From beautiful coastal areas to the beautiful hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, find plenty of camping sites in South Carolina. These rustic getaways have many recreational activities to feed your hobbies and interests. Find tent camping surrounded by acres of forests, or park your RV in an amenity-rich campground. Not sure where to camp in South Carolina? Our ultimate guide picks the best and most popular places to spend your summer vacation, time off from work, or just a quick weekend getaway.

1. Buck Hall Recreation Area

Nearest town: McClellanville, SC

Total campsites: 19

As part of the Francis Marion National Forest and Sumter National Forest, the Buck Hall Reception Area is a prime location for those who wish to spend the day surrounded by Mother Nature. The Buck Hall Recreation Area is right by the Intercoastal Waterway. Launch your exploration of various beaches, tidal creeks, and marshlands from its shoreline and boat ramps. Camping here delivers easy access if you want to explore Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. Best of all, it’s open all year!

Parking fees apply at $7.00 per vehicle for day use. Camping fees range $20 to $28 depending on whether you choose tent or RV camping. The campground has 14 full hook-up RV sites and a dump station. The amenities include two boat ramps, picnic tables and shelters, hiking and biking trails, and drinking stations. The marshlands are prime grounds for shrimp baiting. Other popular activities from Buck Hall include:

• Fishing
• Boating
• Basketball
• Camping
• Hiking (The Palmetto Trail)
• Biking
• Picnic shelters and tables

2. Burrells Ford Campground

Nearest Town: Mountain Rest, SC

Total Campsites: about 10

The primitive camping at Burrells Ford Campground is open throughout the year, so visitors are welcome to have fun and explore the area for free. This is a walk-in campground with very basic facilities. Come prepared for the quarter-mile hike from the parking area. The trail takes you along the beautiful Chattooga River. While some tent sites are along the river, others are scattered around the woods.

The gravel around these camping pads is well-maintained. The easy gravel hike and inclusion of facilities make it a good choice for first-time tent campers. The facilities are basic, but they do include fire rings, picnic tables, pit toilets, and lantern posts. Camping is free, and sites are first-come, first-served.

Camping here places you at the trailheads for miles of hiking trails. Walk the stunning Foothills Trail or King Creek Falls Trail. Things to do near Burrells Ford Campground include:

• Hiking
• Fishing
• Waterfalls: King Creek Falls and Spoonauger Falls

3. Andrew Jackson State Park

Nearest Town: Lancaster, SC

Total Campsites: 25

This popular state park combines art, history, and family-friendly activities to give visitors many ways to spend their day. For starters, it was the home of the seventh president of the United States. Its museum has artifacts from the Revolutionary War and Andrew Jackson’s life. The park runs living history programs and has an 18th-century schoolhouse. The art piece comes in with the park’s famous “Boy of the Waxhaws” statue.

Special park events are the Lantern Tour and the Presidential birthday party.

The grounds are a beautiful place to spend a day. The 18-acre lake serves as a home to various wildlife and migratory birds. Try your luck in fishing for bass, crappie, and sunfish. Gas-powered boats are not allowed, but you can canoe, kayak, or paddleboard. Walk the Garden of the Waxhaws Trail around the lake, a popular easy stroll. The park has one other mile-loop trail.

The campground is for RV camping, with full water and electrical hookups at each site. A primitive camping group area is available for reservation by organized groups. The state park day admission fee is $3, while camping requires a two-night minimum. Its fees vary based on the time of year and site. Some camping pads are lakefront.

4. Campground at James Island County Park

Nearest Town: Charleston, SC

Total Campsites: 141

Inside this 643-acre urban sanctuary, explore the Lowcountry and Historic Charleston. Offering the the vibe of an upscale resort for campers, a stay here comes with free Wi-Fi, bathhouses, an activity center, and a full-service campground store. Modern bathhouses include laundry facilities. The Campground at James Island County Park offers great facilities such as picnic tables, laundry, fire rings, and even wheelchair-accessible sites. Activities include:

• Miles of paved trails for walking or biking
• Skating
• 16-acre lake for fishing or pedal boating and kayaking
• Tidal fishing and crabbing dock
• Playgrounds
• Splash Zone Waterpark
• Off-leash dog park

The campground fees range from $35 for primitive tent camping up to $77 for a pull-through with full hookups. Primitive sites are walk-in and not for car camping.

