Camping near North Charleston, South Carolina offers diverse opportunities from lakeside sites to coastal settings. The region averages 230 sunny days annually with temperatures ranging from 38°F in winter to 91°F in summer. Most campgrounds remain open year-round, though summer humidity can reach 90% with frequent afternoon thunderstorms from June through September.
What to do
Kayak rentals: Cypress View Campground at Santee State Park provides access to 16,000 acres of freshwater lakes and established paddling trails. "This is a great campground for anyone who enjoys watersports. Lake Marion is a great place for boating, kayaking, and fishing," notes Jason F.
Rock climbing walls: Campground at James Island County Park offers a 50-foot climbing wall, obstacle challenge course, and 1,000-square-foot bouldering wall. Nick & Allyssa S. mention, "Wonderful park with plenty of amenities! We stayed here in October when the water park/pool was closed, but there was still plenty to do with bike rentals and the outdoor adventure area."
Fishing piers: Buck Hall Recreation Area provides accessible fishing from multiple locations. "We had a blast kayaking around and had some awesome dolphin encounters. The crabbing is great at the campground and we had a delicious crab boil as a result!" shares Bounding Around.
Plantation tours: Mount Pleasant-Charleston KOA arranges transportation to nearby historic sites. "Our fave was the wagon ride to the plantation next door," according to Angela M. The campground offers this service multiple times weekly during peak season.
What campers like
Waterfront campsites: Santee Lakes KOA features premium lakefront sites with dedicated water views. "Nice campground on the water. Worth the upgrade to the lake front sites," reports John K. Georgia R. adds, "We had an awesome view from our campsite of Santee Lake."
Secure campgrounds: Several properties offer 24-hour staffing and controlled access. "We felt so safe with my family. Also we saw so many people just walking their dogs, which we love dogs. It's quiet. It's great. Also it's very kid friendly," writes Wendolyn P. about James Island County Park.
Multiple recreation areas: Edisto Beach State Park Campground offers both beachfront and wooded camping sections. "Edisto has a beach camping area and a wooded area. The option for RV or tent camping without all the excessive price," explains Karen G.
Yurt camping options: North Charleston, South Carolina area parks have expanded their yurt camping options in recent seasons. "The tent camping area is awesome and has a great layout with lockable chuck boxes on each site along with power and water," explains Creighton C. about Givhans Ferry State Park's alternative accommodations.
What you should know
Site flooding concerns: Some campgrounds experience drainage issues during heavy rains. Joel R. notes about James Island County Park: "We had 2 days of heavy rain and some sites flooded, but everything drained well."
Summer crowds: Peak season brings significant congestion. "It's super crowded. Apparently all the fishermen drag their families in along with their boats. While they're fishing, Mom and the kids are left in the campground," reports Ken W.
Highway noise: New Green Acres RV Park sits near Interstate 95. "This is right off 95 and very easy to access. Loud highway noise, but tolerable. Tall trees everywhere," says Tracey S., noting the convenient location comes with some drawbacks.
Limited cell service: Coverage varies significantly between properties. "Be prepared for almost zero cell service," warns Suzanne P., while Robert M. reports, "Our ATT hotspot was fine and our phones which are on the T-Mobile."
Tips for camping with families
Look for dedicated fishing ponds: Rocks Pond Campground & Marina caters specifically to young anglers. Stuart K. explains, "The place is perfect for kids - there's lots of places to go fishing... there's a fishing pier, a dedicated fish pond and even a smaller pond that is just for the kiddos."
Bring bikes: The paved paths at many sites provide safe riding for children. "Great place for families. It has a fantastic dog park and several miles of paved walking/biking paths," says Terry J.
Check water park schedules: Water features typically operate seasonally from late May through early September. "There is a Splash Zone Waterpark complete with (2) 200 foot waterslides, 500 foot long lazy river, leisure pool & rainforest play structure," details Stuart K.
Reserve early for holidays: Holiday weekends fill completely, especially for premium sites. "The shelters book up fast, so if you're interested, call up early!" advises Stuart K. about Rocks Pond Campground.
Tips from RVers
Arrive early for boat launches: "If you've got a boat and want to get out on the water, do it early before the long line takes you at least an hour of waiting," suggests Stuart K.
Request escort assistance: Some campgrounds provide arrival guidance. Georgia R. notes about Santee Lakes KOA, "The crew escorted us to our campsite, made sure we were happy. This was done with anyone who came in to camp."
Site selection matters: Look for specific site numbers when booking. Greg S. advises about James Island County Park, "Our site was a pull through with some nice palmettos but not a lot of privacy. Best sites looked to be the 40s and 50s."
Check for dump station location: Not all parks have convenient facilities. "Only negative dump site is a mile up main road," notes Spencer S. about Edisto Beach State Park Campground.
