Sesquicentennial State Park Campground offers woodlands camping within the Columbia metro area. Campsites provide electrical hookups and water access on level pads surrounded by pine trees. The park maintains several miles of hiking and biking trails that connect to a lake where visitors can rent paddle boats during warmer months.
What to do
Water recreation at the lake: Sesquicentennial State Park features a small lake with paddle boats and a water play area for children. According to Ruth J., "I enjoy doing the trails and spotting dear. And there is a small water play area for children. They have paddle boats also."
Hiking trails network: The park system near Eastover provides multiple trail options for day hikes. One camper at Sesquicentennial State Park Campground noted, "Love the bike and hiking trails. Very nice area to kayak in, I love all the Lilly pads."
Explore natural springs: Visit the artesian wells at Lee State Park Campground for a unique natural feature. As one visitor mentioned, "Nice short boardwalk area to explore. Loved the spring water."
What campers like
Wooded campsites: Sites at Sesquicentennial provide natural shade and separation. A camper observed, "Well spaced sites with good amenities. Set in the woods, making it easy to forget you're in Columbia! Quiet, lots of birds in the spring."
Equestrian encounters: Horse campgrounds near Eastover, South Carolina offer opportunities to camp alongside equine visitors. Lauren V. shared her experience at Lee State Park: "Was wonderful to wake up and see the horses. Also dog friendly which is a plus."
Off-leash dog areas: Pet owners appreciate designated spaces for dogs to run freely. One camper at Sesquicentennial noted, "They have a dog park and our pup loved getting to run off leash."
What you should know
Site leveling considerations: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain that requires preparation. At Sesquicentennial, one tent camper reported, "Site 46 is not terribly even, but it's well situated inside the loop. The park is clean, the tent pad is a good size, and the amazing aroma of pine is one of the natural highlights."
Store hours and supply planning: Plan ahead for campground store limitations. The same camper noted, "Unfortunate that the camp store closes at 5 pm. So one must drive to Publix for firewood. The closest Walmart has $2 ice bags."
Insect management: Horse campgrounds near Bishopville can have significant fly populations. A camper at Lee State Park warned, "If you have never stayed with horses you can not be prepared for the flyes. they were swarms of them."
Tips for camping with families
Group-friendly activities: Middle school groups find plenty to do at Sesquicentennial State Park. One group leader shared, "I took a group of 8 wild middle schoolers here and we had a blast hiking the trails, boating, and unplugging for a while!"
Ranger interactions: Park staff enhance the experience for younger visitors. At Lee State Park, one parent mentioned, "The ranger is very friendly, and made the kids' visit even better!"
Water play options: Families appreciate dedicated swimming areas during summer months. A visitor to Lee State Park noted, "Awesome park with many trails and a pond for the kids to swim!"
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger rigs: Some campgrounds accommodate larger vehicles better than others. At Lee State Park, a camper observed, "Sites were gravel and level. Bath house were clean and well maintained."
Road conditions: Interior roads at some parks present challenges. One RVer cautioned about Lee State Park: "Rough 'roads' inside park with big ruts that filled with rain... Having the horses around was fantastic. Not a lot to do. That being said, this stop was perfect for what it was."
Military options: Service members can access specialized camping near Eastover. At Falcons Nest FamCamp, a visitor reported, "Very nice campground. Lots of trees. Must have access to Shaw afb to stay. $20 per night. No long term prices. No stay limit."
