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Tent Camping near St. Matthews, SC

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    SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

    Congaree National Park provides the primary tent camping options near St. Matthews, South Carolina, with two distinct tent campgrounds - Longleaf Campground and Bluff Hike In Campground. Located approximately 24 miles northwest of St. Matthews in Hopkins, these primitive tent setups offer affordable camping at $5 per night within the old-growth forest ecosystem of South Carolina's only national park. The campgrounds serve as gateways to explore the park's unique floodplain environment with its diverse wildlife and ancient trees.

    All tent sites at Congaree require walk-in access from designated parking areas. Longleaf Campground features ten individual tent sites with sites 1-3 being closest to the parking lot (about 20-100 yards), while sites 4-10 require longer walks. The Bluff campground involves a more substantial one-mile hike from the parking area. Campsites include fire rings and picnic tables, but amenities are limited with only vault toilets available at the parking lots. No potable water exists at either campground, so campers must bring their own or fill containers at the visitor center. One camper noted, "You need to be prepared to carry things. The walk into Bluff campground is further than Longleaf."

    The tent-only environment creates a secluded camping experience with spacious sites offering good separation between neighbors. Sites are situated on natural terrain with tree roots throughout the camping areas, which can make tent placement challenging. Summer visitors should prepare for intense heat, humidity, and abundant insects, particularly during warmer months. A visitor commented, "The primitive campground can be quite possibly one of the quietest places you ever camp depending on the season." Campers frequently praise the boardwalk trail system, which provides excellent wildlife viewing opportunities even at night. The synchronous fireflies in late May/early June represent a special natural phenomenon that draws many tent campers to the park. Cell service is available with Verizon reporting at least one bar throughout the campground and visitor center areas.

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    Best Tent Campgrounds near St. Matthews (3)

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      1. Longleaf Campground — Congaree National Park

      4.1(30)12mi from St. Matthews16 sitesTents

      "Our time at Congaree was different from the other national parks we visited, because South Carolina had just undergone major flooding and much of Congaree -- especially its trails -- were under water."

      "The campground is primitive. There are 10 single sites that you have to walk into from the parking lot. Not a very long walk but just enough to feel secluded from traffic and other people."

      from $15 - $25 / night

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      2. Bluff Hike In Campground — Congaree National Park

      Be the first to review12mi from St. Matthews6 sitesTents

      from $10 / night

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      3. Blythewood Acres

      5.0(1)40mi from St. Matthews1 siteRVs, Tents

      from $45 - $55 / night

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    Recent Tent Camping Photos near St. Matthews, SC

    9 Photos of 3 St. Matthews Campgrounds

    Tent Camping Reviews near St. Matthews, SC

    358 Reviews of 3 St. Matthews Campgrounds

    • Hannah W.
      Mar. 11, 2022

      Poinsett State Park Campground

      Great stay!

      Stayed here for a few nights with a friend for spring break. The staff were very friendly and answered all the questions that we had. We were tent camping and the campsite was perfect! Had a picnic table, fire ring, plenty of space to pull the car in, level ground for the tent, and trees for hammocking. The bathroom facilities were very clean, and were right by the campsites. In terms of activities, there are plenty of hiking trails and a beautiful lake right in front of the visitor center. We rented a paddleboat and got to see some wildlife on the water (cranes, turtles, and even a couple little gators). Overall, this was a perfect state park, great for a quiet getaway.

      (Side note: the bugs were practically nonexistent in March when we visited, but we were told that they can get bad in the summer months)

    • D
      Nov. 19, 2021

      Sesquicentennial State Park Campground

      Campsite 41 was poorly planned and maintained

      Pros The pond was beautiful, nice walking trail for beginners, would never consider this a hiking park. Location was close to Colombia and all it offers. Bathhouse was acceptable but nothing to brag about. Toilets were three flushers is you cared about the next guy.

      Cons Guessing I may have had the worst site (41) but walking through there were others similar. Site 41 is a pull through lot which declines quickly upon entry and is marred by deep ra9n crevices. You then incline to the area you should probably land as there is an obvious flat spot. Unfortunately in you stop there, your camper door will open on the neighboring fire ring which is the only fire ring on the back side of the neighboring spot in in the fore ground of yours. Asinine. I had to manipulate my camper for an hour to a spot level enough yet not in my neighbor's fire and dealt with a large tree and had to tie back branches to extend my awning. Uggg

      Effing covid. The state of South Carolina, the City of Columbia don't have mask mandates. But this state park requires a mask to pee in the urinal. The boss says the county still mandates it.

