James Island County Park offers numerous camping and glamping options near Hollywood, South Carolina, located 12 miles southeast of Charleston. The area features coastal plains with elevations generally below 20 feet above sea level, creating a subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Winter temperatures rarely drop below freezing, making year-round camping viable with proper preparation for seasonal insect activity.
What to do
Kayaking and water activities: Mount Pleasant-Charleston KOA provides rental equipment for exploring the park's lake. According to one visitor, "We stayed here for a week in the summer and loved it. Our site was very close to the lake and we had a great view. The park offered fishing, kayak/canoe/paddle boat and paddle board rentals."
Biking on paved trails: Edisto Beach State Park features excellent paths for cyclists. As one camper noted, "We camped here during the winter and had fun. This campsite is perfect for riding bikes around."
Fishing opportunities: Buck Hall Recreation Area provides access to the Intracoastal Waterway. A visitor shared, "There is really nice boat landing and fishing/crabbing pier in the campground. We had a blast kayaking around and had some awesome dolphin encounters."
Climbing and adventure activities: Several parks offer unique outdoor challenges for visitors seeking glamping close to Hollywood, South Carolina. One camper at James Island described, "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."
What campers like
Spacious sites: Visitors appreciate the generous spacing between campsites at Point South KOA. One reviewer mentioned, "Our site was located close to the bathrooms and showers, which were very clean, and the gravel surfaces were even and looked well-kept. In fact, we saw the staff promptly re-leveling the sites after folks checked out."
Beach proximity: Edisto Beach State Park provides convenient ocean access. A camper shared, "We had a magical time at Edisto. The Beach campground was just steps from the ocean. Opt for sites 1-12 or 50-75. Bathrooms were great. Shelling was incredible-especially if you walk towards the inlet around low tide."
Clean facilities: Givhans Ferry State Park maintains well-kept amenities. According to a visitor, "The tent camping area is awesome and has a great layout with lockable chuck boxes on each site along with power and water. There are several large fields to let the kids run wild."
Wildlife viewing: Buck Hall Recreation Area offers opportunities to observe local fauna. One visitor noted, "We had some awesome dolphin encounters. The historic town of McClellanville is super cute and I definitely recommend a seafood dinner at TW Graham's! The nearby Sewee Visitor Center has red wolves and is free to visit."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Winter travelers should note holiday light shows may impact some parks. At James Island, one camper observed, "So I stayed during November and December... they have a light show through the park. The traffic was incredible at night."
Reservation timing: Popular parks fill quickly during peak seasons. Planning ahead for luxury glamping near Hollywood, South Carolina is essential.
Insect preparedness: Coastal camping requires insect protection. A Buck Hall visitor advised, "Don't forget your bug-spray, mosquitos are aggressive here."
Cell coverage limitations: Service varies significantly between campgrounds. A Givhans Ferry guest warned, "Be prepared for almost zero cell service."
Site flooding concerns: Some areas experience drainage issues during heavy rains. One James Island camper noted, "We had 2 days of heavy rain and some sites flooded, but everything drained well."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: James Island County Park offers excellent facilities for children. A camper shared, "Pretty fantastic place for families. Awesome trails, huge playground, water park, fishing, rock climbing walls, and very close to folly Beach, which is gorgeous."
Kid-friendly fishing spots: Rocks Pond Campground provides specialized fishing areas for young anglers. One visitor explained, "The place is perfect for kids - there's lots of places to go fishing, whether you are on a boat and want to venture further out, or don't want to leave land and just cast your line from one of the many points they have at this campground - there's a fishing pier, a dedicated fish pond and even a smaller pond that is just for the kiddos."
Educational opportunities: Buck Hall Recreation Area offers learning experiences nearby. A visitor recommended, "The nearby Sewee Visitor Center has red wolves and is free to visit. They also have RV parking! We enjoyed this, but if you have kids I think it would be a must do! You can call ahead and find out when they will be feeding the wolves."
Varied activity options: Mount Pleasant-Charleston KOA provides multiple recreation choices. One family noted, "We had a great site and was surprised how much room for a KOA. Our fave was the wagon ride to the plantation next door."
Tips from RVers
Optimal site selection: At New Green Acres RV Park, positioning matters for comfort. A camper advised, "This park has really really long spaces. It's great for when towing a long trailer too but be mindful that there is a whole pile of trees. So when making reservations make sure you let them know you need something long but also easily accessible too."
Hookup availability: Services vary between campgrounds, affecting luxury glamping options near Hollywood, South Carolina. One camper at Buck Hall noted, "All the spaces had water and electric. The showers were nice and tidy and the water pressure in the showers was great."
Noise considerations: Highway proximity affects some stays. A visitor to New Green Acres observed, "This is just off 95, so it's not quiet. It is green instead of gravel, so that's nice. Lots of trees and all pull thru spaces."
Dump station locations: Plan for service point locations. At Edisto Beach State Park, a camper noted, "Only negative dump site is a mile up main road."
