Searching for the perfect place to pitch your tent near Darlington? Finding a place to camp in South Carolina with your tent has never been easier. From remote to easy-to-reach, these Darlington campsites are perfect for tent campers.
Camping is restricted to youth organizations involved in outdoor skills development or learning. A Special Use Permit is required. Each group/organization will complete a service project determined by the refuge manager or provide a copy of research/species list of the organization is a class group. A fire ring is provided, however if the refuge is under fire danger/drought conditions, open fires will be prohibited.
Any other recreational group or research activity not specifically mentioned above may require a Special Use Permit. Please contact the refuge manager for more information or to apply for a Special Use Permit. Email us at carolinasandhills@fws.gov. All provisions of Title 50 Code of Federal Regulations apply.
Guide
We made our way here just before Hurricane Milton hit Florida and stayed a week right next to the river. Very busy during the day with local fishermen. There's a lot of garage spread out, we cleaned up our area the best we could. Close to a busy highway but it didn't bother us. The river is gorgeous and we spent a good amount of our time here kayaking.
Scout
Bass Lake was at the right place for an overnight right off of I-95. Although right next to I-95, the drone of the traffic fades into the background once you pull into the well landscaped campground (Bass Lake as the setting of a wooden campground) with absolutely level sites. Staff and owner were wonderful - and what I learned about coffee from the owner (Frizzy's Coffee House) is why I'm going to route every trip possible through Dillon in the future - more knowledgeable than any barista I've ever met, I experienced what coffee ROASTED the day before tastes like!
ScoutThis was a nice spot with flat, river front dispersed sites for tents or boondocking. It was easy to discern the campsites and had an open parking lot. There were a few sites that are not safe to drive to because of very loose sand. It is safer to park and explore on foot before driving up to those sites.
Scout
We really enjoy this little state park. It’s small, quiet, and clean. We use it all the time to “test” new camping gear and setups before we travel further from home on longer trips.
Legend
When it comes to the artificial 'camping-for-the-masses' line of properties that KOA creates across the country, there’s some definite turn-offs for pure nature enthusiasts such as me, but in some cases, you come across one of their sites that is fairly decent and should not be overlooked. Lumberton KOA, which runs parallel to I-95 in these parts of North Carolina, does not disappoint. In fact, you would be hard-pressed to find a better campground that is just minutes off of I-95 to park yourself for the night. But, to be clear, this place isn’t necessarily a destination – but rather, intended for those enroute to somewhere greater. In short, if you need a good place to park for the night, you will be pleasantly surprised by what you find here at Lumberton KOA. And if you need something more substantial, well, just keep heading on down the road.
With a wide-array of elongated parking lanes for your parking pleasure, all of the sites come equipped with the typical 30 / 50 amp electrical hook-ups, waste disposal and water connections. There’s of course, the typical KOA office / market that will supply you with just about anything you might be missing. Other amenities include complimentary WiFi, camping kitchens, shuffleboard, propane and firewood for sale. In addition, there’s the standard-issued picnic table, fire ring / grill, garbage receptacles, kid’s playground and even a community BBQ – nearly everything was brand-spanking-new. In particular, I loved the open-air picnic shelters, in-ground heated pool (open from Memorial Day weekend until Halloween) as well as the wooden-framed tent parameters that you’ll find, which discourages pests from encroaching upon your encampment. The KOA hosts were nice, incredibly accommodating and offer pricing by the night, week and month.
Insider’s tip? (1) As this is certainly NOT a destination, but rather a very nice layover, arrive late, leave early, but while you are here, be sure to get to know the locals you are surrounded by – there’s always a great vibe amongst fellow KOA’ers; (2) Near this RV parking lot, you do have access to Lake Lynn, which has some decent fishing and is a good place to drop a kayak or canoe in for a short spin around its periphery; (3) For the kiddos, if you need to get away and see something a bit more educational then try out Exploration Station in downtown Lumberton; (4) When you grow tired of trying to conjure up that next meal from the depths of your Cordova roto-molded cooler or on-board mini-fridge and want to explore some great local fare, then check out The Governor Place for brisket burger and duck fries with alioli or Happenings on Elm, which has a pretty amazing wine tasting (for these parts), outstanding domestic and international craft beers as well as some pretty great edibles like baked brie crostini and Annette's homemade lasagna.