    • SwitchbackKids
      Jun. 29, 2017

      Longleaf Campground — Congaree National Park

      Bluff Campground the way to go for quiet, peaceful park oasis

      Having been on the road for about three months before coming to Congaree, we were happy to arrive to such a quiet and tucked-away campground. For $5 per night, Bluff Campground was the perfect spot to hole up for a few days and relax surrounded by the old growth forest of Congaree National Park.

      Our time at Congaree was different from the other national parks we visited, because South Carolina had just undergone major flooding and much of Congaree -- especially its trails -- were under water.

      With no crowds and not much to explore, our three days in the park was very relaxing. We chose Bluff Campground -- a one-mile walk-in campground near the visitor center -- because we knew it would be less popular than Longleaf Campground, and we knew we’d be spending a lot of time there. The one mile hike seemed further than we thought because of our heavy loads, but once we arrived at our camp, set up our tent, chairs, hammocks, and slack line, we were able to just make the easy walk in and out each day.

      The campground itself has no facilities; its only amenities are the fire ring and picnic table at each site. We encountered only one other camper in our two nights here. We did encounter many mosquitoes, though, so don’t forget bug spray!

      At Congaree, there are several hiking trails and kayaking trails that we would have liked to do, but with our plans foiled by rain, we spent time at the visitor center, around the short boardwalk trail adjacent to the visitor center, and kayaking through the flooded plains, straight off the boardwalk.

      You can read much more about our three days in the park on our blog: Switchback Kids (Congaree)

    • Thomas H.
      Mar. 21, 2022

      Weston Lake Recreation Area

      Peaceful

      I was stationed at Jackson from’07-‘09 and the only thing that has really changed is the dam is being worked on so you can only observe the lake, no swimming, boating, anything on the lake until repairs are completed. The receptionist said they’ve been working on it for maybe 4 years. Hopefully it’ll be completed sooner than later. The grounds could be kept up a little better as could the restrooms/bath houses but I imagine they lost some revenue due to the lake being closed for dam repairs.

      There isn’t any concerns getting back here, the biggest rigs will not have any problems. All sites are large concrete pads, FHU. Most sites are spaced very well, some better than others but you won’t be on top of anyone whichever site you’re at. They have a large concrete patio area, nearly the size of the pad itself with a picnic table and fire pit/grill and stand alone grill.

      Verizon cell coverage is adequate. I had 2 bars and LTE, sometimes 5G. Not like being in the city but sufficient. No wifi.

      There are cabins and tent sites as well. This isn’t a large campground but there were still a few open spaces.

      There will be various bugle calls throughout, morning, day and night. You may hear firing range training going on in the distance. You should expect this and it should not be seen as negative, you’re on a military campground.

      Current RV site price a night is $35, if you have a National park pass it’s $32.50. Despite the lake being off limits right now I will still come back. Once it’s opened back up I’m sure it will be more busy, right now it’s very peaceful.

    • Maria Mercedes M.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 27, 2025

      Dreher Island State Park Campground

      Family Adventures on Lake Murray

      I loved how Dreher Island State Park in South Carolina gave our family the best of both safety and fun, with shaded, roomy sites that included picnic tables, fire rings and well-kept bathhouses that made camping easy with kids. The campground sits right on Lake Murray, so the kids spent hours swimming, skipping rocks and spotting herons, while short hiking trails gave them just enough adventure without wearing them out. With boat ramps, fishing spots and wide-open lake views, it felt like a true escape, yet I had peace of mind knowing everything was family-friendly and close by when we needed it. Evenings ended around the campfire with tired, happy kids and a beautiful lakeside sunset.  I would highly recommend this place!

    • Melissa W.
      Jul. 18, 2021

      Givhans Ferry State Park Campground

      Nice Primitive camping area

      I like the primitive camping area. The bathroom and water source is nearby, as well as a pavilion/shelter. There are three sections, with multiple areas for camping in each one. Each has 2-3 tables and a fire ring. 

      I hammock camp, and there are plenty of trees useful for this purpose. This is primitive, so there is no electrical or water spout, although the bathroom has both. There is a 1 1/2 mile walking trail nearby, that runs along the Edisto River.

      I haven't actually frequented the other camping areas: RV drive-up and walk-in, so I can't review them.

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

      Dreher Island State Park Campground

      Lakeside Island Camping Paradise

      In my never-ending quest to discover the most perfect campground haven, after a rather intense amount of research, I landed on Dreher Island smack dab in the very center of South Carolina, where my daughter and I spent this past Labor Day weekend – our annual daughter & daddy camping trip – along with another very good family friends of ours. And while we’ve camped out in South Carolina before – and have been very pleasantly delighted by what the great Palmetto State has been able to offer us, we were in store for a real treat here at Dreher Island. 