5. Calhoun Falls State Park

Nearest Town: Calhoun Falls, SC

Total Campsites: 100

Calhoun Falls State Park is one of the most sought-after parks in the state. Pristine natural beauty surrounds it, making it a true getaway for those seeking a relaxing, enriching weekend in the country.

The campground is full of various amenities. The 86 standard campsites offer shoreline views of Lake Russell. These are spacious RV and tent sites, not crammed-in accommodations. And, if you have a boat, there are rental slips in the marina. For tent campers, there is a bathhouse with hot showers.

While at the park, enjoy a day-use picnic area. The Cedar Bluff Nature Trail is a 1.75-mile loop that takes visitors through the park. It winds up and down bluffs and gives views of the lake. Head to the tackle shop for fishing equipment or ask about their tackle loaner program. Many people also enjoy traveling through the 10-mile equestrian trail found here. Activities available in this South Carolina camping ground include:

• Picnics
• Lake swimming
• Basketball and tennis
• Fishing
• Boating
• Birdwatching
• Hiking

6. Cheraw State Park

Nearest Town: Cheraw, SC

Total Campsites: 17

Among the top primitive camping sites in South Carolina awaits Cheraw State Park, where you’ll find 17 gravel-packed campsites on peaceful Lake Juniper’s shores. Each site comes with amenities, such as individual electrical and water hookups and lakefront views. The campground facilities have restrooms and hot showers. But, if you want even more of a getaway, there are two boat-in only primitive campsites.

The Sandhills and Longleaf ecosystem offers visitors plenty to see and do. For hiking, a top choice is the accessible boardwalk trails out to the Lake Juniper dam. The Cheraw Mountain Bike trail is easy but fast; the sandy terrain can be more challenging after a good rain. Two other hiking trails loop through acres of forest.

Be sure to bring binoculars along to get a better look at the beautiful and endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.

Perhaps the most popular park activity is the Cheraw State Park golf course. Golf Digest declared it one of the “Best Places to Play.” Tom Jackson designed this 18-hole championship course that winds through the pine forest along Lake Juniper.

Cheraw State Park Reservations must be made for at least two nights. But in exchange, you gain access to many activities to complement your camping trip.

7. Croft State Park

Nearest Town: Spartanburg, SC

Total Campsites: 50

This 7,000-acre park used to be an army training base. Today it’s a beautiful getaway in the South Carolina Upstate region. Croft State Park’s 50 campsites are open to tent or RV camping. The RV sites provide water and electric hookups. Various amenities include hot showers, restrooms, and a park store for all your needs.

During your stay here, be sure to visit the Advance America Bridge on the Palmetto Trail. Or explore the entirety of Croft State Park. It may take a while, as the park has over 45 miles of trails. It includes 20+ equestrian trails. The park has an equestrian arena and hosts horse events throughout the year. Another 20+ are mountain biking trails. About 2.5 miles are hiking-only trails.

Besides all the activities on land, Croft State Park has two lakes. Boat ramps provide access to Lake Tom Moore Craig, but boaters are restricted to trolling motors or paddle craft only. Boat rentals are available. Swimming is not allowed on the lakes.

All this and more (like geocaching and birding) is just five miles from Spartanburg. Day admission fees are $3 for state park access. The campground fees vary seasonally and by the amenities at that site.

8. Cherry Hill Recreation Area

Nearest Town: Walhalla, SC

Total Campsites: 29

Hailed as one of the best forest campgrounds in the Southern Appalachians, the Cherry Hill Campground provides a quiet retreat beneath the pine trees and hardwood forests. This campsite in the Sumter National Forest is open between April and October. Campers can pitch their tents right next to the West Fork Creek, a Chattooga Wild and Scenic River branch. While basic, the facilities do include flush toilets, showers, and a dump station. There are no electrical or water hook-ups, though. Campsites run $15 a night and can be reserved in advance.

