25 Best Summer Campgrounds in South Carolina

By VacationIdea Staff on June 15, 2022 - Updated

Carol/stock.adobe.com

The southeastern U.S. state of South Carolina offers beautiful beaches, pristine golf courses, historical sites and cities, and exceptional cuisine. Steeped in history, South Carolina is home to the picturesque town of Charleston, Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the American Civil War rang out in 1861, and the Burt-Stark Mansion in Abbeville where Confederate President Jefferson Davis conceded defeat. South Carolina also boasts over 180 miles picture-perfect coastline, spectacular beaches, and family-friendly beachfront resorts, as well as many state parks and recreational areas that offer an array of outdoor activities and adventures. Pack your tent or jump into your RV and start exploring this amazing state.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1.Barnwell State Park

Barnwell State Park is located near the town of Blackville in Barnwell County and a favorite spot among the community for a family-friendly getaway. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937, the park offers a variety of outdoor activities from hiking, mountain biking, and picnicking to water-based fun on a small lake in the park, such as non-motorized boating, fishing, and kayaking. The Barnwell State Park Campground has sites for tents and RVs with electricity and water hookups, a dump station, picnic tables, fire pits and grills, and comfort stations with hot showers, toilets, and drinking water. The park offers complimentary wireless Internet and has a children’s playground.

223 State Park Rd, Blackville, SC 29817, Phone: 803-284-2212

2.Coneross Campground

Set on the shores of the man-made Hartwell Lake, which is fed by the Savannah, Tugaloo, and Seneca Rivers, Coneross Campground is one of eight campgrounds in the area operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The moderately sloping, heavily wooded campground is spread over 136 acres and offers 106 public use campsites, 94 of which have full water and electric hookups, while 12 are primitive pad-only sites. Amenities in the campground include comfort stations with showers, drinking water and flushing toilets, dump stations, a boat ramp and a courtesy dock, four children’s playgrounds, and ample parking. The campground has two safe swimming beaches, and activities range from hiking, mountain biking, and boating to fishing, canoeing, and sailing.

699 Coneross Park Rd, Townville, SC 29689, Phone: 888-893-0678

3.Congaree National Park

Congaree National Park is a 26,276-acre national park in central South Carolina that is home to the largest tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the United States. The park has two campgrounds - Longleaf and Bluff Campgrounds – which are situated in the upland region of Congaree National Park. The campgrounds cater to primitive camping with tents only, and sites have picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets (only at the Longleaf Campground). The Harry Hampton Visitor Center has 24-hour water filling stations, and the campgrounds are nestled in a spectacular wooded setting surrounded by pine forests. Activities in the region include hiking, mountain biking, special ranger-led programs, and canoeing and kayaking on one of the rivers.

100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC 29061

4.Campgrounds Near Me: Devil's Fork State Park

Resting on the shores of the 7,500-acre Lake Jocassee at the eastern edge of the Sumter National Forest in northwestern South Carolina, Devils Fork State Park is a pristine wilderness that offers hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and camping. The park has two campgrounds located near the shores of Lake Jocassee that offer standard sites with electricity and water and one 12' by 12' tent pad, as well as picnic tables and fire rings. Walk-in campsites designated for tent camping only are available a short walk from a central parking area and have 25 elevated tent pads with picnic tables and fire rings. Laundry facilities are also available.

161 Holcombe Cir, Salem, SC 29676, Phone: 864-944-2639

5.Campgrounds in South Carolina: Ebenezer Park

Located on the picturesque southern shores of the 12,400 acres Lake Wylie in Rock Hill, Ebenezer Park offers a family-friendly getaway with plenty of outdoor and recreational activities to enjoy. The park has a campground with 69 fully equipped sites with water, sewer, and electric hookups, picnic tables, fire pits and grills, and access to a dump station. Lake Wylie offers world-class fishing, along with pleasure boating, swimming, and canoeing, and the surrounding shoreline is perfect for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, picnicking, volleyball, and basketball. Nearby attractions include the Catawba Indian Cultural Center, Carowinds Theme Park, Canaan Zipline Canopy Tour, and Mr. Putty's Fun Park.

4490 Boatshore Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29732, Phone: 803-366-6620

6.Edisto Beach State Park

Home to Carolina's longest system of hiking and biking trails, Edisto Beach State Park is a fantastic family-friendly place to soak up the beauty of South Carolina’s southern coast. Located near the town of Edisto Beach in Colleton County, the oceanfront state park features campsites for tents and RVs nestled in the along the shaded maritime forest or set along Edisto Island’s waterfront, as well as rustic furnished cabins in the woods. Campsites have water, sewer, and electric hookups, picnic tables, fire pits and grills, and access to comfort stations with hot showers, flushing toilets, and drinking water. Activities in the area include excellent fishing, kayaking, hiking, and biking.

