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Best Tent Camping near Florence, SC

110 Reviews

The region surrounding Florence, South Carolina offers tent campers several distinctive options within driving distance, including the specialized Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge and Princess Ann Access at Lumber River State Park. These tent campgrounds provide varying levels of accessibility and amenities, with Princess Ann located approximately 60 miles southeast of Florence in Orrum, North Carolina. Carolina Sandhills Wildlife Refuge offers a unique tent camping experience but requires special permits for educational groups, researchers, or volunteers participating in service projects.

Walk-in tent sites at Princess Ann campground provide a more secluded experience, particularly sites 7 and 8 which sit directly along the Lumber River. These tent-only camping areas require a short hike from the parking area to reach the campsites. Basic amenities include picnic tables, fire rings, and trash cans that rangers empty daily. The campground features both vault toilets near the parking area and a more developed restroom facility across the lot. Carolina Sandhills, by contrast, offers more primitive tent camping with basic facilities like drinking water, picnic tables, and toilets available for permitted groups.

Tent campers at Princess Ann frequently comment on the exceptional stargazing opportunities and natural soundscape. According to reviews, "You can see tons of stars here at night" though light sleepers should "consider earplugs" due to the active barred owl population. The riverside tent sites provide direct water access for swimming and fishing, though campers note the river bottom is "quite squishy." The campground occasionally experiences periods of extremely low occupancy, with one visitor reporting they had "the park completely to ourselves" as confirmed by the ranger. Backcountry tent camping at Carolina Sandhills requires participation in environmental education or research activities, making it suitable for organized groups seeking a more purposeful outdoor experience rather than casual tent campers.

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Best Tent Sites Near Florence, South Carolina (2)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Florence, SC

4 Photos of 2 Florence Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Florence, SC

110 Reviews of 2 Florence 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.

  • Courtney B.
    Sep. 23, 2019

    Princess Ann — Lumber River State Park

    Lovely little campground on the river

    We used this campground as a stopping point after a trip to Fantasy Lake Water Park.  It's secluded, small, cute, and located right on the Lumber River. 

    Our particular site, PA 7, is one of two right on the river's edge, across from the Naked Landing trail.  Sites 7 & 8 would be perfect for two families to camp together, because they'd have the whole trail area to themselves.  These sites have a bit of hike-in required, in that you can't drive up to them (see my uploaded photo of where the parking lot is in relation to the sites).

    There is a vault toilet near the parking lot ("that's gonna be a no from me, dog") but an actual restroom facility across the parking lot.

    Each of the sites has its own trash can, and a ranger comes by in the morning to empty it.

    The river is nice to swim in after a hot summer's day, although the bottom is quite squishy.  It's a good area to fish or use small watercraft.

    We slept in hammocks and were awoken at dawn by a cacophony of juvenile barred owls directly above us.

  • 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!

  • 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.

  • 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!

  • John P.
    May. 18, 2019

    Lee State Park Campground

    Awesome little spot

    Great little park about 20 minute drive from Florence. Clean bathrooms. My dog was a bit confused by seeing horses for the first time. Super friendly staff.

  • Kami B.
    Jul. 12, 2016

    Little Pee Dee State Park Campground

    Peaceful little park

    After a full two days navigating down through the east coast cities, we landed at Little Pee Dee State park in South Carolina. The driveway is about two miles long, and is a beautiful road with tall pines and oak trees, both decorated with Spanish moss. We stopped at the ranger station to check in and were greeted by a friendly ranger who took our fee of I think only 20 dollers for a camp site. He gave us a park map and we proceeded to go set up camp. We chose a sweet site, not too far from the shower/commode house, but also nice and nestled in the trees. The park was very tidy and well cared for. After a good rest we woke up to birds a chirping and the smell of pines. Off to explore the trails. We found that the trails were easy to navigate. The camp sites are set up next to a large pond. From there the trails basically bring you on a trek around the pond. Many geese and birds are easy to spot as they enjoy the water. The trees are maintained so that they are not too thick. This allowed us to enjoy hunting for various flora. My overall impression of this park is of a well maintained and peaceful park. It is off the highway quite a bit, so the park is not overflowing with people. I would definitely go again.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 26, 2024

