Are you planning a camping trip to Calhoun Falls with your dog? We've got you covered. Find the best information on pet-friendly campgrounds near Calhoun Falls, including sites, reviews, and tips. You're sure to find the perfect pet-friendly campsite for your South Carolina camping excursion.
Petersburg Campground is located on J. Strom Thurmond Lake, just four miles from the Thurmond Dam and Visitor Center and 25 miles from Augusta, Georgia. The 70,000 acre lake and its 1,000+ miles of shoreline provide excellent boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing, hiking and picnicking.
Thurmond Lake provides some of the best fishing, hunting, and water sports in the southeastern United States. Anglers fish for largemouth bass, bream, crappie, catfish and striped bass. The large lake offers endless boating, water skiing, jet skiing, canoeing and swimming opportunities. Hikers have access to many miles of trails in the immediate area. The 1.8-mile Lake Springs Loop and the 27-mile Bartram Trail, which meanders along the scenic shoreline and through Wildwood Park, are both nearby. Shorter sections can be hiked from several intersecting trailheads.
Thurmond Lake provides some of the best fishing, hunting, and water sports in the southeastern United States. Anglers fish for largemouth bass, bream, crappie, catfish and striped bass. The large lake offers endless boating, water skiing, jet skiing, canoeing and swimming opportunities. Hikers have access to many miles of trails in the immediate area. The 1.8-mile Lake Springs Loop and the 27-mile Bartram Trail, which meanders along the scenic shoreline and through Wildwood Park, are both nearby. Shorter sections can be hiked from several intersecting trailheads.
Hot, humid summers and mild, pleasant winters characterize this heavily wooded area on the shore of Thurmond Lake. A mixed pine and hardwood forest covers the site, providing summer shade and fall color. Wildlife is abundant around the lake. Visitors regularly see southern bald eagles, migratory waterfowl, wild turkeys and whitetail deer.
Numerous parks and recreation areas lie around Thurmond Lake, providing additional boating, swimming, hunting, and hiking opportunities. Nearby cities house museums, art galleries, zoos, restaurants and shopping areas. The Augusta National Golf Club hosts the Masters Golf Tournament annually the first week of April.
$50 / night
Springfield Campground is one of Hartwells most popular camping destinations consisting of 60 acres of primarily Virginia pine and some mixed hardwoods. The area presently offers 1 gatehouse/entrance, 2 park attendant campsites, 79 public campsites with full water and electric hookups, 6 comfort stations (4 with showers), 1 dump station, 1 boat ramp, 1 courtesy dock, 3 playgrounds, 1 designated swim area/beach, and associated paved roads and parking areas throughout.
Fishing is one of the most popular activities at the lake. Sought-after species include largemouth bass, bream, crappie, catfish, striped bass and hybrid bass. The lake appeals to boaters of all kinds, whether their specialty is canoeing, sailing or motor boating. Coves and areas of quiet water provide water skiers with excellent surfaces. Swimmers will find sand beaches and designated swim areas along the shoreline.
Hartwell Lake is a man-made lake bordering Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah, Tugaloo and Seneca Rivers. The dam and lake area boasts 8 campgrounds and 11 day-use facilities that are operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Hartwell Project was originally authorized for hydro-power, flood control, and navigation. Later, recreation, water quality, water supply and fish and wildlife management were added. Surrounding vegetation allows for plenty of shade, and the 962 miles of shoreline provide numerous swimming beaches, picnic areas and boat ramps.
The campground is a short drive away from Clemson, South Carolina and Clemson University, offering additional tourism opportunities, along with grocery stores, gas stations and restaurants.