8377 State Cabin Rd, Edisto Island, SC 29438, Phone: 843-869-2156

7.Campgrounds in South Carolina: Hamilton Branch State Park

Hamilton Branch State Park is spread over a 731-acre peninsula in Lake Strom Thurmond near the town of Plum Branch in McCormick County. The park has a campground with 150 spacious, lakefront camping sites with beautiful views for both tents and RVs with water, sewer and electric hookups, picnic tables, fire pits and grills, and access to eight comfort stations with hot showers, flushing toilets, and drinking water. Two dump stations are available for RVs, and activities in the area range from water-based fun such as boating, fishing, swimming, and canoeing, as well as hiking and biking trails such as the 12-mile Stevens Creek Bike Trail.

111 Campground Rd, Plum Branch, SC 29845, Phone: 864-333-2223

8.High Falls County Park

Set along the shores of beautiful Lake Keowee in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, High Falls County Park is a 46-acre park with a family-friendly campground, a fishing pier, a mini-golf course, and several sports courts. The campground has 91 campsites with ten waterfront sites, all of which have water, sewer, and electric hookups, picnic tables, fire pits and grills, and access to comfort stations with hot showers, flushing toilets, and drinking water. A dump station is located outside the park entrance, and three pavilions can be rented for special events, while other day-use facilities in the park include picnic tables with charcoal grills, a fishing pier, two boat ramps, and a playground. The 18,000-acre Lake Keowee offers an array of activities such as fishing, swimming, and canoeing.

671 High Falls Rd, Seneca, SC 29672, Phone: 864-882-8234

9.Huntington Beach State Park

The coastal park of Huntington Beach State Park boasts beautiful beaches, wetlands, and riparian habitats that teem with marine life. The park is home to famous landmarks such as the spectacular Grand Strand Beach, the picturesque, Moorish-style winter home of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, after which the park is named, and the Brookgreen Gardens. Huntington Beach State Park Campground offers sites for tents and RVs with water, sewerage, and electrical hookups, picnic tables with charcoal grills, and easy access to restrooms with flushing toilets, drinking water, and hot showers. Several nature trails like the Kerrigan Nature Trail and the Sandpiper Pond Nature Trail have viewing decks where visitors can learn about the local fauna and flora.

16148 Ocean Hwy, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576, Phone: 843-237-4440

10.Keowee-Toxaway State Park

Keowee-Toxaway State Park rests along the shores of Lake Keowee in Pickens County with breathtaking views of Blue Ridge Mountains. The park has a sizeable family-friendly campground with a designated tent area featuring 14 sites with individual tent pads, fire rings, and central water, and ten paved RV sites with individual water and electrical hookups. The campground has easy access to restrooms with flushing toilets, drinking water, and hot showers, and there is a three-bedroom cabin with modern conveniences and a private dock. The park is home to the Jocassee Gorges Visitor Center, which offers a wealth of information about the Jocassee Gorges, and the Keowee-Toxaway Museum that documents the history of the Cherokee Indians and their interactions with local settlers through a range of informative exhibits.

108 Residence Dr, Sunset, SC 29685, Phone: 864-868-2605

11.Campgrounds Near Me: Lake Hartwell State Park

Formerly known as Lake Hartwell State Recreation Area, Lake Hartwell State Park is located near the community of Fair Play in Oconee County and is home to the 56,000-acre Lake Hartwell, which offers an array of water-based activities. The park has a campground with easy access to the shoreline of Lake Hartwell and 115 paved sites for tents and RVs with individual water and electrical hook-ups, picnic tables, firepits, and comfort stations with showers, toilets, and drinking water. The park also offers unique, single room camper cabins for guests without camping gear. Activities in the area include pleasure boating, fishing for striped and hybrid bass, hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.

19138 SC-11, Fair Play, SC 29643, Phone: 864-972-3352

12.Lake Wateree State Park

Located on Desportes Island, Lake Wateree State Park is home to one of South Carolina’s most beautiful lakes, which is stocked with a variety of fish and offers excellent angling. The park’s campground offers 72 sites, some of which can accommodate large RVs and all with full individual electricity and water hookups. Campsites also have picnic tables, fire pits, and access to comfort stations with showers, toilets, and drinking water. Other campground amenities include a children’s playground and a mile-long nature trail that winds through the tranquil surrounding woods where campers can soak up the natural beauty of the area.

