Best Tent Camping near McClellanville, SC

Francis Marion National Forest offers primitive tent campsites near McClellanville, South Carolina. The forest provides a mix of established tent sites and dispersed camping opportunities throughout its extensive woodland area. Tent campers can find both drive-in and walk-in tent sites, with varying levels of accessibility depending on seasonal conditions and recent rainfall.

Tent camping areas in Francis Marion generally provide basic amenities with limited facilities. Many sites lack potable water sources, and campers should bring sufficient water supplies for their stay. According to one visitor, "The primitive campsites are the best 'get-away' opportunity," though they noted that bug spray is recommended due to abundant mosquitoes in this low-country environment. The forest includes locations like Halfway Creek, which offers free camping in open grassy areas or more secluded spots if hikers venture further into the woods. Sites do not take reservations and operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

The tent camping experience in Francis Marion National Forest connects visitors with the natural low-country ecosystem. Hiking trails provide recreational opportunities, including access to the Swampfox Passage of the Palmetto Trail. A camper wrote that the area offers "fantastic hiking" with well-maintained trails when normal services are operating. After rain, some trail sections may form pools of water, making hiking more challenging. Wildlife encounters are common in these primitive tent sites, with various snake species present though generally non-aggressive. The forest's location provides a quiet retreat from more developed areas, though seasonal flooding can occur, as mentioned by visitors who experienced flash floods during their stays. Most tent sites allow campfires when conditions permit, making for traditional camping experiences in this coastal forest ecosystem.

Best Tent Sites Near McClellanville, South Carolina (1)

    1. Francis Marion National Forest

    6 Reviews
    Huger, SC
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (843) 336-2200

    "Its right on the trail, it also allows for you to drive right up to the campground and park your car, set up camp and then head out for a hike."

    "Fantastic hiking, well maintained (during normal services), and the primitive campsites are the best "get-away" opportunity. Nature is abundant, both flaura and fauna."

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Tent Camping Reviews near McClellanville, SC

415 Reviews of 1 McClellanville Campgrounds


  • Chelsie  N.
    Mar. 21, 2017

    Huntington Beach State Park Campground

    Huntington Beach State Park

    Best beach camping I've had! Lots of shade at the walk-in tent sites. The sites are secluded with bear/animal proof food storage at each site. Of course raccoons are about everywhere, but the nature is so friendly at this campground. A little birdy built a nest in our beach towels one night. The park rangers were helpful (for that situation) so that's cool. We camped during a tropical depression with no flooding. 8 straight hours of hard rain. Great great park.

  • Adam V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 30, 2020

    Honey Hill Recreation Area

    National Forest Free Campground

    This primitive camping facility is located between McClellanville and Honey Hill. A short camp loop swings through an upland pine/oak forest and encircles a fire lookout tower. The fire lookout tower is no longer in use.

    This semi-primitive campground is about 30 minutes north of Charleston, SC, 8 miles west of Highway 17 in the heart of the Francis Marion National Forest.

    The number one thing I love about this site: It's free. It's easy to get to. It's camping!

    There are 12 fairly large sites spaced well apart so you avoid that parking lot feel. LOTS of trees. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring.

    The entire campground is well maintained by the National Forest Service, and the ranger. I say it's semi-primitive because there is a vault toilet which is old, yet clean. 

    In the center, there is an old abandoned fire tower that is fenced off from people going up it.

    I've been here several times and overall, it's fairly quiet. However, there was one Friday night where a bunch of 20 something's came in, climbed up the fire-tower and partied making for a not so quiet experience.

    Since it's free, you can expect to see some interesting neighbors coming in and out. But with the ranger station down the street, the rangers do patrol this daily (I've never seen them in here at night). It's first come first serve, so weekends are usually packed. You better get here early.

    I give it 4-stars because it's clean with generous spaces and we've always had a great time. Plus, the spots have so many trees, it makes hammock camping a breeze. All sites are perfect for car / truck camping. Just pull up and unload.

    Nearby are several of the major trails that run through this National Forest, including the popular Swamp Fox. The site also is right next to one of the dirt forest roads, that takes you in even deeper.

