Best Campgrounds near Calhoun Falls, SC
Located on the South Carolina-Georgia border, Calhoun Falls offers diverse camping opportunities centered around Lake Russell. The region includes established campgrounds like Calhoun Falls State Park, which provides both RV and tent sites with water and electric hookups. Richard B Russell State Park and Elijah Clark State Park offer additional camping options with many sites featuring direct lake access. Beyond traditional camping, several properties include cabin rentals and glamping accommodations. Parsons Mountain Lake Campground provides a more remote camping experience with primitive tent camping available from May through mid-November.
Camping conditions vary seasonally with most campgrounds open year-round, though Parsons Mountain and Broad River operate only during warmer months. The majority of campgrounds require reservations, especially for premium waterfront sites which tend to fill quickly during summer months. Access roads are generally paved and well-maintained with most campgrounds accommodating both tents and larger RVs. Cell service can be spotty throughout the area, particularly in Campground 1 at Calhoun Falls State Park. Most campgrounds provide basic amenities like water hookups, toilets, and picnic tables, with some offering additional amenities like showers and sanitary dump stations. As one visitor noted, "Cell service was 1/2 bar to none. We had a terrible issue with ants."
Lake Russell forms the centerpiece of the camping experience with many sites offering direct shoreline access. Campers consistently praise the spaciousness and privacy of sites, particularly at Calhoun Falls State Park where most campsites either have lake views or private pathways to the water. A camper described it as having "large, spacious lakeside campsites. We enjoyed privacy, lake access from our campsite, and spectacular sunset views over the lake." Fishing is popular with several campgrounds providing dedicated fishing piers and boat ramps. Many campgrounds feature playgrounds and hiking trails, though some reviewers mention maintenance issues at certain facilities. Bathhouses at some locations are described as outdated and in need of renovation, while the natural setting and lake views compensate for these shortcomings.
