Best Campgrounds near State Park, SC
Camping in the Columbia area of South Carolina includes several established state park campgrounds and private RV resorts within convenient driving distance. Sesquicentennial State Park Campground, located approximately 15 miles northeast of downtown Columbia, offers both tent and RV camping with water and electric hookups. Nearby options include Dreher Island State Park Campground on Lake Murray, Weston Lake Recreation Area, and Congaree National Park's Longleaf Campground, providing a range of experiences from lakeside camping to primitive tent sites near old-growth forests.
Access to most campgrounds requires reservations, particularly during spring and summer months when facilities reach capacity. Most campsites in the region offer water and electric hookups, though sewer connections are limited to select campgrounds like Dreher Island and Weston Lake. The terrain throughout the area is generally level with sandy or gravel pads at most established sites. While Columbia-area campgrounds are open year-round, summer humidity makes spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons. Proximity to urban areas means cell coverage is generally reliable. A visitor noted, "The campground is off a really busy road, but you sure wouldn't know it! It was very quiet. However - super convenient having any place you might need to go right by."
Many campers appreciate the mixture of natural settings with urban proximity that Columbia-area campgrounds provide. Lake access represents a significant draw, with Dreher Island earning particularly high ratings for its waterfront sites. The region's state parks feature varying levels of amenities, from basic facilities at Longleaf Campground to more developed options with showers, picnic tables and fire rings at Sesquicentennial. Several visitors mentioned difficulty with site leveling at some locations. One camper reported, "Most of the sites are sand, and not very level. A few have gravel and are level. Most sites would be really difficult for a larger trailer or motor home due to the size of the sites." Recreation opportunities include hiking trails, fishing, paddling on park lakes, and access to nearby attractions like Congaree National Park, making the area suitable for both weekend getaways and longer stays.
