John w. M.
Scout
ScoutSumter National Forest Lick Fork Lake Recreation Area
It's primitive, but it is a nice spot. Price is Right. $7 or $3.50 with pass.
Dog-Friendly Camping near North Augusta, SC
8 campgrounds with availability next weekend
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Petersburg - J Strom Thurmond Lake offers pet-friendly camping with water and electric hookups on sites suitable for both tents and RVs. Located approximately 20 minutes from Augusta suburbs, this Corps of Engineers campground provides access to Clark Hill Lake with most sites featuring water access and beach areas for swimming. Heritage RV Park, Carolina Hill Mobile Home and RV Park, and Mistletoe State Park Campground also welcome pets in the North Augusta area. All sites at Heritage RV Park are back-in with full hookups, and while there are no restrooms or laundry facilities, the park does feature a dog park that receives positive mentions from visitors. The campground is well-maintained with level sites and easy navigation on wide roads.
Several campgrounds near North Augusta provide various amenities for pet owners. Lick Fork Lake Recreation Area offers primitive camping with picnic tables and fire rings in a quieter setting where pets are permitted. Most pet-friendly sites in the region require dogs to be leashed at all times, though specific off-leash areas exist at designated parks. Petersburg campground provides secure accommodations with a gated entrance that locks at 10:00 PM daily, giving campers a combination code for access. Back to Nature Garden Center creates a secluded camping experience with dense woods making it feel remote despite its convenient location near a Family Dollar store for essential supplies. Campers report that Heritage RV Park is conveniently located near I-20 and I-520 with easy access to numerous stores and restaurants in Augusta.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near North Augusta (70)
1. Petersburg - J Strom Thurmond Lake
"With lake access on virtually every spot you’ll wake up to amazing views and great days in the sun. Almost every spot has a walkable path to the water."
"Lakeside lot with incredible space. Dog friendly and they enjoyed being able to go for a swim right outside of the camper."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $18 - $50 / night
2. Mistletoe State Park Campground
"We camped in one of the tent only walk-in sites located on a peninsula jutting into the lake. We had a ton of stuff, not realizing it was an uphill and pretty long trek, but it was totally worth it."
"Surrounded by water. Camping and boating paradise. Immaculate grounds and facilities. Water and electric and gray water dumps at each site. Washer and dryer."
39 Sites AvailableAvailable next weekend
from $12 - $175 / night
3. Heritage RV Park
"There is no bath house or laundry on premises but there is a very nice dog park."
"The park is close to I-20 and I-520 so there is easy on/off and it is a great place for an overnight if you are just traveling thru."
4. Back to Nature Garden Center
Check Availabilityfrom $15 / night
5. Carolina Hill Mobile Home and RV Park
"If you walk around the park four times, you have walked a mile. Will try to remember to update this review when we leave. update Still love it here and would absolutely stay here again ❤️"
6. Modoc - J Strom Thurmond Lake
"Dogs aren’t allowed on beach area but we found our own great spot within the park that allowed them to swim and cool off with us!"
"Lots of RVs and pull behinds. Sites were well spaced. We had 15 and it was great, I would stay at the same site again. Water and electric at all sites. Access to water from majority of sites."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $22 - $64 / night
7. Lick Fork Lake Recreation Area
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
8. Ridge Road Campground at J Strom Thurmond Lake
"Pets allowed. Playground and beaches. Fish cleaning station. Boat ramp. Dump station."
"Easy walk down to the water, lovely breeze, quiet. We were close to the ADA bathhouse that was immaculate."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $22 - $64 / night
9. Sumter National Forest Lick Fork Lake Recreation Area
"There were people who came to fish in the pond (more of a pond than a lake) and I had a nice swim.. There are two trails. A short one (about a mile) around the pond and a longer 5.6 mile loop."
