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."
Guide
