Becky B.
Scout
ScoutBells Marina & Resort
Loving the Gators
It's been an amazing trip. Got to see a alligator for the first time in my life. It was awesome. The staff was awesome,had a great time enjoying the beauty of nature
Best Campgrounds near Hopkins, SC
Congaree National Park's Longleaf Campground forms the centerpiece of camping options near Hopkins, South Carolina, approximately 20 miles southeast of Columbia. The region includes basic tent sites in a natural setting with walk-in access from parking areas. Several miles north, Sesquicentennial State Park Campground provides more developed amenities with electric hookups, water, and shower facilities for both tent and RV camping. Weston Lake Recreation Area offers a third option with cabins and full-service RV sites, creating a spectrum of accommodation types from primitive to modern across the Hopkins area.
Camping accessibility varies significantly with seasonal conditions at Congaree National Park. The area experiences periodic flooding that can affect trail access and camping conditions, particularly during spring months. Most campgrounds require reservations, with Longleaf sites costing approximately $5 per night for primitive camping. Potable water is not available at the campground itself but can be obtained at the visitor center. Vault toilets provide basic sanitation facilities at the parking area. Summer temperatures and humidity create challenging conditions, with insects being particularly prevalent. A visitor noted that "Congaree is one of my favorite parks to visit. I love walking around the boardwalk doing the self guided nature tour. Every time you go the landscape is a little different because of the flood plains."
Campers report mixed experiences regarding site privacy and natural conditions. Longleaf Campground offers walk-in sites ranging from 20 meters to several hundred yards from the parking area, with site #1 being closest to parking but less secluded. Tree roots present challenges for tent placement at many sites. The park's boardwalk trail system provides excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, particularly during the synchronous firefly display in May that draws many visitors. A review mentioned that "the fireflies at night almost make it all worth it" despite challenging conditions. Frogs and toads create notable nighttime noise near the pond adjacent to the campground. Mosquitoes and deer flies can be problematic during warmer months, requiring appropriate preparation for comfortable camping experiences.
Best Camping Sites Near Hopkins, South Carolina (70)
1. Longleaf Campground — Congaree National Park
30 ReviewsGadsden, SC5 miles$15 - $25 / night
"Having been on the road for about three months before coming to Congaree, we were happy to arrive to such a quiet and tucked-away campground."
"We were at site 7, it took about 250 steps from the parking lot to our site. All sites have lots of shade. The campground is next to a pond that gets rather loud at night."
2. Sesquicentennial State Park Campground
31 ReviewsState Park, SC14 milesWebsite+1 (803) 788-2706"The site was level with a gravel drive and parking area. Lots of pines all around but the site was clear enough for easy parking. No sewer hookups."
"The park is in Columbia SC, and is a great choice for families who may want to do things outside the park. The park is super close to the Riverbanks Zoo."
3. Poinsett State Park Campground
41 ReviewsWedgefield, SC19 milesWebsite+1 (803) 494-8177"It looks nothing like South Carolina as you enter the gates. After half a dozen ups and downs and right turns you find yourself in a clearing and a large parking lot, a lake and a ranger station."
"We recently visited South Carolina and after spending the weekend visiting nearby Congaree National Park, we opted to stay at Poinsett State Park for 4 nights in our Mercedes Sprinter campervan."
4. Weston Lake Recreation Area
6 ReviewsColumbia, SC8 milesWebsite+1 (803) 751-5253$33 - $35 / night
"Lake views. Boat rental available. Summer time swim beach. Spacious sites. No laundry at campground. Closest is about 3 miles away. Entrance road is really rough."
"I was stationed at Jackson from’07-‘09 and the only thing that has really changed is the dam is being worked on so you can only observe the lake, no swimming, boating, anything on the lake until repairs"
5. Big Rig Friendly RV Resort
5 ReviewsCayce, SC12 milesWebsite+1 (803) 708-5122"Great location! This RV Resort has great amenities and staff along with their location! Awesome gym and club house plus beautiful pool! Staff are very friendly and welcoming! Check them out!"
