Looking for the best campgrounds near Sumter, SC? Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Sumter is surrounded by family-friendly activities. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Sumter, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
In the High Hills of Santee, where the South Carolina Sandhills of the Midlands region meet the coastal plain region, you’ll find Poinsett State Park. Called the "mountains of the midlands," this mixed ecosystem yields a high degree of biodiversity and some of the most unique natural sightings in the park system, especially along the Palmetto trail which winds through the Manchester State Forest.
The High Hills of Santee are dotted with the hiking and biking trails that wind through the park–some of which connect to the Palmetto Trail that leads hikers through the Manchester State Forest. Poinsett’s 10-acre lake makes for a serene setting, and can be used for fishing and johnboat rentals. The park also offers campsites, a fishing pond, a coquina bathhouse built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, pre-revolutionary grist mill ruins and rustic cabins.
This campground is located just off the park entrance road, approximately __ mile before the Harry Hampton Visitor Center, in a mixed pine/hardwood upland forest. This campground is located at a higher elevation than the floodplain and is not subject to the flooding events that occur regularly in other parts of the park.__
Campers with reservations at the Longleaf Campground have easy access to the park___s 27 miles of hiking trails. Campers can reach the Harry Hampton Visitor Center by car or by hiking on the Longleaf Trail. At the visitor center you can access the Boardwalk and find information on other trails to plan your trip into the old-growth forest of Congaree National Park. Those who would like to explore and experience Congaree via canoe or kayak can launch from one of the park's two landings, located between 5-10 minutes by car from the campground.__
Campers with reservations at the Longleaf Campground have easy access to the park___s 27 miles of hiking trails. Campers can reach the Harry Hampton Visitor Center by car or by hiking on the Longleaf Trail. At the visitor center you can access the Boardwalk and find information on other trails to plan your trip into the old-growth forest of Congaree National Park. Those who would like to explore and experience Congaree via canoe or kayak can launch from one of the park's two landings, located between 5-10 minutes by car from the campground.__
Located in a mixed pine/hardwood upland forest, campsites are surrounded by pines and other trees. Campsites are generally in shade for large parts of the day. An open field in the middle of the campground is available for use by campers throughout the day, and this location offers campers excellent opportunities for observing wildlife such as birds, butterflies, and the occasional southern fox squirrel.__
Congaree National Park is located near many attractions including state parks, forests and parks. The city of Columbia is a short drive from the park and offers access to many attractions including museums, city parks and shopping.
$25 / night
Camping Information: Each site is packed sand and has individual water and 30 amp electrical hookups. 17 sites accommodate RV's up to 35 feet, others up to 30 feet. 14 sites are pull through. The campground is convenient to restroom facilities with hot showers.
Nine sites are newly-improved. Amenities include: a large, level parking area, a campfire ring with grill and a lantern hook.
Four sites are equipped with tent pads. These pads provide a sand surface and can accommodate tents up to 10 x 10 ft.
Loop 1 is closed seasonally. Loop 2 is open year round.
Primitive Group Area: A primitive group camping area is ideal for organized groups up to 50 people. (An organized group is defined as a group that holds regular meetings and has a lead officer or elected/appointed officials.) Central water is available. Walking distant to restrooms. Showers not available.
Reservations are accepted. To make a primitive group camping reservation, contact the park directly. Minimum rate is $11-13.50 which allows up to 10 campers. The rate increases by $5-6.25 increments for each additional five campers up to a total of fifty campers.
$33 - $35 / night
$20 / night
In the High Hills of Santee, where the South Carolina Sandhills of the Midlands region meet the coastal plain region, you’ll find Poinsett State Park. Called the "mountains of the midlands," this mixed ecosystem yields a high degree of biodiversity and some of the most unique natural sightings in the park system, especially along the Palmetto trail which winds through the Manchester State Forest.
The High Hills of Santee are dotted with the hiking and biking trails that wind through the park–some of which connect to the Palmetto Trail that leads hikers through the Manchester State Forest. Poinsett’s 10-acre lake makes for a serene setting, and can be used for fishing and johnboat rentals. The park also offers campsites, a fishing pond, a coquina bathhouse built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, pre-revolutionary grist mill ruins and rustic cabins.
Camping Information: Each site is packed sand and has individual water and 30 amp electrical hookups. 17 sites accommodate RV's up to 35 feet, others up to 30 feet. 14 sites are pull through. The campground is convenient to restroom facilities with hot showers.
Nine sites are newly-improved. Amenities include: a large, level parking area, a campfire ring with grill and a lantern hook.
Four sites are equipped with tent pads. These pads provide a sand surface and can accommodate tents up to 10 x 10 ft.
Loop 1 is closed seasonally. Loop 2 is open year round.
Primitive Group Area: A primitive group camping area is ideal for organized groups up to 50 people. (An organized group is defined as a group that holds regular meetings and has a lead officer or elected/appointed officials.) Central water is available. Walking distant to restrooms. Showers not available.
