Looking for the best Jefferson tent camping? Finding a place to camp in South Carolina with your tent has never been easier. You're sure to find the perfect tent campsite for your South Carolina camping adventure.
Camping is restricted to youth organizations involved in outdoor skills development or learning. A Special Use Permit is required. Each group/organization will complete a service project determined by the refuge manager or provide a copy of research/species list of the organization is a class group. A fire ring is provided, however if the refuge is under fire danger/drought conditions, open fires will be prohibited.
Any other recreational group or research activity not specifically mentioned above may require a Special Use Permit. Please contact the refuge manager for more information or to apply for a Special Use Permit. Email us at carolinasandhills@fws.gov. All provisions of Title 50 Code of Federal Regulations apply.
5 min from downtown Blythewood and exit 27 on I-77
Water/Sewer/Power (20/30/50 pedestals) provided.
Daily/Weekly/Monthly rates available
Rural land in Blythewood down long driveway with locked gate. Circle drive, water connection from on-site well & septic dump station are available.
$45 - $55 / night
Lake Tillery is a reservoir between Badin Lake and Blewett Falls Lake in the Uwharrie Lakes Region of North Carolina. Its 117.8 miles of beautiful shoreline is entirely within Stanly County and Montgomery County, NC. The lake was created by impounding the Pee Dee River, which is created by the confluence of the Yadkin River and the Uwharrie River several miles to the north. Norwood, NC in neighboring Stanly County uses as its town motto "Gateway to Lake Tillery". source for dining, entertainment, and lodging.
$35 - $65 / night
Guide
Built to celebrate the Sesquicentennial of South Carolina in the 30’s . At one time on the furthest outskirts of Columbia SC. It is now firmly in the muddle of the Metro area. Plenty of trailer sites. Tent site and primitive camping. Has recreational areas. Restaurants and shopping nearby
Traveler
This was my family’s first time tent camping in the cold weather and it wasn’t that bad. The lakeside tent area provided beautiful scenery with access to restrooms and showers. It wasn’t too crowded as it was military members only and you can’t beat the price for a lakeside spot. We would definitely go tent camping here again!
Traveler
we tent camped here before and it was lovely.
TravelerDid some tent camping in mid October. Had tons of fun and the park was really clean. Bath houses were nice and had hot water. T mobile service doesn’t work at all, but they have Wi-Fi hotspots for rent for $5 per day. Tent camping was $7.50 per night. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5, was because Quiet hours are supposed to be from 11-7, but there were people partying pretty late. Definitely should’ve brought some ear plugs. Check out our review https://youtu.be/j-5JBxOl3uE
ScoutGood camp for rv or tent camping. Plenty of trails, splash park for kids and a lake for boating and fishing
Scout
Beautiful nature preserve with large 50+ site campground. Tent sites around $28. Within 6 miles of stores and amenities. Helpful camp hosts know which sites may be best for certain equipment.
Scout
Cheraw state Park was an overall good camping experience. We stayed in the tent camping area, which was well kept. My only complaint is that the sites are somewhat close together, but it's not a huge deal. Park is well kept and the sights are worth seeing. Plenty of trails to walk down, with a boardwalk that covers the side of lake juniper.
Scout
It’s not a campground really. it has places for rv’s maybe a tent site. but it is basically by the interstate and just a place to stay. cabins are nice but again they are just beside the rv’s. no scenery at all. the employees are real nice also
ScoutI would give the short term side of this campground 3 stars. the sites are adequate. Trash is collected daily. They have a decent pool, a small mini golf area and small playground. Out of 2 bath houses only one is open, the other is closed for repairs indefinitely. They did close the large tent area and open a few premium tent sites.
Traveler
5 of us on 4 motorcycles needed a place to stay for the night on the way to Myrtle Beach bike week. After you drive down a long sandy rutty road you come to the farm. A little oasis for the road weary. Mostly long term trailers are here but the do have tent camping. Nestled in the woods with sandy soil. Excellent rates. 25$ for the 5 of us and the best bathrooms ever!