6. Big Rig Friendly RV Resort
3 ReviewsCayce, SC13 miles"This RV Resort has the largest sites around and also great amenities including pool, 4 pickle ball courts, clubhouse with large meeting room, full gym and very nice bathrooms ."
"Fuel, groceries, beverages, service stations hardware stores and mini malls are just a 10 min drive away and for those who want home delivery of groceries they are phone call away for a very nominal price"
7. Cypress View Campground — Santee State Park
45 ReviewsElloree, SC32 milesWebsite+1 (803) 854-2408"There were not too many people camping during our visit, but it could be that not many people want to stand the South Carolina heat! Either way, it made the visit quiet."
"We were at site 46, which is near the entrance and the camp host. Short walk to the bathhouse directly behind."
9. Dreher Island State Park Campground
48 ReviewsChapin, SC34 milesWebsite+1 (803) 364-4152"This campground is a popular spot in South Carolina. Campsites are pretty close together but it's usually peaceful - lakeside sites, good fishing, but be prepared for the mosquitos!"
"I loved how Dreher Island State Park in South Carolina gave our family the best of both safety and fun, with shaded, roomy sites that included picnic tables, fire rings and well-kept bathhouses that made"
10. Sweetwater Lake Campground
6 ReviewsSt. Matthews, SC19 miles+1 (803) 874-3547"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."
"They allowed me to pitch my tent close to the lake, far away from the RVs."
Recent Camping Photos near Hopkins, SC
107 Photos of 70 Hopkins Campgrounds
Wabu W.
Longleaf Campground — Congaree National Park
David D.
Sesquicentennial State Park Campground
Katie M.
Sweetwater Lake Campground
Krista R.
Poinsett State Park Campground
Matt M.
Kaleidoscope Farm
The Dyrt
Stier Supply
Jake C.
Blythewood Acres
Charles F.
River Bottom Farms Family Campground
ELLIOTTS C.
Elliott's Landing and Campground
kenneth M.
Cypress View Campground — Santee State Park
Mark M.
Dogwood Ridge
Shannon G.
Dreher Island State Park Campground
Recent Reviews near Hopkins, SC
390 Reviews of 70 Hopkins Campgrounds
Cheryl D.ScoutThe Lakeshore Campground — Santee State Park
Beautiful
Great spot. Beautiful views. Lots of shade. Spot 57 would be hard to park in with a trailer due to having to climb the embankment a bit.
- ddavid H.Scout
Santee Lakes KOA
Quick One night stay
We arrived after hours and the ease of arrival and the spot we chose were amazing. We wish we had more time to spend with yall.
Aly V.
RangerCypress View Campground — Santee State Park
Perfect! Close to Congaree
We stayed here during the week for spring break with our son and our two dogs. Both campgrounds was full but thankfully we booked ahead! So definitely make reservations if it’s busy season. Our spot was PRIME view of the lake and the sites are separated apart enough. Hot showers! And great areas to walk around the campground and to the water.
I picked up a lot of trash by the water(the lake is busy for fishing) so do your part and pick up too. Definitely coming back. Pick site 34 if you can!
