Tent campgrounds near Calhoun Falls, South Carolina offer waterfront camping experiences along the shores of Lake Thurmond. Leroy's Ferry Campground provides primitive tent sites with direct lake access for $10 per night, while Fell Hunt Camp offers a more structured camping experience with designated tent sites. Both locations provide basic amenities for tent campers seeking affordable outdoor recreation in the Savannah River Basin.
Tent sites at Leroy's Ferry feature fire rings and picnic tables, though campers must bring their own water and pack out all trash as no dumpsters are available. The campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis with payment via drop box. Cell service is limited but available for basic communication. Fell Hunt Camp provides well water through spigots and has approximately 20 tent sites arranged in a circle, with additional sites designated for equestrian campers. Most tent campgrounds in the area lack electrical hookups, showers, or sanitary dump stations, making them suitable for self-sufficient campers.
The tent camping experience around Calhoun Falls offers seclusion and natural beauty. "This is a great, unpopular place to camp. Most of the campsites have access via trails to the lake," noted one visitor about Leroy's Ferry. Waterfront sites allow campers to enjoy swimming and fishing directly from their campsite, with opportunities to watch sunsets over the water. Denver Downs Farm provides an alternative tent camping option in a large open field about an hour north of Calhoun Falls, offering a different experience from the lakeside settings. During holiday weekends, some campgrounds remain surprisingly uncrowded compared to other regional options. Tent campers appreciate the spacing between sites at places like Leroy's Ferry, which provides enough distance for privacy while maintaining access to basic facilities like pit toilets that are generally well-maintained.
"10 bucks a night, sites spaced far enough apart to be comfortable, waterfront, not over crowded. I think it is worth the drive over some of the more crowded places."
"Sites are only a hundred feet or so from the lake, so I threw up a hammock and watched the sunset over the water and spent time during the day swimming."
from $10 / night
from $5 - $150 / night
"Very quiet, little to none road noise. Overnight allowed. Clean restrooms and refilling water bottle station. Little shade."
"Just a giant field to set up and camp. There is no water or any hookups. You will need to pack in and pack out everything. Very close to I-85 and easy to get to. Feels very safe."
from $30 / night
from $25 / night
GuideSites are not level. Thousand trails is currently not investing. Any money in improving the sites. Half of the sites in the park are going back to nature. The roads are falling apart and the inclines are not big rig friendly.
RangerPetersburg is a campground with million dollar views that has become a forgotten asset of the federal government.
The property is mostly overgrown and landscape maintenance appears to be a forgotten concept, like bathhouse maintenance.
On a positive note it has been reported that the government is approving funds to restart the modernization of these once great recreation locations.
LegendHickory Knob SP CG is tucked along the shores of Lake Thurmond in South Carolina’s rolling countryside, where the pine trees stand tall, the crickets sing backup, and life slows to a more reasonable pace. It’s the only South Carolina SP with a full resort feel – which means campers get the perks of a golf course, lodge, and restaurant nearby, without losing that back-to-nature atmosphere that makes pitching a tent or leveling out an RV worth the trouble. First impressions? Think peaceful lake views with just enough activity around to keep things lively but never hectic.
The campground itself offers a mix of RV and tent sites, with electric and water hookups for the comfort crowd and wooded, shaded spaces for the purists. Campsites are fairly roomy, with picnic tables, fire rings, and enough tree cover to keep your morning coffee shaded until you’re good and ready to face the day. Bathhouses are clean and well-kept ... nothing spa-like, but not the kind where you walk out wondering if you need a tetanus shot either. Navigation is straightforward, though larger rigs should take it slow on the curves. And here’s a bonus: campers can stroll over to the resort-style amenities like a swimming pool, tennis courts and even the on-site restaurant if they’re tired of hot dogs and s’mores.
The surrounding fun is where Hickory Knob shines. Lake Thurmond offers ample space for boating, fishing, kayaking and swimming, with more shoreline than your GPS can keep track of. The park itself has miles of hiking and biking trails that snake through pine forest and offer glimpses of deer, wild turkeys, and the occasional heron. For the golfers in the crowd, the 18-hole course is the centerpiece here – where else can you balance your day between kayaking coves in the morning and working on your short game in the afternoon? The nearby town of McCormick provides groceries, a few dining options and that small-town charm that feels refreshingly unhurried.
Insider Tips: (1) The waterfront campsites are the gems with west-facing spots for those Technicolor sunsets (but you'll want to book early if you can, because everyone has the same idea, right?); (2) Don’t feel like cooking? Head on over to the Hickory Knob Lodge restaurant, which while nothing fancy, this joint has solid Southern comfort food that tastes even better after a day outdoors; (3) Kayakers should launch near the group lodge cove where it’s calmer water with prime birdwatching opportunities; (4) If you like a side of nostalgia with your dessert, swing by Michelle’s in McCormick for classic Southern diner plates and pie that’ll make you rethink diets; (5) Want a 'higher' perspective? Sites further inland sit at slightly higher elevation, meaning more shade, although fewer lake views, but less wind off the water, so choose based on your style of camping comfort.