ScoutThis campground is just minutes from Charlotte, but secluded from the city noise. Nice open spaces with shade. No views to speak of but several short trails and nice areas around Lake Wylie. Clean facilities and secured gate with easy access after hours for paid campers. Spaces have offerings and picnic tables. RV and tent sites with water and electric.
TravelerCamped here numerous times throughout the years. Always had a good time. Rangers are nice and helpful. We park our John Boat at our tent camping site without any problems. They seem to be adding a splash pad area for the kids. A couple of big playgrounds at the park too. A decent lake for fishing and paddle boat (at least I think) rentals. Picnic tables and charchol grills are availble near the lake as well.
Scout
We live close so this is usually our summer go to for an over night. we like to swim and fish. Ithas a nice playground for kids. it is pet friendly. I prefer to stay on the wooded side. We tent camp and like that every site has electric and water. The camp store doesn’t really have much so we bring everything with us. there is a nice gas station less than a mile away we get coffee from there in the mornings.
LegendThis review is probably not representative of what will be many people’s experience or opportunity, as I visited in November in the off season, albeit an unusually warm weekday! Cane Creek Park is a county park that is of state park caliber. It is located south and east of the town of waxhaw, and an easy drive from Charlotte. It is a large park on both sid s of a large lake, beautifully maintained, clearly with a variety of family recreational activities that are surely heavily used in the high season. The park offers everything from day use, to car and rv camping, to hike in tent sites and wilderness group areas, to cabins. This review is for the hike in tent sites, which are large, well spaced, heavily wooded and private, with lake access for good fishing and paddling. There are restroom and shower facilities in walking distance, though not at the campsites themselves. This is a simpler and quieter camping opportunity than the drive in sites. In fact, no one else was in this section of the campground on this fine autumn day, yet the weather was beautiful and the setting so peaceful. I would recommend this campsite location for fall camping
RangerEvery year on the first weekend of March, we go to the Sandblast Rally that’s in the same town as this campsite. As per usual lodging gets filled up and it’s hard to find a place. If it wasn’t for The Dyrt I would have never found this place. The lady gave us a discount since it was cold and we were tent camping. There’s tons of amenities here. Laundry, kitchen, playground, commons area with a tiki bar. There isn’t much hiking or exploring to be had at the campground but there are tons of parks within just a ten minute drive.
GuideLocated just outside historic Waxhaw NC, Cane Creek is part of the NC Soil Conservative Sites. They offer day passes,$4.00 per car where you can launch you kayak canoe or fishing boat. If you like Bass Fishing, they rank as one of the best spots around. They have swimming areas for both day users and one for campers. This really is a gem within Union Co NC. The campground is on the other side of the lake. They have camping for RV’s, Cabin Rentals and tent sites for either large groups or individuals. The hiking trail is beautiful and takes you around the whole lake. Watch for horses, as this is a great place for riders too.
Legend
This spot is so close to I95 (look for exit 169) that you’ll both feel and hear the swoosh of passing by traffic 24/7. So, while you’ll incur ease and convenience, that will come at a cost (privacy and quietude being what you will sacrifice most). Located in the NE pocket of the Palmetto State, Florence RV Park, while not a destination per se, could be a nice (and incredibly easy) layover on your trip destination to anywhere else up or down this major east coast highway artery.
Despite the location, this spot has a lot to offer: an intimate little public pool behind the management office, WiFi hotspots, dog park, scattered picnic tables (in pretty good condition), kid’s playground, 20 / 30 / 50 amp hook-ups, dump station, dog walk area, catch & release fishing pond, propane refueling station, vending machines, small pond for fishing, basketball court, volleyball, badminton and horseshoe rings. There’s even 4-5 log cabins for rent at the front of the property (with full access to all the highway noise) and of course, good old fashioned on-site laundry facilities along with a mini-store that has most of the basics covered as well as fairly spartan shower / bathing facilities.