10. Karen's Escape
Check Availabilityfrom $30 - $50 / night
Drive Time
- 15 min from Augusta, GA
- 1 hr 4 min from Columbia, SC
- 1 hr 42 min from Athens, GA
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near North Augusta, SC
53 Photos of 70 North Augusta Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Karen's EscapeK
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Petersburg
Petersburg - J Strom Thurmond LakeL
Modoc - J Strom Thurmond LakeJ
Bussey Point Wilderness Area
Pointes West Army ResortB
Mistletoe State Park Campground
Plum Branch RV ParkA
Clay Hill Campground
Hawe Creek - J Strom Thurmond Lake
Big Hart Campground - J Strom Thurmond LakeJ
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near North Augusta, SC
490 Reviews of 70 North Augusta Campgrounds
Eric K.
GuideSteel Creek River Ramp
Great Dispersed camping
I spent one night here 10-18-26 as I was passing through. The area is a open field with no designated sites. Milo and I were the only ones there. Nice and quite. Beautiful place if you have water and electric. In the morning some boaters were launching as I was packing up. No issues.
I would definitely stay again if passing through.
- RRichard A.
RangerPetersburg - J Strom Thurmond Lake
Another COE park in need of upgrades and a little TLC.
Petersburg is a campground with million dollar views that has become a forgotten asset of the federal government.
The property is mostly overgrown and landscape maintenance appears to be a forgotten concept, like bathhouse maintenance.
On a positive note it has been reported that the government is approving funds to restart the modernization of these once great recreation locations.
Tj C.ScoutSteel Creek River Ramp
When I got here I was told that it was all private property
Naryamie H.ScoutCarolina Hill Mobile Home and RV Park
A quiet place to call home
The neighbors are fantastic. The management is fantastic.
We love it here.
Stuart K.
LegendHickory Knob
Lakeside Retreat with a Touch of Southern Charm
Hickory Knob SP CG is tucked along the shores of Lake Thurmond in South Carolina’s rolling countryside, where the pine trees stand tall, the crickets sing backup, and life slows to a more reasonable pace. It’s the only South Carolina SP with a full resort feel – which means campers get the perks of a golf course, lodge, and restaurant nearby, without losing that back-to-nature atmosphere that makes pitching a tent or leveling out an RV worth the trouble. First impressions? Think peaceful lake views with just enough activity around to keep things lively but never hectic.
The campground itself offers a mix of RV and tent sites, with electric and water hookups for the comfort crowd and wooded, shaded spaces for the purists. Campsites are fairly roomy, with picnic tables, fire rings, and enough tree cover to keep your morning coffee shaded until you’re good and ready to face the day. Bathhouses are clean and well-kept ... nothing spa-like, but not the kind where you walk out wondering if you need a tetanus shot either. Navigation is straightforward, though larger rigs should take it slow on the curves. And here’s a bonus: campers can stroll over to the resort-style amenities like a swimming pool, tennis courts and even the on-site restaurant if they’re tired of hot dogs and s’mores.
The surrounding fun is where Hickory Knob shines. Lake Thurmond offers ample space for boating, fishing, kayaking and swimming, with more shoreline than your GPS can keep track of. The park itself has miles of hiking and biking trails that snake through pine forest and offer glimpses of deer, wild turkeys, and the occasional heron. For the golfers in the crowd, the 18-hole course is the centerpiece here – where else can you balance your day between kayaking coves in the morning and working on your short game in the afternoon? The nearby town of McCormick provides groceries, a few dining options and that small-town charm that feels refreshingly unhurried.
Insider Tips: (1) The waterfront campsites are the gems with west-facing spots for those Technicolor sunsets (but you'll want to book early if you can, because everyone has the same idea, right?); (2) Don’t feel like cooking? Head on over to the Hickory Knob Lodge restaurant, which while nothing fancy, this joint has solid Southern comfort food that tastes even better after a day outdoors; (3) Kayakers should launch near the group lodge cove where it’s calmer water with prime birdwatching opportunities; (4) If you like a side of nostalgia with your dessert, swing by Michelle’s in McCormick for classic Southern diner plates and pie that’ll make you rethink diets; (5) Want a 'higher' perspective? Sites further inland sit at slightly higher elevation, meaning more shade, although fewer lake views, but less wind off the water, so choose based on your style of camping comfort.
