Dillon is situated in South Carolina's coastal plain region at an elevation of 118 feet. The area experiences a humid subtropical climate with over 45 inches of annual rainfall. Camping options near Dillon include several private RV parks, state parks, and farm-based campgrounds within a 30-mile radius, creating varied camping environments from riverside sites to working farms.
What to do
Splash parks and recreation amenities: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Daddy Joe's offers extensive water recreation including splash pads and water slides. "Laser Tag. Splash pad. Water slides. Indoor and outdoor pool. Playgrounds. Dog parks. Putt-Putt. Ice Cream. Fishing. Basketball. Volleyball. Horse shoes…and our kids did it all," reports one visitor.
Explore reptile exhibits: South of the Border attractions include a reptile museum with various wildlife viewing opportunities. "The biggest attraction for us, other than being conveniently on the way to our final destination, was the reptile museum. It claims to be the largest of its kind. It was very interesting to see the various snakes, alligators, and crocodiles," notes a camper who stayed at Pedro's Campground.
Farm animal interactions: At Double L Farms Campground, visitors can spend time with horses, cows, chickens, and other farm animals. A reviewer mentioned, "Not everyone's idea of a great camping experience involves being completely surrounded by farm animals on an actual working ranch. For my entire family, we absolutely loved the cows, horses, donkeys, chickens, guinea hens, ducks, turkey, cats, dogs and other animals."
What campers like
Natural lake swimming: The river at Princess Ann — Lumber River State Park provides primitive swimming opportunities. "The river is nice to swim in after a hot summer's day, although the bottom is quite squishy. It's a good area to fish or use small watercraft," notes one reviewer.
Security and amenities: Gated campgrounds offer peace of mind for travelers. According to a visitor at Pedro's Campground at South of the Border, "We stopped here for an overnight and were thrilled by the facility. It's perfect for an overnight or a day. Plenty of paved pull though sites. Fenced in and safe. You can walk to the restaurants and shops at South of the Border."
Star-gazing opportunities: The rural setting around Dillon provides excellent night sky viewing. "You can see tons of stars here at night, it is amazing! It's lovely to sit by the water and look at the night sky," reports a camper at Princess Ann campsite.
What you should know
Road noise considerations: Several campgrounds near I-95 experience highway noise. A visitor at Lumberton I-95 KOA noted, "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."
Limited supplies near rural sites: Stock up before arriving at more remote campgrounds. "This campground is definitely off the beaten path, about 15 miles from I-95. There aren't any stores around, so get your food and supplies before you arrive," advises a visitor to Little Pee Dee State Park.
Seasonal wildlife activity: Local wildlife adds character but can affect sleep. "We slept in hammocks and were awoken at dawn by a cacophony of juvenile barred owls directly above us," reports one camper at Princess Ann. Another mentions, "Also, there's a lot of owls here at night. If you are a light sleeper you may want to consider ear plugs."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly campground activities: Little Pee Dee State Park Campground offers recreational equipment for children. A visitor noted, "If you have kids they will love the playground that is in the campground as well. There are also a lot of great trails and hikes to do. My family and I did a hike everyday that we stayed here, for a total of 3 hikes."
Educational farm experiences: Children can learn about farm animals and agriculture. "If you have a family with small children, they will love the horses, chickens, guinea hens, and the couple of friendly cats and dogs that they own," states a visitor to Double L Farms.
Indoor options for rainy days: Weather contingency plans are important in this region. A Jellystone Park visitor mentioned, "We stayed during a storm and the camp staff adjusted their events to focus on indoor entertainment for the families. Wonderful."
Tips from RVers
Level sites for easier setup: Bass Lake Campground offers particularly well-maintained parking areas. As one RVer noted, "Although right next to I-95, the drone of the traffic fades into the background once you pull into the well landscaped campground with absolutely level sites."
Road conditions to campgrounds: Some access roads require careful navigation. A reviewer at Little Pee Dee noted, "Road to campground is horrible! Very narrow, trees hanging over it, dirt, but huge holes! Obviously needs to be graded."
RV site spacing: Site proximity varies between campgrounds. A camper at Jellystone Park mentioned, "Plenty of space between sites and very accommodating staff/assistance," while others note tighter arrangements at different locations.