Happy Camping!
Scout
and recharge before continuing on your journey. The view from this spot is breathtaking, with rolling hills and a clear blue sky stretching out before you. Take a moment to appreciate the beauty of nature and the peacefulness of this place. Whether you are traveling alone or with loved ones, this is the perfect spot to relax and unwind. So take a deep breath, soak in the surroundings, and enjoy this moment of tranquility before hitting the road again.
Traveler
Great for a pull through spot right off I-95 while traveling! Campground is beautiful and clean, with a pond, park, large laundry room, and easy access dump station. Staff was very friendly and got me a spot right away for a good price. There are spots for every size camper. Only downside is it gets a bit messy/ muddy if it’s raining.
Scout
I am the owner of this property and we adore it here! Come meet our family, sit by the fire, enjoy a nice quiet time with lots of space for your kids or furbabies to run! We are fenced in on all sides and surrounded by woods! There is a public landfill 1/2 mile away and there is a Dollar General 1/2 mile away!
LegendJake from the Dyrt here! Country Lane is a great local spot with a convenient location for an overnight stay. Check them out and leave a review about your stay on the Dyrt!
LegendThis spot is so close to I95 (look for exit 169) that you’ll both feel and hear the swoosh of passing by traffic 24/7. So, while you’ll incur ease and convenience, that will come at a cost (privacy and quietude being what you will sacrifice most). Located in the NE pocket of the Palmetto State, Florence RV Park, while not a destination per se, could be a nice (and incredibly easy) layover on your trip destination to anywhere else up or down this major east coast highway artery.
Despite the location, this spot has a lot to offer: an intimate little public pool behind the management office, WiFi hotspots, dog park, scattered picnic tables (in pretty good condition), kid’s playground, 20 / 30 / 50 amp hook-ups, dump station, dog walk area, catch & release fishing pond, propane refueling station, vending machines, small pond for fishing, basketball court, volleyball, badminton and horseshoe rings. There’s even 4-5 log cabins for rent at the front of the property (with full access to all the highway noise) and of course, good old fashioned on-site laundry facilities along with a mini-store that has most of the basics covered as well as fairly spartan shower / bathing facilities.
Insider’s tip? Here's a few: (1) The further east you are on the property, all the better as you’ll be positioned as far away from I95 traffic and noise; (2) If tent camping, I highly recommend spots #A7 – A13 and if you are RV’ing I recommend #L9 – L18 as well as any of the locations on J, K and F11 – F16; (3) There’s a lot to explore near here, from the Grand Strand of South Carolina, of course, Myrtle Beach and even Darlington Raceway, so if you don’t mind the overpopulated location with its westerly view of non-stop traffic, then this could be a good place to stop for the night or from which to launch your exploration of the area; (4) If you’ve looked at this RV campground’s website, don’t be fooled by the pictures – I don’t think any of them were actually taken of the place, save for the pond, and that was a close-up; and (5) If you are looking for a nearby spot to sample the local fare, I recommend checking out The Drive-In Restaurant with its 50s era nostalgia, big juicy burgers, fried everything, homemade onion rings and thick, creamy chocolate shakes.
Happy Camping!
Scout
I stayed here for 5 weeks while renovating my motorhome. It is a very clean and well run facility. Bath hi puse is immaculate as is thee campground. There are no activities but there is a very scenic small lake with walking paths. Great location near restaurants and a small town . Very nice people here!
Scout
Nice site with trees and picnic table
ScoutClean and nice play ground for kids.
Traveler
What a gem of a little campground. Stopped here 2 nights driving from NC to LA. I was the only person here those 2 nights. This place feels off grid with the convenience of hookups. Despite being small, it was very clean, everything worked as expected. Archery range, trails, nature center. Would come back here just to stay!
Decent cell coverage. I stayed in site 1, there was a big clearing where I dropped the starlink - had great connection the entire visit.
GuideDecent campground and bathrooms. No swimming in lake which sucks.