Casey D.ScoutMill Creek Marina and Campground
Dumphole
My son and I have a small business and we stayed there for 2 months because we were working in a nearby town. It seemed okay at first. I got there and the coffee pot was full of old coffee and mold. There was sticky dirt and trash under the beds and around the beds and under the nightstands. If you're staying in the cabins or what they call the sweet You might want to take pictures of everything and document everything that is screwed up in there before you even stay because they will try to blame you for it. My son and I do not drink or party we were there for work. There was a outlet behind the headboard in the headboard was just hanging on the wall My son accessed the outlet in order to charge his laptop and phone and remove the headboard which just hangs and forgot to put it back They claim that we broke that and the box springs. The box spring was already broke when we got there. The heat in the back room of the suite was broke I had to bring my own heater. I paid $5,000 for 2 months and we came back for one more day and the lady, or general manager, called me absolutely hostile and irate about the headboard We explained to her that it just hangs on the wall she lied and said we broke it. My mistake was not documenting everything and taking photos in order to show them that it was all messed up when we got there. So if you do decide to stay at this dump hole I would certainly take pictures and document anything that's wrong prior to your stay and make sure that they are fully aware of all of the broken things in there which are numerous. The fridge is a mini fridge and the ice builds up on it to where you can't even use the little freezer thing in it. It's in a nice beautiful location. I thought it was going to be okay for the first two months we were okay with it. We're not the kind of people that complain or bitch or moan about things so I didn't bring any of the mini discrepancies to their attention I thought they didn't they already knew since the pricing was so cheap. I I assumed for that price they were aware of how messed up the place was. There's a restaurant on site. The food is disgusting. Fried garbage basically. They're always out of menu items. If you're waiting for a drink refill or to have your food served you're going to be waiting for a while because the waitresses are always outside smoking cigarettes goofing off. The food is stored in a dirty room underneath the restaurant and I saw mice and roaches running in and out of there. It's a great place if you're an alcoholic and like to drink I guess. It's in a great location. The camp store is only open whenever the general manager feels like it seems like there's hours on the door but they're closed about 85% of the time. I was extremely disappointed when they called me up and treated me like absolute trash. The lady was irate for no reason. We didn't break the box springs we didn't break anything we were staying there one night after we already stayed there for 2 months and we didn't have a problem and now all of a sudden we came back a week later and they're trying to say we broke stuff and told us we can't stay there anymore which really bothered me because I was very respectful and we didn't complain about all the messed up things. People are up late partying all through the weekend so if you're there to work it's not a really good place. Your parking in a mud hole too All in all I'd say avoid this place. There are much better places to stay on lake Marion Mill Creek campground is a garbage dump as far as I'm concerned
Paulette H.ScoutOutside Inn Campground
Can’t Wait to Return
What a fantastic campground! Welcoming, spacious level sites, clean modern bath house and the farm animals are adorable. Had a wonderful time!
Rhiannon G.
TravelerSantee Lakes KOA
Cute little camp ground right on the lake
Super friendly staff, aside from the slant of the ground making it a little difficult no complaints. Loved having clean bathrooms and laundry facilities right on the grounds.
- EEmma S.
GuideAlston Trailhead
Great overnight stay, easy access
This is a great spot for a quick overnight or chill spot to camp in a pinch! Easy access, road not too bumpy or rough, very flat in parking lot for posting up. We arrived after dark and it was quite easy to navigate.
Although we didn’t stay to do the Palmetto trail hike, it was gorgeous and tranquil in the morning. Despite not having amenities, there were 2 clean port a potties right in the lot.
Overall was quiet however there were about 4 trains that rolled by in the evening (quite loud) but didn’t wake us up late at night or early in the morning. There are a lot of frogs as well but not so loud that it disturbed our slumber.
Cell service was good and had no problem texting or using internet.
Would definitely stay again!
- WWilliam M.Guide
Aiken RV Park
Overnight stay
We stayed here for one night while traveling through the area, and it was a solid stop for a quick in-and-out stay. Check-in was easy, the sites were level, and hookups worked as expected. The park was quiet overnight, which made for a restful stop before getting back on the road.
Guide to Hopkins
Camping areas near Hopkins, South Carolina provide varied accommodations from primitive walk-in tent sites to full-service RV camping. Located in the South Carolina Midlands, this region sits on the edge of the Congaree River floodplain with elevations ranging from 90-150 feet above sea level. Mosquitoes and biting flies are most active from May through September when temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity.