Happy Camping!
ScoutWhen we got there, another family was in our space. They said the one they reserved was overgrown with brush (a few were). We tried to call to have it resolved but no one to call. We ended up having to pick another site that was empty. That portion was very stressful after a long drive to get there. Experience was okay, the water is down a good bit right now.
GuideWe had a very nice long weekend on site 32. The sites are large and clean, the park is easy to maneuver. The water level was really low but we were still able to get our Pontoon boat in and out of the boat ramp and pulled ashore right at our site.
ScoutThis camping park is very well maintained, clean quiet and just beautiful. Even the restrooms are air-conditioned in the summertime.
RangerLet me say that we have stayed at several of the COE campgrounds in this area.
We felt that it had a lot of potential to be an extremely beautiful park but has been neglected in a few ways.
Understanding that this campground like some others in the area suffered damage from a recent hurricane and that the necessary cleanup and recovery can be a long process, much of the needs of Ridge Road appear to be neglect.
The sites and general areas are immensely overgrown and in desperate need of maintenance, and while the bathhouses are in need of renovation, general attention to cleanliness and pest control (a lot of large, live, spiders) would serve them well.
We hope the park will get the attention it needs and look forward to returning.
TravelerThe campsites are spread out. Each features a fire ring, picnic table and power/water hookups. Most sites are on the water. All of them are shaded. Summer months are the busiest. Almost no one comes in the winter. It's very serene.
TravelerStayed here a few times at different sites and always love it! I tent camp, so can't speak to the cabins or RV sites. Never too busy when I've gone in May and August. Tent sites are right on the water, so it's easy to move between swimming and your site. Other campers have been friendly. Water spigots near the campsites that usually run clear, I've drank from them with no issue. If you're keen on an air mattress, you can usually find an empty RV site to plug in your pump and then just carry the inflated mattress to your site. No drive ups, though sites like T10-13 are pretty darn close to the parking. T1-2 are a bit further from their closest parking, but still not bad. 1/2 are a bit set off from the rest with a fairly steep drop off that overlooks the beach, so be careful! Small trail leads you down to the water. 9 and 10-13 are close together, with 9 a bit set apart. Can't speak to the other sites personally. Boats don't come too close to the swimming sections by the campsites which is nice. Good mix of sun and shade. Got absolutely poured on (even inside my tent) one trip and still had a great time, easy place to have fun. Nearest grocery store is pretty far, so make one trip for supplies on the way up and enjoy camping the rest of the time.
Calhoun Falls, South Carolina offers several tent camping options around Lake Thurmond, including waterfront sites at Leroys Ferry Campground. Located approximately 10 miles southwest of town, Leroys Ferry provides secluded tent sites with lake access via trails from most campsites. Fell Hunt Camp in nearby Bradley offers basic tent camping facilities in a more rustic setting, primarily serving seasonal hunters but open to tent campers during specific periods. Most tent camping in this area is situated within the Sumter National Forest or along the shores of Lake Thurmond.
Most tent campgrounds in the Calhoun Falls area provide minimal amenities, requiring campers to be self-sufficient. Leroys Ferry features pit toilets that are regularly maintained, picnic tables, and fire rings at each site, but lacks electrical hookups or running water. A camper noted, "For $10 bucks a night, sites are spaced far enough apart to be comfortable, waterfront, and not overcrowded." Campers should plan to bring drinking water or purification methods, as few sites offer potable water. Pack-in, pack-out policies are standard, with no trash receptacles available at most locations. Cell service is limited or spotty throughout the area's campgrounds, particularly at waterfront sites.
Tent camping around Calhoun Falls provides excellent opportunities for waterfront experiences without large crowds. Sites at Leroys Ferry are approximately one hundred feet from Lake Thurmond, offering easy access for swimming and fishing. The terrain at most tent sites is relatively level but may not be perfectly graded, with natural surfaces of dirt or pine needle forest floor. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, even during holiday weekends like Fourth of July, campers can find relative solitude at these lesser-known spots when other regional campgrounds are full. Morning mist rising off Lake Thurmond creates scenic views for tent campers, particularly at waterfront sites. Wildlife viewing opportunities include waterfowl, deer, and various bird species that frequent the lake shoreline at dawn and dusk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Calhoun Falls, SC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Calhoun Falls, SC is Leroys Ferry with a 4.3-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Calhoun Falls, SC?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Calhoun Falls, SC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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