Insider’s tip? Here's a few: (1) The further east you are on the property, all the better as you’ll be positioned as far away from I95 traffic and noise; (2) If tent camping, I highly recommend spots #A7 – A13 and if you are RV’ing I recommend #L9 – L18 as well as any of the locations on J, K and F11 – F16; (3) There’s a lot to explore near here, from the Grand Strand of South Carolina, of course, Myrtle Beach and even Darlington Raceway, so if you don’t mind the overpopulated location with its westerly view of non-stop traffic, then this could be a good place to stop for the night or from which to launch your exploration of the area; (4) If you’ve looked at this RV campground’s website, don’t be fooled by the pictures – I don’t think any of them were actually taken of the place, save for the pond, and that was a close-up; and (5) If you are looking for a nearby spot to sample the local fare, I recommend checking out The Drive-In Restaurant with its 50s era nostalgia, big juicy burgers, fried everything, homemade onion rings and thick, creamy chocolate shakes.
Happy Camping!
TravelerWe recently returned from 5 days tent camping at Cheraw. We chose site #8 that was directly on the lake and offered electricity and water. These sites are obviously designed for RV’s with little or no space for tent campers. Although there is a designated tent area, it is back in the woods and not lakefront.
The minimal room we had was fortunately on the lake shore with wonderful shade trees. The space was not level and contained some unfriendly exposed tree roots. Fortunately we had an inflatable air bed and the roots weren’t much of a problem.
Lake Juniper is quite small and swimming is allowed in a designated area on the far side of the lake. We had inflatable rafts and tied our floats to a tree in front of our site , highly aware that a spillway not too far from our site would prove quite dangerous if one went too close then pulled over.
The small office on the opposite side of the lake offers ice and wood as well as ice cream, candy etc to satisfy any junk food craving. 10 minutes from the park is an IGA. It offers the basics and a little further out is a Walmart with groceries.
The bathhouse is currently “ under construction” although we saw no work being done during our stay. One half of the bathhouse had been designated unisex with three locking stalls and curtained showers. There is an interior lock if you choose to have the entire bathhouse all to yourself. I grew up in a family of eight and have no problem sharing a bathroom. The bathhouse has obviously seen a great deal of traffic, is quite dated and poorly ventilated. Hopefully the bathhouse will receive its update soon.
The campground host was quite helpful and an all around nice guy. We chatted a bit and he has a very interesting background.
We would return to Cheraw and confidently reserve #7 or #8 for tents. There are most likely other suitable sites there that escaped my notice.
Legend
I gave this campground four stars, but only for RVs and travel trailers. I would not give it four stars for tent campers. Tent campers would have a hard time finding a suitable site that would not be too rocky. When I checked in, the lady was nice enough to find a site with grass behind the gravel so I could set up my tent. She didn’t warn me that it was sloped. With that said, it is a campground in a beautiful setting. The lake and the sitting area beside the lake are both beautiful. There is a paved walkway down to the lake to a sitting area and a dock. The bath house was air conditioned, almost too much. It is a shock to the system moving from the intense South Carolina heat into the bath house. However, it was a nice break from the heat. Be aware that when you take a shower, you may have to wait a few minutes for the hot water to start. When I first turned it on, I wondered if there was any hot water. Eventually it came, and it was HOT, so I had to adjust it quickly. Also, take your own hand soap with you. There are paper towels but no soap. There are several trails, and you can rent boats, peddle boats, canoes, and kayaks. There is also a disc golf course. If I had known beforehand, I would have taken my own discs. That’s my fault for not doing the research. My favorite part of this camping experience was waking up early in the morning and sitting by the lake. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to capture a photo of the ducks taking off and flying in a perfect v-formation, but it was so peaceful there. Overall, this is a great campground to get away from civilization.
GuidePros The pond was beautiful, nice walking trail for beginners, would never consider this a hiking park. Location was close to Colombia and all it offers. Bathhouse was acceptable but nothing to brag about. Toilets were three flushers is you cared about the next guy.
