Lake Thurmond, known locally as Clarks Hill Lake, creates a unique waterfront camping environment near Modoc, South Carolina with over 1,000 miles of shoreline. The lake spans 70,000 acres across the Georgia-South Carolina border, offering extensive water recreation opportunities. Water levels fluctuate seasonally, with spring typically having higher water levels that can affect shoreline campsite accessibility.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: J. Strom Thurmond Lake provides excellent fishing for multiple species. "Anglers fish for largemouth bass, bream, crappie, catfish and striped bass," notes a visitor to Winfield - J Strom Thurmond Lake, which offers boat ramps and shoreline access for fishing enthusiasts.
Skeet shooting: Hickory Knob State Park offers recreational shooting facilities rarely found at other campgrounds. "It does have a nice golf course and skeet shooting, kayak rentals, cabins, a restaurant and a pool," mentions a camper who stayed at Hickory Knob.
Hiking trails: The Rock Dam Trail at Mistletoe State Park offers varied terrain. One hiker described it as "moderately strenuous with a fair amount of ups & downs and parts where you are in a very narrow ravine. If the water crossings really involved water (as they do in the spring apparently) it would be even more strenuous."
What campers like
Lakefront campsites: Many campsites provide direct water access. A visitor to Raysville Campground shared, "We absolutely loved this campsite(#45) it was our first time there. We showed up late Friday, 30 min before closing. The sunset at this site was amazing. We had lake access at our site which was nice for cooling off or swimming."
Well-spaced sites: Elijah Clark State Park Campground offers camping with sufficient space between sites. A camper noted it was "nice peaceful, layed back campground," while another mentioned "clean bath houses."
Quiet setting: Many campers appreciate the peaceful environment. At Lake Thurmond RV Park, a visitor remarked, "This campground is very quiet and right near the water. I enjoyed it and would stay again."
What you should know
Site selection matters: Water views and shade vary significantly between sites. At Mistletoe State Park, "Sites in the 60-90 loop looked the best with water views and shade and most were pull through. The bathrooms were quite far from some sites requiring a long walk or drive."
Road conditions: Several campgrounds have challenging access roads. A camper at Hickory Knob stated, "The only reason for 4 stars rather than 5 is the fact that the campground road is in pretty rough shape." Similarly, Baker Creek was described as having "some incredibly bad roads, complete with 3rd world pot holes."
Insects: Prepare for ants and other insects, especially in summer. "Bring something for the ants!" advised a camper at Hickory Knob, while another noted that Baker Creek "sits on a mound of ants. Ants everywhere. Ants of all varieties."
Tips for camping with families
Beach access: Several parks offer swimming areas for kids. Winfield Campground features "a nice beach, playground, and everything well kept." Another camper noted that the "beach and boating facilities were very nice."
Family-friendly activities: Baker Creek offers various recreation options. "Just beyond the campground, there's a main campground building that has a pretty new kid's playground adjacent to it and the largest of the small beachheads in front of it," observed one visitor.
Distance to supplies: Stock up before arrival as stores are limited. A camper noted, "Beyond the Baker Creek SP itself, there is the small town of McCormick... a number of state parks with killer hiking trails, an ice cream parlor, 3 gas stations, a stand alone ice machine, Burger King, Subway, Hardee's, a Lion's grocery store and a host of really decent local restaurants."
Tips from RVers
Site accessibility: Many campgrounds offer pull-through sites but some require careful maneuvering. A visitor to Mistletoe State Park Campground mentioned, "Stayed in site #12. Waterfront excellent view of lake but sunny site. Sites had water, electric, concrete table, fire ring, and lantern hook."
Hookup availability: Hookup options vary between campgrounds. At Elijah Clark, sites come with "water and electric hook ups and back-in AND pull-through spots available. The bathrooms with shower stalls have AC and heat no matter the time of year you go."
Glamping close to Modoc, South Carolina: For those seeking luxury camping experiences near Modoc, Untamed Honey Glampsites offers lakefront accommodations. A recent guest celebrated "One of the best birthday celebrations ever!!!" at this glamping destination in nearby Lincolnton, making it an excellent option for upscale outdoor stays without traditional camping equipment.