    10 minutes away, at the Highway 17 intersection are gas stations & mini markets, so if you need some basic supplies, things are right down the road.

    Directions: From Charleston, take US Highway 17 north to McClellanville. At the intersection of SC Highway 45 (the yellow caution light) turn left, and drive eight miles to the camp.

  • Penny G.
    Jul. 30, 2021

    Huntington Beach State Park Campground

    Great Spot a short walk to ocean!

    Very clean, organized campground. Our spot was a walk in. Great spot. Every site had a bear box for food. That's a treat , no walking food back to vehicle. Clean Clean restrooms and good showers. Reasonably priced. But fills up fast.

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 26, 2018

    Buck Hall Recreation Area

    Intercoastal Camping: Watch Wildlife from the Campground

    Reservations during the main season are key if you have any hope of getting a campsite in this awesome Francis Marion National Forest campground which sits just along the gorgeous intercoastal waterway, about 40 minutes northeast of Charleston, SC! We pulled in without reservations and nearly every site was booked out. The campground host was super helpful, though, finding us an empty spot (due to a cancellation) for a couple nights, then moved us to a non-reservable site for the remainder of our time.

    The majority of the sites are designed for very large RVs, with a few very nice waterfront sites designated for tents. Each site is spacious, complete with a picnic table, firepit, 2 lantern poles, and electrical hookups, with a dump station at the back of the campground. The bathrooms are equipped with flush toilets, sinks, and a shower and kept relatively clean.

    The campground itself is dripping with live oaks and speckled with Palmetto trees, so lots of shade is available, especially in the tent areas. The boat launch is walking distance from the campground and has a nice picnic area adjacent to it. We watched a pods of pelicans and dolphins come through the area, as well as many other sea birds.

    We kayaked along the intercoastal waterway and out into marshy sea grass areas and had one of the most amazing wildlife encounters to date (and we’ve been all over the country). We saw a pod of dolphins in the distance, which appeared to be feeding. We stopped about 150 away and just enjoyed watching them dance and dive in the morning light. Then, two of the dolphins peeled away from the pack and headed straight toward us. As they approached our kayaks, the larger one gave an extra tail fin flap and dove under our boats, coming up just a bit on the other side. As naturalists, our hearts were pounding with excitement! We also hiked and mountain-biked along the gorgeous Palmetto Trail (which is a mountains-to-sea trail across South Carolina, and this campground serves as its coastal terminus).

    Also, don’t miss the famous Sewee Restaurant for some downeast coastal Carolina fare, as well as the Center for Birds of Prey just across the highway from this restaurant. This wildlife conservation and rehabilitation center is doing some amazing things for birds and in the region and doing a great job of public education. If you head up the coast, be sure to stop in Boats & Hoagies in McClellanville for a bite to eat. Cute place, great food, awesome service!

    The $20 per night fee is a great price for the amenities this campground offers, especially with full hook-ups and showers, and a boat launch. Check out our blog on The Dyrt's Online Magazine about our experience on the coast of South Carolina.

  • Kathryn  W.
    Mar. 3, 2019

    Huntington Beach State Park Campground

    Short walk through Maritime forest to beautiful beach

    There are only 6 tent sites at this RV friendly park. We stayed in site 4 and had a cut through to the beach. Site 2 also could access the shortcut, but other sites had a slightly farther walk. Going before the bugs come out is a must. Potable water on site and a short walk to bath houses. Beach is absolutely breathtaking and not crowded.

    We also went on a night hike to the beach and saw so many stars!

    No long hiking trails to speak of, but a few short walks through forest and an interpretive trail are available.

    Tent sites are close together. There is little visual or auditory privacy.

    Raccoons are abundant and the park has provided lockers for all food. We didn’t have any problems, but neighbors who didn’t store food properly did.

    Camp site is situated on a pad that I assume is set up that way for flooding, but it made the campsite feel cramped, even though there were 2-4 feet of cleared space around the raised pad before the tree line.

  • Marvin D.
    May. 3, 2021

    Campground at James Island County Park

    Great campground

    Sprawling park and campground right between Charleston and Folly Beach. There is a camp store which is well stocked and stays open till 8pm. The predominance of this campground is RV sites. The sites are well maintained and with enough space between each site.

