Glamping options near Hopkins, South Carolina concentrate around Lake Marion, with several sites offering elevated outdoor accommodations. The region maintains high humidity levels through summer months, with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F from June through September. Fall brings more moderate conditions, making it the preferred season for visitors seeking lakeside accommodations without summer crowds or insects.
What to do
Explore Lake Marion fishing spots: Santee State Park attracts fishing enthusiasts year-round, with catfish being particularly abundant. "Very nice campground. Has boat docks & launching ramp. Nice fishing pier. Clean bathrooms. Staff friendly and helpful. Seen several Deer, Armadillo and other wildlife I will stay here again," notes Alfred H.
Visit animal farms: Crunchy Acres offers a 19-acre farm experience alongside glamping accommodations. "Come meet their chickens, goats, pigs, turkey, and rabbits! Rent go-carts or sit around the campfire with some s'mores," suggests Ashley F. The farm maintains three distinct glamping sites on the property.
Experience lakefront activities: Winter visits offer a different perspective of the region's glamping options. "Campground had tons of room in December. We were right on the lake. Easy park to walk and explore," shares Mary G. about her off-season experience at Santee State Park.
What campers like
Elevated accommodations: Prices Bridge Glampsite offers a unique treehouse-style experience with large observation decks. "This is a unique experience for those looking to camp a little higher off the ground and enjoy the huge deck looking out into the forest," explains Jake C.
On-site food options: Santee Lakes KOA provides food delivery service to campsites, eliminating the need to leave your glamping spot. "Ordered pizza and had it delivered to the campsite! Nice touch!" reports Molly F. Another camper adds, "They deliver firewood and pizza. The pizza was excellent."
Spacious sites: The Lakeshore Campground offers generous site dimensions for glamping setups. "It was a super spacious site with more than enough room for us to spread out and park our cars away from the site. This factor really helped because its not often that you can get a lakefront view with lots of room to spread out," shares Katherine.
What you should know
Seasonal crowds impact experience: Lake Marion camping areas can become congested during peak seasons. "A beautiful location on the lake. All campsites can probably see the lake a little. Downside is that it's super crowded. Apparently all the fishermen drag their families in along with their boats," warns Ken W.
Bathroom facilities vary widely: When glamping near Hopkins, bathroom quality differs significantly between locations. "Bathrooms nasty. Rough roads. Nice lake," reports Jenny P. about her experience at one location, while others note clean facilities at different sites.
Noise considerations: The Lakeshore Campground does not restrict after-hours access. "They also do not lock up the campground at night so we had late night fishing visitors that walked by our campsite at 2am waking us up because they were loudly dragging their cooler down the dirt road," warns a visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Look for playgrounds: Several glamping sites near Hopkins include dedicated children's areas. "We really enjoyed this park! There was boat access, a playground, nature trails and everyone was so friendly!" says Jessie N. about her family experience at Santee State Park.
Consider kid-friendly water access: The Lakeshore Campground features gentle shorelines appropriate for young children. "The lake access had a beach area that the kids (3 and 1) loved to play at and there was no rocks around that area or dangerous drop offs," notes Katherine.
Bring insect protection: Breezy lakefront sites help reduce bug problems for families. "Spacious, well wooded and there was a fantastic breeze all weekend with helped with the heat and bugs!" reports one family about their glamping experience with small children.
Tips from RVers
Request guidance to sites: Palmetto Shores RV Resort offers escort service to camping spots. "They have a check in station at the gate so you don't even have to get out of your vehicle. Then they have people on golf carts take you to your site which is great! No need to drive around and find your spot," shares stefny A.
Check site leveling before booking: Many glamping-compatible sites near Hopkins require adjustment. "Sites were tight for a rig that big but we made it work. Our site was level, others were definitely not," warns Molly F. about accommodating larger vehicles at lake campgrounds.
Select sites away from highway: Highway noise affects some waterfront glamping locations. "Our sites were right next to the highway, I will say though we did tune the noise out the longer we stayed (and drank)," mentions Claire O. about Palmetto Shores RV Resort.