881 State Park Rd, Winnsboro, SC 29180, Phone: 803-482-6401

13.Campgrounds in South Carolina: Longleaf Campground

Longleaf Campground is based within the upland region of Congaree National Park, which is a 26,276-acre national park in central South Carolina and home to the largest tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the United States. The campground caters to primitive camping with tents only, and sites have picnic tables, fire rings, and vault. The Harry Hampton Visitor Center has 24-hour water filling stations, and the campgrounds are nestled in a spectacular wooded setting surrounded by pine forests. Activities in the region include hiking, mountain biking, special ranger-led programs, and canoeing and kayaking on one of the rivers.

Hopkins, SC 29061, Phone: 803-776-4396

14.Modoc Campground

Modoc Campground is set on the shores of the 70,000-acre J. Strom Thurmond Lake, which boasts over a thousand miles of shoreline and offers an array of water- and land-based activities. Located five miles from the Thurmond Visitor Center and Dam, the campground is set across two peninsulas and features 68 sites with electrical and water hookups, and one primitive site. Each peninsula has amenities such as hot showers, flushing and vault toilets, drinking water, laundry facilities, and a dump station, as well as a playground, a boat ramp, hiking trails, and beautiful views of the lake. Recreational activities in the park include pleasure boating, world-class fishing, picnicking, swimming, water skiing, and wildlife watching.

296 Modoc Camp Rd, Modoc, SC 29838, Phone: 864-333-2272

15.Myrtle Beach State Park

Located in the heart of the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach State Park is a small state park along the South Carolina coast that stretches along the Atlantic Ocean and features several miles of pristine forest. The 312-acre oceanfront park features saltwater aquariums, interactive natural history displays, and live animal exhibits and plays a significant role in preserving the natural heritage of South Carolina’s coastline. Myrtle Beach State Park Campground has 302 sites for tents and RVs full individual electricity and water hookups, picnic tables, fire pits, and access to comfort stations with showers, toilets, and drinking water. Campsites are shaded in a forest of pines trees and is a short walk from the beach.

4401 S Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, SC 29575, Phone: 843-238-5325

16.Campgrounds in SC: Oconee Point Campground

Nestled deep in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Oconee State Park is a tranquil mountain retreat with comfortable camping sites, rustic cabins, and several picturesque hiking trails. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression, Oconee Point Campground is one of the eight campgrounds in the Lake Hartwell State Park. The 70-acre campground features 70 campsites with full water and electric hookups, comfort stations with showers, drinking water and toilets, and a dump station, and other amenities include a boat ramp with a courtesy dock, two children’s playgrounds, and a lovely beach with safe swimming. Activities in the area include pleasure boating, world-class fishing for striped and hybrid bass, hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.

200 Oconee Point Rd, Seneca, SC 29678, Phone: 888-893-0678

17.Campgrounds Near Me: Paynes Creek Campground

Paynes Creek Campground is one of the eight campgrounds in the Lake Hartwell State Park, which boasts 962 miles of shoreline and offers a variety of outdoor activities ranging from boating and fishing to canoeing and swimming. The sloping 399-acre site is shaded by hardwoods and pine trees and features 44 campsites with full water and electricity hookups, picnic tables, firepits, and comfort stations with showers, toilets, and drinking water. Other amenities include a boat ramp with a courtesy dock, two children’s playgrounds, two designated swimming areas, and a nine-mile multi-purpose trail, and activities in the area include pleasure boating, world-class fishing for striped and hybrid bass, hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.

Paynes Creek Campground Rd, Hartwell, GA 30643, Phone: 888-893-0678

18.Campgrounds in South Carolina: Mile Creek Park

Located on the banks of the beautiful Lake Keowee in the foothills of Pickens County, Mile Creek Park offers a variety of overnight accommodations ranging from tent and RV camping to rustic lakefront cabins. The campground offers 69 campsites with full water and electricity hookups, picnic tables, firepits, and comfort stations with showers, toilets, and drinking water. Ten rustic, fully-equipped cabins are situated on the lake’s shoreline and have full kitchens electricity, drinking water, and stunning lake views. Two dump stations are located in the campground, and outdoor recreational activities in the area include hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, pleasure boating, fishing, swimming, and canoeing.

757 Keowee Baptist Church Rd, Six Mile, SC 29682, Phone: 864-868-2196

19.Sand Hills State Forest - Sugarloaf Mountain Recreation Area

Home to 46,000 acres of magnificent forests and woodland areas, Sandhills State Forest and the Sugarloaf Mountain Recreation Area offers several campgrounds, day-use picnic shelters, a myriad of hiking, horseback and mountain biking trails, and a fishing lake. Sugarloaf Mountain Campground has campsites with full water and electricity hookups, picnic tables, firepits, and comfort stations with showers, toilets, and drinking water. The surrounding 1,123-acre Sand Hills State Park offers a range of outdoor activities, including hiking, horseback riding, seasonal hunting, bird watching, and nature and wildflower walks.

