Best Cabin Camping near Clarks Hill, SC

Several state parks and private resorts around Clarks Hill, South Carolina offer cozy cabins with lakeside views and modern amenities. Hickory Knob State Park Resort provides furnished cabins with climate control, full kitchens, and private bathrooms. Military Park South Carolina Army National Guard Clarks Hill Training Center offers basic cabin rentals for $20 per night with access to flushing toilets and hot showers. Treesort - By the Bark features modernized cabin accommodations with updated interiors and outdoor deck space. Most cabins include electricity, running water, and picnic tables. According to one visitor at Hickory Knob, "If you are looking for some really good seclusion, right on the lake, don't mind the overgrown nature of this campsite, have a boat, and perhaps older children that don't need playgrounds, then this may very well be a perfect spot for you."

Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. Pet-friendly cabins can be found at several locations including Pointes West Army Resort, where sites L, M, and N are situated on a peninsula extending into Clarks Hill Lake. Most state park cabins require advance reservations, especially during summer months when waterfront properties fill quickly. Hickory Knob State Park does not permit pets in their cabins, while other facilities have designated pet-friendly units. Elijah Clark State Park Campground offers cabin accommodations with heating and air conditioning for year-round comfort. A. H. Stephens State Park recently renovated their cabins with new flooring and provides access to historical sites and a museum. Weekday stays typically offer better availability than weekends, when many facilities reach capacity.

Most cabin rentals include beds with mattresses but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Kitchen facilities vary significantly between locations, with some offering full kitchens including refrigerators, stoves, and basic cookware, while others provide only minimal amenities. The nearest full-service grocery store to most Clarks Hill cabin locations is in McCormick, approximately 20 minutes away on winding country roads. As one reviewer noted, "Because the nearest town of McCormick is a bit of a hike to get to, be sure to bring everything you need with you, but if you do need any groceries, there's a Food Lion that has just about everything you might need." On-site camp stores at some locations sell basic provisions, firewood, and ice, though selection is limited. Visitors planning extended stays should arrive with essential supplies or plan a shopping trip before check-in.

Best Cabin Sites Near Clarks Hill, South Carolina (15)

    1. Mistletoe State Park Campground

    66 Reviews
    Appling, GA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (706) 541-0321

    $12 - $190 / night

    "The main feature is the lake. Fishing, boating, kayaking, swimming. Stayed at site #12. Waterfront excellent view of lake but sunny site."

    "We camped in one of the tent only walk-in sites located on a peninsula jutting into the lake. We had a ton of stuff, not realizing it was an uphill and pretty long trek, but it was totally worth it."

    2. Elijah Clark State Park Campground

    28 Reviews
    Lincolnton, GA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (706) 359-3458

    $20 - $185 / night

    "Set up well for families with children… room to ride bikes, scooters, skateboards; playground; putt putt course; trails to walk; beach areas all around the camp ground for easy access to the water."

    "Beautiful colors for the fall, waterfront campsites, water and electric hook ups and back-in AND pull-through spots available."

    3. Pointes West Army Resort

    6 Reviews
    J. Strom Thurmond Lake, GA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (706) 541-1057

    $7 - $25 / night

    "Sites L, M, and N are all on a little peninsula that sticks out into Clarks Hill Lake, and are our personal favorites!"

    "**As of 3 August 2020, Primitive Camping and Semi-Hookup (Electric Only) Camping areas  are closed at Pointes West. RV Camping is open, for local traffic only. RV's must contain a restroom."

    4. Treesort - By the Bark

    1 Review
    Clarks Hill, SC
    4 miles

    $99 - $194 / night

    "Take your morning beverage on the deck and enjoy some nature. Book your stay today and leave your review here!"

    5. Military Park South Carolina Army National Guard Clarks Hill Training Center

    2 Reviews
    Parksville, SC
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (803) 299-1957

    "Whether camping in a tent or renting a cabin, all are $20 per night. 🤔 Beautiful lake, flushing toilets and hot showers. I am passing through but see others boating, fishing and hunting."

    6. Hickory Knob State Park Resort — Hickory Knob State Park

    6 Reviews
    Lincolnton, SC
    21 miles
    Website

    "If you are looking for a near perfect lakeside camping experience in the 'Low Country' here in South Carolina, than you may have just found the perfect getaway! "

    "Trails for hiking/biking. Nice sites close to the lake. Shower house is just adequate, barely."

    7. Hickory Knob

    4 Reviews
    McCormick, SC
    20 miles
    Website

    "Most of the sites have a nice view if the lake. Some do have a steep drop off, so you’ll need to walk to the launch area (dirt slope) for access. We went specifically to golf, and had a great round."