Reservations are accepted. To make a primitive group camping reservation, contact the park directly. Minimum rate is $11-13.50 which allows up to 10 campers. The rate increases by $5-6.25 increments for each additional five campers up to a total of fifty campers.
$33 - $35 / night
The.grounds are immaculate, the showers and laundry (Free) are well maintained and the dog park has a water fountain for the dogs. It's within walking distance to the various restaurants in town .
A great park...except for the trains. The rails are within one block of the campground and the trains run frequently, day and night and are use their horns A LOT.
If you are a sound sleeper and have a really loud AC in your rig, enjoy the place, otherwise, make it a short stay.
The South Carolina Forest
This was the perfect place to stop for an overnight stay to break up the drive to FL. Our full hook-up site was almost perfectly level with a fire ring and picnic table. We stayed in a back-in site, which we were grateful for since they are all in the shade. Our grandson loved feeding the goats and donkey so make sure you bring some fruit and/or veggies. Claire was very communicative prior to our arrival and even stopped by our site after we settled in to see if we needed anything. They are expanding by adding a bathhouse and possibly more sites in the future. They have weekly movie nights and a couple of corn hole boards. I believe there's a walking trail as well but we didn't have a chance to check it out since we were in and out so quickly. If we had to list a con, I guess the only thing would be the bugs....but that's typical of the south in the summer so we were already prepared. We will definitely be stopping by again for a longer stay.
Country setting in a great little RV park that is just getting started. Full hook-ups. Easy access and parking. Owners were very hospitable and available. Sweet animals and love the farm feel. Definitely plan to stay again.
Stayed for a week during ArtFields Competition. There is nothing about the campground that needs changed. Full hook-up, great wifi, clean like new bathrooms and free laundry. Trash is picked up every morning at the site. Gated grounds that is well maintained. There are some long term residents but everyone is quiet and polite. The train is quite loud, and the town is small and doesn't have a lot to do so it's the reason for 4 stars instead of 5. If your in town for a reason, then it's the perfect place...but just not a camping destination.
This is one of our favorite spots! We can boat, fish, ride our golf cart, hang out by the fire and just enjoy the moment. It also has wonderful handicap accommodations. Hands down one of our favorites!
We stayed here for our son’s first birthday, in campsite 30! It was beautiful and we felt like we had plenty of privacy. Our site had a trail attached to the back of it which was really nice for hiking and it was perfect distance from the bathroom! On the topic of the bathroom, the toilets were CLEAN! And I mean we were there for 24 hours and the bathroom was cleaned at least twice. Really nice, they might look a little scary on the outside though but don’t mind that any bit.
For people that love hammocks, site 29 (right next to ours) has a bunch of perfect hammock trees. If we go again we will try to stay in that spot! Great place to stay.
This location has 2 RV lots. Riverside is heavily wooded which provides a ton of shade on the hot summer days. Taylor Creek is newer with less trees providing lots of open space and great for Solar regeneration. Both sites are very clean and well maintained. Just a short walk to the lake.
Had a one night stay. New hookups, easy access and being right next to the farm animals was very fun! The rooster was pretty expressive overnight too!
We stopped heading south and north along I-95 to and from Florida. Very easy off and on I-95. Plenty of available spaces in off-season. The campground is small and quiet. Camp Host was very helpful. Sites were spaced reasonably far apart but there is no privacy between. Not all sites have a water view, but most appeared fairly level. Not all sites have sewer access. Our only complaint was lots of smoke from campfires and grills. Would stay again.
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.
Great for a pull through spot right off I-95 while traveling! Campground is beautiful and clean, with a pond, park, large laundry room, and easy access dump station. Staff was very friendly and got me a spot right away for a good price. There are spots for every size camper. Only downside is it gets a bit messy/ muddy if it’s raining.
Our stay at Outside Inn Campground was truly awesome! The sites are very nice, easy access, and they also have"buddy sites" for when you are traveling with others. The owners (Chris& Clair), their daughters (Macy and Caroline), and the varous animals were great! We definitely recommend every RVer add this place to their list!
We were at site 46, which is near the entrance and the camp host. Short walk to the bathhouse directly behind. Site has good trees for a hammock and near a path down to the lake for fishing/picnic/swimming. Beware there is a sharp drop off across from the site, so make sure whoever is backing in has a spotter out front.
My family spent 8 days at Outside Inn Campground in Santee SC. This Campground is now our Campground #1.
This is a new Campground that was developed with the Campers in mind.
The owners are hands-on in the operation and customer service, not necessarily in that order.
The sites are well placed throughout the Campground. They have established trails throughout the woods.
On of the main attractions are the animals: cows, ducks, chickens, goats, a donkey, turkeys and roosters.
Nice campground. Campground has hiking/biking trails. Lake views from our site. Shower house was less than perfect, but adequate.
