The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near J. Strom Thurmond Lake. J. Strom Thurmond Lake is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Find the best campgrounds near J. Strom Thurmond Lake, GA. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
$12 - $175 / night
"The main feature is the lake. Fishing, boating, kayaking, swimming. Stayed at site #12. Waterfront excellent view of lake but sunny site."
"Surrounded by water. Camping and boating paradise. Immaculate grounds and facilities. Water and electric and gray water dumps at each site. Washer and dryer."
$20 - $170 / night
"Set up well for families with children… room to ride bikes, scooters, skateboards; playground; putt putt course; trails to walk; beach areas all around the camp ground for easy access to the water."
"Beautiful colors for the fall, waterfront campsites, water and electric hook ups and back-in AND pull-through spots available."
$7 - $25 / night
"**As of 3 August 2020, Primitive Camping and Semi-Hookup (Electric Only) Camping areas are closed at Pointes West. RV Camping is open, for local traffic only. RV's must contain a restroom."
"We were able to park our 44 ft. Fifth wheel with ease with little assistance from a park host. The only reason why I didn't give a 5 star was because we were very close to neighbors."
"Tucked away from main roads and a solid 20 minute drive from the nearest traces of civilization (the itty bitty town of McCormick), Hickory Knob State Park, which sits right on the Savannah River / Lake"
"Trails for hiking/biking. Nice sites close to the lake. Shower house is just adequate, barely."
"Whether camping in a tent or renting a cabin, all are $20 per night. 🤔 Beautiful lake, flushing toilets and hot showers. I am passing through but see others boating, fishing and hunting."
"Most of the sites have a nice view if the lake. Some do have a steep drop off, so you’ll need to walk to the launch area (dirt slope) for access. We went specifically to golf, and had a great round."
"Our spot was woodsy and secluded. A little small for our camper but once we got it into the spot, it was great. Bring something for the ants! Clean bathrooms."
$99 - $194 / night
"Take your morning beverage on the deck and enjoy some nature. Book your stay today and leave your review here!"
$15 - $650 / night
"While the tropical storm weather cut our trip to AH Stephens Historic Park we still very much enjoyed our visit."
"This state park has boats to rent,fishing, swimming equestrian camping,cabins ect..They have this large primitive area that we used..It was a bit of a hike to the bathrooms..but everything else was fantastic"
$17 - $85 / night
"Very nice quiet park with a small campground (21 sites, all with electric and water). The sites are shaded, and flat with a gravel drive and tent pad."
"There is a picnic table and a fire pit with a built in grill, but we cooked on our Coleman stove and charcoal grill mostly. The drive down is washed out a bit but a 2 wheel drive Tahoe handled it."
$34 - $185 / night
"It was super hot when we went, but the park is full of a lot to offer. The beach is nice and was never crowded. We hiked and biked the trails. They are well maintained."
"Bath house was clean but a decent uphill walk away from most sites as there is only one. Plenty of boat ramps, beach, golf course."
LegendThe main feature is the lake. Fishing, boating, kayaking, swimming. Stayed at site #12. Waterfront excellent view of lake but sunny site. Sites had water, electric, concrete table, fire ring, and lantern hook. Not much barrier between sites but sites were good size just open. Everyone was very friendly. During week it was relatively empty but on Friday the campground started to fill up. Sites in the 60-90 loop looked the best with water views and shade and most were pull through. The bathrooms were ok and there is a laundry room. The bathrooms were quite far from some sites requiring a long walk or drive. Park had a great store selling souvenirs, ice, firewood, worms for fishing. Campground staff and host were very friendly. Not much around outside park. There was a dollar general about 12 miles away for supplies. You could pull your boat up to your waterfront campsite. They also have kayak rentals.
ScoutSet up well for families with children… room to ride bikes, scooters, skateboards; playground; putt putt course; trails to walk; beach areas all around the camp ground for easy access to the water. Kayak rentals.
Bathrooms were generally clean. Campsites a relatively flat. Good picnic tables at each site. Not every site had a pole for a lantern or trash bags to hang from. Fairly good tree coverage around the campground for shade and hammocking.
