9 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Bussey Point Wilderness Area features a primitive horse camping area with pre-installed horse hitches and ample space for horse trailers. Camping sites include picnic tables and fire pits, with waterfront locations offering views of Clark Hill Lake (also called Strom Thurmond Lake). The campground maintains a well for water access and open pit latrines but no electrical hookups, making it ideal for off-grid camping with horses. All sites must now be reserved through recreation.gov at $10 per night. The campground layout accommodates equestrians with room to maneuver trailers while maintaining a natural setting. Horse poop is present throughout the area, confirming its regular use by riders.
The 12-mile horse trail extends out onto the peninsula, providing a day's worth of riding opportunities directly from the campsite. Riders can access multiple terrain types, and the trail system connects to pack-in or canoe-in campsites for extended adventures. Trail conditions vary seasonally, with underwater sticks and fallen trees occasionally present near the water access points. The campground operates on a pack-it-in, pack-it-out basis with no trash pickup provided. During weekdays, the area remains particularly quiet, with the volunteer Camp Ranger from the US Army Corps of Engineers occasionally making rounds. The abundance of wildlife and waterfront access make this a popular destination for equestrians seeking primitive camping experiences.
"Bussey Point is primarily for equestrians. The campsites have pre-installed horse hitches and plenty of room to move a horse trailer. The sites have a picnic table and a fire pit."
"Btw, watch out for the horse poop!✌"
"This park is just a few miles away from Mistletoe and we only stayed here because we could not get a site at Mistletoe."
"People are here with boats, golf carts, big outside TV’s and LOUD music that went on until 9:45 at night (camp hosts finally shut down the party scene)."
"Will try again in future as it keeps improving We just overnighted so did not use facilities nor do much in the surrounding areas."
"This campground is very quiet and right near the water. I enjoyed it and would stay again."
from $45 - $50 / night
Check Availability"We hiked from the campground to Lake Buncombe and also hiked from Sunset Drive trail to Lake Liberty and the office. Equestrian trails are closed to hiking during the weekend."
"It has a couple of hiking trails, boat rentals, a nice lake to fish, and some historical buildings to explore but not a lot else to do. That was fine with us and our 2 night stay."
from $15 - $650 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $25 - $525 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $40 - $50 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $40 - $450 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $25 / night
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ScoutWhen we got there, another family was in our space. They said the one they reserved was overgrown with brush (a few were). We tried to call to have it resolved but no one to call. We ended up having to pick another site that was empty. That portion was very stressful after a long drive to get there. Experience was okay, the water is down a good bit right now.
ScoutFantastic campground. This campground has made many recent improvements. It comes with full hook up and Wi-Fi. The campground is pet friendly and they have laundry room rooms and bathrooms on site friendly staff.
GuideI would caution those who arrive on a weekend and expect a quiet respite. It is wall to wall huge RV’s and trailers. People are here with boats, golf carts, big outside TV’s and LOUD music that went on until 9:45 at night (camp hosts finally shut down the party scene). Many groups were clearly gathering for a good time. Weekdays may be an entirely different experience. That being said, the bathrooms were outstanding. Great showers (complete with shelves and hooks), and even heated. No complaints here.
GuideOur family stayed over the Christmas/ New Year’s holidays and it was great. The restrooms were just built in 2019 and were VERY clean and kept clean. The camp hosts were really nice. Plenty of things to do at the park. Crawfordville was where they filmed “Sweet Home Alabama” and it was cool to drive around and see places from the movie. The small town has a quaint library off Main Street. Will definitely come back!
ScoutWe really enjoyed RV camping at this campground. It wasn’t busy, especially for a weekend. Lots of empty campsites. Super clean bathrooms. It has a couple of hiking trails, boat rentals, a nice lake to fish, and some historical buildings to explore but not a lot else to do. That was fine with us and our 2 night stay. Equestrian camping seems to be the big thing there.
Travelerim only staying one night. hitting as many towns as i can in the next 3 days that have griffin in the name. i am always prepared to be off grid. always nice to pu up and not have to unpack all my gear.
TravelerOver all a great campground/site. We stayed at site #4. Plenty of room to spread out! It has a fallen tree and lots of underwater sticks right when you walk out on the lake so watch your toes! When we come back we’d probs choose site #5 to avoid the tree and all the limbs. Has a nice public spot down the road though, and the restroom was surprisingly clean. We’ll definitely be coming back!
TravelerOur favorite park is Mistletoe, a GA state owned park. This park is just a few miles away from Mistletoe and we only stayed here because we could not get a site at Mistletoe. In the end, we are glad that we did as this park is about 35% less expensive than Mistletoe and provides the same great lake views (ok, Mistletoe is still our favorite, but for the money this is a no brainer).
We stayed on two sites as nothing was available for our entire duration. So, we started on site 38 and then moved to 58 after a couple of days (we can be quite fast at breaking down/setting up for in-park moves).
Site 38 was interesting because we had about 100 whitetail deer in our back yard every night. The camp host apparently was feeding them, and he set up spot lights so that they could be watched as they ate. The deer had no fear (not sure that is good), but I am sure the appreciated the food. The only bad side to this is that the lights stayed on very late and it was impossible to block the light from our windows. I can overlook this, though.
Site 38 was large enough and had big, flat, surface for the picnic table, fire ring, camper, and truck. Beyond this pad there was not much distance before you got to the next site, which just had a tent camper (who mostly was gone because this time we visited during a VERY cold spell and I don't think the tent camper would have survived the night!).
