Campsites near Eastover, South Carolina sit in the state's Midland region where sandy hills transition to coastal plains. The area spans elevations from approximately 100-250 feet above sea level, creating diverse camping environments from riverside bottomlands to pine-covered hills. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, while winter nights can drop below freezing between December and February.
What to do
Lake activities at Cypress View: Cypress View Campground at Santee State Park offers water-based recreation on Lake Marion. "This is a great campground for anyone who enjoys watersports. Lake Marion is a great place for boating, kayaking, and fishing," notes a camper. The park maintains boat launches and fishing areas accessible to all campground visitors.
Mountain biking on sandhills terrain: The unique topography around Eastover creates distinctive trail systems. "This is a good place to stay to mountain bike, there are two trails in Poinsett and Manchester State Forest is nearby," reports one visitor at Poinsett State Park Campground. Some trails show damage from past flooding events but remain navigable.
Hiking opportunities: The region features multiple trail networks ranging from paved pathways to wilderness routes. "Poinsett State Park has some of the best hiking and biking trails in the Palmetto State. You could spend multiple days camping here and have a chance to hike different trails every day," according to a recent visitor. Most trails are best hiked in cooler morning hours during summer months.
What campers like
Military campground access: Weston Lake Recreation Area provides camping for military personnel and sponsors on Fort Jackson. "Very nice concrete pads; large sites with fire pit, grill, and picnic table. Gravel roads have washed out areas but not terrible. Very open and quiet," notes one visitor. The recreation area offers discounted rates for active and retired military.
Off-the-beaten-path locations: Some smaller campgrounds offer quieter alternatives to larger parks. "Sweetwater Lake Campground is a small RV campground. There is electric and water hookup and a dump station. Lots are decent size and fairly level on grass or gravel," writes one camper. These smaller operations often feature unique amenities like rescue animal viewing areas.
Proximity to Congaree National Park: Multiple campgrounds serve as bases for exploring the national park. "About 31 RV sites. Onboard Ft. Jackson. Lake views. Boat rental available. Summer time swim beach. Spacious sites," reports a camper at Weston Lake. Campers often note that many campgrounds within 45 minutes of Congaree provide convenient access.
What you should know
Access challenges: Some roads leading to campgrounds have deteriorated conditions. "The park road is very narrow and uneven with lots of large pot holes. The road to the campground is a little better, but also very narrow," notes a visitor at Poinsett State Park. Large RVs may require careful navigation on certain access routes.
Wildlife interactions: The lowland ecosystem around Eastover supports diverse wildlife that regularly enters campgrounds. "The property has a nice size lake and all spots face it. There are fire pits and hammocks. The best and most fun part about this campground are the rescue donkeys," explains a camper at Sweetwater Lake Campground. Insect activity increases substantially in warm months.
Site spacing considerations: Sesquicentennial State Park Campground features varied campsite layouts. "All campsites can probably see the lake a little. Downside is that it's super crowded. Apparently all the fishermen drag their families in along with their boats," observes one visitor. Proximity to urban Columbia makes this park busier than more remote options.
Tips for camping with families
Splash zones for kids: Several campgrounds maintain dedicated water recreation areas. "Nice park but gets super crowded. The sites we had you could definitely have more than 6 people to a site and many sites did just that. Never far to a bathroom and easy access to the water," explains a visitor at Santee Lakes KOA. Swimming areas provide relief during hot summer days.
Camp amenities for children: Recreational facilities vary substantially between parks. "We stayed here for our son's first birthday, in campsite 30! It was beautiful and we felt like we had plenty of privacy. Our site had a trail attached to the back of it which was really nice for hiking," reports a family at Poinsett State Park. Many sites feature nearby playground equipment.
Educational opportunities: Congaree National Park offers Junior Ranger programs through the main visitor center. "Ten site campground, all walk in. Sites 1 and 2 fairly short distance to walk. Campsites are spacious and clean. Pit toilets and solar powered device charger available in parking lot. Easy distance to access visitor center and main trails," notes a visitor at Longleaf Campground.
Tips from RVers
Leveling requirements: Campground terrain varies significantly across the region. "This was a timely escape for us just as COVID was spreading in the states. Unfortunately this prevented us from being able to rent kayaks. But the hiking was great! The camp sites were on the smaller side but opened up to a large field area where the kids and dog could run around and play," reports a camper at Poinsett State Park.
Site selection for larger rigs: Some campgrounds have limited spaces for extended vehicles. "We camped here for Mother's Day weekend. Our camper is 29 ft, with no slide outs and just an awning. There was no way to extend our awning, because the trees were too close. A slide out wouldn't have been able to open out," advises a visitor about specific sites at Poinsett. Tree placement often restricts awning or slide deployment.
