Santee, South Carolina sits at the convergence of Lakes Marion and Moultrie, part of the state's largest freshwater resource known as the Santee Cooper Lakes system. These bodies of water were created in the 1940s when the Santee River was dammed, resulting in over 450 miles of shoreline throughout the region. Camping sites near Santee remain accessible during winter months when temperatures typically range from 35°F to 60°F, making it a practical year-round destination.
What to do
Kayaking opportunities: Taw Caw Campground offers direct water access for paddlers with convenient beaching options near campsites. As one visitor notes, "Bring your boat, Kayak or canoe and beach it at your campsite. Not all sites are water front so reserve them while they last."
Wildlife observation: Bells Marina & Resort provides chances to view native wildlife from your campsite. A visitor reported, "I had a great view of the water and was able to watch wildlife every day, from white herons to bald eagles."
Fishing pier access: Taw Caw Campground includes dedicated fishing structures with practical amenities. "Outstanding opportunity to fish from the fishing pier that includes a cleaning station. The camp store offers live bait and limited tackle," according to a reviewer.
Island camping excursion: Lakeside Marina & Resort features a unique primitive camping experience. "The real find here is the small island that sits directly across from the marina, where there are endless tent camping options...a short little canoe ride and you're back in civilization."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Cypress View Campground at Santee State Park receives praise for its maintenance. One camper mentioned, "Very nice campground. Has boat docks & launching ramp. Nice fishing pier. Clean bathrooms. Staff friendly and helpful."
Winter availability: The Lakeshore Campground provides spacious sites with minimal crowding during colder months. A visitor noted, "Campground had tons of room in December. We were right on the lake. Easy park to walk and explore."
Reliable hookups: Santee Lakes KOA offers well-functioning services for RVs. "The camping sites are nice, and some are level. Hookups are convenient, and work well. Lake is beautiful, and even had wooden chairs for use," according to one reviewer.
Trash services: Outside Inn Campground provides convenient waste removal. As mentioned in a review, "We had trash pickup and sites were easily navigable. Big park with a nice views of the water."
What you should know
Site privacy varies: Poinsett State Park offers different levels of seclusion. "I stayed at tent site 36 and felt like I still had enough privacy from the sites beside me. The bathrooms were well taken care of," a camper reported.
Road conditions: Some access roads require careful driving. A reviewer at Poinsett noted, "It's not easy to get in here with anything bigger than a full size pickup. The park road is very narrow and uneven with lots of large pot holes."
Bathroom maintenance: Facility upkeep varies between campgrounds. A Lake Marion Resort visitor stated, "Bathrooms are clean A little outdated. Boat docks need help (I was told it was due to hurricane)."
Seasonal crowding: Some campgrounds become very busy during peak seasons. At Cypress View Campground, a reviewer observed, "Nice park but gets super crowded. The sites we had you could definitely have more than 6 people to a site and many sites did just that."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Palmetto Shores RV Resort provides dedicated play areas. A camper reported, "Palmetto shores has a nice outdoor activity area, a nice lake beach and a really nice pool and lazy River."
Farm animal interactions: Outside Inn Campground offers unique farm experiences. "Small RV park which also has a lot of animal's. There is a great trail walk and lots of animals bunnies, pigs, donkeys, chickens, goats and a guinea fowl!" one visitor shared.
Swimming opportunities: Different swimming options exist across campgrounds. At Cypress View Campground, a reviewer noted, "Never far to a bathroom and easy access to the water. Needs a good cleaning as the trails were very littered."
Hiking trails: Several parks offer walking paths suitable for children. A visitor at Santee Lakes KOA wrote, "We were impressed from our very first contact. They have a check in station at the gate so you don't even have to get out of your vehicle."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: The Lakeshore Campground requires minimal adjustment for many units. "Spacious, well wooded and there was a fantastic breeze all weekend with helped with the heat and bugs! The lake access had a beach area that the kids loved to play at," according to one RV camper.
Highway noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience road sounds. A Palmetto Shores visitor warned, "Our sites were right next to the highway, I will say though we did tune the noise out the longer we stayed."
Check-in procedures: Campgrounds offer varying arrival processes. A Santee Lakes KOA visitor explained, "They have people on golf carts take you to your site which is great! No need to drive around and find your spot. Not only that but they bring you the best route to park your RV in your site."
Trees and awning clearance: Some sites have limited space for extensions. At Poinsett State Park, a camper noted, "Our camper is 29 ft, with no slide outs and just an awning. There was no way to extend our awning, because the trees were too close."