16218 US-1, Patrick, SC 29584, Phone: 843-498-6478

20.Sesquicentennial State Park

Sesquicentennial State Park, fondly called ‘Sesqui’ by locals, is a 1,419-acre park in the Sandhills region that features a beautiful 30-acre lake surrounded picturesque picnic areas and several hiking trails. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, the park features 84 sites with individual water and electrical hookups, including 14 pull-through sites, four sites with tent pads and sandy surfaces, campfire rings with grills, lantern hooks, and access to comfort stations with showers, toilets, and drinking water. The park has a retreat center complete with dormitory-style accommodations and a kitchen for group gatherings, and amenities include kayak and canoe rentals, two nature trails, a six-mile cycling loop, and world-class fishing.

9564 Two Notch Rd, Columbia, SC 29223, Phone: 803-788-2706

21.Campgrounds Near Me: South Cove County Park

Resting on the shoreline of the 18,500-acre Lake Keowee, South Cove County Park is a lovely recreational area that offers a wide variety of recreational activities from camping and picnicking to hiking, fishing, and canoeing. The South Cove County Park Campground is set on a 15-acre peninsula and features 86 campsites with individual water and electrical hookups, picnic tables, campfire rings with grills, and access to comfort stations with showers, toilets, and drinking water. A dump station is located near the entrance of the park, and activities in the park include pleasure boating, fishing, sailing and water-skiing tennis, basketball, and swimming.

1099 S Cove Rd, Seneca, SC 29672, Phone: 864-882-5250

22.Campgrounds Near Me: Springfield Campground

Located on the banks of the man-made Hartwell Lake, Springfield Campground is one of Hartwell’s most popular camping destinations. Boasting over 60 acres of beautiful landscapes comprised of mixed hardwoods and Virginia pine, the campground has 79 campsites with full water and electricity hookups, picnic tables, and campfire rings with grills, and access to comfort stations with showers, toilets, and drinking water. A dump station is located near the entrance of the park, and activities in the park include pleasure boating, fishing, sailing and water-skiing, canoeing, and motor-boating.

1915 Providence Church Rd, Anderson, SC 29626, Phone: 888-893-0678

23.Campgrounds in SC: Table Rock State Park

Centered around the towering mountain Table Rock, after which the park is named, Table Rock State Park is a 3,083-acre park at the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northern Pickens County that offers numerous camping facilities with tent and RV sites and rustic overnight cabins. The campground features 94 standard campsites for tent or RV camping with full water and electricity hookups, picnic tables, campfire rings with grills, and access to comfort stations with showers, toilets, and drinking water. The park also has 14 renovated cabins with comfortable furnishings, and amenities and activities in the park include picnic shelters, and several hiking and mountain trails, including the 80-mile Foothills Trail.

158 E Ellison Ln, Pickens, SC 29671, Phone: 864-878-9813

24.Twin Lakes Recreation Area

Twin Lakes Recreation Area is a 152-acre site that features one of the eight campgrounds in the Lake Hartwell State Park. The Twin Lakes campground features 102 campsites with full water and electric hookups, comfort stations with showers, drinking water and toilets, and two dump stations, and other amenities include a lovely beach with safe swimming, numerous picnic shelters with water and electricity, a two-lane boat ramp, and a children’s playground. Activities in the area include pleasure boating, world-class fishing for striped and hybrid bass, hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.

140 Winnebago Trl, Pendleton, SC 29670-9526

25.Campgrounds Near Me: Arrowhead Campground

Situated in the Badin Lake Recreation Area in North Carolina's Uwharrie National Forest, which is renowned for being a hub for outdoor activities, Arrowhead Campground offers a variety of sites for both RV and tent campers. The campground is open year-round and provides easy access to a plethora of recreational activities such as hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, off-road vehicle riding, fishing, and boating. Campsites have abundant water and electric hookups, comfort stations with showers, drinking water and toilets, picnic tables, tent pads, lantern posts, and campfire rings with grills. A dump station is located in the campground, and the Badin Lake Recreation Area offers a range of activities including picnicking, swimming, boating, and fishing on the lake, or horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, and over 17 miles of motorized trails for off-road vehicle riding.

789 HWY 24/27, New London, NC 28127, Phone: 910-576-6391