Nice campground right on the lake. The nicest shower house I have ever seen. This is the standard we base all other campgrounds. Staff and everyone around were super nice
Super friendly staff, great location, waterfront camping and I can bring my boat. We had a great time. The problem is all the annual residents don’t follow their own rules. No one is supposed to drive trough the campsites, people were driving trough and walking through our campsite at all hours.
Open lots under the pines.
We stopped here for a night on our way back to Florida. We were on C5 which was a very large pull through and relatively level. We did not even have to bring out our leveling blocks, the auto leveler was able to handle it well. Power was stable and water pressure was good. Only things we did not like is that every site was just dirt and there was not much shade at our site.
This spot is so close to I95 (look for exit 169) that you’ll both feel and hear the swoosh of passing by traffic 24/7. So, while you’ll incur ease and convenience, that will come at a cost (privacy and quietude being what you will sacrifice most). Located in the NE pocket of the Palmetto State, Florence RV Park, while not a destination per se, could be a nice (and incredibly easy) layover on your trip destination to anywhere else up or down this major east coast highway artery.
Despite the location, this spot has a lot to offer: an intimate little public pool behind the management office, WiFi hotspots, dog park, scattered picnic tables (in pretty good condition), kid’s playground, 20 / 30 / 50 amp hook-ups, dump station, dog walk area, catch & release fishing pond, propane refueling station, vending machines, small pond for fishing, basketball court, volleyball, badminton and horseshoe rings. There’s even 4-5 log cabins for rent at the front of the property (with full access to all the highway noise) and of course, good old fashioned on-site laundry facilities along with a mini-store that has most of the basics covered as well as fairly spartan shower / bathing facilities.
Insider’s tip? Here's a few: (1) The further east you are on the property, all the better as you’ll be positioned as far away from I95 traffic and noise; (2) If tent camping, I highly recommend spots #A7 – A13 and if you are RV’ing I recommend #L9 – L18 as well as any of the locations on J, K and F11 – F16; (3) There’s a lot to explore near here, from the Grand Strand of South Carolina, of course, Myrtle Beach and even Darlington Raceway, so if you don’t mind the overpopulated location with its westerly view of non-stop traffic, then this could be a good place to stop for the night or from which to launch your exploration of the area; (4) If you’ve looked at this RV campground’s website, don’t be fooled by the pictures – I don’t think any of them were actually taken of the place, save for the pond, and that was a close-up; and (5) If you are looking for a nearby spot to sample the local fare, I recommend checking out The Drive-In Restaurant with its 50s era nostalgia, big juicy burgers, fried everything, homemade onion rings and thick, creamy chocolate shakes.
Happy Camping!
We stayed in loop 2 at site 48 for 2 nights at the end of April. Chose this campground because we had an event in Columbia that we had to attend on our way back from a trip to Florida so we needed a place to stay for a few nights. The site was level with a gravel drive and parking area. Lots of pines all around but the site was clear enough for easy parking. No sewer hookups. There was water but we had some trouble getting the pressure just right. Really good tv signal since the campground is right outside of the city. Only a 20-30 minute drive down the highway. The part of town you go through to get there is a bit rundown (not bad by any means but you wouldn’t know there was a park nearby). The park itself it quite lovely. There’s a small lake that rents paddle boats and kayaks. A nice camp store. Cute park and splash pad. I actually wish we could have stayed longer. We have family nearby and will probably stay here next time we visit. I would recommend visiting if you want a quiet low key getaway.
Nice site with trees and picnic table
Clean and nice play ground for kids.
I'm not sure why the reviews of this place were good. The only positive thing was the serving staff at the restaurant. I'm traveling in a van. So why would I pay upwards of 60 per night for a place with no showers and terrible bathrooms. It took me two days to find the large dumpster which is placed in a weird area. The sites are not cleaned up and it's far away from any amenity like a grocery store. It seems they decided to turn a marina into a campground and are not doing a good job maintaining it. When I complained of no hot water and low water pressure the manager kept blaming it on me that I should have reported it earlier. He was so rude and didn't even offer a partial refund. Absolutely horrible place. I'm forced to leave early with no refund.
What a gem of a little campground. Stopped here 2 nights driving from NC to LA. I was the only person here those 2 nights. This place feels off grid with the convenience of hookups. Despite being small, it was very clean, everything worked as expected. Archery range, trails, nature center. Would come back here just to stay!
Decent cell coverage. I stayed in site 1, there was a big clearing where I dropped the starlink - had great connection the entire visit.
Me and my wife had a great time on the trail. Close to 4 miles long, and pretty easy. Great for a day adventure, or excercise. There is also a nature facility located at the trail head that provides knowledge of the area, and the wildlife.
Camping near Sumter, South Carolina, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.
Camping around Sumter, SC, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Sumter, SC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Sumter, SC is Poinsett State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 39 reviews.
What parks are near Sumter, SC?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 parks near Sumter, SC that allow camping, notably Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests and Uwharrie National Forest.
