Becky B.
Scout
ScoutBells Marina & Resort
Loving the Gators
It's been an amazing trip. Got to see a alligator for the first time in my life. It was awesome. The staff was awesome,had a great time enjoying the beauty of nature
Best Campgrounds near Drayton, SC
Campgrounds near Drayton, South Carolina cluster primarily around the greater Charleston area, providing access to coastal landscapes and inland forests. Oak Plantation Campground and James Island County Park offer established camping areas with full hookups for RVs, while several locations like Edisto Beach State Park provide cabin accommodations alongside traditional tent sites. Military personnel can access Joint Base Charleston's outdoor recreation center, which maintains dedicated camping facilities. Most developed campgrounds in the region support multiple accommodation types including tent camping, RV parking with hookups, and cabin rentals.
The camping season extends year-round in the Lowcountry region, with many campgrounds remaining operational through all seasons. Summer brings higher humidity and temperatures, while winter offers milder conditions favorable for outdoor activities. "The sites are roomy, the bathrooms have been recently updated and are very good," noted one camper about Oak Plantation Campground. Access to most established sites requires no special vehicles, though visitors should be prepared for occasional flooding during heavy rains. Traffic congestion can impact entry and exit at some campgrounds, particularly those along Highway 17 where left turns can be challenging during peak hours. Most developed campgrounds require reservations, especially during spring and fall when weather conditions are optimal for coastal camping.
Shaded sites under oak trees draped with Spanish moss represent a distinctive feature of camping in the Charleston area, providing natural cooling during warmer months. Campground amenities vary significantly, with larger establishments offering swimming pools, dog parks, and on-site food options. A visitor to Oak Plantation observed, "Beautiful location! Easy spots to get in and out of, not on top of each other." Water access remains an important consideration, with some campgrounds providing boat launches or proximity to waterways. Wildlife viewing opportunities include coastal birds and small mammals, while some campgrounds back up to pastures or conservation areas. Sites farther from urban areas generally provide quieter experiences but may offer fewer amenities than those closer to Charleston's attractions and services.
Best Camping Sites Near Drayton, South Carolina (64)
1. Campground at James Island County Park
61 ReviewsFolly Beach, SC8 milesWebsite+1 (843) 795-4386$43 - $269 / night
"When making reservations at James Island County Park we had modest expectations, but we were going to tour Charleston most of the time, so we decided anything close to the city would be good enough."
"The park does allow pets and has a dog park with a beach; it seems like the pups were having a marvelous time playing chase on the beach.This is a County Park with trails for walking or leisure biking."
2. Lake Aire RV Park
19 ReviewsJohns Island, SC7 milesWebsite+1 (843) 571-1271"Santee State Park is a beautiful forested park by the lake."
"Plenty of trees and grass, a picnic area, a couple of hammocks, and lakes that host a large population of Muscovy ducks. These were fun to watch. They're quite tame and will come right up to you."
3. Oak Plantation Campground
14 ReviewsJohns Island, SC4 milesWebsite+1 (843) 766-5936"Beautiful location! Easy spots to get in and out of, not on top of each other. Great WiFi. Super pleasant and helpful staff. Clean bathrooms, Nice dog run, great food truck."
"Close proximity to a lot of fun things to do."
4. Charleston KOA
20 ReviewsGoose Creek, SC10 milesWebsite+1 (800) 562-5812"It is clean and close to shopping and close enough to Charleston which is full of history with lots of touristy things to do."
"This KOA is located 30-45 minutes from the city, if you have to be closer to the north area for family or just cause Charleston has limited availability for RV’s , this is the place."
5. Mount Pleasant-Charleston KOA
27 ReviewsMount Pleasant, SC16 milesWebsite+1 (843) 849-5177$68 - $300 / night
"There was a nice walking/biking path around the campground and downtown Charleston and Isle of Palms beaches were both close by. We are already planning a return trip."
"Lots of places close by to eat at but this feels so tucked away all at the same time."
6. Military Park Joint Base Charleston Outdoor Recreation Center
9 ReviewsNorth Charleston, SC4 milesWebsite+1 (843) 963-1672$23 / night
"The campground is located near the golf course and outdoor recreation center, providing close access to golfing, soccer golf, disc golf, a climbing wall, and archery range."
"The campground is well kept with under 100 slots, it has an adjacent park, tennis and basketball courts. Next to both a frisbee and a nice golf course."
7. Hanscombe Point Campground
12 ReviewsFolly Beach, SC12 miles+1 (843) 514-1215$30 / night
"The campsite is at the edge of a livestock pasture, though most of the sites are within a pine grove with a dense floor of needles and cones. "
"Minutes away from typical groceries or dollar stores. Self check in and check out. Only reason why it's not a full 5 stars is simply having to move cow droppings for set up. Definitely would go back!"
8. Edisto Beach State Park Campground
67 ReviewsEdisto Island, SC27 milesWebsite+1 (843) 869-2756"It's South Carolina in the summer, so there are mosquitoes."
"The campsite pad has a plug and faucet right next to you and you're on the other side of a sand dune from the beach. The restrooms are close by to every site."
