Camping sites near Union, South Carolina range from basic primitive areas to family-oriented private campgrounds within 30-45 minutes of town. The region sits at the edge of the Piedmont plateau and features rolling terrain with elevations averaging 500-700 feet. Summer temperatures frequently exceed 90°F with high humidity, while winter camping conditions remain relatively mild with occasional freezing nights.
What to do
Hiking trail access: Chester State Park offers well-marked trails that run along the lake edge. The trails provide opportunities for wildlife viewing and nature photography. As one visitor noted, "There is a short hiking trail (less than a mile) through the woods and plenty of green space in front of some of the pull-thrus."
Disc golf courses: Chester State Park features a professional disc golf course on site. A camper mentioned, "Also there is a professional disc golf course on site." This provides an alternative recreation option when not fishing or hiking.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple parks offer fishing access, including lakes and ponds. At Croft State Park Campground, visitors can fish in the on-site lake. One camper shared, "Nice hiking around lake, fishing, and boat rental. Saw some turtles while paddling, and there were frogs and lots of fireflies near our campsite."
Equestrian facilities: Horse trails and facilities are available at Kings Mountain and several forest service campgrounds. According to one reviewer at Kings Mountain, "Perfect for equestrian as most of the trails are horse friendly and there is a large arena free to use. The barn is clean as well and provides stall shavings for a small fee."
What campers like
Peaceful environment: Brick House Campground offers quiet, secluded camping in the national forest. As one camper reported, "Spent a week here and really enjoying it. Has 21 spots. All have legal gravel pads, fire rings with grill bars. 5.00 to me is great for the peace and quiet."
Clean facilities: Private campgrounds typically maintain cleaner bathrooms and showers than primitive sites. A visitor at Pine Ridge Campground noted, "Cleanest bathhouse I've ever seen and laundry facility great! We will definitely be back!"
Affordable options: National forest campgrounds provide budget-friendly alternatives. A camper at Brick House Campground stated, "This place is pretty cool it had lost of stuff to do tent sight has water and power a picnic tables and a rustic fire pit. We paid $37/night(with the KOA member discount)."
Nature encounters: Campers frequently mention wildlife viewing opportunities. A visitor to Croft State Park shared, "Saw some turtles while paddling, and there were frogs and lots of fireflies near our campsite. We enjoyed seeing the equestrian visitors too."
What you should know
Site conditions vary significantly: Many campgrounds have uneven or challenging sites. A camper at Kings Mountain reported, "Many camping sites are very much in need of leveling. Sites slope from left to right, front to back, and some slope in both ways."
Hunting season impacts: Forest service campgrounds experience increased usage during hunting seasons. At Brick House Campground, a camper noted, "Camp ground used by hunters alot. Horse trail and hinking here. Valt toilets. Arrived after hunting season, informed was busy then."
Access challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult access roads. One reviewer mentioned about Kings Mountain, "The road into the campground is narrow, hilly and windy. We were able to do it in our 32 foot class A, but luckily no one was coming the other direction."
Water availability: Not all campgrounds offer potable water. A visitor to Woods Ferry Campground advised, "There is running water and a pit toilet. Otherwise, you will have to take everything else in that you need."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Iron City Campground features kid-friendly facilities. A visitor shared, "Our 12 year old son loves the pool and being able to ride his electric bike around the campground. The host does a great job lining up activities including Kona Ice for the campers on Saturday's."
Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer pools or swimming access. As one camper noted about Iron City, "Small Family owned campground. Perfect for a small family getaway for a long weekend. We loved coming here on our long breaks and just escaping from reality and swimming in the beautiful pool!"
Organized activities: Some private campgrounds schedule regular events. A visitor to Pine Ridge Campground mentioned, "Plenty of fantastic amenities, cleanest bathhouse I've ever seen and a great pool make this a great place to stay. Add on all the activities they plan for big holiday weekends and this place is a no brainer."
Safety considerations: Campgrounds vary in seclusion and accessibility. A camper at Sedalia Campground advised, "If you want to get away from civilization, this might be the place to camp. However, it is beside a road, but the road is not used very much since it is a national forest road."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Choose sites carefully based on size and hookup placement. A camper at Kings Mountain noted, "Some sites are listed as RV sites but are half as large as they need to be to accommodate a medium size RV."
Leveling challenges: Many sites in the area require significant leveling. One visitor shared, "Lots of sites could use some attention. Tangled tree roots, water ruts. Muddy when it rains. They don't put gravel often."
Hookup configurations: RVers should be prepared for unusual utility placements. A reviewer mentioned, "The electric and water are in odd spots on each site. Luckily we were on one of the rare fairly level sites."
Road conditions: Access roads can be challenging for larger RVs. One camper advised about a national forest campground, "Beware of the giant pothole when turning off the 66 onto the Brickhouse Road. We hit it and it jarred the trailer so much it broke our back window."
