Best Tent Camping near Pickens, SC

Tent Camping Reviews near Pickens, SC

1482 Reviews of 59 Pickens Campgrounds

• 

  Courtney B.

  Ranger

  Aug. 1, 2020

  Devils Fork State Park Campground

  Loved it so much, we've planned another trip there!

  We had a wonderful time camping at Devil's Fork State Park. Our group took up rustic tent sites T1, T3, and T5. On the map, these sites seem not ideal, as they are not on the water. However, they are more isolated, more wooded (plenty of trees for hammocking), and seemingly larger than the other tent sites. They are a short walk from the tent-camper parking area, a short walk from the two water spigots in the parking area, and a short walk from the restrooms. The bonus is that, behind sites T1 and T3, is a jumping rock into a gorgeous cove of Lake Jocassee with beautiful blue-green water. It's a great place to enjoy kayaks, rafts, and other inflatables. 

  While site T13 books up quick because of its waterfront location on the point, the walk from the parking lot is no joke. 

  Notes about the rustic tent sites: They have been recently renovated. Each has a picnic table and a fire ring. Only 1 vehicle is allowed to park, per site, unless you pay for the extra vehicle and park in the overflow lot. There is no electricity, and two water spigots located in the parking area. The entire camping area (25 tent sites and 59 RV sites) share 2 restrooms (which were muddy and gross while we were there). No generators are allowed in the tent area. We did have a bear visit us multiple times in one night, putting teeth puncture marks in our cooler. And if the bear don't get ya, the raccoons will!

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• J

  Jodi B.

  Traveler

  Jul. 19, 2016

  Black Forest Family Camping Resort

  Cabins without the amenities

  These cabins may not be for everyone. They are pretty bare bones. The cabins have electricity, but the water pump is outside and the bathrooms and showers are communal (but clean). There is a full size bed and two bunk beds in each one. Outside, there is a a picnic table and a fire ring for each cabin. I think the mattresses are hard, so I usually bring a sleeping bag to pad it. So it can be seen as a step up from tent camping for people who don't like that kind of roughing it.

  There is a heated swimming pool and they do lots of things for kids like ice cream socials. They have a little shop in case you forget some necessities.

  This campground is close to Dupont Forest, with lots of mountain biking, hiking, and waterfalls. For $50 a night, it's a pretty good deal.

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• 

  Everette G.

  Guide

  Oct. 18, 2020

  Victoria Bryant State Park Campground

  Great Camping in any Season

  Victoria Bryant State Park is probably one of my most frequented camping spots in the last few years. All of the tent sites are sheltered platforms, with electricity, potable water and an overhead light. Rain or shine, you can have a good time (and stay dry) at Victoria Bryant. There are only about 8 platforms, and one is ADA only, so they book up quick. They are all spaced pretty far apart, privacy isn't too hard to maintain (except maybe site 7&8). 1-4 are down a hill, 4 being the furthest away at about 40 feet, down the steepest incline. There are facilities right across the parking lot, that have always been clean and well maintained, and heated in the colder months. Camp hosts and office have firewood. There are several miles of trails that are lower difficulty, save for some hilly spots. In October, the park does a pretty cool little haunted trail. There's obvious reasons we enjoy VBSP, staying dry in the rain, nice, dense forested areas, and awesome campgrounds make it an easy choice.

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• S

  Sam F.

  Traveler

  Aug. 28, 2018

  Lake Powhatan — National Forests In North Carolina

  Great, quiet campground with clean restrooms and hot showers

  We took our 5 and 3 year old sons camping here this past weekend and had a great time.

  Site: Our site was on the Hard Times loop which offered huge, flat gravel pads (our site was an RV site but also perfect for tent camping since it's pea gravel and not paved). If you have a 6-person or larger tent, opt for a gravel RV site, as you'll get tons more room than the "tent-only" sites which have the tent pad surrounded with railroad ties.

