Camping near Beaufort, South Carolina provides easy access to both coastal shorelines and inland forest settings within 50 miles of the historic city. The subtropical climate creates comfortable winter camping conditions with temperatures rarely dropping below freezing, though summer months bring high humidity and temperatures consistently above 90°F. Mosquitoes are prevalent year-round but especially active April through October during evening hours.
What to do
Beach access year-round: Edisto Beach State Park Campground offers direct beach access with exceptional shelling opportunities. "Steps from the ocean. The Beach campground was just steps from the ocean. Opt for sites 1-12 or 50-75. Bathrooms were great. Shelling was incredible-especially if you walk towards the inlet around low tide," notes Katie F.
Cycling trails: At Skidaway Island State Park Campground, paved paths provide excellent biking opportunities throughout the 643-acre property. "This place is Great! I went there with my family about a month ago, they have hiking trails, bike trails, a nature center and plenty of room for kids to ride bikes," shares Marysa H.
Historical exploration: Fort McAllister State Park Campground offers Civil War history with fort tours and interpretive trails. One camper mentioned, "Visitor Center was really interesting and the staff were very knowledgeable and helpful," while another added, "The tent pads are large and easily held two tents. The sunrise was beautiful over the marsh."
What campers like
Private campsites: Campground at James Island County Park offers secluded sites despite proximity to Charleston. "The sites aren't huge but are clean and convenient to camp store and trails. 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," reports Greg S.
Wildlife viewing: Edisto Beach State Park provides opportunities to observe coastal wildlife in natural habitats. Kevin A. reports, "Amy and I have camped at the Live Oak section of the park multiple times. We love it. Trails for bike rides or walks. Close to beach. Great staff. Private campsites."
Riverside camping: Givhans Ferry State Park Campground sits directly on the Edisto River with kayaking access. "Small but nice park on the river," notes one camper, while another adds, "Small campground not far from Charleston and very close to Bee City Zoo. This campground has several shelters one with a fireplace at both ends."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Summer brings intense heat and insects to coastal glamping in Beaufort, South Carolina. At Fort McAllister, "In all fairness we stayed at this campground in the hottest part of the summer at a time when they obviously had not finished cleaning up from a devastating hurricane that hit them last year. Some of the sites had a lot of debris still on them. Huge mosquitoes. May try back when it's cooler."
Campsite spacing: The RV sites at River's End Campground & RV Park are notably close together. "The campsite is very clean, and has really friendly employees. Why I gave it three stars: The spots are stacked on top of each other, and it's all gravel. We had to walk pretty far to get to a grassy spot so my dog could pee," reports Alana F.
Cell service gaps: Connectivity can be limited at several parks around Beaufort. At Givhans Ferry State Park, one camper noted, "This is a great park. The only issue is no cell service at least for us and we use att and Google fi," while another mentioned, "Nice but no cell coverage - no cell phone signal for T-Mobile and no wifi in campground, definitely need to wear your bug repellent."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly infrastructure: Parks near Beaufort offer numerous facilities for children. At Skidaway Island State Park, "This campground is a lovely place to visit. It's absolutely beautiful, it's close to Savannah, and it is a great value," with another camper adding, "We stayed at Skidaway Island State Park for 4 nights in May. Even thought the park was full (Memorial Day weekend), it never felt crowded."
Biking opportunities: Edisto Beach State Park provides safe biking areas for children. "We camped here during the winter and had fun. This campsite is perfect for riding bikes around," mentions Aimee M. Another camper adds, "Edisto has a beach camping area and a wooded area. The option for RV or tent camping without all the excessive price."
Wildlife awareness: Teach children about local wildlife encounters. At Fort McAllister, "I spent three night at Fort McAllister in the tent side of the campground. The bath house has 4 private stalls with showers. The tent pads are large and easily held two tents. When I was here in April the flies were awful but they went away when the sun went down. Haha but that's when the Raccoons come out to play! Do NOT leave food or trash unattended or they will ransack your campsite."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: At New Green Acres RV Park, expect grass surfaces rather than concrete pads. "This park has really really long spaces. It's great for when towing a long trailer too but be mindful that there is a whole pile of trees. So when making reservations make sure you let them know you need something long but also easily accessible too," advises Mike F.
Dump station location: Check facility placement before setting up. At Edisto Beach State Park, one camper noted, "Only negative dump site is a mile up main road," while another mentioned, "In all fairness we stayed at this campground in the hottest part of the summer at a time when they obviously had not finished cleaning up from a devastating hurricane that hit them last year."
Highway proximity: Some Beaufort area glamping sites sit near major roads. At New Green Acres, "Very convenient location off of I-95 but very noisy even inside your camper. There is no wifi, the laundry doesn't work and the bath houses wouldn't even open with code. For a nightly stay it is good," shares Kim T.
