Glamping near Plum Branch, South Carolina occurs in a humid subtropical climate with mild winters and hot summers. The area sits at approximately 330 feet above sea level along the shores of Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill Lake), one of the largest artificial lakes east of the Mississippi covering 71,000 acres with 1,200 miles of shoreline. Clay and red soil dominate the terrain, requiring proper tent stakes and setup considerations during rainy periods from March through August.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Lake Thurmond offers excellent bass fishing. Winfield Campground provides direct lake access with retaining walls at some sites. "This is a great family campground on a beautiful lake with most sites directly on the water. Our boys kayaked all weekend," reports a visitor at Winfield Campground.
Golf courses nearby: Several campgrounds offer golf access for visitors seeking land-based recreation. At Hickory Knob State Park Resort, a visitor noted, "We went specifically to golf, and had a great round. You do need to reserve a tee time."
Specialized recreation: Many parks offer unique sporting facilities beyond standard camping activities. One visitor at Hickory Knob mentioned, "They have it all. Golf, swimming, axe throwing, archery, skeet shooting. Trails for hiking/biking."
Evening stargazing: Dark skies away from urban light pollution make stargazing excellent at many campgrounds in the area. A camper at Mistletoe State Park reported, "We saw lots of wild life, lots of stars at night (gets really dark at night)."
What campers like
Spacious, private sites: Most campgrounds feature good site separation with natural barriers. At Mistletoe State Park, a visitor observed, "Sites had water, electric, concrete table, fire ring, and lantern hook. Not much barrier between sites but sites were good size just open."
Tranquil water views: Waterfront sites provide direct visual access to the lake. A camper at Raysville Campground shared, "Sunset at this site was amazing. We had a couple hammocks up, our tent and had a fire going both days."
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathhouses and camping areas receive frequent positive comments. A camper at Winfield noted, "Beautiful campground! Our site right on the water. Very clean and well kept. Very friendly."
Walk-in tent options: Several parks offer walk-in tent sites for more seclusion. At Mistletoe State Park, a visitor detailed, "The best site is definitely #2 -- feet from the water, spacious, suitable for more than one tent or hammock (better for tents as it is mostly open, but there are places for hammocks along the edges)."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Water activities are best from late spring to early fall. A visitor to Baker Creek State Park advised, "If the water is low like it was when I was here, the lake water was not accessible -- you'd have to trudge through 50 fifty feet of mud to get to it and you'd probably get swallowed or it would really suck anyway. So save #3 for the springtime only I think."
Insect preparation: The humid environment supports active insect populations, especially during summer months. A camper at Baker Creek warned, "All of these sites are in the forest and I'm sure it is quite buggy almost always, so be prepared with thermacells, bug nets, etc."
Road conditions: Access roads to some campgrounds require careful driving. A reviewer noted at Baker Creek, "Caution here and throughout the entire park: there are some incredibly bad roads, complete with 3rd world pot holes."
Water filtration: Lake water requires treatment before drinking. One camper at Mistletoe State Park advised, "The lake is silty -- pre-filtering recommended if you are using a filter."
Tips for camping with families
Water access considerations: Evaluate site elevation relative to the water when booking. At Elijah Clark State Park, a visitor recounted, "We do advise if your in a tent maybe not taking a direct lakefront spot because we literally had to tie down our tent to anything including our car because it got so windy from the winds across the lake."
Kid-friendly swimming areas: Some campgrounds offer designated swimming beaches with gentler entry points. A camper at Winfield Campground mentioned the "Great beach area as well. One of our favorites!"
Fishing gear for children: Some parks offer loaner equipment for young anglers. A visitor to Mistletoe State Park noted, "We had cabin 5 and walked to the water. Free fishing pole for kids."
On-site recreation options: Several parks provide playground facilities. At Baker Creek, a visitor mentioned, "Lastly, just beyond the campground there's a main campground building that has a pretty new kid's playground adjacent to it."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for RVs: Choose sites based on your specific equipment needs. At Plum Branch RV Park, a visitor detailed, "Still being upgraded, so newish pad was still soft but pretty level. Sewer pipes stick out a good 6 or 8 inches. Electric posts are new but have a meter right below plugs, so surge suppressor gets to hang sideways."
Cellular connectivity: Service varies by provider around Lake Thurmond. An RVer at Plum Branch RV Park tracked multiple carriers: "Cricket: 7.98dn, 0.84up; ATT: 27.69, 0.3 up; Visible: 7.2dn, 1.2up; Verizon: 44.9dn, 1.88 up; T-mobile mifi: no 4g nor 5G service."
Electrical hookup details: Most parks offer multiple electrical options. At Mistletoe State Park, a camper noted, "Over 70 sights with 30 amp, and water service, plenty of road side gray water dumps between sights and TWO dump stations."
Backing challenges: Some sites require careful maneuvering. A visitor to Hickory Knob observed, "Some sites are challenging to back into but worth the effort."
