Best Tent Camping near Laurens, SC
Tent campsites surrounding Laurens, South Carolina range from primitive Forest Service sites to waterfront camping areas. Notable tent camping options include Sedalia Campground in the Sumter National Forest, which offers primitive tent sites with basic amenities, and Leroys Ferry Campground, which provides waterfront tent camping along Clarks Hill Lake about 40 miles southwest of Laurens.
Most primitive tent campgrounds in the region provide minimal facilities. Sedalia Campground features running water and vault toilets but lacks picnic tables, making it necessary for tent campers to bring their own camp furniture. Sites typically have fire rings where fires are permitted, though fire restrictions may apply seasonally. Fell Hunt Camp offers drinking water and toilet facilities but maintains a seasonal operation from September through January. Campers should note that several campgrounds, including Leroys Ferry, utilize a self-registration drop box system requiring exact payment, with sites available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The tent camping experience around Laurens offers varying levels of seclusion and natural settings. Sedalia Campground provides a spacious grassy area in the center of the campsite layout, ideal for group activities, plus a separate area designated for group camping with a communal fire pit. The area attracts hunters during deer and turkey seasons, when campsites can fill quickly. Waterfront tent sites at Leroys Ferry provide direct lake access via trails, allowing for swimming and sunset views from camp. A camper described Leroys Ferry as "a great, unpopular place to camp" where "most of the campsites have access via trails to the lake." Denver Downs Farm offers a different tent camping experience with a large open field setting that provides quiet surroundings outside of event days.