    The tent camping site and group tent sites are hike-in. The hike in is really not that far at all from where you park your cars, so no worries. The individual tent sites sit back in the woods, with a nice tree canopy, which gives it a real "primitive" feel to it. The sites are raised and contain a gravel bed.

    There are bathrooms and private showers on site in a few locations. The bathroom and showers for the tent sites lay next to the group site, which is a short walk.

    Shopping and stores are on hwy 117, just a few short minutes from the park.

  • Barbara P.
    Dec. 10, 2020

    Charleston KOA

    Not for travelers wishing to visit the city

    This KOA is located 30-45 minutes from the city, if you have to be closer to the north area for family or just cause Charleston has limited availability for RV’s , this is the place. We were purchasing a home and stayed here 5 weeks Overall every other campers was considerate and quiet. We had no issues with anyone running a business or being rude. The staff is not overly friendly but not unpleasant . The amenities are limited, not a KOA for kids. The pool looks nice but was closed for the season. The playground area is very small with one gym set. A horseshoe pit looked overrun with weeds as was the basketball area. The roads are very tight for larger RV’s and trailers. The wooded sites are close to the interstate and you can here traffic constantly also the wooded area is a little marshy which doesn’t help with the mosquito control. the traffic to turn left out of the -ark can be a nightmare during rush area , I recommend right turns only . The biggest con for me was the laundry , it is open air and surrounded by trees and foliage which blows into this area. The tile is ripped and a hazard , no trash cans and no place to sit. Also it is shared with the trailer park adjacent to the KOA ( same owner) A note is posted that weekends are for KOA tenants only but many workers use the facilities. We have a dog that we kept on leash and never had an issue with management telling us he couldn’t be .

  • Kevin H.
    Mar. 30, 2021

    Santee Coastal Reserve

    Beautiful Spot for Primitive Camping and Wildlife Viewing

    Santee Coastal Reserve is a hidden gem near the South Carolina coast offering eight, first come, first served primitive campsites in the Santee Coastal Reserve Wildlife Management Area.

    The campsites are spacious and can easily accommodate multiple tents and/or RV's. This is primitive camping so there are no water or electrical hook-ups. We drove the short distance to the Elmwood Recreation Area to fill our water jugs. They do not sell firewood at the campground and we didn't see any for sale by local residents on our way in. Fortunately, we were able to gather a lot of downed wood around our campsite since it wasn't until the end of our stay that we found out that firewood, groceries, fishing, and other supplies were available at the Seewee Outpost, about 26 miles south of the reserve on highway 17.

    Out of the eight sites, only about 4 or 5 were occupied at any given time and everyone was fairly quiet. Except for one camper who ran his RV generator for hours morning and night. Fortunately, they only stayed one night.

    There are several hiking trails around the reserve where you can see various birds and spot alligators bathing in the sun. The only wildlife that we weren't happy to see were the gnats and mosquitos, which we weren't respecting so early in the season.

    Overall, this is a beautiful campground and e look forward to visiting again.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 1, 2021

    Johnston Landing Campground & Cabins

    Low Country Camping @ Johnston Landing

    Once you successfully navigate all of the backroads past Lake Marion and directly on the shores of Lake Moultrie, you’ll eventually find a small nook in the road where you’ll discover Johnston Landing, which is set off immediately by what looks to be a small bayou playing home to likely some grizzly gators(but truth be told, I never saw any while we were there). If you are coming to these parts, be sure to bring a floating vessel of any type– fishing boat, kayak, canoe or whatever will stay afloat– but if not, no worries, the good people here at Johnston Landing have you covered as they offer a paddle boat, kayaks and a row boat for rent. Insider’s tip? One of the best hikes in all of South Carolina– the Palmetto Trial is just about 5 miles away, but is definitely worth the hike as here you’ll be able to witness first hand the sunken giant Cypress trees, amazing bird watching(Ospreys and Herons in particular). As for amenities, this well-groomed campground offers up fairly new picnic tables, all the basic hook-ups(water, electric and sewage), BBQ/ grills and fairly clean restrooms and showers. Sportsman’s Bar& Grill just down the road is about the only thing decent within close proximity, otherwise, be prepared to cook whatever you plan on dining on for each meal. 

