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Francisco M.
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ScoutCampground at James Island County Park
Great location. Great facilities
Glamping near Dorchester, SC
3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Campground at James Island County Park houses some of the most sought-after glamping accommodations near Dorchester, offering canvas tents and other premium options on their landscaped grounds. The glamping sites at Edisto Beach State Park and Givhans Ferry State Park also provide elevated camping experiences with comfortable bedding, electricity, and essential amenities that distinguish these stays from traditional camping. Each location maintains climate-controlled accommodations with wooden floors, comfortable furnishings, and private outdoor spaces. The safari-style tents blend seamlessly with natural surroundings while providing the comforts of home. Guests appreciate features like charging stations, lockable doors, and proximity to clean shower facilities. One guest shared, "We found this campground well maintained and quiet. The bath house was recently remodeled and now has air conditioning. I found it to be one of the nicest bath facilities we have ever used."
The glamping experience extends beyond accommodations with numerous recreational opportunities integrated into the natural setting. Edisto Beach State Park's luxury tents position visitors minutes from pristine beaches and nature trails. Foster Creek RV Park and Villas delivers a more resort-style approach to glamping with enhanced amenities and services. Hiking trails, fishing spots, climbing walls, and seasonal water recreation create complete outdoor experiences without sacrificing comfort. James Island County Park stands out for its extensive trail system, water park, and dog-friendly areas that complement the glamping accommodations. During winter months, the park transforms with its Festival of Lights, making it a year-round glamping destination. A visitor noted, "The whole park is very clean and well maintained. I wouldn't say there is a lot of space between campsites, but it is about average if you are used to staying at state parks and better than a local RV park."
Best Glamping Campgrounds near Dorchester (10)
1. Campground at James Island County Park
"The bath house was recently remodeled and now has air conditioning. I found it to be one of the nicest bath facilities we have ever used."
"There is a camp store which is well stocked and stays open till 8pm. The predominance of this campground is RV sites. The sites are well maintained and with enough space between each site."
6 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $38 - $219 / night
2. Mount Pleasant-Charleston KOA
"Lots of walking areas and pet spots. Super close to everything you could ever need, but deep enough into the woods to feel that break away from the noise of the road."
"The staff is friendly and helpful. The grounds are very well maintained. There are activities offered including a wagon ride through a plantation. There is a pool."
Check Availabilityfrom $68 - $300 / night
3. Edisto Beach State Park Campground
"It's South Carolina in the summer, so there are mosquitoes."
"Some sites are full sun, and as it was around 100 degrees every day, that could be a problem for some. It’s right on the edge of the town so it’s easy to walk or bicycle around."
5 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
4. Foster Creek RV Park and Villas
"IF you meet the qualifications to stay (military affiliated), this is REALLY close to the Navy Nuke School!"
5. FamCamp Joint Base Charleston S.C
"I'm an Army Veteran and recently stay at the FAMP CAMP Located on the Joint Base Air Force Base located in Charleston S.C. "
6. Givhans Ferry State Park Campground
"The bathroom and water source is nearby, as well as a pavilion/shelter. There are three sections, with multiple areas for camping in each one. Each has 2-3 tables and a fire ring. "
"It's definitely a small park, and its big draw is its location on the Edisto River, with lovely river-tubing to boot. We stayed in the tent sites, which have water and electricity at each site."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when available7. Buck Hall Recreation Area
"The boat launch is walking distance from the campground and has a nice picnic area adjacent to it. We watched a pods of pelicans and dolphins come through the area, as well as many other sea birds."
"28 a night for Electricity; $18 for tent sites.
Mostly middle age & older campers; primarily boaters/fishermen as there is a boat ramp at this site."
1 Site AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $20 - $45 / night
8. Honey Hill Campground
"You drive in and there's multiple campsites for your tent, Car or RV. There's a large clean toilet cabin (not a basic privy).
It's next to a tall tower.
Fire area with picnic table."
9. New Green Acres RV Park
"Loud highway noise, but tolerable. Tall trees everywhere. Very pretty! No rock or concrete pad to park on so be prepared to level your RV. Bathrooms/showers are clean and large. Pleasant staff."
"Quiet even tho close to I95.
We will be back when we head up from FL. Price very reasonable. Walk to Cracker Barrel."10. Rocks Pond Campground & Marina
Drive Time
- 3 min from Charleston, SC
- 1 hr 31 min from Sumter, SC
- 1 hr 44 min from Myrtle Beach, SC
- 1 hr 50 min from Hilton Head Island, SC
Recent Glamping Photos near Dorchester, SC
4 Photos of 10 Dorchester Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Glamping Reviews near Dorchester, SC
216 Reviews of 10 Dorchester Campgrounds
paul Z.