9. Remleys Point Public Boat Launch
5 ReviewsCharleston, SC9 milesWebsite10. Foster Creek RV Park and Villas
6 ReviewsHanahan, SC10 milesWebsite+1 (843) 794-2120"IF you meet the qualifications to stay (military affiliated), this is REALLY close to the Navy Nuke School!"
Recent Camping Photos near Drayton, SC
148 Photos of 64 Drayton Campgrounds
Laurie B.
Oak Plantation Campground
Erin S.
Military Park Joint Base Charleston Outdoor Recreation Center
T N T.
Lake Aire RV Park
Alex M.
Campground at James Island County Park
Gaby R.
Hanscombe Point Campground
Maethea R.
Mount Pleasant-Charleston KOA
Samantha H.
Caper's Island
Trina W.
Givhans Ferry State Park Campground
Adam V.
Halfway Creek - Dispersed Camping
Ethan B.
Halfway Creek Primitive Camping - TEMPORARILY CLOSED
Sara M.
Edisto Beach State Park Campground
Matthew S.
Short Stay Navy Outdoor Moncks Corner
Recent Reviews near Drayton, SC
509 Reviews of 64 Drayton Campgrounds
- TTroli R.
GuideFamCamp 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.
- R
Reed B.ScoutRemleys Point Public Boat Launch
NOT an overnight camping spot
Clear signage indicating NO overnight parking allowed. Good spot for free day parking.
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.
- aamanda F.Scout
Herd it Here Farm
Amazing!
The couple who owns this place are so kind and welcoming! We were having trouble with our trailer and our rv leading up to getting here and while we were here and they were so calm and helpful! We got to pet a mule and watch one of the horses and a donkey graze right outside our rv! Then, the owner took is around to see the other farm animals and we bought soap made by a local dairy farm wrapped in wool from the alpacas we met. What a great experience! I cannot recommend this place enough! 🫏💜
Casey D.ScoutMill Creek Marina and Campground
Dumphole
My son and I have a small business and we stayed there for 2 months because we were working in a nearby town. It seemed okay at first. I got there and the coffee pot was full of old coffee and mold. There was sticky dirt and trash under the beds and around the beds and under the nightstands. If you're staying in the cabins or what they call the sweet You might want to take pictures of everything and document everything that is screwed up in there before you even stay because they will try to blame you for it. My son and I do not drink or party we were there for work. There was a outlet behind the headboard in the headboard was just hanging on the wall My son accessed the outlet in order to charge his laptop and phone and remove the headboard which just hangs and forgot to put it back They claim that we broke that and the box springs. The box spring was already broke when we got there. The heat in the back room of the suite was broke I had to bring my own heater. I paid $5,000 for 2 months and we came back for one more day and the lady, or general manager, called me absolutely hostile and irate about the headboard We explained to her that it just hangs on the wall she lied and said we broke it. My mistake was not documenting everything and taking photos in order to show them that it was all messed up when we got there. So if you do decide to stay at this dump hole I would certainly take pictures and document anything that's wrong prior to your stay and make sure that they are fully aware of all of the broken things in there which are numerous. The fridge is a mini fridge and the ice builds up on it to where you can't even use the little freezer thing in it. It's in a nice beautiful location. I thought it was going to be okay for the first two months we were okay with it. We're not the kind of people that complain or bitch or moan about things so I didn't bring any of the mini discrepancies to their attention I thought they didn't they already knew since the pricing was so cheap. I I assumed for that price they were aware of how messed up the place was. There's a restaurant on site. The food is disgusting. Fried garbage basically. They're always out of menu items. If you're waiting for a drink refill or to have your food served you're going to be waiting for a while because the waitresses are always outside smoking cigarettes goofing off. The food is stored in a dirty room underneath the restaurant and I saw mice and roaches running in and out of there. It's a great place if you're an alcoholic and like to drink I guess. It's in a great location. The camp store is only open whenever the general manager feels like it seems like there's hours on the door but they're closed about 85% of the time. I was extremely disappointed when they called me up and treated me like absolute trash. The lady was irate for no reason. We didn't break the box springs we didn't break anything we were staying there one night after we already stayed there for 2 months and we didn't have a problem and now all of a sudden we came back a week later and they're trying to say we broke stuff and told us we can't stay there anymore which really bothered me because I was very respectful and we didn't complain about all the messed up things. People are up late partying all through the weekend so if you're there to work it's not a really good place. Your parking in a mud hole too All in all I'd say avoid this place. There are much better places to stay on lake Marion Mill Creek campground is a garbage dump as far as I'm concerned
- BBarry W.Scout
Johnston Landing Campground & Cabins
Nice place
It’s very nice and peaceful here. It is a bit rustic without a fire ring at each campsite. They do have a central fire ring and kayaks for rent along with a couple of peddle boats.
Greg M.GuideHunting Island State Park Campground
Can’t car camp
Lady pretty rudely told me I couldn’t camp there because I use a car camping set up instead of a tent.