Cons Guessing I may have had the worst site (41) but walking through there were others similar. Site 41 is a pull through lot which declines quickly upon entry and is marred by deep ra9n crevices. You then incline to the area you should probably land as there is an obvious flat spot. Unfortunately in you stop there, your camper door will open on the neighboring fire ring which is the only fire ring on the back side of the neighboring spot in in the fore ground of yours. Asinine. I had to manipulate my camper for an hour to a spot level enough yet not in my neighbor's fire and dealt with a large tree and had to tie back branches to extend my awning. Uggg
Effing covid. The state of South Carolina, the City of Columbia don't have mask mandates. But this state park requires a mask to pee in the urinal. The boss says the county still mandates it.
LegendArrived here for two nights in the tent after Myrtle Beach. Site 46 is not terribly even, but it's well situated inside the loop. The park is clean, the tent pad is a good size, and the amazing aroma of pine is one of the natural highlights. Unfortunate that the camp store closes at 5 pm. So one must drive to Publix for firewood. The closest Walmart has $2 ice bags.
GuideOne of our favorites, if not our favorite! We have a large, 10 person tent and it just fit on the tent pad. The electricity panel was a bit far from our tent so we couldn’t have electricity inside our tent as you’d need a cord that was at least 50 feet. I’ve seen other sites that have it much closer to your setup.
The bathrooms were great! Private to each person with a bathroom and shower. They are all unisex but there are about 8-10. They were kept clean. They also have a laundry facility there also.
Our site was extremely close to another, could have practically spat at them and hit them. That was one of the downers for us due to the battery dying alert going off all night and the snoring. That same night there was some sort of loud, thumping bass either off site or in the campground, not sure. Eventually it sounded like cops got involved and squashed it.
It was awesome having the ability to buy firewood, magic flame, and ice in an instant. The nearby lake is gorgeous but the lake is super rocky in areas for fishing. We didn’t catch anything even off the little dock. Target is super nearby for any other last minute needs.
We will be back!
GuideI camped here with a women’s hiking group and was impressed.
There are lovely trails, a large playground, nature center, the beautiful lake Wylie {no swimming, NC fishing license required}, geocaching, clean bathrooms and shower rooms, electric sites with large tent pads, good sized fire pit area, picnic table.. there’s even a loving gate with a code for a more secure camping experience..
We could fit 3 tents in one pad AND had a hammocker camper too.
If you are wanting some nature near the city, this is a good option - especially if you are checking out city things in Charlotte.
You can hear traffic at night when camping here so bring ear plugs, headphones or a white noise fan if that bothers you.
Pet friendly 🐾
I saw both dogs and camping kitties
There’s 56 camp sites: these include tent, RV hook ups and some primitive.
There’s group camping at Copperhead Island.
I highly recommend, especially for families with children, lots to do and a safe, secure feeling.
GuideVery nice for camping or launching your boat! Camping from tents to cute cabins. Bunch of options to rent water equipment. The only real downside to this place is the tons of ants in the trees and areas on the ground. Makes using a hammock irritating at times lol
ScoutLoved our stay at McDowell and definitely would return. Some sites are built for smaller tents so pay attention when booking! The bathhouse was super clean and was made up of 8 private bathrooms with sink, toilet, and shower. The showers had no temperature control, but were luke warm.
RangerAlways a great getaway from the bustle of city life. Day use area can be packed in the summer but they have plenty of rules to keep the park beautiful and orderly. The camping side has scattered tent and group sights with some large wooded RV sights and clean cabins. Bath house is very well kept too. Fishing is typically outstanding for bass, cats, crappie, and carp. Equestrian trails are everywhere and are good for hiking, a few trails are a bit rough for bicycles though
Ranger
While there are a few hiking trails, if you don’t have a boat or canoe you will be missing out on most of the appeal of this park. The campgrounds were quiet despite being pretty busy, and accommodate RVs and a tent-only site, plus there is a store. Sites are very shady and every site is surrounded by trees, so you don’t feel very close to the other campers. None of the sites have lake views but are all a short walk away.
Tent camping near Jefferson, South Carolina, offers a unique blend of natural beauty and outdoor activities, perfect for those looking to escape into nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Jefferson, SC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Jefferson, SC is Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge, Permitted Camping with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Jefferson, SC?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 tent camping locations near Jefferson, SC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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