GuideEdisto Beach State Park Campground
Great place to camp
We love the Live oaks campground in Edisto Beach State Park. Level sites with plenty of privacy. We are in site 120 this trip and we have stayed in sites 118 and 122 on previous trips. these sites back onto the salt marsh which gives you some incredible scenery just behind the site
Stacey R.GuideBuck Hall Recreation Area
Great location for Shrimping
Most campers are here to go out shrimping. It’s a beautiful, small campground with level sites, some shade, electric and water hookups and tent sites right along the water. The bathroom could use an update but it was very clean and the shower was roomy and hot enough. A dump station is available. I understand the park will close after shrimp season (mid November..?) for updates. I lucked out on a first come, first serve site for the night. I’d definitely stay here again.
Natalie T.
TravelerMount Pleasant-Charleston KOA
One of the best!
We were traveling with two large dogs and looking for a pet friendly site. This is a people friendly site so many game playing areas swimming pool and clean manicured lawns with a lake view on some sites.
- BBarbara S.Guide
Campground at James Island County Park
Busy but fun!
We stayed here while attending the Highwater Music Festival. We brought our bikes, but it’s not safe to ride out if the campground to the festival or the beach, so we drove them to a spot outside of the grounds and then ride from there.
So much to do inside this campground and park! It was very busy, but we didn’t feel it was too loud - still plenty of opportunity to enjoy nature.
- LLisa W.Guide
Edisto Beach State Park Campground
Beach Campground -- It Doesn't Get Much Better Than This!
This is our absolute favorite campsite of all time! It is very private and secluded, but right around the corner from the beach. It is for tents and small campers only, as we barely had enough room to get our pop up backed up in the site with the truck. The site slopes up, evens out, and then slopes right back down to the fire ring and picnic table. Our pop up is a 10-foot box and it was just enough room to get it on the level spot without sloping one way or the other. It was also just wide enough for our awning to be set out with a little room to walk around. Once situated, there is plenty of room at the picnic table and fire ring to sit around and park bikes, etc.
There is plenty of shade and you can hear the waves crashing on the beach. The site also has water and electric hookups, but we try to bring our own water since you can still taste the salt. It is so relaxing!
This is on the Beach Campground and the only problem we noticed it is that the outdoor shower for washing off sand from the beach has low visibility because it is on the road side of the bathhouse and not the beach side. The result is people clogging up the showers with sand because they don't even see the outdoor shower in some cases.
The park has some amazing nature trails to bike and hike as well as a nice educational nature center.
We always enjoy our stay here and will definitely continue to book here as long as we can.
- TTroli R.Guide
FamCamp Joint Base Charleston S.C
Nice place a smidge confusing
There are actually TWO bases here - the air base and the weapons station. We stayed at the air base but also visited the weapons station for some recreation.
Air base: close to downtown Charleston; great price for the amenities provided ($45 per night for full hookups - electric, water, and sewer); power/water pedestal was nice; shower and laundry facilities on site; all sites fairly level and mostly shady; playground, sand volleyball, golf, and indoor climbing wall within walking distance; beautiful trees, etc. All the normal base amenities, including bowling alley (check out galactic bowling if you have kids).
Staff was helpful. Camp host was… vigilant, but not super considerate with his leaf blowing pollen plumes around breakfasters.
Did not have pool. Fine.
DOES NOT HAVE FIRE RINGS. Or a grill. That was a disappointment. You can BRING a fire ring. But of course no open burning.
Also, the sites are a smidge close together. But not overly so. Ask for a perimeter site and not a middle pull through if you're looking for a little extra green space between. (Not sure if they'll honor that or not.)
The weapons station also has an RV park. (Forgot to look and see if they have fire rings.) If you are a trail runner or hiker or similar, this is the one you want to go to. There's an excellent trail system right off the RV park. The air base did not. They have plenty of sidewalks to run but no trails. However, if you're there to see Charleston, you want to stay at the air base. The weapons station is further away from downtown.
As other reviewers have said, these options are both on military bases and require an ID to access.
Edward S.TravelerMount Pleasant-Charleston KOA
Great location and well kept
We stayed here for a week to attend a wedding. The place was well kept, nice and clean. Lots of walking areas and pet spots.
Super close to everything you could ever need, but deep enough into the woods to feel that break away from the noise of the road.
Glen W.TravelerCampground at James Island County Park
Wow
This campground is the perfect blend of rustic and modern amenities! Beautiful shade trees, large sites, and full hookups. Shuttles to the beach and downtown Charleston. Perfect!