LegendVery nice quiet park with a small campground (21 sites, all with electric and water). The sites are shaded, and flat with a gravel drive and tent pad. We hadn’t planned on staying here but were pleasantly surprised to find a few vacancies on the first Saturday in November. There is also an equestrian campground located several miles from the main campground. The main feature is a covered bridge, the longest one in Georgia, that is located ¾ of a mile from the campground (an easy walk).
A nice perk was laundry facilities outside the restrooms. The restrooms were very clean.
There are seven miles of hiking trails, five miles of bike trails, canoe rentals, and we saw several people fishing.
There was also a nice day-use area with picnic tables within view of the covered bridge.
GuideWhile the tropical storm weather cut our trip to AH Stephens Historic Park we still very much enjoyed our visit.
We stayed in 2 sites with the grandparents. #9 & #12
Site 12 was a very nice straight site with the picnic table and fire ring down a few steps off the back of the main pad. Nicely wooded there was a tree very close to the hook up that caused us to park forward a bit to allow for a slide and side bunk to fully function.
Site 9 (handicapped site) was perfect for the grandparents as there was a short paved walkway straight to the bath house.
Both sites were nicely graveled and level.
GuideThis campground was quiet and tranquil. Large pines and mature trees. Surrounded by water. Camping and boating paradise. Immaculate grounds and facilities. Water and electric and gray water dumps at each site. Washer and dryer. Not a large park, but it’s a place I hate to leave. Pet friendly and great staff.
TravelerThis state park has boats to rent,fishing, swimming equestrian camping,cabins ect..They have this large primitive area that we used..It was a bit of a hike to the bathrooms..but everything else was fantastic We loved the historical museum there too
LegendIf you are looking for a near perfect lakeside camping experience in the 'Low Country' here in South Carolina, than you may have just found the perfect getaway! Tucked away from main roads and a solid 20 minute drive from the nearest traces of civilization (the itty bitty town of McCormick), Hickory Knob State Park, which sits right on the Savannah River / Lake Thurmond and provides the setting for truly one of the most perfect camping escapes I have ever encountered.
There's about 60-70 individual campsites here, but you would be hard pressed to count them all on account that there is so much foliage that separates each individual campsite that despite the # of sites, you are left with a very intimate and secluded feeling. While some of these well-secluded spots can get you just about as close to the lakeshore as possible (without infringing upon the land boundaries itself), most set a decent 10- 15 feet above shoreline and offer a private and simple-to-navigate pathway to the refreshing lollops of the lake's gentle rippling waves.
Each site is apportioned with the basics - long drive-way with corresponding flat base platform (either perfect for RV or very amenable to the largest of tents), fire ring, water spigot and picnic table. While there's a handful of campsites that appear to be close cousins to the one next to it, most sites feel independent from one another and offer up enough space to forget your next-door neighbors. Further, I counted 3 separate loops (or communities, if you will), each with their own facilities.
Apart from the greatest amenity being the lake itself, the park also offers a simple, yet splendid boat jetty with an easy-to-navigate round-about. Unlike many other state parks I have visited in the country, this one offers boaters many easy places to stow away their boats, when not in use on the lake. Further afield, there are plenty of trails to explore the deeper, less frequented side of this overgrown lakeside forested haven.
If there were any drawbacks at all, it would simply be the less than mediocre bathrooms and showers that the state of South Caroline seems intent on not fixing (think back 50 to 60 years ago to what bathrooms might have looked like back then and then come present day to find exactly the same thing, without any repairs (and perhaps any sanitation) being made whatsoever). With all of the tax dollars that the state collects, on top of the fees paid for camping in these amazing state parks, you think the state would be able to afford building and maintaining better and more modern facilities for its overnight guests (what is it that they say about hospitality in the South?!).
In sum, if you are looking for some really good seclusion, right on the lake, don't mind the overgrown nature of this campsite, have a boat, and perhaps older children that don't need playgrounds (and other man-made distractions) and can do without direct access to civilization, then this may very well be a perfect spot for you.