      To begin with, Dreher sets amongst a number of islands in the midst of one of South Carolina’s most pristine and largest (50,000 acres) natural waterparks – Lake Murray. If you are looking for a campground destination that has a tremendous amount to offer, than look no further than Dreher Island. First of all, you’re on a proper island, so here’s what that means – nearly every single campsite here has either direct lake access or, at a minimum, a brilliant lakeview. One bit of warning would be that while the view is impeccable, the winds can be strong, and as we found out one hard, rainy and windy night, if you are camping here with a tent, you’ll want to stake your abode down with as many lines as you quite possibly can. Ultimately, we tied our cabin tent down with more than 20 lines around our makeshift abode and we still felt a howling wind each night that had us think at times that we were reshooting the tornado scene in ‘The Wizard of Oz!’ 

      As for amenities, there’s a ton: from the marina that this SP manages, where there’s a solid mini-mart (that has you covered on just about every front, from snacks and firewood to boat rentals (book WAY in advance if you want to rent anything!), ice, T-shirts and bait ... but you will want to note that there is NOT much in the way of actual groceries here) to picnic shelters and recreation pavilions, both hiking and biking trails as well as some of the most amazing water to canoe and kayak on as well as an amazing tackle loaner program – that’s right! You don’t even have to bring your own fishing pole and gear– the State of SC has this amazing program where they’ll lend you whatever you need. 

      Of course, all of the campsites come equipped with a fire ring and pull-down BBQ grill, nice level back-in paved sites (unfortunately, despite being tent campers, we only had a single slot to choose from, which was an RV site, so we pitched directly on top of the pavement – not ideal, but not the end of the world either). Each campsite has solid space, although there’s not a ton of privacy offered between campsites (really the only downside to our whole experience). The bathroom / shower facilities were just OK, but fairly clean and just a short hike from our campsite. 

      The greatest point to highlight about Dreher Island is the impeccable way in which the good rangers here take spartan great care of this magnificent campground jewel. But of course, Murray Lake itself is the real draw and she does not disappoint. My daughter and I, as well as the family who joined us, spent 90% of our time on the lake swimming, paddle-boarding, kayaking and enjoying one of the best lakes we’ve ever experienced. 

      Other amenities that you’ll appreciate: tons of shoreline for boat fishing opportunities  and what you will normally catch will include: largemouth and stripers, catfish, bream, crappie and yellow perch.  You should note however that you will need a proper SC state fishing license to catch any fish.  Other plus-ups include: playgrounds for the kids, complimentary WiFi (only near the park store though). 

      A couple insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you need anything at all, it’s just a 15 minute drive to the nearby quaint town of Chapin, where there’s a Lowes, Publix, Food Lion and Walgreen’s, Dollar General, Ace, etc.;(2) When/ if you get tired of cooking campside, then there’s a few great options (also in Chapin), where we dined at Chophouse, which was supremely awesome (side note: we were incredibly welcomed to this smart, upmarket restaurant despite showing up in our camping gear); (3) Looking for a nice spot for some late night suds? Lazy Creek Taphouse has you covered and has an outstanding outdoor vibe that will be sure to leave you with a memorable ‘Low Country’ backyard memory; and (4) if you are wanting to know the absolute best camping spot while at Dreher Island, while there are only 15 sites for tent campers, I recommend one of two places: the lakefront views of T-4 through T-7, where there’s 4 platforms perfectly set-up for large tents and that have easy access to the restrooms and showers just behind them … and T-11 through T-14, which are nothing except ‘pure tent camping bliss’ with simply fantastic, unobstructed views of Lake Murray. 

      Happy Camping!

    • M
      Jun. 23, 2018

      Longleaf Campground — Congaree National Park

      Congaree National Park Longleaf Campground

      If you like seclusion this campground is for you. The campground is primitive. There are 10 single sites that you have to walk into from the parking lot. Not a very long walk but just enough to feel secluded from traffic and other people. It has no showers, vault toilets and no running water. There is potable water at the visitor center and also flush toilets. The trails are very nice and well kept. Depending on when you go you may be the only ones on the trail. The wildlife is very neat it makes you feel like you are in a mini rainforest. There are snakes, skinks, lots of birds, insects and fox squirrels.

    • Matt C.
      Oct. 30, 2021

      Poinsett State Park Campground

      Nice state park

      We tent camped for the weekend in mid October. The park was probably 80% full, but didn’t seem crowded. All the spaces were spread out and the sites were level. We stayed at site 30, so it was a close walk to the bathhouse, with plenty of space, picnic table, and fire ring. The bathhouse was in fair condition, but the hot water was limited. The mens bathroom definitely needed to be cleaned. There were lots of trails, a pond, and a park for thing to do. T-mobile service barely worked. Check out our review https://youtu.be/pL1zgad0rN0

    Guide to St. Matthews

    Tent camping near St. Matthews, South Carolina centers around Congaree National Park, the only old-growth floodplain forest protected in the United States. The park contains over 26,000 acres of wilderness with some of the tallest trees in eastern North America, reaching heights of 130-160 feet. Camping options in this region require preparation for the unique lowland terrain that can experience flooding during heavy rainfall periods.