Guide to Dorchester
Glamping in Dorchester, South Carolina offers visitors access to the surrounding Francis Marion National Forest and water recreation on Lake Marion. The area sits at low elevation with a subtropical climate that creates humid summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F and mild winters rarely dropping below freezing. Most luxury camping options remain open year-round with peak season running April through October when water activities are most accessible.
What to do
Climb outdoors: The climbing wall at James Island County Park stands 50 feet tall and is complemented by a 1K square foot bouldering wall. "The Outdoor Zone featuring a 50 foot climbing wall, obstacle challenge course, 1K sq ft bouldering wall and slackline will have you and your brood enjoying these backwoods in no time," notes Stuart K.
Kayak on Lake Marion: Boat rentals are available at Rocks Pond Campground & Marina with direct lake access for water recreation. "This RV park is massive and has immediate access to water for your boat, kayak or canoe... they also have basic toiletries and sundries in case you forgot something behind," according to Stuart K.
Explore historic sites: The Mount Pleasant area serves as a gateway to Charleston's rich history, only 15 minutes from downtown. "Located only 15 minutes from downtown Charleston and 10 minutes from Shem creek this campground is gorgeous and spacious. They offer kayak and bike rentals," explains Carlyne F. about Mount Pleasant/Charleston KOA.
What campers like
Well-maintained facilities: Clean bathrooms and shower facilities are consistently mentioned by visitors to Mount Pleasant-Charleston KOA. "We stayed in a 2 bedroom cabin for this trip. It was a great campground. It had a pool, camp activities, hiking/nature trail. It was extremely clean and the staff was friendly," writes Susan P.
Kid-friendly amenities: Multiple parks feature designated play areas and activities for children. "Pretty fantastic place for families. Awesome trails, huge playground, water park, fishing, rock climbing walls, and very close to folly Beach, which is gorgeous," notes Greg S. about James Island County Park.
Convenient location: Sites are strategically positioned for access to both natural attractions and urban amenities. "Near downtown Charleston. Easy to get in and out. Reasonable rates. Near everything around Chai," says J Terrell M. about their experience at James Island County Park.
What you should know
Festival of Lights impact: Holiday displays at James Island County Park create additional traffic and crowds during winter months. "So I stayed during November and December... and coupled with the fact that they have a light show through the park. The traffic was incredible at night. I really think they should give a discount during this time of year because of the inconvenience," advises Tim.
Flooding concerns: Some sites may experience drainage issues during heavy rainfall. "We had 2 days of heavy rain and some sites flooded, but everything drained well," reports Joel R. about Edisto Beach State Park Campground.
Site selection matters: Not all sites offer the same level of privacy or amenities. "IMHO the best slots in this RV exclusive campground are those on the perimeter with the best sites being the ones without anything behind them, specifically on the NW periphery with sites #46 - 55," recommends Stuart K. about James Island County Park.
Tips for camping with families
Dedicated kids' fishing areas: Look for campgrounds with specialized fishing spots just for children. "While I was there with a friend of mine and his young family, the place is perfect for kids - there's lots of places to go fishing... and even a smaller pond that is just for the kiddos," notes Stuart K. about Rocks Pond Campground.
Dog-friendly options: Many glamping sites near Dorchester welcome pets, important for family trips. "It has a fantastic dog park and several miles of paved walking/biking paths. Great local restaurants, carriage tours, forts, shopping and more!" exclaims Terry J. about Givhans Ferry State Park Campground.
Consider walk-in tent sites: Some campgrounds offer specialized areas for tent camping families. "Great place for families. Not very secluded. It is pretty much one big open green space with tent sites circling in a loop around the green space. You cannot park your car right at the site," explains Chrissy R. about James Island County Park.
Tips from RVers
Morning boat launch strategy: Plan your water activities early to avoid long waits. "If you've got a boat and want to get out on the water, do it early before the long line takes you at least an hour of waiting," suggests Stuart K. about Rocks Pond Campground.
Long, pull-through sites: New Green Acres RV Park offers spacious sites for larger rigs. "This park has really really long spaces. It's great for when towing a long trailer too but be mindful that there is a whole pile of trees," advises Mike F.
Full hookup availability: Many luxury glamping options offer complete RV hookups. "We had a great site and was surprised how much room for a KOA. Loved being able to explore the city with the help and guidance of the staff," notes Angela M. about Mount Pleasant-Charleston KOA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping
campsite near Dorchester, SC?
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Dorchester, SC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Dorchester, SC is Campground at James Island County Park with a 4.7-star rating from 63 reviews.
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glamping camping near
Dorchester, SC?
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Dorchester, SC?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 glamping camping locations near Dorchester, SC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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