  Facilities: Powhatan really takes care of their facilities. Restrooms were cleaned multiple times per day and the showers are clean and the water was actually hot - awesome after a day of hiking before jumping in the sleeping bag. Gate house sells ice and firewood too.

  Activities: Tons of trails within Bent Creek but are mainly geared towards mountain bikers. Had to be on constant alert with my kids and dog, as the bikers absolutely bomb down these trails. Similar to hiking in Dupont but with a heavier concentration of mountain bikers. This was the only downside of camping here but there are some great hiking-only trails off the BRP just 30 min away. I wish the trail system worked its way through the campgrounds, as we had to walk a ways down the main paved road to access any trailheads.

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• 

  Napunani

  Legend

  Jun. 23, 2022

  Lake Powhatan — National Forests In North Carolina

  Shade, Shade and more Shade!

  PROS 

  Discounted camp fee with senior pass 

  Reserved 169 days prior to arriving 

  Friendly and helpful gate attendant 

  Nearly 100% shade at each site 

  Excellent dark sky viewing 

  Private sites with large space along with vegetation between sites 

  Very quiet 

  Asphalt parking pad surrounded with bean size gravel 

  Concrete picnic table 

  Metal fire pit with cooking grate 

  2 hook lantern pole 

  Electric at water connection for heated water hose connection 

  Recycle bins in campground loop 

  Trash dumpsters immediately out of campground loop 

  Firewood for sale but gate attendant told us to buy at Ingles (grocery store) where it is $3 bundle cheaper and we did! 

  Next to North Carolina Arboretum 

  Close to Asheville Outlet Mall and Camping World 

  CONS 

  3 bear sitings a day prior to our arrival in campground, according to gate attendant 

  No overnight gate closure even tho RULES proved at check-in stated gates closed at 10pm, but no open hours in RULES

   Lakeview site 38 not level 

  Up hill sewer connection at Lakeview site 38 

  Fire ring not cleared of ash upon our arrival 

  Non-moveable concrete picnic table and beyond camper awning 

  2 toilets and 2 showers for entire Lakeview Loop (21 campsites). There were lines! 

  Low hanging tree branches over roadways and roadside tree branches over roadways so it was a maneuvering obstacle challenge to not scrape camper roof and sides Campground roads narrow with tight curves along with roadway asphalt dropped off to steep shoulders; could be challenging to novice rig drivers (as we witnessed that more than once) 

  Two-and- a-half-mile drive on a twisty hilly road through residential neighborhood to get to the campground 

  No WiFi 

  1 bar Verizon

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• 

  Thomas R.

  Traveler

  Oct. 28, 2021

  Sarah's Creek Campground (Clayton, Ga) — Chattahoochee Oconee National Forest

  Amazing place

  We arrived Late afternoon took the road about 3 1/2 miles to our site which has a small waterfall actually there are three waterfalls here next to our site the one that can be seen easily the other two a little bit harder to get to by foot but we’ll worth the walk. The was water extremely cold couldn’t stay in it for more than five minutes. Most roads up here are only dirt and helpful if you have 4 Wheel Dr. to get to certain secluded areas we saw blackbear no venomous snakes but did come across a few black racers. As for firewood you can scrounge around there for branches and such but better to buy the wood out on the main stretch in Clayton the town outside of warwoman wildlife management area. We paid $125 for a 8 foot bed of semi seasoned split wood also known as a cord that lasted us the 4 days of tent camping. There are a few places before you head into warwoman wildlife management area that sell wood for a nites fire. There were no bugs and the temperatures were in the low 50s at night and mid 70s during the day. The fall leaves where a little late to show there true colors but still beautiful. Most sites have bear proof food containers that you can utilize and very heavy well built picnic tables. We had a restroom near us that is like portable toilets with toilet paper provided. No internet service but did find certain areas on the roads up there that you could use your cell phone. The only running water is the creeks and no electricity. Everyone we meet had kids and that was during the weekend. No body was camping there during the weekdays.

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• 

  Tommy S.