    "Our spot was woodsy and secluded. A little small for our camper but once we got it into the spot, it was great. Bring something for the ants! Clean bathrooms."

    8. A. H. Stephens State Park Campground

    14 Reviews
    Crawfordville, GA
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (706) 456-2602

    $15 - $650 / night

    "While the tropical storm weather cut our trip to AH Stephens Historic Park we still very much enjoyed our visit."

    "This state park has boats to rent,fishing, swimming equestrian camping,cabins ect..They have this large primitive area that we used..It was a bit of a hike to the bathrooms..but everything else was fantastic"

    9. Richard B Russell State Park Campground

    5 Reviews
    Elberton, GA
    48 miles
    Website
    +1 (706) 213-2045

    $34 - $185 / night

    "It was super hot when we went, but the park is full of a lot to offer. The beach is nice and was never crowded. We hiked and biked the trails. They are well maintained."

    "Bath house was clean but a decent uphill walk away from most sites as there is only one. Plenty of boat ramps, beach, golf course."

    10. Cedar Pond Campground

    3 Reviews
    Pelion, SC
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (803) 657-5993

    "Rustic with everything you need and nothing you don’t. Owners super friendly and even helped us park"

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Cabin Reviews near Clarks Hill, SC

138 Reviews of 15 Clarks Hill Campgrounds


  • Rachel G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 18, 2019

    Mistletoe State Park Campground

    Water and land

    The main feature is the lake. Fishing, boating, kayaking, swimming. Stayed at site #12. Waterfront excellent view of lake but sunny site. Sites had water, electric, concrete table, fire ring, and lantern hook. Not much barrier between sites but sites were good size just open. Everyone was very friendly. During week it was relatively empty but on Friday the campground started to fill up. Sites in the 60-90 loop looked the best with water views and shade and most were pull through. The bathrooms were ok and there is a laundry room. The bathrooms were quite far from some sites requiring a long walk or drive. Park had a great store selling souvenirs, ice, firewood, worms for fishing. Campground staff and host were very friendly. Not much around outside park. There was a dollar general about 12 miles away for supplies. You could pull your boat up to your waterfront campsite. They also have kayak rentals.

  • c K.
    Jul. 12, 2018

    Hickory Knob State Park Resort — Hickory Knob State Park

    mehhh

    Clark’s Hill is a Great Lake! HK is an OK park. It does have a nIce golf course and skeet shooting, kayak rentals, cabins, a restaurant and a pool. The campsites are nice enough. but. The entire park sits on a mound of ants. ants everywhere. ants of all varieties. And most of the lake access is solid Georgia red clay mud...

  • Mo F.
    Aug. 26, 2016

    Mistletoe State Park Campground

    Waterfront seclusion

    We camped in one of the tent only walk-in sites located on a peninsula jutting into the lake. We had a ton of stuff, not realizing it was an uphill and pretty long trek, but it was totally worth it. We had the whole place to ourselves, no neighbors, in late March. The sun setting over the water was beautiful, it was quiet even as a few motor boats came in for the night. There is a tiny beach on the tip of the peninsula, picnic tables, and an outhouse. It was my favorite spot of everywhere we stayed on an Alabama-Georgia-South Carolina roadtrip including AirBnB and bed and breakfast.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 1, 2023

    Hickory Knob State Park Resort — Hickory Knob State Park

    Lakeside Camping Perfection

    If you are looking for a near perfect lakeside camping experience in the 'Low Country' here in South Carolina, than you may have just found the perfect getaway! Tucked away from main roads and a solid 20 minute drive from the nearest traces of civilization (the itty bitty town of McCormick), Hickory Knob State Park, which sits right on the Savannah River / Lake Thurmond and provides the setting for truly one of the most perfect camping escapes I have ever encountered. 

    There's about 60-70 individual campsites here, but you would be hard pressed to count them all on account that there is so much foliage that separates each individual campsite that despite the # of sites, you are left with a very intimate and secluded feeling. While some of these well-secluded spots can get you just about as close to the lakeshore as possible (without infringing upon the land boundaries itself), most set a decent 10- 15 feet above shoreline and offer a private and simple-to-navigate pathway to the refreshing lollops of the lake's gentle rippling waves. 

    Each site is apportioned with the basics - long drive-way with corresponding flat base platform (either perfect for RV or very amenable to the largest of tents), fire ring, water spigot and picnic table. While there's a handful of campsites that appear to be close cousins to the one next to it, most sites feel independent from one another and offer up enough space to forget your next-door neighbors. Further, I counted 3 separate loops (or communities, if you will), each with their own facilities. 

