Best Tent Camping near Clemson, SC
The Sumter National Forest offers several primitive tent camping options near Clemson, South Carolina, with locations along the Chatooga River particularly popular for backcountry camping experiences. Grapevine campground provides riverside tent sites about 30 miles northwest of Clemson, while King Creek Primitive Campsites offers walk-in tent camping with more remote settings. Riley Moore Falls Campsite provides dispersed backcountry tent camping accessible via a moderate hiking trail from forest roads.
Access to most tent sites requires driving on gravel or dirt forest roads that can become challenging during wet conditions. Several reviews note that high-clearance vehicles are recommended, particularly for reaching Big Bend and Riley Moore Falls campsites. Most primitive tent areas feature basic fire rings but lack amenities such as drinking water or shower facilities. Vault toilets are available at Grapevine and a few other established areas, but many backcountry tent sites require campers to pack out all waste. Camping areas generally operate year-round, though winter temperatures can drop below freezing, and summer brings higher visitation levels to waterside locations.
Tent campsites along the Chatooga River provide direct water access, making these locations popular for fishing and swimming during warmer months. Several areas offer significant space between sites, allowing for more private tent camping experiences than typical developed campgrounds. The terrain at most sites is relatively level but rarely groomed, so campers should be prepared to clear small rocks or debris before pitching tents. Sites at higher elevations or deeper in the forest provide better protection from occasional highway noise. A visitor commented that Grapevine offers "sites spread out nicely, with the river nearby. Most sites are riverside and far enough from each other you really feel at one with nature."