A few nearby trails offer a great hiking experience, including Big Bend Falls, Winding Stairs Trail, and the Foothills Trail. Fishermen can head to the Walhalla State Fish Hatchery and cast lines downstream, hoping for a bite. Stunning Whitewater Falls is a 30-minute drive to the east. Oconee State Park is a few miles south.

9. Devils Fork State Park

Nearest Town: Salem, SC

Total Campsites: 84

Surrounding the gorgeous 9,000-acre Lake Jocassee, Devils Fork State Park is a popular park because of its scenic landscapes. Two of the campgrounds are conveniently located near the park’s lakeshore. Campers have hot showers and restrooms at the main campgrounds. These paved camping spots do have water and electric hookups and come with a gravel tent pad. Another part of the campground has walk-in tent camping with elevated tent pads.

There is also a more primitive boat-in-only campground at the base of Musterground Mountain. This location has 25 campsites, but it is only open seasonally. Or, if you’d rather “glamp it,” the park has 20 rentable lakeside villas that come fully furnished. 

Because of the variety of camping choices and fluctuating demand, prices change across seasons and camping spots.

Devils Fork is the only public access point to the beautifully clear and pristine Lake Jocassee. Along with many waterfalls, mountain streams, and springs that feed this waterway, visitors spend their time:

• Hiking through the Bear Cove Trail or Oconee Bell Trail
• Driving up to the Jumping Off Rock to enjoy views of the Jocassee Gorge
• Fishing the best trout waters in the whole state from Lake Jocassee
• Scuba diving the amazingly clear waters to submerged homesteads and sunken vessels

10. Edisto Beach State Park

Nearest Town: Edisto Island, SC

Total Campsites: 117

Edisto Beach State Park is one of just four oceanfront state parks in South Carolina. Visitors have a gorgeous camping location that’s abundant in Native American history. To learn more about this island’s natural history, head to the environmental education center inside the park.

Camping requires a two-night minimum stay and ranges from $21 to $55 per night. Sites are near the oceanfront and the salt marsh. Although the water is filtered and treated, it still has a high salt content. Water and electrical hookups are available. The Live Oak Campground has walk-in tent sites and dive tent sites. The park has seven rentable cabins in the Scott Creek area.

The top activities at the state park are:

• Tour the Environmental Learning Center’s live-animal exhibits, interactive displays, and more.
• Walk along the palmetto-lined beach that stretches for 1.5 miles and is famed for its fossils and sunrises.
• Enjoy the best views on the island over Big Bay Creek
• Cast a line from the fishing pier or go surf fishing.
• View some of the state’s tallest palmetto trees and live oaks throughout its immaculate marshlands.

The state park also has several short hike and bike trails, unmonitored swimming beaches, picnic shelters, and playgrounds.

11. Huntington Beach State Park

Nearest Town: Murrells Inlet, SC

Total Campsites: 173

As one of the most recognizable landmarks in South Carolina, Huntington Beach State Park has some of the most scenic camping sites available. The amenities included are restrooms, hot showers, Wi-Fi access. RV sites are a true hookup luxury, with sewer, water, or electrical hookups. All campsites even have Wi-Fi! This is camping with amenities. Fees do vary by the season.

There’s so much to do at Huntington Beach State Park. A walk along the causeway is an occassion to see various South Carolina wildlife– the alligators and birds who call the marshes their home. Three miles of pristine Grand Stand beach beg for sunrise strolls, seashell hunting, or just wiggling toes in the surf. Speaking of surf, the park is renowned for its excellent surf fishing.

Furthermore, campers can visit the iconic Atalaya Castle, a National Historic Landmark. Take a docent-led or self-guided audio tour to learn about Anna Hyatt Huntington, a renowned 20th-century sculptor. The adjacent Brookgreen Gardens are a popular site in all seasons.

Naturalists run the park’s Coastal Exploration Program, where visitors take field trips into the marsh to learn more about the wildlife. Kids will delight in the touch tank at the Nature Center.