    Apart from the greatest amenity being the lake itself, the park also offers a simple, yet splendid boat jetty with an easy-to-navigate round-about. Unlike many other state parks I have visited in the country, this one offers boaters many easy places to stow away their boats, when not in use on the lake. Further afield, there are plenty of trails to explore the deeper, less frequented side of this overgrown lakeside forested haven. 

    If there were any drawbacks at all, it would simply be the less than mediocre bathrooms and showers that the state of South Caroline seems intent on not fixing (think back 50 to 60 years ago to what bathrooms might have looked like back then and then come present day to find exactly the same thing, without any repairs (and perhaps any sanitation) being made whatsoever). With all of the tax dollars that the state collects, on top of the fees paid for camping in these amazing state parks, you think the state would be able to afford building and maintaining better and more modern facilities for its overnight guests (what is it that they say about hospitality in the South?!). 

    In sum, if you are looking for some really good seclusion, right on the lake, don't mind the overgrown nature of this campsite, have a boat, and perhaps older children that don't need playgrounds (and other man-made distractions) and can do without direct access to civilization, then this may very well be a perfect spot for you. 

    Insider tips? Here's a few: (1) Because the nearest town of McCormick is a bit of a hike to get to (think at least a 20 minute drive on slow moving, winding country roads), be sure to bring everything you need with you, but if you do need any groceries, there's a Food Lion that has just about everything you might need; (2) When you grow tired of trying to conjure up that next meal from the depths of your Cordova cooler, then check out Michelle's, which is one half family restaurant - where I never believe any waitress who answers the question 'What is the best thing on the menu' with the response 'EVERYTHING!', but I will admit, she was absolutely right - we tried the pizza, wings, salad bar and hamburger one night - all were equally amazing - and one half happy hour / karaoke bar that apparently the entirety of McCormick shows up at after 8pm every night, which was pretty cool to experience; (3) When / if you head into the town of McCormick, take note of the Ice ATM machine there - it's fantastic and super cheap, so be sure to stock up on your ice there; and (4) If you are wanting to 'whet your whistle' after a good hard day of kayaking, then head on over to nearby Back Paddle Brewing for some really nice local craft beers.

    Happy Camping!

  • N
    Oct. 16, 2022

    Elijah Clark State Park Campground

    Friendly. Fun. Relaxing.

    Set up well for families with children… room to ride bikes, scooters, skateboards; playground; putt putt course; trails to walk; beach areas all around the camp ground for easy access to the water. Kayak rentals.

    Bathrooms were generally clean. Campsites a relatively flat. Good picnic tables at each site. Not every site had a pole for a lantern or trash bags to hang from. Fairly good tree coverage around the campground for shade and hammocking.

  • E
    Jun. 20, 2021

    A. H. Stephens State Park Campground

    Quiet and nice clean

    While the tropical storm weather cut our trip to AH Stephens Historic Park we still very much enjoyed our visit.

    We stayed in 2 sites with the grandparents. #9 & #12

    Site 12 was a very nice straight site with the picnic table and fire ring down a few steps off the back of the main pad. Nicely wooded there was a tree very close to the hook up that caused us to park forward a bit to allow for a slide and side bunk to fully function.

    Site 9 (handicapped site) was perfect for the grandparents as there was a short paved walkway straight to the bath house.

    Both sites were nicely graveled and level.

  • Celeste C.
    Oct. 27, 2021

    Mistletoe State Park Campground

    Lakeside beauty

    This campground was quiet and tranquil. Large pines and mature trees. Surrounded by water. Camping and boating paradise. Immaculate grounds and facilities. Water and electric and gray water dumps at each site. Washer and dryer. Not a large park, but it’s a place I hate to leave. Pet friendly and great staff.

  • Elaine G.
    Jul. 30, 2018

    A. H. Stephens State Park Campground

    There is so much to do

    This state park has boats to rent,fishing, swimming equestrian camping,cabins ect..They have this large primitive area that we used..It was a bit of a hike to the bathrooms..but everything else was fantastic We loved the historical museum there too

  • c
    May. 22, 2020

    Mistletoe State Park Campground

    Mistletoe and Clarks Hill Reservoir

    Mistletoe State Park is another great Georgia State Park. Tucked way back in a big pine forest and nestled right up on the banks of Clarks Hill Reservoir it is well worth the effort to find reservations at this park. Over 70 sights with 30 amp, and water service, plenty of road side gray water dumps between sights and TWO dump stations. The Park Host do a fantastic job with keeping this park clean with multiple bath houses and a large amount of community space. For the hikers the trails are great, and very in difficulty to keep things fun and the backwoods hiking camp sights were great. The beach and boating facilities were very nice. The playgrounds were still closed off due to Con-19. We saw lots of wild life, lots of stars at night (gets really dark at night). I may be partial a little when it comes to Georgia State Parks but they have earned it. This one lives right up with the others I have visited. We had so much fun and created so many great memories that we can’t wait for our next adventure at another Ga State Park.


