overnight or multi-night stop rather than a fuel-and-go.
The marina's published maximum dimensions make the scale clear: vessels to 150 feet length overall, 30 feet of beam and 6 feet of draft. That is large-yacht capacity by waterway standards, and it is one of the reasons Barefoot shows up on so many Grand Strand itineraries.
Mile Marker 354 and the Waterway Setting
Barefoot Marina publishes its location the way boaters actually navigate: mile marker 354 on the ICW. Roads follow later — the street address is on Bridge View Court, off Highway 17 in North Myrtle Beach, named for the bridge that crosses the waterway alongside the property.
One piece of the marina's own guidance deserves emphasis, because it is a real planning factor rather than boilerplate. The marina warns that if you draw over five feet, the Intracoastal Waterway in this area has at times been running extremely low, and it advises checking tides and river height before arriving. Its dockage page notes that drafts over six feet may still be accommodated but require a call ahead. Take that at face value; shoaling on this section of the waterway is a recurring issue.
The marina is open year-round, which matters on a coast where a number of facilities effectively wind down outside the summer season.
Dockage, Slips and Vessel Capacity
The docks are all concrete floating structures, which on a tidal waterway with steady passing traffic is the configuration you want — stable underfoot, consistent freeboard at any tide, and no ladder gymnastics at low water.
The marina lists slip sizes of 20, 30, 33, 35, 45 and 50 feet on those floating docks, alongside the lay-along transient dockage. Larger vessels are handled on the longer dock runs, up to the published 150-foot maximum.
Transient dockage is the marina's headline use, reserved by phone or through its online booking page. Rates are quoted by vessel or slip size when you reserve, and the marina asks for cancellations at least 48 hours before arrival for a full refund.
Monthly and annual dockage are both offered, and the marina describes slips that can be configured for extended stays with electric, water, high-speed internet and HD television at the slip. One policy is worth knowing before you plan around it: the marina states that as of September 20, 2023, it no longer accepts liveaboards.
Fuel, Power and Marina Services
The service list is short, current and squarely aimed at cruising boats:
Fuel — high-flow marine-grade gas and diesel. The gasoline is ethanol free, which matters more to boat owners than it does to anyone else and is a genuine selling point on this stretch of water.
Power — 30- and 50-amp service, with the marina citing capacity up to 440 kilowatts across the docks.
Pump-out at the dock, plus gray and black water disposal.
High-speed internet and digital cable with HD television at the slips — an unusual pairing that tells you the marina expects people to stay a while.
Bathhouse, showers and laundry, described by the marina as updated facilities, along with on-site parking.
Security — 24-hour surveillance with fob-protected gates and facilities.
The marina lists fuel prices only as "call for pricing," and quotes dockage individually, so treat any rate you find on a third-party listing as unverified.
The Pool, the Grounds and What Staying Here Feels Like
The single detail that separates Barefoot from most waterway stops is the resort-style pool. After a long day of motoring, a marina with a pool is a different proposition than a marina with a laundry room — and Barefoot has both.
The rest of the property reads the same way. The marina points to plenty of green open space for walking dogs, ample event space for gatherings, complimentary parking and a bathhouse it describes as squeaky clean. It is pet friendly. None of this is exotic, but taken together it explains why boats book multiple nights here rather than one.
The marina also lists an on-site dining option — the Marina Bar and Grill, described as American coastal comfort food — while elsewhere noting that there is a restaurant within walking distance and more in the surrounding area. Restaurant operations at marinas change hands often, so confirm what is open when you book rather than planning dinner around it.
The Barefoot Queen Riverboat
The Barefoot Queen operates from the same address on Bridge View Court, and it is the reason a lot of non-boaters end up at this marina at all.
The riverboat runs scenic cruises on the Intracoastal Waterway — the operator describes day, lunch and dinner cruises, with live entertainment on board and commentary on the history of the waterway as the boat passes the large homes that line this section of it. Event cruises, private parties and group tours are also offered.
What makes it worth including in a marina guide rather than an attractions list is the vantage point. The Grand Strand is almost always experienced from the sand looking out. A slow cruise up the waterway at dinnertime reverses that view entirely, and it does not require owning a boat, chartering one or knowing anything about navigation. Cruise types, schedules and pricing change seasonally, so book directly through the operator.
Barefoot Landing — Nearby, Not the Same Place
This point gets muddled constantly, so it is worth being precise: Barefoot Marina and Barefoot Landing are two separate properties. Barefoot Landing is the shopping, dining and entertainment complex on Highway 17 South, on the east side of the Intracoastal Waterway. Barefoot Marina is on the opposite bank, near the bridge crossing. They share a name and a neighborhood, not an owner or an address.
Barefoot Landing's own visitor information makes the relationship clear from the other direction: it offers free day docking for boats stopping to shop and eat, and directs anyone needing overnight dockage to the marina across the waterway.
In practice the two work well together. The Landing is a large waterfront complex of restaurants, shops, entertainment venues and boardwalks along the waterway — the most concentrated evening destination in North Myrtle Beach, and an easy short trip from the marina by car or by water. If you are docked at Barefoot with a night to fill, it is the obvious answer; just do not expect to step off your boat into it.
