Best Tent Camping near Beaufort, SC

Skidaway Island State Park is a terrific spot conveniently located on the Diamond Causeway outside Savannah. We stayed here for 3 nights and found something fun and different to do each day of our stay. Whether you’re looking to do some hiking, biking, or kayaking on the intercostal, Skidaway has got you covered.

We stayed in site 25 which offered 2 water spigots and 20/30/50 amp electric. The site was level with a fire ring, tent pad and large picnic table. The main road getting in to the campground is 2 lanes wide, but the lanes that go through each loop are somewhat narrow. The dump station is a bit odd, located in the middle of the campground. If you’re staying in one of the loops closest to the entrance, you’ll need to circle all the way around to the back of the campground to access it.

The park office is very nice and offers a variety of merchandise and some basic camping supplies including fire starters and bundles of wood. There was also some RV supplies like AquaKem and dump hoses which would come in handy if you needed something in a pinch. You can also rent cruiser bikes here for $6/hour. We enjoyed riding around the park and on the Big Ferry Trail.

I like the primitive camping area. The bathroom and water source is nearby, as well as a pavilion/shelter. There are three sections, with multiple areas for camping in each one. Each has 2-3 tables and a fire ring. 

I hammock camp, and there are plenty of trees useful for this purpose. This is primitive, so there is no electrical or water spout, although the bathroom has both. There is a 1 1/2 mile walking trail nearby, that runs along the Edisto River.

I haven't actually frequented the other camping areas: RV drive-up and walk-in, so I can't review them.

Skidaway Island SP is quite possibly the nicest state park camping facility we’ve yet to visit! The sites are beyond spacious and afford plenty of privacy - and the hookups were conveniently situated at both sites we utilized during our visit. Huge, level tent pads for tent camping are also provided, as are picnic tables and fire rings. Shower and toilet facilities were clean and in excellent repair. The brand-new visitors center is beautiful and staff were courteous & professional to a person! Bird life is abundant and we had deer show up every day to check on us. Hiking trails are outstanding and the picnic/playground areas are fantastic. Skidaway Island SP is a gem with the added bonus of being just a 15 minute drive to downtown Savannah - we will undoubtedly be returning!

Sprawling park and campground right between Charleston and Folly Beach. There is a camp store which is well stocked and stays open till 8pm. The predominance of this campground is RV sites. The sites are well maintained and with enough space between each site.

The tent camping site and group tent sites are hike-in. The hike in is really not that far at all from where you park your cars, so no worries. The individual tent sites sit back in the woods, with a nice tree canopy, which gives it a real "primitive" feel to it. The sites are raised and contain a gravel bed.

There are bathrooms and private showers on site in a few locations. The bathroom and showers for the tent sites lay next to the group site, which is a short walk.

Shopping and stores are on hwy 117, just a few short minutes from the park.

Hunting Island Beachside Camping has amazing views and is right on the beach. I was no more than 40 yards from the water. All rustic sites are car friendly but you must keep car on paved area. You have great and easy car access to some nice and easy ocean and marsh trails. I recommend the Lagoon Trail to Little Hunting Island Loop Trail (about 4 miles round trip). Little Hunting Island is a cool small island filled with petrified trees and driftwood. In total there are 12 trails totaling 9.45 miles. There is also a store, bathrooms with showers, and WiFi in the campgrounds.

I camped here at the end of February. The daily and nightly temps were very manageable/comfortable. High in the low 60s and Low in the mid to low 40s.

Why I did not rate this 5 stars is for two reasons. One is price, it cost $90.00 for two nights at the end February which is offseason. The cost does include admission into the state park which is were most of the trails are. It is also home to the only lighthouse in SC you can walkup.

The second reason for the 4 star rating is the campsites are extremely close. You are right on top of other campers. I could clearly hear other sites’s conversations and music and for it being off-season most sites were booked. However there was one site that was more private, closer to the water, and next to the tree line, rustic site 13. THIS IS THE SITE YOU WANT. If you want more privacy or have more people or both and you have the money I would rent site 13 and 14. Because the sites are so close together these two have a natural flow and feel like one nice campsite.

Pros • Beach camp close to the Ocean • Good easy trails • Store • Bathrooms w/ shower • WiFi • Fire ring w/ grille • Picnic table • February temps comfortable • Amazing Sunrise!!!! • Dog Friendly • Nature center • Fishing pier • Wildlife viewing area • Great parking/ easy driving. (SUV)

Cons • Price ( $90 for two night in Feb) • Sites extremely close to one another • No alcohol 😉

We stayed in the Live Oak campground portion of the State Park at a walk-in rustic tent site. These sites have the most privacy in the park. There are six walk-in sites all with beautiful views of the salt marsh and pleanty of space (within and between sites). The sites are located on one of the many trails in the state park. All trails are open to pedestrians and cyclists alike, and none of the trails are challenging in length or terrain. Matthew and I were able to bike them all in a morning. We visited in early May and had excellent beach weather without much of a crowd!