James Island County Park stands 10 feet above sea level on former plantation land, providing a strategic location for exploring Charleston's coastal attractions. The 643-acre park features extensive wetlands and maritime forest habitats. Camping options include both shaded and open sites with varying proximity to the park's freshwater fishing lake.
What to do
Climbing experiences: The outdoor zone at James Island County Park features a 50-foot climbing wall and 1,000-square-foot bouldering wall for all skill levels. "The outdoor adventure area" offers "a 50 foot climbing wall, obstacle challenge course, 1K sq ft bouldering wall and slackline," notes Nick & Allyssa S.
Folly Beach visits: Located just 15 minutes from most campgrounds, Folly Beach offers public access points with seasonal dog policies. "Folly Beach located just a short drive from most campgrounds" provides a convenient day trip option. "It is pretty much one big open green space with tent sites circling in a loop around the green space," explains Chrissy R. about the layout.
Plantation tours: Mount Pleasant-Charleston KOA offers unique access to neighboring historic properties. "They also had a free wagon ride to a nearby plantation a couple of times a week. We actually missed it but would really like to take the time to do it if we ever get back," shares Ashley W. Another camper adds, "Our fave was the wagon ride to the plantation next door."
What campers like
Disc golf course: James Island County Park maintains an 18-hole disc golf course through wooded sections. Stuart K. mentions that "West of this Outdoor Zone is an 18-hole disc golf course" which provides a free activity option for campers looking to stretch their legs.
Water activities: Seasonal boat rentals enhance the camping experience at several parks. "The lake had a little dock and we my husband and son fished off of it. There were alligators in the lake and they actually caught one," reports Ashley W. about her stay at Mount Pleasant-Charleston KOA.
Beach shelling opportunities: Edisto Beach State Park Campground provides premium shell collecting opportunities. "Shelling was incredible-especially if you walk towards the inlet around low tide," says Katie F. The beach section "was just steps from the ocean. Opt for sites 1-12 or 50-75."
What you should know
Airport and highway noise: Several campgrounds experience noise from nearby transportation routes. At Charleston KOA, "There is a lot of noise from the highway, airplanes (which my son and husband love) and workers getting up early (5:30am) to go to job sites," notes Ashley S.
Flooding concerns: Some sites flood during heavy rain events. Joel R. noted at James Island County Park that "We had 2 days of heavy rain and some sites flooded, but everything drained well." At Hunting Island, a camper advised "avoiding the first loop closest to the beach as they were flooded."
Ant prevention needed: Several campers report ant issues requiring preventative measures. At Oak Plantation Campground, "We got a tip from a neighboring RVer to spray for small ants anywhere that the RV touches the ground so the ants won't crawl up and get in our RV as it did theirs," explains Joan.
Tips for camping with families
Spray parks: Multiple dog friendly campgrounds near Charleston feature water play areas for children. "There is a spray play... This was a great place to get our feet wet when we first started camping," shares Chrissy R. about family-friendly amenities.
Playground distribution: Hunting Island State Park Campground offers accessible play areas for younger campers. "The kids enjoyed the beach, although it was too cold to swim and the algae bloom bubbles were abundant," notes Molly F. The "kids playground" areas provide active options during non-beach weather.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Several campgrounds feature guided nature programs. "There are a lot of crawling creatures and I even showered with some, but didn't mind," states Jacqueline F., highlighting the natural setting at Oak Plantation where they "rode our bikes to an overlook tower and witnessed some breathtaking views and thousands of tiny crabs walking the ground."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: At Lake Aire RV Park, choosing sites away from the entrance improves the experience. "We were in a 30 foot 5th wheel and stayed in site 95. In my opinion it was one of the best sites there. Nice size and lots of vegetation surrounding," recommends Brenda L. about a different park.
Parking considerations: RVs with towed vehicles need to plan for additional parking. Stuart K. advises, "If you are one of those RV campers that come towing a Jeep behind them... and find that the slot you've been given doesn't adequately provide enough space... there's substantial, additional parking that exists right in front of the Group Camping area."
Maneuvering challenges: Some parks require careful navigation through narrow roads. Lawrence Robert T. notes, "Back-in spot was a little tight, but fairly level. We were very close to bathrooms that could have been cleaner but were handy." Another reviewer mentioned that "It was super tight getting into our spots, but our neighbors were very helpful."