$32 / night
Twin Lakes Recreation Area is a 152-acre site consisting of a dense overstory of pines and mixed hardwoods. The site presently offers camping and a separate day use and boat launching area. Day use and camping facilities are separated to prevent user conflicts. The area is moderate to gently sloping with the northernmost campsites being located on the steepest terrain. Campgrounds facilities presently include a gatehouse/entrance, 2 Park Attendant campsites, 102 public campsites, 1 picnic shelter, 5 comfort stations with showers, 2 dump stations, 5 playgrounds, 1 designated swim area/beach, and associated paved roads and parking areas throughout. Day Use facilities presently include a new gatehouse/entrance installed in 2017, 1 volunteer host campsite, 27 picnic sites, 2 standard picnic shelters with water and electric service, 1 two lane boat ramp, 1 courtesy dock, 2 comfort stations, 1 playground, 2 designated swim areas/beaches, and associated paved roads and parking areas throughout. The campground experiences very high occupancy rates throughout the year and is Hartwells highest producer of camping revenue.
Boating and water sports top the list of popular activities. A boat ramp is provided for easy lake access. With multiple trails snaking throughout the shoreline area, hiking and biking are also popular pastimes.
Hartwell Lake is a man-made lake bordering Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah, Tugaloo and Seneca Rivers. The dam and lake area boasts 8 campgrounds and 11 day-use facilities that are operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Hartwell Project was originally authorized for hydro-power, flood control, and navigation. Later, recreation, water quality, water supply and fish and wildlife management were added. Surrounding vegetation allows for plenty of shade, and the 962 miles of shoreline provide numerous swimming beaches, picnic areas and boat ramps.
Twin Lakes is located just five miles from Clemson, South Carolina and Clemson University, offering additional tourism opportunities, along with grocery stores, gas stations and restaurants.
$30 / night
Watsadler Campground is a 36 acre site consisting of a relatively dense cover of pine and mixed hardwoods. The area is open year-round and is one of Hartwells most popular camping destinations. The site presently offers camping and boat launching facilities to include 1 gatehouse/entrance, 2 park attendant campsites, 51 public campsites with full water/electric hookups, 3 comfort stations (2 with showers), 1 dump station, 1 boat ramp, 1 courtesy dock, 2 playgrounds, and associated paved roads and parking areas throughout.
Fishing is one of the most popular activities at the lake. Sought-after species include largemouth bass, bream, crappie, catfish, striped bass and hybrid bass. The lake appeals to boaters of all kinds, whether their specialty is canoeing, sailing or motor boating. Coves and areas of quiet water provide water skiers with excellent surfaces. Swimmers will find sand beaches and designated swim areas in many parks along the shoreline.
Hartwell Lake is a man-made lake bordering Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah, Tugaloo and Seneca Rivers. The dam and lake area boasts 8 campgrounds and 11 day-use facilities that are operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Hartwell Project was originally authorized for hydro-power, flood control, and navigation. Later, recreation, water quality, water supply and fish and wildlife management were added. Surrounding vegetation allows for plenty of shade, and the 962 miles of shoreline provide numerous swimming beaches, picnic areas and boat ramps.
$32 / night
The camping area provides easy access to the shoreline of Lake Greenwood. 125 paved sites may be used by both RVs and tents. Each site has water and electrical hook-ups and a picnic table. Many paved sites accommodate RVs up to 40 feet. All sites are convenient to hot showers and restrooms.
This recreation area is part of Hartwell Lake
$10 / night
Hawe Creek Campground is located on J. Strom Thurmond Lake, one mile from the Dorn Sportfishing Facility, one of the largest in the southeast.__ Camping at Hawe Creek is ripe with many different opportunities for relaxation, skill-building, family bonding, and nature appreciation. The 70,000+ acre lake and 1,000+ miles of shoreline are prime for activities that facilitate such opportunities such as boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing, kayaking, hiking, biking, bird watching, and so much more of course!__ Experience the quiet and relaxing outdoors at this quaint 34 site campground nestled in South Carolina.