Guide to Clarks Hill

Cabin accommodations near Clarks Hill, South Carolina offer lakeside retreats within several state parks and private facilities. The area sits on Clarks Hill Lake (also called Lake Thurmond), a 71,000-acre reservoir with 1,200 miles of shoreline at 330 feet above sea level. Cabins range from basic structures with minimal amenities to fully furnished cottages with modern conveniences, typically requiring reservations 3-6 months in advance for summer weekends.

What to do

Skeet shooting and golf: Hickory Knob State Park Resort offers activities beyond typical cabin stays. One camper notes, "They have it all. Golf, swimming, axe throwing, archery, skeet shooting. Trails for hiking/biking. Nice sites close to the lake."

Fishing opportunities: Most cabins provide convenient lake access for anglers. At Mistletoe State Park Campground, campers appreciate the fishing amenities: "Great site 49, awesome views. Comfort stations close and clean. Lots of water activities." Another visitor at Mistletoe mentioned they "went fishing in the lake. Very nice people around."

Historical exploration: A. H. Stephens State Park Campground combines cabin stays with educational opportunities. A visitor explains, "We did the A. H. Stephens museum tour and that was very nicely done. We did a day trip to Greensboro and walked the shops and went to Oconee Brewery."

What campers like

Secluded waterfront sites: The cabin rentals at Pointes West Army Resort receive praise for their positioning. One reviewer states, "Sites L, M, and N are all on a little peninsula that sticks out into Clarks Hill Lake, and are our personal favorites!"

Clean facilities: Cabin guests appreciate well-maintained properties. A camper at Elijah Clark State Park Campground commented, "Elijah Clark state park was nice and quiet. Pretty views and clean bath houses."

Variety of accommodation types: The region offers diverse cabin options. At Mistletoe State Park, a reviewer evaluated the walk-in sites: "The best site is definitely #2 -- feet from the water, spacious, suitable for more than one tent or hammock. Site #4 is probably second best, better for hammocks probably as no great level ground."

What you should know

Seasonal availability: Cabin availability varies significantly by season. A reviewer at Richard B Russell State Park Campground advised, "We will def be back, just not in the heat of summer."

Military-only options: Some facilities have restricted access. A visitor to Military Park South Carolina Army National Guard Clarks Hill Training Center clarified, "The location is beautiful, however, it is not open to the public. You must be past or present military to book. Also, you must reserve with the SC National Guard."

Ant problems: Multiple cabins report insect issues during summer months. A camper at Hickory Knob State Park noted, "The entire park sits on a mound of ants. ants everywhere. ants of all varieties. And most of the lake access is solid Georgia red clay mud."

Tips for camping with families

Beach and swimming access: Families should check which cabins offer swimming areas. At Cedar Pond Campground, one visitor enjoyed the "beautiful cedar trees and pond. Rustic with everything you need and nothing you don't. Owners super friendly and even helped us park."

Playground availability: Not all cabin locations cater to younger children. A Mistletoe State Park visitor observed, "The Park Host do a fantastic job with keeping this park clean with multiple bath houses and a large amount of community space. The playgrounds were still closed off due to Con-19."

Kid-friendly amenities: Some cabins provide special activities for children. A camper at Mistletoe State Park mentioned, "Free fishing pole for kids," highlighting programs specifically designed for young visitors.

Tips from RVers

Site selection for larger rigs: RVers should research specific sites. An A. H. Stephens visitor shared, "Site 12 was a very nice straight site with the picnic table and fire ring down a few steps off the back of the main pad. Nicely wooded there was a tree very close to the hook up that caused us to park forward a bit to allow for a slide and side bunk to fully function."

Leveling considerations: Many cabin areas also accommodate RVs but may require adjustment. A camper at Richard B Russell State Park warned, "Sites were on the smaller side and not particularly level front to back. Bath house was clean but a decent uphill walk away from most sites as there is only one."

Hookup details: RVers staying in cabin areas should confirm utilities. At Elijah Clark State Park, a visitor explained, "We had a true adventure when we stayed there. The place was beautiful we camped overlooking the lake. We do advise if your in a tent maybe not taking a direct lakefront spot because we literally had to tie down our tent to anything including our car because it got so windy."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Clarks Hill, SC?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Clarks Hill, SC is Mistletoe State Park Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 66 reviews.

What is the best site to find cabin camping near Clarks Hill, SC?

TheDyrt.com has all 15 cabin camping locations near Clarks Hill, SC, with real photos and reviews from campers.