Best Tent Camping near Patrick, SC

Tent campers near Patrick, South Carolina can find established sites at Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge and Chalk Banks in Lumber River State Park. The wildlife refuge offers special camping permits for educational groups and researchers, while Chalk Banks provides more accessible tent camping approximately 40 miles northwest of Patrick. Sandhills Campground B in North Carolina also offers primitive tent camping within reasonable driving distance.

Chalk Banks campground features spacious, well-separated tent sites set on level ground with dirt platforms framed by wooden railroad ties. Many sites include fire pits and picnic tables, with a single vault toilet and water spigot serving the entire campground. The gate closes at 9:00 PM and reopens at 8:00 AM, though campers receive an access code for nighttime entry. Sandhills Campground B offers truly primitive tent camping with no amenities—no bathrooms, water sources, or facilities of any kind. According to one visitor, "If you're looking for primitive, this is it. Bring all your own EVERYTHING."

The tent camping experience near Patrick provides genuine seclusion, particularly at Chalk Banks where sites 9, 10, and 11 sit far back in the woods. A camper noted that these are "some of the better spread out ones that I've seen" with "the biggest spots to camp I've ever seen gives you the feel of basically being way off the beaten path." The area offers good opportunities for fishing, hiking, and paddling, with Lumber River accessible from the campground. Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge camping requires participation in environmental education or research activities. Cell service is generally available at Chalk Banks, which many tent campers appreciate given the remote setting. During peak summer months, mosquito repellent is essential for comfortable tent camping in this region.

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Best Tent Sites Near Patrick, South Carolina (3)

    1. Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge, Permitted Camping

    2 Reviews
    Patrick, SC
    11 miles
    Website

    "Camping is not open to the general public at this wildlife preserve."

    2. Chalk Banks — Lumber River State Park

    10 Reviews
    Wagram, NC
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (910) 628-4564

    $17 - $47 / night

    "It was a little tricky finding the entrance to this campsite, but when we managed to Google map our way in into the park, we were very happy with our selection!"

    "There was a path walkable to the river, and each campsite was clean, had plenty of space on level ground to set up camp, a fire pit, and very clean toilet. I would definitely go back!"

    3. Sandhills Campground B

    1 Review
    Pinebluff, NC
    41 miles
    +1 (910) 281-3917

    "This is a campground located in the Sandhills Gamelands in NC. If you're looking for primitive, this is it. No bathrooms, no water spigots, no camp store, nothing like that."

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Patrick, SC

4 Photos of 3 Patrick Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Patrick, SC

192 Reviews of 3 Patrick Campgrounds


  • Courtney B.
    Jun. 5, 2020

    Little Pee Dee State Park Campground

    A quiet and clean state park

    Little Pee Dee State Park is a quiet and clean campground on the banks of Lake Norton. Locals often come here for fishing and non-motorized boating.  We were fortunate to witness a mass crayfish event--the recent flooding had brought them out of the swamp and up the spillway, much to the delight of seafood lovers.

    The campground had two different campground hosts, and they kept the restrooms and campsites immaculately clean.

    Campsites have a fire ring/grate and a picnic table, but no trash cans, and you'll need to bring your trash to a large bin located at the edge of the campsites.

    There are some nice sites right at the edge of Lake Norton, but the abundant water plants don't allow you to fish from the side of the lake, and it's not really a swimming lake. These sites accommodate RVs and have water & electric.  If you're on a budget, there are tent-only sites off the water.

    The campground recently built a sleeping cabin, which is a cute structure with air conditioning/heat, bunk beds, and a free-standing bed (the cabin sleeps four, total). Guests can use a fire ring and Adirondack chairs, hammock, and grill.

    The park also has a nice shelter for use.

    There is no WiFi here, and cellular internet is spotty. There isn't a camp store, but the Ranger Station does have ice, firewood, and a small number of souvenirs for sale.

  • J
    Jul. 10, 2020

    Chalk Banks — Lumber River State Park

    Pleasantly Surprised.

