Camping spots near Jamestown, South Carolina offer alternatives beyond the coastal options, with several campgrounds providing inland water recreation along the Intracoastal Waterway. While oceanfront camping dominates the area, a number of campgrounds within 30-45 minutes of Jamestown balance beach access with more spacious sites and additional amenities. The region experiences mild winters with average temperatures around 60°F, making year-round camping viable with proper preparation.
What to do
Wildlife viewing at marsh areas: Huntington Beach State Park Campground features accessible nature viewing areas. "Do not miss saying hi to the wildlife on your way in. The egrets, herons, and gators are a beautiful sight heading to the camp sites and beaches," notes one camper about the diverse ecosystem surrounding the camping area.
Historical exploration: Visit the historic structures on campground properties. At Huntington Beach State Park Campground, campers can explore Atalaya, a unique historical building on the grounds. "Beautiful beach. Castle to explore on site. Beautiful scenery. Great bike trails," reports a visitor who enjoyed the historical aspects beyond just beach activities.
Fishing opportunities: Many campgrounds offer dedicated fishing areas along the waterway or ocean. Bucksport RV Resort and Marina provides direct river access for anglers. "Visited this past spring. For us it's a nice day spot for fishing and kayaking. Camping available but spots (with shower house) are limited," notes one visitor who used the facility primarily for water recreation.
Water recreation beyond beaches: Some inland campgrounds feature river and waterway activities. "This place has a fishing dock but not really anywhere to swim unless you have a boat. A beach or somewhere to jump in the river would make this place much better," mentions a camper about the water access at Bucksport RV Resort.
What campers like
Beach access convenience: Oceanside campgrounds provide direct walk-on beach access. At Pirateland Family Camping Resort, campers appreciate the proximity to the shoreline. "We had a great time staying at site 726 on the beach. So convenient to everything. Bath houses were clean. Plenty of family fun activities," shares a visitor who enjoyed the oceanfront location.
Water amenities: Multiple water recreation options within campgrounds remain popular. "Awesome Park. Did a 2 night trip for my birthday in March. First time camping at the park and absolutely loved it. Campsites were well maintained, pier store has everything you could want or need, great walking trails and the most beautiful views," comments a Myrtle Beach State Park camper who appreciated the diverse amenities.
Resort-style facilities: More developed campgrounds feature extensive recreational facilities beyond typical camping amenities. Carolina Pines RV Resort offers particularly comprehensive amenities. "This park is absolutely gorgeous. The staff is great to deal with and the park is continually being cleaned and maintained. The pools are saltwater and open late. Mini golf, water park, and bowling are all really nice to have so close," shares one visitor impressed by the resort facilities.
Transportation options: Golf cart culture is significant at larger campgrounds. "You can rent a golf cart and ride around. Make sure to decorate it because there is a cart parade every night from 9-11," explains a Pirateland visitor describing a unique social aspect of the camping experience.
What you should know
Site proximity varies: Spacing between sites differs dramatically between campgrounds. Ocean Lakes Family Campground has particularly close arrangements. "This is a great campground. The water park/pool was awesome. My only issue with this resort is the congestion. They squish the RVs and trailers in like sardines," notes one camper who still enjoyed their stay despite the tight quarters.
Noise considerations: Activity levels and noise vary based on campground size and season. "This place is noisy. Noise times are 7am-11pm. The good thing about this is at 11pm everything is quiet. No one is on the roads. All golf carts go away and people settle down for the night," reports a visitor to Ocean Lakes Family Campground.
Reservation timing: Sites with specific amenities require advance planning. "This park is the best. Great campground, easy beach access, wonderful area, great for photography, wonderful staff. We camp here as often as possible. Fills fast, so make reservations well in advance," advises a camper about securing spots at Huntington Beach State Park.
Weather impacts: Seasonal conditions affect site quality at some campgrounds. "It was February, so not packed full, but a fair amount of 'winter camping' enthusiasts in the park. We happened to be there after a period of heavy rain and there were large puddles and some sites partially flooded, so there might be some drainage issues," reports a winter visitor to Myrtle Beach KOA.
Tips for camping with families
Water park access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated water recreation areas for children. Lakewood Camping Resort offers particularly well-regarded water facilities. "Rated a 5 star! Spent five days here with three kids. There was everything for all ages. Bathhouses were clean, water park was a hit for the kids and the beach was great," shares a family camper who appreciated the range of activities.
Biking opportunities: Paths and campground layouts create safe biking environments for children. "Very sizable campground with great beach access, trails and marsh area. Bring your bikes to truly enjoy the environment," suggests a visitor to Huntington Beach State Park who found biking enhanced their experience.
Organized activities: Scheduled events keep children engaged. "They do activities for families. When we were they we went to the America bingo. They gave away small food prizes. The kids had fun and gave us something to do," explains a camper who participated in the structured entertainment at Ocean Lakes Family Campground.
Safety considerations: Some campgrounds have better security measures than others. "Kids on bicycles and scooters did scare me a bit riding around with all the traffic," mentions a Pirateland Family Camping Resort visitor, highlighting a safety concern for families to consider when planning activities.
Tips from RVers
Site surface variations: RV site conditions vary significantly between campgrounds. "We had a campsite with a concrete pad and full hookups. The concrete pad was very nice to have because the sand was hard to keep up with. I couldn't imagine how much sand there would have been in the camper if we were on sand," notes an Ocean Lakes Family Campground visitor who appreciated the more stable surface.
RV size considerations: Some campgrounds better accommodate larger vehicles. Myrtle Beach Travel Park provides particularly accessible sites. "As someone who enjoys Myrtle beach but not all the people this park was a great compromise. You are close enough to all of the tourist destinations to fill your week with entertainment while not being right in the middle of town," explains a camper who found the park's location ideal for RV travelers.
Setup challenges: Site dimensions create parking challenges at some facilities. "Need to drive very slowly to campsite. All sites sand based. Lots of trees on some of the camping sites one would need to navigate around. Our site was on a corner, level and easy to get into - 34 ft class A with toad," advises a camper about navigating the terrain at Myrtle Beach State Park.
Hookup availability: Full hookups aren't universal at all campgrounds. "Close to the beach without being on the beach. Sites are well maintained, with only a few having sewer hook ups," notes a visitor to Huntington Beach State Park, highlighting an important consideration for RVers requiring complete utility connections.