Site 38 had views of the water, kind of like a finger cover, but it was not very close to the camper. Still nice though as the walk through the woods to the water was easy.
We moved to site 58 after a couple of days and it was directly on the water. This site was smaller than 38, and was only one of a handful of RV sites that are situated in an yurt camping area (if you have family that does not have an RV, you could stay in your RV and they could stay in the really upscale yurts!).
The weather, as noted already, was very cold and moving to a true waterfront lot made going outside something only for the brave! It was 40 degrees with 60 mph wind gusts that day...kind of fun!
We walked around to see what the park had on that side, and it included a nice sandy beach, picnic tables under the shade, and a really cool primitive camping area that was out on a peninsula.
As noted at the start, a nice park for the money. The cost was only $25 a night in March 2022 and that is hard to beat. If this were $40 a night I would de-rate it to 4 stars.
All of the photos are from site 38 except the white caps on the lake, which was taken On our walk near 58.
ScoutOne of the best sites I've stayed at yet. Super quiet, nice privacy (at this site for sure), and the weather was perfect. Super clean and maintained. Very well marked sites (since coming in after dark).
Bussey Point Wilderness Area offers equestrian camping near Modoc, South Carolina on the shores of Clark Hill Lake (Strom Thurmond Lake). The peninsula location provides direct access to 12 miles of horse trails through varied terrain. Camping sites feature waterfront locations with picnic tables and fire rings, with a well providing water access and open pit latrines available. The area operates on a pack-in, pack-out basis with a $10 per night fee that must be reserved through recreation.gov.
Trail riding: The 12-mile horse trail system offers various terrain options for riders of all experience levels. At Bussey Point Wilderness Area, "This is my favorite spot for taking it in, and getting back to nature. Bussey Point is primitive camping at it's best," notes camper Big D.
Swimming and beach access: Several campgrounds offer designated swimming areas with sandy beaches. At Wildwood County Park, visitors appreciate the "Awesome beach area, great playground for kids. Kayak & paddleboard rentals," according to camper David H.
Historical exploration: Visit nearby historic sites like A.H. Stephens State Park, which houses Civil War artifacts and the former home of the Confederate Vice President. Camper Norris K. reports, "Park is the home of the VP of the Confederacy and features his home and Civil War artifacts (check for open hours)."
Privacy and quiet: Weekday camping provides exceptional solitude with minimal crowds. At Bussey Point Wilderness Area, camper Josh R. appreciates the atmosphere: "Clean camp sites. Abundance of wildlife. The out houses & vault toilets are in good shape. This park is always quiet and offers plenty of privacy."
Wildlife viewing: The area supports diverse wildlife, particularly deer. At A. H. Stephens State Park Campground, campers enjoy spacious sites with natural surroundings. "We stayed in 2 sites with the grandparents. #9 & #12... Both sites were nicely graveled and level," notes Elizabeth M.
Water activities: Direct lake access for fishing and boating makes these campgrounds popular. Wildwood County Park camper Tanya S. explains, "I've stayed at this camp ground 3 times they have lots of sites right on the water many with your very own mini beach an you can bring your boat up to as well."
Reservation requirements: Most equestrian camping areas now require advance booking through recreation.gov rather than first-come, first-served availability. "Campground rates are $10 per night and reservations must be made now through recreation.gov," confirms Linda A. about Bussey Point.
Limited amenities: Prepare for primitive camping conditions at many sites. Cody S. advises about Plum Branch RV Park: "This campground is very quiet and right near the water. I enjoyed it and would stay again."
Seasonal considerations: Water levels fluctuate seasonally, affecting access points and swimming areas. Claire M. notes about Bussey Point site #4: "It has a fallen tree and lots of underwater sticks right when you walk out on the lake so watch your toes!"
Choose sites with playgrounds: Some campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. At Wildwood County Park, David H. recommends the "Awesome beach area, great playground for kids. Kayak & paddleboard rentals. Decent pricing for campsites."
Consider yurt options: For families wanting more comfort than tent camping provides, several parks offer alternative accommodations. At A.H. Stephens State Park, Mary G. discovered: "We stopped here for one night in December, passing through. The park had a beautiful Christmas light display with hot chocolate and a Christmas movie playing on a big screen."
Pack all supplies: Limited services mean bringing everything you need. Dan F. advises about Wildwood: "We walked around to see what the park had on that side, and it included a nice sandy beach, picnic tables under the shade, and a really cool primitive camping area that was out on a peninsula."
Site selection for big rigs: Some areas have tight turns or low-hanging branches. Kevin H. from Lake Thurmond RV Park suggests: "Still being upgraded, so newish pad was still soft but pretty level. Sewer pipes stick out a good 6 or 8 inches."
Connectivity considerations: Cell service and WiFi vary throughout the region. Kevin H. provides detailed information: "I was right under a WiFi antennae, and managed a 4.5meg download and 4.48 upload. Following are phones I have and how they feature: Cricket; 7.98dn, 0.84up, ATT; 27.69, 0.3 up, Visible: 7.2dn, 1.2up, Verizon: 44.9dn. 1.88 up."
Leveling requirements: Many sites require additional leveling equipment. Clark B. notes about Wildwood County Park: "Campsites on this loop have dirt road, sites are fairly level. Not quite as big and level as local USACOE campgrounds."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Modoc, SC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Modoc, SC is Bussey Point Wilderness Area with a 4.5-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Modoc, SC?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 equestrian camping locations near Modoc, SC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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