ScoutGreat place we stopped to eat and got some rest before heading back out on the road.
ScoutThis KOA journey is exactly what the journey type campground . This a stop over spot where you can count on being a few miles from95 and has what you expect, reliable hookups, level site and courteous staff. Simple and sufficient.
Scout
This may be the best campground I have visited. Very quiet and the views are amazing!
TravelerRangers and hosts are wonderful at this SC State Park. Serene setting on a lake, nice sized campsites. I stayed in campsite 11 which I was somewhat difficult to get get into so definitely only for smaller rigs, the other thing is you might now want to take campsite # 12 if they offer, the water, electric and sewer hookups for 11 are basically in campsite 12 front yard. I was here over two weeks and enjoyed
ScoutThe bathroom, the grounds were very clean. Walked trail behind campground. Wi-Fi is excellent.
GuideThis campground is a nice KOA Journey, it is conveniently located right off of I95. The staff is very pleasant, the campsites are a decent size and well kept, the campground overall is clean and nice. The pool is clean and cool, a nice respite from the days drive.
I would give this campground 5 stars if it was further away from I95. To get to it, you get off the highway and loop around about 1-2 miles, but you cross back over I95 and it is situated right next to it, so there is a lot of road noise. Not a great place to several nights if you are looking to hang out outside of your RV. If it wasn’t for this, this would be a fantastic campground. That being said, I would definitely stay here again for an overnight stay.
Traveler
Lots of sand and gnats and deerflys too. That’s the bad. About half the sites have full hookup some very large sites. Whole campground very wooded ( no Starlink here). About 3 bars cell with Verizon. Pretty neat campground with lots of history. The bugs are seasonal.
TravelerAwesome park with many trails and a pond for the kids to swim!
ScoutWas a nice experience. Quite and friendly neighbors. Sites were gravel and level. Bath house were clean and well maintained. Enjoyed my stay.
TravelerWe recently returned from 5 days tent camping at Cheraw. We chose site #8 that was directly on the lake and offered electricity and water. These sites are obviously designed for RV’s with little or no space for tent campers. Although there is a designated tent area, it is back in the woods and not lakefront.
The minimal room we had was fortunately on the lake shore with wonderful shade trees. The space was not level and contained some unfriendly exposed tree roots. Fortunately we had an inflatable air bed and the roots weren’t much of a problem.
Lake Juniper is quite small and swimming is allowed in a designated area on the far side of the lake. We had inflatable rafts and tied our floats to a tree in front of our site , highly aware that a spillway not too far from our site would prove quite dangerous if one went too close then pulled over.
The small office on the opposite side of the lake offers ice and wood as well as ice cream, candy etc to satisfy any junk food craving. 10 minutes from the park is an IGA. It offers the basics and a little further out is a Walmart with groceries.
The bathhouse is currently “ under construction” although we saw no work being done during our stay. One half of the bathhouse had been designated unisex with three locking stalls and curtained showers. There is an interior lock if you choose to have the entire bathhouse all to yourself. I grew up in a family of eight and have no problem sharing a bathroom. The bathhouse has obviously seen a great deal of traffic, is quite dated and poorly ventilated. Hopefully the bathhouse will receive its update soon.
The campground host was quite helpful and an all around nice guy. We chatted a bit and he has a very interesting background.
We would return to Cheraw and confidently reserve #7 or #8 for tents. There are most likely other suitable sites there that escaped my notice.
Scout
Camped before but looking for more adventures!
TravelerWe were in Dillon for about three months, and loved the people running this place. The owner was super nice, helped us a few times.
We spent a lot of time chatting with multiple people that worked here about full timing, and they were a huge help.
They're constantly working on new things and that's awesome, we got new tables/benches and some other neat things for the campground while we were there. Sadly we missed the new dog park being built!
Only complaint is the massive road noise. However, the owner says they're working on something to block that noise out this year via shrubbery or walls.
The surrounding town is surprisingly good for food, not so much for entertainment. Unless you love fireworks. I've never seen so many firework places in my life!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Darlington, SC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Darlington, SC is Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge, Permitted Camping with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.