What to do
Synchronous fireflies viewing: During mid-May, Congaree National Park becomes one of the few places in North America to witness synchronous fireflies. "We camped here to see the synchronous fireflies, and loved our stay! The group site was plenty big enough for all of the children, the hiking was excellent, and the fireflies were one of the most magical things I've ever seen!" notes a visitor to Longleaf Campground.
Lake activities: Lake Marion offers multiple water recreation options within a 40-minute drive. "This is a great campground for anyone who enjoys watersports. Lake Marion is a great place for boating, kayaking, and fishing. Camp sites are mostly level and have water and a variety of electrical hookup options," explains a camper at Cypress View Campground.
Paddling exploration: The waterways around Hopkins provide excellent paddling opportunities. "I love the bike and hiking trails. Very nice area to kayak in, I love all the Lilly pads," shares a local who frequently visits Sesquicentennial State Park Campground, just north of Hopkins.
What campers like
Wildlife observation: The diverse ecosystems support abundant wildlife viewing. "We saw other wildlife around the campground too. A lizard during a walk during the day. Many frogs during the rain at night," notes a camper who stayed at Longleaf Campground.
Trail systems: Multiple parks offer interconnected trail networks. "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," explains a visitor to Poinsett State Park Campground.
Seasonal changes: The floodplain environment creates constantly shifting landscapes. "Pristine, but organized trails near the Consgree river and Swamp. Lots of wildlife and ancient trees on the trails. Small campsite to include group camping. 40 miles from downtown Columbia SC. A rare treat to go back in time like this," remarks a camper who visited Longleaf Campground.
What you should know
Tent site selection: Many campgrounds have specific tent pads that stay drier during rain. "After losing several nights of sleep at our previous campground, this one was a huge relief. The first night got a lot of rain and storms and several of the campers from sites farther back left saying they were flooded out. Our site did have some water during the storm but it was gone by morning. The tent pad stayed fully drained," explains a Longleaf Campground camper.
Bathroom facilities: Restrooms vary significantly between parks. "The vault toilet was disgusting, covered in splattered poop and very smelly. I sometimes drove to the visitor center to use the flush toilet and sink there," notes one camper at Longleaf, while another at Weston Lake Recreation Area reports: "Bathhouse was cleans and has 2 showers and toilets on the mens and womens side."
Cell service: Coverage is variable but generally adequate. "We had Verizon service. Enough to use Google image search to look up plants, animals, and mushrooms we had found," reports a Longleaf Campground visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several parks offer dedicated play areas. "I love going to this campground, I enjoy doing the trails and spotting dear. And there is a small water play area for children. They have paddle boats also," notes a visitor to Sesquicentennial State Park Campground.
Guided activities: Check visitor centers for scheduled programming. "I took a group of 8 wild middle schoolers here and we had a blast hiking the trails, boating, and unplugging for a while!" shares a group leader who stayed at Sesquicentennial State Park.
Educational opportunities: The floodplain ecosystem provides unique learning experiences. "Congaree is one of my favorite parks to visit. I love walking around the boardwalk doing the self guided nature tour. Every time you go the landscape is a little different because of the flood plains," explains a recurring visitor.
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions: RV sites vary significantly between parks. "The campground was nice, the RV spaces had nice concrete pads and nice cabins. The roads had some serious potholes and the the campground doesn't seem to be on a regular maintenance schedule but it was clean," notes a visitor to Big Rig Friendly RV Resort.
Access considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging access roads. "It's not easy to get in here with anything bigger than a full size pickup. 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," warns an RVer who stayed at Poinsett State Park.
Utility placement: Check hookup locations before selecting sites. "I was in a spot that had the Hookups at opposite end of concrete pad and opposite side. I ended up buying an additional 20 ft. of dumping tubing ($60)," advises a camper at Weston Lake Recreation Area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Hopkins, SC?
Which is the most popular campground near Hopkins, SC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Hopkins, SC is Longleaf Campground — Congaree National Park with a 4.1-star rating from 30 reviews.
Keep Exploring