Happy Camping!
- OOlivia K.Scout
Bussey Point Wilderness Area
Okay campsite
When 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.
- TT&VGuide
Ridge Road Campground at J Strom Thurmond Lake
Very nice campground
We had a very nice long weekend on site 32. The sites are large and clean, the park is easy to maneuver. The water level was really low but we were still able to get our Pontoon boat in and out of the boat ramp and pulled ashore right at our site.
- RRichard A.Ranger
Ridge Road Campground at J Strom Thurmond Lake
Campground in need of some renovations and general TLC
Let me say that we have stayed at several of the COE campgrounds in this area.
We felt that it had a lot of potential to be an extremely beautiful park but has been neglected in a few ways.
Understanding that this campground like some others in the area suffered damage from a recent hurricane and that the necessary cleanup and recovery can be a long process, much of the needs of Ridge Road appear to be neglect.
The sites and general areas are immensely overgrown and in desperate need of maintenance, and while the bathhouses are in need of renovation, general attention to cleanliness and pest control (a lot of large, live, spiders) would serve them well.
We hope the park will get the attention it needs and look forward to returning.
Guide to North Augusta
Clark Hill Lake, known officially as J. Strom Thurmond Lake, spans over 71,000 acres along the South Carolina-Georgia border near North Augusta. The reservoir's 1,200 miles of shoreline creates multiple camping opportunities with many sites situated directly on the water. Summer temperatures typically reach the mid-90s, while spring and fall provide milder conditions in the 70s-80s.
What to do
Hiking trails: Petersburg - J Strom Thurmond Lake connects to the Bartram Trail, offering excellent mountain biking and hiking opportunities. "Bartram Trail, terrific mountain for biking and hiking passes through the property. Some of the sites are stellar," notes Todd C.
Fishing access: Ridge Road - J Strom Thurmond Lake provides designated fish cleaning stations for anglers. "Nice roomy sites with plenty of space between. Picnic tables, grills and fire rings at each campsite. Fish cleaning station. Boat ramp. Dump station," writes Jodi P.
Water recreation: Most sites at J. Strom Thurmond Lake campgrounds include water access points. As Christine states about Petersburg Campground, "This Army Corps of Engineers campground has everything, magnificent views nearly all of them lakeside, spacious sites, picnic tables, firepits, dark starry night skies, power and water hookups, dump station, clean bathrooms, swimming beach and 20+ miles of nature trails."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Mistletoe State Park Campground offers well-spaced campsites. Andy S. notes about the walk-in tent sites, "There is good separation between all sites. Sites #2 & #3 are within shouting distance of each other and you'd be able to see tents, etc at one from the other."
Security features: The gated entrance at Petersburg Campground provides added security. "This is a very well maintained USACOE facility. Our site (19) is quite large and very level (after the entry driveway): plenty of room for the coach and at least 2 other vehicles," says Carrie G. at Ridge Road Campground.
Night sky views: Many campgrounds in the area offer minimal light pollution. Christine mentions Petersburg Campground has "dark starry night skies," while chad H. at Mistletoe State Park notes, "We saw lots of wild life, lots of stars at night (gets really dark at night)."
What you should know
Bathroom facilities vary: Not all campgrounds offer full bathroom amenities. Heritage RV Park has specific limitations as Nancy W. points out: "Note that there are no restrooms or laundry."
Seasonal maintenance issues: Some campgrounds experience maintenance challenges during peak seasons. Todd C. mentions about Petersburg, "What I noticed on my most recent trip is that the quality of maintenance has declined. The restrooms on our loop weren't really cleaned deeply over our 4 night stay."
Primitive camping options: For those seeking less developed sites, Lick Fork Lake Recreation Area offers basic accommodations. Sara R. describes it as "a really good beginners intro to primitive camping. Nice little hike around a nice little lake. Pretty simple. No wifi or electric."
Frequently Asked Questions
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Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near North Augusta, SC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near North Augusta, SC is Petersburg - J Strom Thurmond Lake with a 4.6-star rating from 34 reviews.
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