Other activities to fill your camping trip include:

• Boating of all kinds, from coastal kayaking to crabbing
• Geocaching
• Birdwatching
• Interpretive hiking trails
• The annual Atalaya Festival (usually late September)

12. Hickory Knob State Resort Park

Nearest Town: McCormick, SC

Total Campsites: 44

Hickory Knob State Resort Park is a fantastic getaway that is both upscale and a pristine getaway. It rests along the 71,000-acre Strom Thurmond Reservoir. Its 18-hole championship golf course is a huge draw. Imagine camping in true hookup luxury, with boating, golfing, and other amenities at your doorstep.

The resort park has a historic lodge and cabin for guest use. But for campers, the grounds have some of the best camping in South Carolina. This campground lies right next to Thurmond Lake and offers many amenities for your comfort. It has electric hook-ups, hot showers, and picnic tables.

The endless opportunities for recreation will fill up your camping trip. Some of the more unique options at Hickory Knob are:

• Boat ramps
• A full-service restaurant
• Skeet shooting
• Axe throwing (by appointment only)
• An archery range
• Fishing for bass, with a tackle loaner program available
• 12-miles of trails for hiking and biking with scenic lake views

13. Lake Aire Campground

Nearest Town: Hollywood, SC

Total Campsites: 110

The Lake Aire RV Park and Campground sits 15 minutes away from downtown Charleston, providing 35 acres of camping grounds. Full of high-quality amenities, the RV Park can accommodate large RVs with level and concrete pads. Visitors can enjoy the campground’s fishing lake, swimming pool, and playground. Use it as a base of operation to visit the many attractions nearby, such as the Magnolia Plantation, Caw Caw Interpretive Center, Charleston Aquarium, and more.

Campground rates started at $30 for tent camping and go to $71 for a premium spot with full hookups.

14. Keowee-Toxaway State Park

Nearest Town: Sunset, SC

Total Campsites: 20

Here, you’ll camp in one of the state’s most stunning places with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains you won’t get anywhere else in Upstate South Carolina. Keowee-Toxaway State Park has 10 sites for tents and another 10 for RVs. Inside this small campground, a three-bedroom cabin overlooking Lake Keowee can accommodate around ten guests. There are restroom facilities with hot showers. Backcountry primitive campsites are also near the Lake Keowee shores at three designated locations. These sites can be accessed by hiking or paddling.

The unique cabin comes with a private boat dock and amazing Lake Keowee views. It’s temperature-controlled, fully furnished, and comes with cooking and kitchen utensils, linens, Wi-Fi, satellite TVs, and two fireplaces.

While at Keowee-Toxaway, spend time:

• Canoeing, kayaking, and boating
• Zipling above the forest floor and ravine
• Hiking on trails that include natural rock bridges and amazing mountain views
• Wildflower photography
• Looking over the Jocassee Gorges

15. Lake Wateree State Park

Nearest Town: Winnsboro, SC

Total Campsites: 100

Lake Wateree State Park is your answer for a fun and memorable way to spend your time while visiting South Carolina. All the camping sites here offer electric and water hookups and picnic tables. They accommodate both RVs and tents. About 23 sites are lakefront, while 28 have 50-amp electrical service and a sewer hookup. A separate primitive group camping area is available.

Waterfront fun is the focus of a stay at the 13,000-acre Lake Wateree. The expansive waters host fishing tournaments, while the park has a boat ramp, refueling dock, and tackle loaner program. Canoe and kayak rentals are available in the summer.

At the park store, find ice cream in summer, firewood, fishing supplies, and more basic restocking needs. On land, visitors have picnic areas, wooded nature trails, a small disc golf course, and an updated playground. The swimming area does not have lifeguards.

16. Lake Greenwood State Park

Nearest Town: Ninety-Six, SC

Total Campsites: 125

Known as the site of South Carolina’s Festival of Flowers Triathlon held each June, this park has all the makings of the ultimate camping site in the state. Moreover, Lake Greenwood State Park provides campers with year-round opportunities for the best fishing experiences.

With 125 paved campsites close to the shoreline, both RVs and tents are welcome here. All campsites provide a picnic table, water hook-ups, and 50-amp electrical service. Camping fees vary by the season, and there is a two-day minimum and fourteen-day maximum.