  Ranger

  Sep. 17, 2022

  Coneross Park Campground

  Lakeside campground

  This campground is huge. A lot of the campsites are close together, but we snagged a site along the west side of the campground, where there’s a little more privacy and seclusion.

  Being right on the water was amazing, the water was so warm and being able to swim from your site is pretty cool. This site had some stairs leading from the parking spot to the site, then slopes down to the lake.

  Dogs need to always be on leash and there’s no alcohol allowed, which is a bit of a bummer.

  Spigots and bathhouse was convenient, except no soap by the sinks.

• 

  Myron C.

  Legend

  Jul. 31, 2020

  Table Rock State Park Campground

  State Park with Beautiful Views

  Table Rock State Park is a large park with at least three“campgrounds.” One is a primitive campground, and one is a traditional campground. I did not get to explore the third campground, but I believe it is a traditional campground as well. The site I stayed at, site 56, was level, except for the approach; however, the pad was rough gravel. I put down two tarps under my tent to help eliminate the roughness inside the tent. The site was shaded and wasn’t too close to my camping neighbors, but the biggest problem was dealing with the ants—big black ants, small black ants, and other tiny ants. There was no lantern pole, but there was a fire pit and a picnic table. The bath house was only a short walking distance away. There is no lack of things to do, and the trail system is extraordinary. The main attraction, I would guess, is Table Rock Mountain, but there are other things to do. There is a swimming beach and a diving platform. Beside the beach are picnic tables, including a picnic shelter with a standing grill. The visitors center/store was well stocked with souvenirs and supplies, and there is a laundry next to it. Sometime during the night when I had to go to the restroom, I discovered that there was not water. The next morning, I turned on the faucet at my campsite, and it sputtered out brown water at first and then it came out clear. I said that to say this. There was a problem and they dealt with it quickly. That impressed me. The heat and humidity was almost unbearable, but nothing can be done about that during the summer. If you camp in a tent during the summer, make sure to take and extension cord and a fan. Overall, this is a great place to camp during vacation, but the cost is a little more than I expected to pay for a tent site. Costwise, I’m not sure I would want to pay that much for camping for a whole week. It rivals the national campground franchises. However, if cost doesn’t concern you, it really is a good place to camp.

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• 

  Myron C.

  Legend

  Oct. 31, 2020

  Burrells Ford

  Nice Place to Get Away from the Crowds

  To get to this campground, you have to drive two and a half miles down a forest road, and then you hike about a third of a mile to the campsites. You have to backpack in and take everything you need. Make sure to take lots of water or a good water filter. When I first arrived, I was a little disappointed that the pit toilet was not open(I think perhaps due to the pandemic). The hike to the campsites is an easy, slightly downhill roadbed. When I went, it was the perfect time for the black-eyed susans to bloom, so it was a pretty hike. 

  This is a primitive campground, so there is no electricity, drinking water, or sewer hookups. However, it is peaceful, and if you want to get away from the conglomeration of RVs and tent campers, this is great. 

  When I got to my campsite, I was surprised to find a nice large picnic table and lantern pole. Most hike-in sites don’t have these amenities. There was also a hanging system for food since this place is in bear country. The thing I did not like was the gravel pad. It is a good thing I had a freestanding tent that didn’t require tent stakes. The site was really a good one with trees all around and the sounds of the creek, which is a tributary of the Chatooga River. 

  I was the only camper, which from what I understand is unusual. This is partly because school had started and it was during the week. This made it easy to gather firewood, but the wood was wet because of the recent rains. Fortunately, I had a little alcohol stove to cook my meals. 

  The reasons people come to this campground are because of access to water for fishing, the solitude, and King Creek waterfall. The trail to the waterfall is over a half mile (my estimation), and you have to cross a log footbridge. There was a huge downed tree that you also have to cross, but you have to be careful since the log was slimy. 

  Overall, this is a pretty good place to camp, but you can’t just run to your car if you forget something. Well, I guess you could, but it would be a third of a mile slightly uphill. All of your private hygiene has to be done backcountry also, which is not a problem if you are accustomed to backpacking.

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