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.