Thurmond Lake provides some of the best fishing, hunting, and water sports in the southeastern United States. Anglers fish for largemouth bass, bream, crappie, catfish and striped bass. The large lake offers great conditions for exciting activities such as boating, water skiing, jet skiing, canoeing, and swimming. When recreating at Thurmond Lake, we hope to give our visitors opportunities to bond, appreciate nature, relieve stress, improve skills, and improve physical fitness.
Thurmond Lake provides some of the best fishing, hunting, and water sports in the southeastern United States. Anglers fish for largemouth bass, bream, crappie, catfish and striped bass. The large lake offers great conditions for exciting activities such as boating, water skiing, jet skiing, canoeing, and swimming. When recreating at Thurmond Lake, we hope to give our visitors opportunities to bond, appreciate nature, relieve stress, improve skills, and improve physical fitness.
Water/ Land: Hawe Creek campground is on the shoreline of the J Strom Thurmond lake that is over 70,000 acres, and surrounded with a mix of pine and hardwood trees which offer shade and visual interest.__ Wildlife: Wildlife is abundant around the lake. Visitors regularly see southern bald eagles, migratory waterfowl, neo-tropical birds, wild turkeys, and whitetail deer. Weather/ Climate: Average temperatures during the camping season starts out at 75 degrees Fahrenheit and peaks in July at 91 degrees Fahrenheit. May receives the least amount of rainfall on average, but increased rainfall for June, July, and August.
Savannah Lakes Village is just a few minutes away, with lodging, dining and shopping. Golf enthusiasts will appreciate the nearby courses at Hickory Knob State Park, within five miles of Hawe Creek. Numerous parks and recreation areas lie around Thurmond Lake, providing additional boating, swimming, hunting, and hiking opportunities. Nearby cities house museums, art galleries, zoos, restaurants, and shopping areas. The Augusta National Golf Club hosts the Masters Golf Tournament annually the first week of April.
$32 / night
$30 / night
Scout
Very rude and unhelpful said he would call me back to let me know if there was any openings. He never called back.
Ranger
Campsite surround the lake. Sites are plenty big and lead to the lake. Campground was very peaceful. We had a small walk to bathroom with showers.
Guide
I loved everything about this campground. The sites all have beautiful views and lake access, they are decently apart from each other. And has great signal! I was getting consistent 5G 3 bars at least with Verizon. The bathrooms don't have showers so plan accordingly
Traveler
We stayed at site 28, which wasnt waterfront but had a small view of the water past other sites. The sites are all good sized. Ours fit our camper and large truck, and still had room for three tents on the pad. The layout looks massive but its easy walking. The beach is a five minute walk. There are two beaches and multiple playgrounds, and the paved roads make for fun bike riding. The heavy foliage makes everything private. Theres no sewer hookups because its an old Corp of Engineers park, but the dump stations are modern and nice. The bathhouses were old and grubby and could use some upgrades. We didnt shower but did use the toilets occasionally to conserve on black water space. But I did peak at the showers. Theyre push-button jail-style. Bring bikes, swimming gear, and any watercraft you have and youll have a great time.
Scout
Eenjoyed staying there, staff was awesome and really did a great job keeping the guest happy. The 4th of July events was awesome and was a full day of contest and ended with a DJ kicking the tunes. Recommend to all to give them a try!
TravelerStayed over 4th of July weekend. Couldn’t believe how quiet it was for a holiday. There isn’t anything around at all. They offer a pool but no other activities (they did have some 4th activities but it was all seasonal). It backs to the lake so if you have a boat it’s nice. But when we went on the lake we saw many other campgrounds that looked nicer. There is one dumpster that we had to walk to to throw trash away. No pick up or closer locations. Not level sites. Mostly seasonal which is fine but not a great place or easy to get in/out of if transient. Other campgrounds closer to Clemson. No town nearby at all.
