Where Are the Best Camping Spots Near Charleston, SC?

When you want a respite from your daily responsibilities, getting away on a camping trip is a great way to ground yourself and have fun. Luckily, there are many campgrounds and places to do just that in and around Charleston, SC. Try these four best campgrounds for a weekend getaway in nature.

Lake Aire Campground

Address: Lake Aire Campground, 4375 Highway 162, Hollywood, SC 29449

Rates: $30-$66 per week plus tax

Lake Aire Campground is a paradise for campers with RVs. Just two miles south of Charleston in Hollywood, this spacious campground was created with family and fun in mind. Among its features are a private lake stocked with fish to catch, public-use charcoal grills, a swimming pool with a sunning deck, horseshoe, and cornhole games. Fire rings and picnic tables are present in every campsite. Tiled bathrooms and laundry facilities are available to campers, too. Most campsites are pull-through sites for RVs with 30 AMP, 50 AMP, and water hook-up options available. A few sites set aside for campers who prefer their tents. Leashed pets are welcome.

James Island County Park

Address: James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Dr, Charleston, SC 29412

Rates: $35-$77 per night

Go on a camping trip without even leaving Charleston. James Island County Park is the place to do it. Campsites are pull-through and permanent sites. Different sites offer varied electrical services, from 30 to 50 amps, and a bathroom facility is also available. For families camping here, an activity center and full-service campground store are available. Plus, there’s the natural beauty of the whole 643-acre park with its rock climbing wall, waterpark, fishign and crabbing dock, and off-leash dog park. The biggest bonus to camping in the city is that if you have forgotten anything, it’s an easy jaunt back home or into town for what you need.

Buck Hall Recreation Area

Address: Buck Hall Recreation Area, 999 Buckhall Landing Rd, McClellanville, SC 29458

Rates: $25-$40 per night

The Buck Hall Recreation Area campground places happy campers close to the water. Located along the Intracoastal Waterway and close to Bull’s Bay in McClellanville, this campground is close to prime shrimp baiting and fishing. Even if fishing isn’t your thing, the surrounding 63,000 acres of Camp Romaine National Wildlife Refuge contains overflowing natural beauty in creeks and natural beaches. Multiple campsites are available for tent and RV camping, with individual and group sites, fire rings, and picnic tables. Some sites have full hookups. Flush toilets, showerhouses, and drinking water are at the facility. There’s an accessible walkway by the shore; in the opposite direction, there’s an entrance to the Palmetto Trail, which stretches from the coast to the mountains.

Natural Gathering Grounds

Address: Natural Gathering Grounds, 7338 Peirce Rd, Ridgeville, SC 29472

Rates: $41-$122 per night

For a wide-open space full of possibilities and things to do, the Natural Gathering Grounds in Ridgeville is the place to head. This 54-acre campground baths you in Lowcountry nature, with hiking trails, berry bushes, fishing spots, and beautiful forest to explore. The land’s owners also provide such luxuries as hammock stations and a bathhouse. Find private access to the Edisto River, where. you can swim at the campground beach or launch a paddle craft. Try your hand at a bow on the archery range, or pet the farm animals. Camping itself is varied: find tent camping sites or have the glamping experience by booking a bungalow, a vintage trailer, or even a homestead lodge. Amenities depend on the site you rent.

Camping Near Charleston, SC

There’s sure to be a great place where you can have a great time camping by yourself, with your family, or with your friends. Check out these websites to find the Charleston campground that suits you best, and book your getaway today!

Updated February 2024