    It was a little tricky finding the entrance to this campsite, but when we managed to Google map our way in into the park, we were very happy with our selection! These campsites are in a beautiful pine woods forest. Many sites have a pretty mossy pathway near the tent platform. The platform is elevated and and dirt framed in wooden railroad ties. The sites have great privacy and the campsite was virtually empty except for us and one other family. The campground ranger said they only fill up on the 4th of July. They set-up and trash can with a bag for you upon arrival. There is no general store nearby so bring wood and supplies in with you. There was a water pump/spigot near the restroom with great pressure (potable water). We brought our own pop-up shower and road toilet with us, so didn’t need the restroom. The ranger that greeted us was super nice and respectful. He gave us the gate code in case we needed to leave after they closed the gate at 9:00pm. Very quiet and peaceful.

  • Makenzie T.
    May. 18, 2021

    Chalk Banks — Lumber River State Park

    Clean, beautiful and river-accessible!

    This was a great campground for a great price. There was a path walkable to the river, and each campsite was clean, had plenty of space on level ground to set up camp, a fire pit, and very clean toilet. I would definitely go back!

  • R
    Sep. 3, 2019

    Lake Wateree State Park Campground

    Busy campground

    I can see why this is a busy campground. Bathhouses were clean. Many lakefront sites have posts to tie up your boat to if you have one. Beach area by the store. No WiFi and rarely did we have cell service but that’s not a bad thing! Large sites with some pull through. We had site 39 and there was nothing but woods behind us which was perfect for us. Only negative was I that I was bitten up by mosquitoes and I used bug spray ( obviously I need a better kind) and citronella buckets. Even with a packed campground for the holiday weekend it was relatively quiet especially by 11. This campground tends to be booked solid on weekends so important to make reservations. Also not much for stores close by so pack well. Oh and no alcohol sales on Sunday’s in the county.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 16, 2025

    Lynches River County Park

    Wonderful Park

    My wife and I were looking fora tent-camping place along the I-95 corridor in South Carolina during spring break and weren't having much luck.  We decided to stay here and it was a great choice.  They are doing a lot of upgrades to make it a place to actual stay and enjoy with a splash pad, climbing wall, dog park and horse stalls.  The RV/Tent sites were all sandy and shaded and very spacious.  The bathrooms were very clean with two showers in each (MF).   We stayed there on a Saturday night and had the place to ourselves.  The next morning we hiked the nature trail and wetlands boardwalk and other trails on a hour-long walk before hitting the road.  Looking forward to another stay when we pass that way next.

  • Marvin D.
    Mar. 2, 2021

    Chalk Banks — Lumber River State Park

    Lumber River Chalk Banks

    Pretty nice campground right off of hwy 401, just south of Raeford NC. There is a pit toilet and water spigot. There are no showers here. The Lumber River is right here, so fishing and canoeing/kayaking are popular activities. There is a hiking trail here as well.

    The right hand side of the campground is set up for RV,s (pull through sites). The left hand side is for tent camping. Tent camping sites, 9-10-11, sit WAY back in the woods, so its like almost like having your own campground. TONS of forage wood here.

    With talking to the rangers, they were saying that the place seldom gets too crowded, and you can almost always get a reservation here.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 1, 2023

    Florence RV Park

    Drive-By RV Parking Lot Community

    This spot is so close to I95 (look for exit 169) that you’ll both feel and hear the swoosh of passing by traffic 24/7. So, while you’ll incur ease and convenience, that will come at a cost (privacy and quietude being what you will sacrifice most).  Located in the NE pocket of the Palmetto State, Florence RV Park, while not a destination per se, could be a nice (and incredibly easy) layover on your trip destination to anywhere else up or down this major east coast highway artery.

    Despite the location, this spot has a lot to offer: an intimate little public pool behind the management office, WiFi hotspots, dog park, scattered picnic tables (in pretty good condition), kid’s playground, 20 / 30 / 50 amp hook-ups, dump station, dog walk area, catch & release fishing pond, propane refueling station, vending machines, small pond for fishing, basketball court, volleyball, badminton and horseshoe rings. There’s even 4-5 log cabins for rent at the front of the property (with full access to all the highway noise) and of course, good old fashioned on-site laundry facilities along with a mini-store that has most of the basics covered as well as fairly spartan shower / bathing facilities. 