Traveler
We did not end up with a great site. It was on the water but the view was not great. I feel ridiculous saying that there were too many trees but they were all along the edge and completely blocked the view of the lake. The sites were pretty close together, even the ones across the water. We were in a little cove and we could hear everyone's conversations. We could hear the people on both sides as well as the people across the water. There was also a lot of poison ivy. It's still a beautiful lake and they had nice swimming beaches. The Bartram Trail runs through this campground as well.
Ranger
Gorgeous lake with no sign of civilization across from the campground. We swam right from our site and loved it. The sites are enormous, private, and provide panoramic lake views. Ours was perfect. Nice beach, playground, and everything well kept. I would imagine that on weekends the boat traffic might be slightly loud but on this Monday it was so peaceful and quiet. The site has a fire ring with grill, a standing grill, a picnic table, and a prep table. Again, the site is enormous. Great value at $32!!!
ScoutI spent a great couple of days here mid-week in mid-June. There was one other occupied campsite (out of 9) the first night and I had the whole place to myself the second. No showers, no wi-fi or cell sevice, no dump station, no electricity, and a common water spigot-just what I wanted. No reservations either.
There were people who came to fish in the pond (more of a pond than a lake) and I had a nice swim.. There are two trails. A short one (about a mile) around the pond and a longer 5.6 mile loop. Great trail.
Be sure to check the website for problems beforehand. The water was out when I was there (actually it was restored just as I pulled out!!!).
So all in all, I great place if you want a rough campsite with few others around.
Scout
Cabin 3 stars- Older cabin, clean, spacious with very large living area, loft area small and a bit dingy, shared porch Campground 3 stars-wooded, shady, hilly Amenities 3 stars- a bit run down Staff 3 stars-average
LegendOne of the nicer ACOE Campgrounds we’ve visited. Friends stayed here over the winter months and picked a couple nice sites for a future stay. Easy access in and out, back-in site was very large with lake views while keeping us in mostly shade. As with all campgrounds, some sites are better than others. But, wouldn’t complain about any if just staying a few nights.
Scout
We stopped here on a rainy night after a concert and the owners were so accommodating!! Very grateful for the last minute stay.
Scout
I love it!! There is some helicopters & a train that comes by, if it come while I'm asleep....I don't hear it.
TravelerCame here for the first time last year and I love that it’s in the middle of no where. We had a great place next to the beach and the gate workers were so sweet!
Scout
We had a great experience. Space was easy to get the camper backed into and spaces were far enough apart for small kids to have room to play without bothering other campers. Only concern was the spot we chose was on an exposed point on the lake and was very windy. Would probably be great on a 90 degree summer day but was very cold when the temps dropped into the 40s on our last day.
Traveler
We were able to park our 44 ft. Fifth wheel with ease with little assistance from a park host. The only reason why I didn't give a 5 star was because we were very close to neighbors. They were all in a row so if you open your curtains others can see you. Full hookups.
Traveler
Me and a friend came camping here this second weekend in January. The campground itself was well maintained and the hook ups, dump station and bathhouses were easy to find and use. We had only 2 complaints, the gate to get in closes at 10pm, unfortunately I85 was shut down on our way up so our 3 hr drive became 6hrs. We did not make it before the gate closed and had to stay at Walmart. No code no exceptions. Secondly, there are no trashcans anywhere, on the grounds or in the bathhouses. The trash dump is in a completely different part of the park. It was inconvenient with picking up after my dog. Besides those two things, beautiful lake camping with affordable campsite prices!
Guide
Long with plenty of space for 37' Trailer & two cars in drive. Concrete parking pad and for.pinic table and fire pit. Lake access but has stone riprap at this site so no shore to land boat. Water down maybe 3 to 4' at winter level rock sand dirt shore line.
Short drive to Hartwell to shop or eat
Legend
Jake from the Dyrt here! This campground is new to the Dyrt and open for reservations through the Dyrt!
ScoutReally cool spot to go camping. The brewery was awesome and they were very friendly. I’m definitely coming back here sometime 10/10.