At Lake Greenwood, you’ll enjoy activities such as:

• Fishing either from the pier or on your boat
• Swimming
• Geocaching
• Birdwatching
• Two playgrounds for the kids
• Hiking a nature trail

17. Little Pee Dee State Park

Nearest Town: Dillon, SC

Total Campsites: 50

Little Pee Dee State Park in the Carolina Sandhills region has 50 campsites for RVs and tents. Kick back at one of the state’s most relaxing and calmest camping sites. Located on the edge of Lake Norton, a calm body of water at 54 acres, this park is perfect for bass or catfish fishing.

Campground facilities have convenient restrooms and modern shower facilities. The 32 standard campsites have electric and water hookups for all your needs. The remaining 18 are designated primitive campsites. Renting a site can cost between $9 and $20, while reservations need to be made for at least two nights.

If you plan to fish from Lake Norton, be advised only paddlecraft or trolling motors can be used. There is a fishing pier for park visitors without a craft or who do not want to rent one. There is a seasonally open swimming area, but it is swim at your own risk. Two hiking trails wander under longleaf pine forests and to one of the park’s unique features, the Carolina Bay and ancient sand rim. It marks part of the ancient coastline when water levels were higher.

18. Myrtle Beach State Park

Nearest Town: Myrtle Beach, SC

Total Campsites: 350

This gorgeous campsite sits right beside the oceanfront maritime forest. Even though it’s urban camping, the state park feels apart of the crowded oceanfront resorts with its lush greenery. Campers at Myrtle Beach State Park will love its serene atmosphere,  the wide range of activities, beachside swimming, and ocean views.

There are 350 campsites here, many of which have sewage, water, and electricity hookups. Additionally, six beachside cabins are available for rent. Just be aware that part of the campground is at the end of the airport runway, so low-flying air traffic is possible.

The day-use access fee is $8. For that, visitors enjoy the wide miles of Grand Strand Beach, often with fewer beachgoers than other stretches of the famous sands. The park has picnic grounds, playgrounds, a fishing pier, and rod rentals.  Hiking trails wander through the sand dunes and forests. Additionally, the beach opens for horseback riding during the winter months.

19. Springfield Campground

Nearest Town: Anderson, SC

Total Campsites: 79

Springfield Campground is located on the shores of Lake Hartwell in South Carolina. This US Army Corps of Engineers-run facility is a seasonal but popular recreational area. Lake Hartwell’s shoreline stretches 962 miles long. It runs along the border between Georgia and South Carolina on the dammed Savannah River.

At Springfield Campground, visitors camp beside the pine-tree forested lakeshore. The facility rules do lock the gates from 10 pm to 7 am; no entry or exit will be allowed during those times. Alcohol is also prohibited. The facilities do have a boat ramp, beach, and playground.

When camping here, be sure to look out for the birds that call this lake their home, such as peregrine falcons, waterfowl, and bald eagles. People come to fish for catfish and largemouth bass.

20. Ocean Lakes Family Campground

Nearest Town: Myrtle Beach, SC

Total Campsites: 859

The Ocean Lakes Family Campground is an RV Park and resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Built in the 1970s, it started with just 30 campsites and a single bathhouse. Today, it’s known as one of the biggest camping sites in the country, with more than 859 sites and an equal amount of amenities. An award-winning team manages the 310-acre campground. In 2022, it won National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds’ “Mega Park of the Year” award.

Because of this, the Ocean Lakes Family Campground has become a popular resort that will entertain the whole family. Whether you wish to use a beach house, campsite, or an RV park, these grounds have it all. Many sites have a fantastic oceanfront location or are easily walkable to the seashore. There’s a never-ending list of activities and amenities to pass the time, such as:

• Beach swimming
• Workout stations
• Outdoor game sites
• Volleyball
• Basketball
• Shuffleboard
• Biking
• Mini golf
• Tube slide
• Lazy river

On top of that, the park has a packed event schedule. Come for the January Polar Plunge, enter the Patriotic  Golf Cart Parade, or hand out candy on Halloweekends. Ocean Lakes truly has endless opportunities for fun.