    Lumberton I-95 KOA

    Well-Appointed Roadside KOA Along I-95

    When it comes to the artificial 'camping-for-the-masses' line of properties that KOA creates across the country, there’s some definite turn-offs for pure nature enthusiasts such as me, but in some cases, you come across one of their sites that is fairly decent and should not be overlooked. Lumberton KOA, which runs parallel to I-95 in these parts of North Carolina, does not disappoint. In fact, you would be hard-pressed to find a better campground that is just minutes off of I-95 to park yourself for the night. But, to be clear, this place isn’t necessarily a destination – but rather, intended for those enroute to somewhere greater. In short, if you need a good place to park for the night, you will be pleasantly surprised by what you find here at Lumberton KOA.  And if you need something more substantial, well, just keep heading on down the road.

    With a wide-array of 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 of course, the typical KOA office / market that will supply you with just about anything you might be missing. Other amenities include complimentary WiFi, camping kitchens, shuffleboard, propane and firewood for sale. In addition, there’s the standard-issued picnic table, fire ring / grill, garbage receptacles, kid’s playground and even a community BBQ – nearly everything was brand-spanking-new. In particular, I loved the open-air picnic shelters, in-ground heated pool (open from Memorial Day weekend until Halloween) as well as the wooden-framed tent parameters that you’ll find, which discourages pests from encroaching upon your encampment. The KOA hosts were nice, incredibly accommodating and offer pricing by the night, week and month.

    Insider’s tip? (1) As this is certainly NOT a destination, but rather a very nice layover, arrive late, leave early, but while you are here, be sure to get to know the locals you are surrounded by – there’s always a great vibe amongst fellow KOA’ers; (2) Near this RV parking lot, you do have access to Lake Lynn, which has some decent fishing and is a good place to drop a kayak or canoe in for a short spin around its periphery; (3) For the kiddos, if you need to get away and see something a bit more educational then try out Exploration Station in downtown Lumberton; (4) When you grow tired of trying to conjure up that next meal from the depths of your Cordova roto-molded cooler or on-board mini-fridge and want to explore some great local fare, then check out The Governor Place for brisket burger and duck fries with alioli or Happenings on Elm, which has a pretty amazing wine tasting (for these parts), outstanding domestic and international craft beers as well as some pretty great edibles like baked brie crostini and Annette's homemade lasagna.

    Happy Camping!

  • N
    May. 21, 2022

    Cheraw State Park Campground — Cheraw State Park

    Peaceful and uncrowded

    We recently returned from 5 days tent camping at Cheraw. We chose site #8 that was directly on the lake and offered electricity and water. These sites are obviously designed for RV’s with little or no space for tent campers. Although there is a designated tent area, it is back in the woods and not lakefront.

    The minimal room we had was fortunately on the lake shore with wonderful shade trees.  The space was not level and contained some unfriendly exposed tree roots. Fortunately we had an inflatable air bed and the roots weren’t much of a problem. 

    Lake Juniper is quite small and swimming is allowed in a designated area on the far side of the lake. We had inflatable rafts and tied our floats to a tree in front of our site , highly aware that a spillway not too far from our site would prove quite dangerous if one went too close then pulled over.

    The small office on the opposite side of the lake offers ice and wood as well as ice cream, candy etc to satisfy any junk food craving. 10 minutes from the park is an IGA. It offers the basics and a little further out is a Walmart with groceries.