Scout
Staff was superb with a last minute booking. We arrived after closing but they saw us coming in and checked that we were good. That was SO nice when coming in the dark and dog tired. Sites are large, well spaced and on the lake. Wi-Fi not bad, campground less than 10 minutes off interstate yet super quiet, no road noise. I’d post pictures but every time I try I get kicked out and half to start over.
LegendPetersburg - J Strom Thurmond Lake Campground: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer with a desire for a campsite that has at least some visual privacy - after the trailer is in the spot.)
Overall Rating: 4.5
Price 2023: $ 14 w interagency pass
Usage during visit: Heavy, going into Thanksgiving weekend.
Site Privacy: All sites are set back from campground loop road
Site Spacing: Tremendous
Site surface: Gravel.
Reservations: Yes
Campground Noise: Quiet.
Road Noise: None
Through Traffic in campground: No reason.
Electric Hookup: Yes
Sewer Hookup: Yes
Dump Station: Ues
Potable Water Available: At site.
Bathroom: Flush toilets
Showers: Yes. Single curtain separation.
Cell Service (AT&T): 2 bars
Setting: Most sites are lakeside sites.
Weather: Rain, partial sun
Bugs: No bites.
Host: Yes
Rig size: Large rigs okay
Sites: Most and maybe all sites have water views. Site 6 has a great view. Other sites have great views as well. Site 28 has a tremendous view.
Guide
Rough roads, poor shower house, undeveloped sites. But man, what a view
ScoutVery quiet and relaxing. The view was great and I will definitely go back.
Scout
Camped out here I really like it just remember it is primitive camping so bring what you need cell phone service was good here i would camp out here again
ScoutThis campground looks abandoned and forgotten. Trash everywhere! We’d hoped we’d found a gem but not so much. Large parking area at bottom of campground to put in watercraft but didn’t seem welcoming at all. Very disappointed.
TravelerMy Husband, Niece, Nephew & I just got back from spending a wonderful weekend @ The Point! Such a great carefree, quiet and peaceful place to stay!! Before I continue with this 5* Review I will say prior to even turning into the campground I started having flashbacks of the area when my husband & I had visited once before over a year ago(we did not stay, we just toured the property) & my anxiety kicked in real bad! The campground was under a different name/ownership & it was an absolute "DUMP" to say the least! So as we were driving up the road leading to the campground this weekend my husband was like "this area looks familiar & I know you haven't booked us @ that raggedy campground we looked @ a year ago", I was like "OMG, I've booked the wrong place" However when we turned in I immediately noticed the new & improved changes to the campground! They have a new name/new owners & they have done some major improvements & you can tell they care about the property! The grounds have been cleaned up, the basketball/tennis court area can now actually be used. The new pool area is under construction & you can tell it's going to be great! The office/campground store is stocked with plenty of essentials you may need for your stay! They even have prepackaged Smores kits for you to purchase. The clubhouse area was nice. They had Karaoke& Potluck night while we were there! The laundry/bathhouse area was also nice/clean! As far as the actual campsites there are not any concrete pads but you can tell they have tried their best to make the sites level& better accessible by clearing up the area& removing some of the trees. We were in site G4(which was considered a larger site, we have a 38ft 5th wheel), my nephew was in site F5& both sites were easy to get into with no issues. They offer tent sites, tiny cabins & a few waterfront sites. We had our boat, they offer a decent area for boat parking & the boat ramp/dock to access beautiful Lake Hartwell was ok! The ramp/dock area could use a little facelift but it was still decent & I'm sure they probably have plans to upgrade it in the future! Overall Kim, Mike, Angie and the other staff were absolutely amazing & very accommodating! We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves & will definitely return to The Point & recommend to our friends/family!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Calhoun Falls, SC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Calhoun Falls, SC is Petersburg - J Strom Thurmond Lake with a 4.7-star rating from 31 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Calhoun Falls, SC?
TheDyrt.com has all 77 dog-friendly camping locations near Calhoun Falls, SC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