21. Oconee State Park

Nearest Town: Mountain Rest, SC

Total Campsites: 155

Oconee State Park offers visitors a relaxing mountain getaway in the beautiful Upstate region. But, with all the outdoor activities, it’s also the perfect destination for a family vacation.

The campground has 139 standard campsites complete with electrical and water service. Some 24 of those are full-service hookups. An additional 15 campsites are described as “rustic tent sites,” and the park has 19 CCC-built historic cabins available. All camping options are near a shower house. Pets are allowed as long as they are leashed. A park store sells limited camping gear and essential items for your stay, like firewood and ice.

Find unique activities here in this state park. Two lakes, at 12-acres and 20-acres, are open to fishing for catfish and bass. Trout are stocked in the winter months. There is a fishing pier at the campground lake. Private paddlecraft are allowed, and the summer season has rentals.  Swimming is at your risk.

The park has an 18-hole mini golf course for family fun. Rent the gear from the park store.

For hikers, Oconee State Park is a delight. It has an access trailhead for the Foothills Trail, a 77-mile trail spanning the Upstate into western North Carolina. Six other trails wander in acres of forests, passing by bubbling streams and hidden waterfalls and sweeping views from rock pinnacles.

The park also puts on fun events, like square dancing, during the summer months.

22. Table Rock State Park

Nearest Town: Pickens, SC

Total Campsites: 94

Table Rock Mountain rises over Table Rock State Park. Its majestic bluffs create the backdrop for one of South Carolina’s most beautiful and scenic camping spots. Inside, you’ll find 94 campsites, each with a picnic table, water, and electrical hookups. The camping breaks into 64 sites near the park entrance and 25 near the White Oaks picnic area. Both camping areas have easy access to modern showering facilities or restroom use, and WiFi access. Those in RVs may also use the site, provided that they are under 40 feet long. The park also has three primitive campgrounds for groups.

Campers can access both Lake Oolenoy and Pinnacle Lake while they camp here. A boat ramp is provided for those who want to get fishing, kayaking, or canoeing. No motorized craft or shoreline launching is permitted at either lake.

Table Rock State Park has an impressive trail system, including a section of the Foothills Trail. Camping is not permitted with in the state park. All hikers, including those taking shorter hikes on the park’s six other trails, must register at the trail kiosk. Plan to be off-trail by nightfall. Note that the Table Rock Trail is considered very strenuous because of its steep ascent and descent.

23. Twin Lakes Campground

Nearest Town: Pendleton, SC

Total Campsites: 102

Twin Lakes is another Lake Hartwell and US Corps of Engineers property.  The spacious campground has 102 campsites, with 89 backing up to the water. Imagine waking up to panoramic lake views under a shaded tree canopy. Campers have an incredible opportunity to appreciate all nature has to offer.

The facilities include playgrounds, picnic areas, swim beaches, and boat ramps. Enjoy a comfortable camping experience with flush toilets, showers, water, and electric hookups. This is one of the most popular campgrounds of the eight on Lake Hartwell operated by the Corps of Engineers.

24. Yemassee KOA Journey

Nearest Town: Yemassee, SC

Total Campsites:

Yemassee KOA Journey is a respite for both RVs and tents. Open all year round, this Lowcountry award-winning campsite is the top choice whether you’re looking for a one-night getaway or for the whole holiday season. The campgrounds have a deluxe cabin, providing a luxurious glamping experience with a full bath, kitchenette, linens, digital cable, and Wi-Fi. RVs park easy with pull-through sites. Use the campground has a base of operations for visiting Hilton Head Island, Beaufort, Charleston, and Savannah.

Besides its convenient location, Yemassee KOA Journey has activities like:

• Hiking
• Gem mining
• Swimming
• Wine tastings
• Dog walk
• Kids playground and crafts

Top Camping Sites in South Carolina

With so many options, these campgrounds in South Carolina are top places to relax and unwind from stressful and busy weeks. Whether you want to totally disconnect in nature or if you need to stay connected online, the sites listed here are well-equipped. The campgrounds cover the bare essentials up to the more luxurious amenities to provide the comfort level you’re after. No matter where you choose to camp, know that each of the picks above ranks among the best for South Carolina camping.

Updated September 2024