Columbia, South Carolina offers both state park campgrounds and recreation areas within 50 miles of the city. Campers can expect sandy soil typical of the Carolina Midlands, with most sites nestled among pine and hardwood forests. The region has an average annual rainfall of 44 inches, creating lush conditions but also potential for occasional flooding in low-lying areas.
What to do
Mountain biking trails: Poinsett State Park features terrain rare for central South Carolina. "This is a good place to stay to mountain bike, there are two trails in Poinsett and Manchester State Forest is nearby," notes one Poinsett State Park Campground visitor. The park's diverse trail system offers opportunities for both beginners and more experienced riders.
Paddling options: Sesquicentennial State Park provides calm waters for novice paddlers. "I camp at Sesqui very often. I live in downtown Columbia, so its only a short drive away. Love the bike and hiking trails. Very nice area to kayak in, I love all the Lilly pads," reports a regular Sesquicentennial State Park Campground visitor.
Wildlife observation: Congaree National Park offers unique opportunities for nocturnal wildlife viewing. "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," shares a camper who stayed at Longleaf Campground.
What campers like
Easy access to trails: Sesquicentennial State Park gets high marks for its accessibility. "Well spaced sites with good amenities. Set in the woods, making it easy to forget you're in Columbia! Quiet, lots of birds in the spring. Easy drive to Congaree, which we highly recommend," notes a visitor.
Lakeside recreation: Dreher Island State Park Campground offers direct water access from many sites. "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," explains an enthusiastic camper.
Military facilities: Weston Lake Recreation Area provides services specifically for military personnel. "The campground was nice, the RV spaces had nice concrete pads and nice cabins. The roads had some serious potholes and the the campground doesn't seem to be on a regular maintenance schedule but it was clean," reports a camper at Weston Lake Recreation Area.
What you should know
Seasonal challenges: Summer brings intense insect activity at Longleaf Campground. "This is a small campground. It's National Park so there are no amenities. Walk in sites. Lots of bugs so come prepared," warns a camper at Longleaf Campground — Congaree National Park.
Site access considerations: Poinsett State Park has narrow roads that can be difficult for larger vehicles. "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," cautions a visitor.
Weather preparedness: 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 activities: Sesquicentennial State Park offers child-friendly water features. "I love going to this campground, I enjoy doing the trails and spotting dear. And there is a small water play area for children. They have paddle boats also," notes a camper who frequently visits with family.
Group activities: Poinsett State Park provides communal spaces for families. "Shaded, a large field for the children to run and play with their new-found friends, and a nice recreational building available for campers to use, complete with games, books, tables, and electricity," explains a visitor who camped for Mother's Day weekend.
Educational opportunities: Big Rig Friendly RV Resort offers modern amenities close to city attractions. "We found this campground while traveling through Columbia SC and made a late evening reservation. We were able to reserve online and even pick our camping spot. It has full hookups and we were able to find the spot easily even in the dark," shares a family who appreciated the convenience.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Dreher Island requires careful consideration of site location. "I was scheduled for site #87 but being a recent widow and very limited experience parking I requested a change of site. Since it was early enough in the season and during the week they had one available. Site #1, we joked about it being a 'beginners' spot."
Setup considerations: Big Rig Friendly RV Resort lives up to its name with spacious sites. "This place was well thought out when it was being built, lots of space, great level sites, nice dog park. Fitness center and laundry are new and nice," explains an RVer who appreciated the thoughtful layout.
Utilities and conveniences: Many campgrounds offer varying levels of hookups. "Included: 50 AMP Hookups, City Water, Gray/Black Dump at each site, Cable TV, Internet. One note is there is no dumpster, but it is easy to just take your garbage to dump or a friend," notes a long-term resident at Magnolia Campground RV Park.