    Insider’s tip? Here's a few: (1) The further east you are on the property, all the better as you’ll be positioned as far away from I95 traffic and noise; (2) If tent camping, I highly recommend spots #A7 – A13 and if you are RV’ing I recommend #L9 – L18 as well as any of the locations on J, K and F11 – F16; (3) There’s a lot to explore near here, from the Grand Strand of South Carolina, of course, Myrtle Beach and even Darlington Raceway, so if you don’t mind the overpopulated location with its westerly view of non-stop traffic, then this could be a good place to stop for the night or from which to launch your exploration of the area; (4) If you’ve looked at this RV campground’s website, don’t be fooled by the pictures – I don’t think any of them were actually taken of the place, save for the pond, and that was a close-up; and (5) If you are looking for a nearby spot to sample the local fare, I recommend checking out The Drive-In Restaurant with its 50s era nostalgia, big juicy burgers, fried everything, homemade onion rings and thick, creamy chocolate shakes.

    Happy Camping!

  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 10, 2017

    Cane Creek Park

    Cane Creek county Park

    This review is probably not representative of what will be many people’s experience or opportunity, as I visited in November in the off season, albeit an unusually warm weekday! Cane Creek Park is a county park that is of state park caliber. It is located south and east of the town of waxhaw, and an easy drive from Charlotte. It is a large park on both sid s of a large lake, beautifully maintained, clearly with a variety of family recreational activities that are surely heavily used in the high season. The park offers everything from day use, to car and rv camping, to hike in tent sites and wilderness group areas, to cabins. This review is for the hike in tent sites, which are large, well spaced, heavily wooded and private, with lake access for good fishing and paddling. There are restroom and shower facilities in walking distance, though not at the campsites themselves. This is a simpler and quieter camping opportunity than the drive in sites. In fact, no one else was in this section of the campground on this fine autumn day, yet the weather was beautiful and the setting so peaceful. I would recommend this campsite location for fall camping

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 22, 2021

    Pedro's Campground at South of the Border

    Roadside RV Amusement Park

    If you haven’t been to a roadside circus lately or don’t want to shell out the dough for Disney World, then this particular RV amusement park location just off of I-95 and due south of the North Carolina/ South Carolina border may just be the perfect spot for you. 

    With a wide-array of parallel, elongated parking lanes for your parking pleasure, all of the sites come equipped with the typical 30/ 50 amp electrical hook-ups, waste disposal and water connections. There’s the standard picnic table, fire ring/BBQ, garbage receptacles, 3-4 communal bathhouses and even a handful of community BBQ’s. 

    The hosts, who work out of the Camp Pedro Store/ Office are incredibly nice and offer pricing by the night or week. There’s not a ton of amenities to pick and choose from– APART FROM THE NON-STOP LINEUP OF AMUSEMENT PARK options you will find everywhere! But the campground itself features 2-3 community playgrounds, group BBQ’s and the everything-you-need store. And while I looked, there’s no pool to speak of. 

    Insider’s Tip? Near this RV parking lot, you do have access to Betsy Jackson Bay if you want to get away and off the beaten path a bit to explore nature… otherwise, head back to Pedro’s, put on your silly hat, load up the car full of tchotchkies and get your fill of this whacky Tex Mex experience! 

    Happy Camping!


Guide to Patrick

Tent camping near Patrick, South Carolina, offers a chance to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the tranquility of the outdoors. With a variety of well-reviewed sites, campers can find the perfect spot to set up their tents and explore the surrounding beauty.

Tent campers should check out Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge

  • This unique location allows for group camping and offers a chance to engage in environmental education programs, making it ideal for school and youth groups.

Tips for tent camping near Patrick

  • Be sure to visit Chalk Banks — Lumber River State Park, where you'll find spacious, primitive sites that are well-maintained and perfect for a peaceful getaway.

Enjoy local activities at Chalk Banks — Lumber River State Park

  • The park provides excellent access to the Lumber River for kayaking and fishing, along with beautiful hiking trails that showcase the area's natural beauty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Patrick, SC?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Patrick, SC is Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge, Permitted Camping with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Patrick, SC?

TheDyrt.com has all 3 tent camping locations near Patrick, SC, with real photos and reviews from campers.