    Happy Camping!


Guide to McClellanville

Francis Marion National Forest offers dispersed camping opportunities in South Carolina's coastal plain, where elevations range from just a few feet above sea level to no more than 50 feet. The forest's extensive 258,000 acres contain ecosystems typical of Atlantic coastal areas, including pine stands, cypress swamps, and pocosins. Tent camping near McClellanville, South Carolina provides access to these diverse habitats while offering both solitude and recreational opportunities.

What to do

Trail hiking: Swampfox Passage Trail cuts through Francis Marion National Forest, offering day hiking and backpacking opportunities. "Hiking is great. There are some areas where after rain it becomes 'pools' of water making staying dry a bit difficult. The trail is being added to. At some point in the future, you can start at the ocean and walk across the state to the border of North Carolina and Georgia," notes Caleb J. from Francis Marion National Forest.

Wildlife observation: The forest hosts diverse wildlife including various snake species, birds, and small mammals. One camper advises, "Snakes are probably the worst thing you'll come across, however most want to get away from people unless they feel a need to defend. So, keep your eyes open, I've stumbled across a couple laying on the trail just trying to get sun and warm up."

Beach excursions: The Atlantic coast lies within driving distance of McClellanville camping areas. A visitor mentioned, "The beach was phenomenal," suggesting day trips to coastal areas complement forest camping experiences.

What campers like

Privacy and isolation: For campers seeking seclusion, the forest offers opportunities to escape crowds. "My buddies and I drove our trucks off the normal road to find ultimate privacy. We didn't stay on a set camp ground, with no cell service and no one bothering us we got to simply relax," shares Matt W.

Site flexibility: Halfway Creek in Francis Marion National Forest offers various camping setups. Courtney B. describes, "The actual camping area is wide open and grassy, but if you prefer more privacy, you can hike in a bit and pick a spot."

Educational opportunities: The forest provides learning experiences, particularly for children. One camper reported, "The children had a chance to go swimming and they love that. They learned a lot of things about nature and did some life skills."

What you should know

Facilities are limited: Most dispersed tent camping areas near McClellanville lack modern amenities. "It's a free campground, but there are no water and no toilets. You can park in a lot just outside the camping area—some people sleep in their cars there," explains Courtney B.

Water and supplies: Prepare to be self-sufficient when tent camping near McClellanville. According to campers, "Bring lots of water and bug spray and some trash bags to pack your trash/T.P. out!" The "closest store is a 10-minute drive" from some camping areas.

Weather impacts: Flash flooding occurs in this low-elevation area. One visitor recounted, "The first night there was a flash flood," highlighting the importance of site selection and weather awareness when camping near McClellanville.

Tips for camping with families

Educational activities: Incorporate nature lessons into your stay. As Brenda L. shared about her grandchildren, "We went on camping for a little over a week. It was great. The children had a chance to go swimming and they learned a lot of things about nature and did some life skills."

Historical sites: Consider visiting nearby historical points of interest between outdoor activities. "Something fun to do is to visit (gotta drive there) the Halfway Creek Church, constructed in 1941," suggests one camper.

Wildlife safety: Teach children appropriate wildlife awareness. Caleb J. notes that when encountering snakes, "Once my presence was recognized they get away as fast as possible. Stay safe and keep your eyes and ears open."

Tips from RVers

Truck camping alternative: For those seeking a hybrid between tent and RV camping, truck camping provides flexibility. "We explored for hours, in our trucks and by foot. It was absolutely amazing," reports Matt W., who stayed in his truck rather than a traditional tent or RV.

Limited hookups: RV campers should note that most areas lack dedicated hookups or facilities. The forest does not offer amenities like sewer connections, electric hookups, or dump stations at dispersed camping locations.

Parking considerations: Some camping areas have designated parking areas separate from tent sites. As one camper notes, "You can park in a lot just outside the camping area," which may require additional planning for RV or vehicle-based campers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near McClellanville, SC?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near McClellanville, SC is Francis Marion National Forest with a 3.8-star rating from 6 reviews.