Fishing and Getting on the Water
Barefoot Marina is not a charter-fishing base, and we are not going to invent a fleet for it. The marina's role is access, fuel and dockage; the fishing along the Grand Strand happens from the inlets and the nearshore reefs, with longer offshore runs in season.
If fishing is the point of the trip, start with our Myrtle Beach fishing charters guide and the Myrtle Beach charter listings, which cover trip lengths, seasons and where boats actually depart from along this coast.
Cruisers arriving under their own power have the better end of the deal here. The run north toward Little River and south toward Myrtle Beach covers some of the most pleasant protected water in South Carolina, and Barefoot sits in the middle of it. Further south, Grande Dunes Marina at mile marker 357 is the next substantial stop — useful to know when you are planning fuel and overnight legs.
Marina Information
Barefoot Marina
Intracoastal Waterway · North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
⌖ 2051 Bridge View Ct, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
✆ (843) 390-2011
◷ Hours: Verify with marina
↗ Official Marina Website
Hours and marina operations can change seasonally. Verify current information before visiting.
The marina is open year-round but does not publish a single set of general operating hours; the fuel dock, office, pool and on-site restaurant keep their own schedules. Transient reservations are taken by phone or through the marina's online booking page. The Barefoot Queen operates from the same address under separate management, at 843-390-2017.
Who Barefoot Marina Is Best For
Cruisers running the Intracoastal Waterway are the core audience. Fuel, floating concrete docks, showers, laundry, a pool and secure gates make this a comfortable overnight rather than a utility stop.
Owners of larger vessels are well covered — to 150 feet LOA and 30 feet of beam, which is generous for this section of the waterway.
Boaters staying a season get monthly and annual options with power, water, internet and cable at the slip — but not liveaboard status, which the marina no longer permits.
Travelers without a boat can still use the property: the Barefoot Queen is one of the few ways to experience this coastline from the waterway side, and it requires nothing more than a ticket.
Who it is not for: anglers looking for a charter hub with boats and mates on the dock, and anyone needing haul-out or major repair work. Both exist on this coast, but not here.
Practical Tips
Check the water before you check the calendar. The marina's own warning about low water on this section of the ICW for drafts over five feet is the single most useful thing it publishes. Call if you draw more than six feet.
Reserve ahead in spring and fall. Migratory cruising traffic fills waterway marinas quickly, and the 48-hour cancellation window rewards deciding early.
Ask about the restaurant when you book. On-site dining at marinas changes; confirm rather than assume.
Bring the dog. The marina is pet friendly with open green space, which is not a given on floating-dock facilities.
Plan Barefoot Landing as a separate trip. It is close, but it is across the waterway — a short drive rather than a walk off the dock.
Book the riverboat directly. Cruise types and departure times shift with the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Barefoot Marina?
At 2051 Bridge View Court in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on the Intracoastal Waterway at mile marker 354.
Is Barefoot Marina the same thing as Barefoot Landing?
No. They are separate neighboring properties. Barefoot Landing is the shopping and entertainment complex on Highway 17 South, on the opposite side of the Intracoastal Waterway from the marina.
Does the marina take transient boats?
Yes. Transient dockage along 1,100 feet of concrete floating docks is one of the marina's primary offerings, reserved by phone or through its online booking page.
What size boats can Barefoot Marina accommodate?
The marina publishes a maximum of 150 feet length overall, 30 feet of beam and 6 feet of draft, and asks deeper-draft vessels to call.
Does the marina sell fuel?
Yes — high-flow marine-grade diesel and ethanol-free gasoline, with pricing quoted by phone.
What amenities are included with a slip?
Water and electric (30 and 50 amp), high-speed Wi-Fi, digital cable and HD TV, updated restrooms and showers, laundry, a resort-style pool, on-site parking, pump-out and 24-hour surveillance with fob-protected gates.
Can I live aboard at Barefoot Marina?
No. The marina states that it stopped accepting liveaboards as of September 20, 2023.
What is the Barefoot Queen?
A riverboat operating from the same address, running scenic day, lunch and dinner cruises on the Intracoastal Waterway, plus event cruises, private parties and group tours.
Is there a restaurant at the marina?
The marina lists an on-site dining option, the Marina Bar and Grill, and notes additional restaurants within walking distance and nearby. Confirm current operations when you reserve.
Planning the Rest of Your Trip
North Myrtle Beach sits at the top of the Grand Strand, so the marina pairs naturally with the wider area. Start with the Myrtle Beach destination guide, then things to do in Myrtle Beach for the land side of the trip and the best beaches along the Grand Strand for the ocean side.
For dinner beyond the waterway, Sea Captain's House is the oceanfront counterpoint, and the Ocean Drive shag clubs — just a few minutes north of the marina — are the most distinctly local night out on this coast. Resort options and snorkeling near Myrtle Beach round out the planning.
If you are timing a visit, Myrtle Beach Bike Week and the Myrtle Beach Jeep Jam both fill the area while they run — check the events calendar before booking a slip or a room.