Mistletoe State Park Campground, Winfield - J Strom Thurmond Lake, and other camping areas near Graniteville, South Carolina offer diverse camping experiences within the Savannah River watershed. This region averages 48 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush forests and abundant water recreation opportunities. Water levels at Lake Thurmond fluctuate seasonally, with summer months showing lower water levels that expose rocky shorelines at some campsites.
What to do
Fishing from shorelines: At Winfield - J Strom Thurmond Lake, anglers can fish directly from their campsites. "Thurmond Lake provides some of the best fishing, hunting, and water sports in the southeastern US. Anglers fish for largemouth bass, bream, crappie, catfish and striped bass," notes one camper.
Kayaking without crowds: The Little River section at Winfield offers calmer waters than the main lake basin. "Winfield is a compartively little-known USACE campground situated on a peninsula near the more heavily-traffic Mistletoe State Park. Quiet and peaceful, it's tucked up the Little River and therefore not on the main body of Clarks Hill Lake which sees a good deal of boat traffic in the summer months," explains a visitor.
Wildlife observation: Magnolia Springs State Park offers unique wildlife viewing opportunities. "We camped here back in the spring. Hiked, paddle boated, saw some gators, got some nice photos," shares one camper. The park maintains warning signs about local wildlife: "There were numerous signs posted for alligators and bears."
Water access considerations: Lake access varies significantly by campsite. As one camper at Winfield notes, "Site 74 is right between the beach an the boating dock. Very large pull thru. Love how it was super private compared to the many other campgrounds I've been to... Also site was right on the water. Beautiful views."
What campers like
Secluded camping spots: Elijah Clark State Park Campground offers waterfront camping with a feeling of seclusion. One camper shared, "What's a great place to stay!!! Beautiful colors for the fall, waterfront campsites, water and electric hook ups and back-in AND pull-through spots available."
Family farm experiences: Crunchy Acres provides a unique alternative to standard glamping near Graniteville. "Ashley here with The Dyrt! I'm excited to welcome your friendly host, John. John has opened his 19 acre family farm up to visitors. Come meet their chickens, goats, pigs, turkey, and rabbits! Rent go-carts or sit around the campfire with some s'mores."
Off-grid tent camping: For those seeking more primitive camping experiences than glamping options, Magnolia Springs offers dedicated tent sites. "We stayed 3 nights in the 'walk in' tent area of this state park. 'Walk in' is a little deceiving, because, gladly, you can drive to the 3 tent spots and park a vehicle in this area. We stayed in spot 29. The three tent spots all have water at each site."
Large, private sites: Waterfront sites at Winfield provide exceptional privacy. "Gorgeous lake with no sign of civilization across from the campground. We swam right from our site and loved it. The sites are enormous, private, and provide panoramic lake views. The site has a fire ring with grill, a standing grill, a picnic table, and a prep table."
What you should know
Seasonal water levels: Lake Thurmond experiences significant water level fluctuations. At Mistletoe State Park, one camper noted: "The water access at sites #2 & #4 is nice but it is not a real beach -- it is all large rocks for the most part and they were very slippery even when dry so be careful. The water level was also extremely low when I was there so some of those rocks are probably covered by water earlier in the year."
Varying shower facilities: Quality of facilities varies widely between parks. At Hickory Knob State Park Resort, a camper noted: "Shower house is just adequate, barely," while another mentioned: "If there were any drawbacks at all, it would simply be the less than mediocre bathrooms and showers that the state of South Caroline seems intent on not fixing."
Distance from towns: Most camping areas require advance preparation. "Because the nearest town of McCormick is a bit of a hike to get to (think at least a 20 minute drive on slow moving, winding country roads), be sure to bring everything you need with you, but if you do need any groceries, there's a Food Lion that has just about everything you might need."
Insect concerns: Some campgrounds have persistent insect issues. One camper at Hickory Knob warned: "Clark's Hill is a Great Lake! HK is an OK park. It does have a nice golf course and skeet shooting, kayak rentals, cabins, a restaurant and a pool. The campsites are nice enough. but. The entire park sits on a mound of ants. ants everywhere. ants of all varieties."
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: Elijah Clark State Park provides dedicated children's areas. A visitor notes: "The kiddos enjoyed playing putt putt, the playground and the beach area. There is also plenty of history to see, experience and learn about."
Watersports rentals: For families without their own equipment, Magnolia Springs offers affordable options. A camper mentions: "You had the option to rent kayaks and little paddle boats that was closed due to Covid 19." Another notes: "You can also rent paddle boats, canoes, kayaks, and bikes. All the trailers are family friendly."
Educational opportunities: Raysville Campground offers camping near historical sites and nature programs. The surrounding area includes educational opportunities about the Thurmond Lake ecosystem, while nearby Magnolia Springs has ranger-led activities: "We participated in a hike with the park manager where she told us about the animals in the park and even let us feel grey fox and beaver pelts."
Diverse activities: For families seeking varied experiences beyond water recreation, Hickory Knob offers multiple options. "Better bring a cart or a bike. It's a long way to everywhere here. But they have it all. Golf, swimming, axe throwing, archery, skeet shooting. Trails for hiking/biking."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: At Elijah Clark, RV campers should research specific site characteristics. "Several things turn me off of this campground. First, the campsites offer absolutely no privacy or separation. Second, we paid for a premium site, however, our site (#65) flooded and became clay-muddy when it rained. It was also difficult to find due to poor labeling."
Hookup considerations: Plum Branch RV Park offers full hookups but with some limitations. "Still being upgraded, so newish pad was still soft but pretty level. Sewer pipes stick out a good 6 or 8 inches. Electric posts are new but have a meter right below plugs, so surge suppressor gets to hang sideways."
Connectivity information: For remote workers, connectivity varies significantly between parks. At Plum Branch RV Park: "I was right under a WiFi antennae, and managed a 4.5meg download and 4.48 upload... Cricket; 7.98dn, 0.84up, ATT; 27.69, 0.3 up, Visible: 7.2dn, 1.2up, Verizon: 44.9dn. 1.88 up, T-mobile mifi: no 4G nor 5G service."
Seasonal considerations: Some glamping and upscale camping options have limited seasonal availability. While Mistletoe State Park offers year-round access, sites with the best lake views fill quickly during summer months.