    What to do

    Nighttime boardwalk exploration: Visit the elevated boardwalk trails after dark to experience a different perspective of Congaree National Park's ecosystem. "The first night got a lot of rain and storms and several of the campers from sites farther back left saying they were flooded out. Our site did have some water during the storm but it was gone by morning," notes a camper at Longleaf Campground.

    Wildlife observation: Look for various native species including lizards, frogs, and birds throughout the park. "The fireflies were very pretty and interesting. We saw other wildlife around the campground too. A lizard during a walk during the day. Many frogs during the rain at night," reports a visitor who stayed at Longleaf Campground.

    Ancient tree viewing: Hike the trails to see some of the largest specimens of bald cypress, water tupelo, and loblolly pine trees in the Southeast. "Pristine, but organized trails near the Consgree river and Swamp. Lots of wildlife and ancient trees on the trails," explains one camper about their experience at Blythewood Acres.

    What campers like

    Spacious, private sites: Tent campers appreciate the separation between camping spots at Congaree's campgrounds. "Good amount of space between all spaces. Sites 1-3 are the easiest to get to. We were at site 7, it took about 250 steps from the parking lot to our site. All sites have lots of shade," notes a reviewer at Longleaf Campground.

    Natural soundscape: The nocturnal chorus of frogs and other wildlife creates a unique camping atmosphere. "The campground is next to a pond that gets rather loud at night. I never knew frogs/toads could be so loud," shares one camper from their experience at Longleaf Campground.

    Synchronous firefly viewing: Late May to early June brings the special natural light show of synchronous fireflies. "We camped here to see the synchronous fireflies, and loved our stay! The group site was plenty big enough for all of the children, the hiking was excellent, and the fireflies were one of the most magical things I've ever seen," reports an enthusiastic visitor.

    What you should know

    Site accessibility: Camping at Congaree requires walking gear from parking areas to sites, with varying distances. "Ten site campground, all walk in. Sites 1 and 2 fairly short distance to walk. Campsites are spacious and clean," explains a camper at Bluff Hike In Campground.

    Restroom facilities: Toilet options are limited to vault toilets in the parking areas or flush toilets at the visitor center. "The vault toilet was disgusting, covered in splattered poop and very smelly. I sometimes drove to the visitor center to use the flush toilet and sink there," reports one camper about their experience.

    Water availability: No potable water exists directly at the campsites, requiring planning. "I never did figure out where the spigot was at the visitor center, but I didn't ask anyone (was going to fill up the morning we left, but they weren't open/staffed yet)," notes a visitor regarding water access.

    Tips for camping with families

    Bring a wagon: Transport gear more easily between parking and campsites, especially with children. "Definitely bring a wagon for packing your stuff in and prepare to be eaten alive by deer flies everywhere you go! The heat in June is also pretty bad, so having to go back and forth out to your vehicle to bring your stuff in and out is very difficult," advises a family who stayed at Longleaf Campground.

    Choose sites 1-3 for easier access: The closest sites to parking are best for families with young children or lots of gear. "If you don't want to walk far, get campsite #1. It's right next to the parking lot and closest to the bathrooms," recommends a camper from their experience at Longleaf Campground.

    Pack bug protection: Insect repellent is essential, particularly in warmer months. "This is a small campground. It's National Park so there are no amenities. Walk in sites. Lots of bugs so come prepared," warns a camper who visited during peak insect season.

    Tips from RVers

    Limited RV options: The St. Matthews area has few dedicated RV camping facilities near Congaree. "Ashley here with The Dyrt, welcoming your host Mark! Water, sewer, power and dump station on site! These sites are level and waiting for your RV. Book them today and leave them some love," notes a review of Blythewood Acres, one of the few options with RV hookups in the region.

    Consider nearby convenience stores: Stock up before arrival, but emergency supplies can be found nearby. "There is a convenience store with sandwiches, ice, beer, and groceries in Gadsden 8 min away which was convenient. Just a couple minutes from Congaree national park," shares a camper from their experience in the area.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular tent campsite near St. Matthews, SC?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near St. Matthews, SC is Longleaf Campground — Congaree National Park with a 4.1-star rating from 30 reviews.

    What is the best site to find tent camping near St. Matthews, SC?

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

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