Camping spots near Elgin, South Carolina offer diverse terrain options from pine forests to lake shorelines, with sites distributed across several state parks and recreation areas. Overnight temperatures typically range from the 40s in winter to 70s in summer, making spring and fall particularly popular for tent campers. The region's clay-heavy soil can create drainage challenges during rainy periods at some primitive sites.
What to do
Lake activities: Water recreation at Lake Wateree State Park Campground draws boaters and swimmers throughout warm seasons. A camper noted, "The swimming area is by the office/shop. There is a really lovely strip of shaded picnic tables where we spent the hottest hours of the day. The water is pretty shallow, so the littlest ones had plenty of space to play and swim without us having to worry."
Mountain biking: Trails for all skill levels at several parks offer technical options for cyclists. "I prefer to stay at Poinsett State Park in the fall, winter, or spring as it is located in the sandhills and it can be pretty hot and buggy in the summer. This is a good place to stay to mountain bike, there are two trails in Poinsett and Manchester State Forest is nearby."
Wildlife viewing: Opportunities for nature observation around dusk at multiple parks. At Congaree National Park, "The fireflies were very pretty and interesting. We saw other wildlife around the campground too. A lizard during a walk during the day. Many frogs during the rain at night."
What campers like
Shaded campsites: Many sites feature dense tree coverage for hot weather relief. At Sesquicentennial State Park Campground, one visitor reported, "Really nice shaded campground and very reasonably priced. Clean bathhouse. Stand was unpacked but level! Staff were friendly and very welcoming."
Lake access: Direct water proximity for kayaking and fishing tops many reviews. A camper at Lake Wateree State Park mentioned, "Sites are right on the lake, paved, spacious, clean, well maintained with fire pits, water, electric and picnic tables. It is mid-way between Charlotte and Columbia. Quiet, relaxing and just nice place to getaway from the hustle and bustle."
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds feature well-separated camping areas. At Dreher Island State Park Campground, "To begin with, Dreher sets amongst a number of islands in the midst of one of South Carolina's most pristine and largest (50,000 acres) natural waterparks – Lake Murray. If you are looking for a campground destination that has a tremendous amount to offer, than look no further than Dreher Island."
What you should know
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies significantly between campgrounds. At Congaree National Park, one camper reported, "We had Verizon service. Enough to use Google image search to look up plants, animals, and mushrooms we had found."
Military campgrounds: Access requirements vary for military parks. At Military Park Shaw AFB Wateree Recreation Area, "It wasn't too crowded as it was military members only and you can't beat the price for a lakeside spot."
Distance to supplies: Most camping areas require advance planning. One visitor to Lake Wateree noted, "The park is about 25 minutes from any stores, but they keep their shop extremely well stocked. The ladies there were great with helping us find our way when we did need directions to Walmart."
Weather considerations: Heavy rains can affect camping conditions. At Congaree, "The first night got a lot of rain and storms and several of the campers from sites farther back left saying they were flooded out. Our site did have some water during the storm but it was gone by morning."
Tips for camping with families
Water play options: Several parks offer shallow swimming areas. At Lake Wateree, "The swimming area is by the office/shop. There is a really lovely strip of shaded picnic tables where we spent the hottest hours of the day. The water is pretty shallow, so the littlest ones had plenty of space to play and swim."
Kid-friendly programming: Some parks feature structured activities. At Poinsett State Park Campground, campsites are "on the smaller side but opened up to a large field area where the kids and dog could run around and play."
Group camping options: Multiple families can share designated areas. One visitor to Congaree reported, "We camped here to see the synchronous fireflies, and loved our stay! The group site was plenty big enough for all of the children, the hiking was excellent, and the fireflies were one of the most magical things I've ever seen!"
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions: Some campgrounds have tight spaces between trees. At Poinsett State Park, "We camped here for Mother's Day weekend. Our camper is 29 ft, with no slide outs and just an awning. There was no way to extend our awning, because the trees were too close. A slide out wouldn't have been able to open out."
Access roads: Park entrance conditions affect larger vehicles. Another camper noted, "It's not easy to get in here with anything bigger than a full size pickup. The park road is very narrow and uneven with lots of large pot holes. The road to the campground is a little better, but also very narrow."
Hookup locations: Some sites have utilities positioned awkwardly. At Weston Lake Recreation Area, one RVer mentioned, "I was in a spot that had the hookups at opposite end of concrete pad and opposite side. I ended up buying an additional 20 ft. of dumping tubing ($60)."