Glen W.ScoutCampground 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 Drayton
Camping sites near Drayton, South Carolina offer year-round options with distinct seasonal conditions. The Lowcountry region features elevations averaging less than 100 feet above sea level, contributing to potential flooding issues during heavy rainfall periods. The area experiences mild winters with average temperatures between 45-65°F, while summer humidity typically exceeds 80% from June through September.
What to do
Water activities on Edisto Island: Edisto Beach State Park Campground provides access to both beach and marsh environments. "We had a magical time at Edisto. The Beach campground was just steps from the ocean. Opt for sites 1-12 or 50-75. Shelling was incredible-especially if you walk towards the inlet around low tide," notes one visitor. The park offers hiking and biking trails through maritime forest areas.
Military recreation options: Military Park Joint Base Charleston Outdoor Recreation Center provides specialized activities for eligible service members. "This campground is located near the golf course and outdoor recreation center, providing close access to golfing, soccer golf, disc golf, a climbing wall, and archery range. A short walk away is the galley and a mile away is the gym." Visitors must present valid military ID for entry.
Fishing opportunities: Several area campgrounds maintain small lakes or ponds for fishing. Lake Aire RV Park features a fishing pond with resident ducks. One camper mentioned, "Nice place to walk the dogs. Nice pond for fishing. About a 50-50 mix of long term campers and short term but no issues at all."
What campers like
Shaded sites under mature trees: Oak Plantation Campground features large oak trees with Spanish moss, creating natural cooling during hot months. A camper praised, "Lovely, large oaks with gray moss provide that quintessential Charleston/Savannah setting. There's a small pool, dog park, pasture with cows, and a play area. My favorite feature was the recycling area! Almost no RV parks provide recycling."
Beach proximity with added amenities: Campers appreciate James Island County Park for its diverse offerings beyond camping. "Situated just north of where your RV is anchored is the Outdoor Zone featuring a 50 foot climbing wall, obstacle challenge course, 1K sq ft bouldering wall and slackline that will have you and your brood enjoying these backwoods in no time."
Rural camping experiences: For those seeking a more rustic option, Hanscombe Point Campground provides a unique farm-based setting. "Very nice bucolic setting in the pine woods on the edge of a cow meadow. One very clean outhouse," writes one camper. Another adds, "Waking up to livestock outside your window grazing. They are so beautiful and the view from every angle is amazing."
What you should know
Seasonal insect considerations: Mosquitoes can be problematic during warmer months, particularly at coastal sites. "Huge mosquitoes. May try back when it's cooler," noted one Edisto Beach visitor. At Hanscombe Point, a camper observed, "It was breezy so we didn't have any issues with 'no-see-ums' or 'sand gnats' but I would imagine on a still day they would be bad."
Traffic and access challenges: Many campgrounds in the area experience traffic congestion issues. At Oak Plantation, "The road in front of campground is extremely busy (Hwy 17) and I wouldn't attempt ever turning left to get out. Just take a right and another right behind campground to get you out. It may take longer but worth your sanity."
Mixed occupancy considerations: Several campgrounds have both short-term and extended-stay residents. "About a 50-50 mix of long term campers and short term but no issues at all," reported one Lake Aire camper. At some locations, work crews maintain semi-permanent residence, which can affect the atmosphere.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Most established campgrounds maintain play areas for children. At Mount Pleasant-Charleston KOA, "Our site was very close to the lake and we had a great view. We were also right beside the pool and playground area so it was convenient to walk over." The campground also offers water activities suitable for children.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Children often enjoy observing local wildlife. At Hanscombe Point, one visitor noted, "We stayed one night on site 5, which overlooks a large field where the cows roam. Our toddler loved having the freedom to run around in the wide open spaces and run over dried-up cow patties with his toy tractor."
Water park access: During summer months, James Island County Park offers water recreation options. A visitor described "a Splash Zone Waterpark complete with (2) 200 foot waterslides, 500 foot long lazy river, leisure pool & rainforest play structure, kid's playground as well as a boat house with kayak, pedal boat and canoe rentals."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling considerations: Several campgrounds have challenges with level sites. At Lake Aire, one RVer mentioned, "Back-in spot was a little tight, but fairly level. We were very close to bathrooms that could have been cleaner but were handy." Oak Plantation campers noted, "Our site had a concrete pad but the concrete pad was broken up into large pieces of concrete which makes it hard to level."
Ant prevention: Oak Plantation campers should take precautions against insects. "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. We promptly went to buy ant spray and never had a problem."
Site selection strategy: For optimal privacy and space, select sites carefully. At James Island County Park, experienced campers advise, "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."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Drayton, SC?
What camping is available near Drayton, SC?
According to TheDyrt.com, Drayton, SC offers a wide range of camping options, with 64 campgrounds and RV parks near Drayton, SC and 4 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Drayton, SC?
Which is the most popular campground near Drayton, SC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Drayton, SC is Campground at James Island County Park with a 4.7-star rating from 61 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Drayton, SC?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Drayton, SC?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Drayton, SC.
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