Insider tips? Here's a few: (1) Because the nearest town of McCormick is a bit of a hike to get to (think at least a 20 minute drive on slow moving, winding country roads), be sure to bring everything you need with you, but if you do need any groceries, there's a Food Lion that has just about everything you might need; (2) When you grow tired of trying to conjure up that next meal from the depths of your Cordova cooler, then check out Michelle's, which is one half family restaurant - where I never believe any waitress who answers the question 'What is the best thing on the menu' with the response 'EVERYTHING!', but I will admit, she was absolutely right - we tried the pizza, wings, salad bar and hamburger one night - all were equally amazing - and one half happy hour / karaoke bar that apparently the entirety of McCormick shows up at after 8pm every night, which was pretty cool to experience; (3) When / if you head into the town of McCormick, take note of the Ice ATM machine there - it's fantastic and super cheap, so be sure to stock up on your ice there; and (4) If you are wanting to 'whet your whistle' after a good hard day of kayaking, then head on over to nearby Back Paddle Brewing for some really nice local craft beers.
Happy Camping!
GuideThis review is for Prim. Campsite 2 at WMBSP. It was ideal for our family of 4. We had 2 tents but you could probably fit at least 4 or 5 comfortably on the site. Beautiful view of Big Clouds Creek. Rushing water sound as there are some small rapids there. We caught 2 bass. There is a picnic table and a fire pit with a built in grill, but we cooked on our Coleman stove and charcoal grill mostly. The drive down is washed out a bit but a 2 wheel drive Tahoe handled it. Getting back up if it had been raining would probably not be guaranteed, so watch the weather carefully. This site is best enjoyed in dry weather. There is a water spigot but it’s in an area with red clay near the entrance to the site so it’s messy. The hike up to the bath house is fine but it will get your heart pumping. The bath house is clean. There is one shower on the lady’s side and two on the men’s. Hot water was wonderful. No washer and dryer any longer at the bath house so be prepared for that. We LOVED the hike to the bridge, about 6/10 of a mile. You will pass the ruins of a old hydro power plant.
TravelerPioneer campsite 1 is very nice.
As stated by another reviewer, if rain is in the forecast, probably would not want to stay.
Large site with fire pit and picnic table. Table is chained to a tree. No tent pad, you can pick where you want to sleep. There are lots of trees for hammocks. And you are right on the water. Rocks shoals right off the site.
The site is down a path from a parking area. There is a water faucet about 1/4 way down the trail.
Phone service with ATT and Sprint/T-Mobile is non existent at the campsite. 200 yards uphill at bathhouse service is available.
Very private site.
Will reserve again.
Cabin camping near J. Strom Thurmond Lake, Georgia, offers a perfect blend of nature and comfort, making it an ideal getaway for families and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find cabin rentals at J. Strom Thurmond Lake?
J. Strom Thurmond Lake offers cabin rentals at several locations around its shoreline. Hickory Knob State Park Resort provides lakeside cabin accommodations in a secluded setting about 20 minutes from the town of McCormick. Another option is Pointes West Army Resort near Appling, which offers cabin rentals with lake access. For reservations, contact each location directly or check their official websites for availability and pricing.
What amenities are included in J. Strom Thurmond Lake cabins?
Cabins at J. Strom Thurmond Lake typically include essential amenities for a comfortable stay. At Elijah Clark State Park Campground, cabins are well-equipped for families with access to beach areas, kayak rentals, and recreational facilities including playgrounds and trails. Most cabins around the lake feature fully-equipped kitchens, bathroom facilities, climate control, and outdoor areas with picnic tables and fire rings. A. H. Stephens State Park cabins offer similar comforts with access to fishing, boating, and historic attractions nearby.
What campgrounds at J. Strom Thurmond Lake offer cabin accommodations?
Several campgrounds around J. Strom Thurmond Lake offer cabin accommodations. Mistletoe State Park Campground provides cabins in a tranquil setting with large pines and mature trees surrounding the property. The park offers excellent access to water activities including fishing, boating, and kayaking. Richard B Russell State Park Campground also offers cabin rentals with amenities and lake access. These cabins typically require advance reservations, especially during peak seasons, as they tend to book quickly.
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