    The bathhouse is currently “ under construction” although we saw no work being done during our stay. One half of the bathhouse had been designated unisex with three locking stalls and curtained showers. There is an interior lock if you choose to have the entire bathhouse all to yourself. I grew up in a family of eight and have no problem sharing a bathroom. The bathhouse has obviously seen a great deal of traffic, is quite dated and poorly ventilated. Hopefully the bathhouse will receive its update soon.  

    The campground host was quite helpful and an all around nice guy. We chatted a bit and he has a very interesting background.

    We would return to Cheraw and confidently reserve #7 or #8 for tents. There are most likely other suitable sites there that escaped my notice.

Guide to Florence

The tent camping options near Florence, South Carolina extend beyond the immediate city limits, with sites available within a 60-mile radius. The region contains a mix of state parks and wildlife refuges that offer both primitive and developed tent camping experiences. Campers can expect humid subtropical conditions with hot summers where temperatures regularly exceed 90°F and mild winters with occasional freezing temperatures.

What to do

River activities: At Princess Ann in Lumber River State Park, campers can access the Lumber River directly for swimming, fishing, or paddling. One visitor notes, "Good spot for camping or hiking or kayaking you can do it all" while enjoying the riverside setting.

Wildlife observation: Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge offers unique environmental education opportunities. According to one researcher, camping permits are available for "the purpose of environmental education programs and research activity" where "school groups and youth groups are welcome to visit the preserve for ranger led programs."

Night sky viewing: The rural location of many campgrounds provides excellent stargazing conditions. At Princess Ann, one camper described the experience: "It's lovely to sit by the water and look at the night sky."

What campers like

Natural soundscape: The campgrounds near Florence offer rich natural sounds, particularly bird calls. At Princess Ann, visitors mentioned the active owl population: "There's a lot of owls here at night... the owls do get kind of rowdy at points making a racket."

Secluded atmosphere: Some campers appreciate the opportunity for solitude. One visitor to Princess Ann reported, "We had the privilege of having the park COMPLETELY to ourselves... the ranger confirmed that we were the only campers that night!"

Educational opportunities: For groups seeking educational experiences, Carolina Sandhills offers specialized camping access. A visitor describes it as a "unique outdoor learning opportunity" where camping groups "must contact the station to obtain a permit" and are "required to do some kind of service learning project while in residence."

What you should know

Access restrictions: Not all campgrounds allow general public camping. At Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge, one visitor clarifies: "Camping to the general public is not permitted here unless you're in a group, or volunteering." However, special arrangements exist for educational groups and researchers.

Varying site layouts: Some tent sites require walking from parking areas. At Princess Ann, sites 7 and 8 "have a bit of hike-in required, in that you can't drive up to them" according to a visitor who noted the distance between parking and campsite locations.

Bathroom facilities: Restroom quality varies between campgrounds. One camper at Princess Ann mentioned the vault toilet near the parking lot with the comment "that's gonna be a no from me, dog" but noted "an actual restroom facility across the parking lot."

Tips for camping with families

River conditions: Families planning to swim should be aware of river bottom conditions. One camper at Lumber River State Park mentioned that while "the river is nice to swim in after a hot summer's day," they found "the bottom is quite squishy."

Site selection for groups: For families camping together, specific sites offer better arrangements. At Princess Ann, "Sites 7 & 8 would be perfect for two families to camp together, because they'd have the whole trail area to themselves."

Pack for sound: Families with light sleepers should prepare accordingly when tent camping near Florence. One camper recommends: "If you are a light sleeper you may want to consider ear plugs" due to the active wildlife, particularly owls.

Tips from RVers

Limited hookup options: The best tent camping near Florence, South Carolina includes some sites with RV amenities, but availability is restricted. Princess Ann offers electric hookups with both fifty-amp and thirty-amp options, plus water and sewer connections for campers needing these facilities.

Size restrictions: The campgrounds near Florence generally don't accommodate large RVs. None of the reviewed campgrounds are marked as big-rig friendly, making these locations better suited for tent campers or those with smaller camper vans and trailers.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

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