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Dog-Friendly Camping near State Park, SC

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    Sesquicentennial State Park Campground welcomes pets throughout its wooded campsites where both tent and RV camping options accommodate dog owners. The park maintains clean facilities with heated bathrooms and hot showers, making extended stays comfortable for campers and their four-legged companions. Sites are reasonably priced and shaded by pine trees, creating a pleasant aromatic environment that many visitors note in their experiences. While most campsites are separated by adequate tree cover, some locations in the campground offer more privacy than others. All pet owners must keep dogs leashed while exploring the park's hiking trails and recreation areas. The campground offers both water and electric hookups at most sites, though sewer connections are unavailable.

    The park features multiple trails suitable for dog walking, including both hiking and biking paths where leashed pets can exercise. Despite being located within Columbia city limits off a busy road, the campground remains remarkably quiet and secluded. The small lake does not permit swimming but offers fishing opportunities and paddle boat, kayak, and paddleboard rentals for visitors. Most sites require some leveling, particularly for larger RVs, as the terrain includes uneven ground and occasional drainage issues. The splash pad near the entrance provides a cooling option during hot months, though pets must remain outside this area. Nearby shopping and services are readily accessible, with grocery stores and supplies just minutes away, making it convenient to purchase forgotten items or pet supplies without lengthy travel.

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    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near State Park (47)

    Filters    Tent onlyRVCabinGlampingPetsEquestrian

      1. Sesquicentennial State Park Campground

      4.3(31)3mi from State ParkRVs, Tents

      "The park is in Columbia SC, and is a great choice for families who may want to do things outside the park. The park is super close to the Riverbanks Zoo."

      "I didn't get to venture to the trails & site seeing, I mostly used this trip to relax & learn more about camping. This was the 2nd SC State Park I've visited."

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      2. Dreher Island State Park Campground

      4.6(49)25mi from State Park

      "My bf and I rented a camper cabin-electricity, heat, air, bunkbeds + full bedā€¦secluded from the rest of the park, located on its own loop, separate showers(2) + 3 stalls + changing room in the public restrooms"

      "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"

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      3. Weston Lake Recreation Area

      3.8(6)10mi from State ParkRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Lake views. Boat rental available. Summer time swim beach. Spacious sites. No laundry at campground. Closest is about 3 miles away. Entrance road is really rough."

      "I was stationed at Jackson fromā€™07-ā€˜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"

      from $33 - $35 / night

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      4. Big Rig Friendly RV Resort

      5.0(5)15mi from State ParkRVs

      "This place was well thought out when it was being built, lots of space, great level sites, nice dog park. Fitness center and laundry are new and nice."

      "Great location! This RV Resort has great amenities and staff along with their location! Awesome gym and club house plus beautiful pool! Staff are very friendly and welcoming! Check them out!"

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      5. Lake Wateree State Park Campground

      4.6(17)24mi from State ParkRVs, Tents

      "We love state park campgrounds and Lake Wateree State Park is a great one. Sites are right on the lake, paved, spacious, clean, well maintained with fire pits, water, electric and picnic tables."

      "I love Wateree State Park. Clean and friendly staff."

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      6. Poinsett State Park Campground

      4.1(43)31mi from State ParkRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Poinsett State Park is absolutely beautiful and a true hidden gem."

      "It looks nothing like South Carolina as you enter the gates. After half a dozen ups and downs and right turns you find yourself in a clearing and a large parking lot, a lake and a ranger station."

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      7. Broad River Campgound

      4.8(4)16mi from State ParkRVs, Tents

      "They have an open area in a field and then a few sites more spread out with some trees scattered around. We got one of the spread out sites and quite liked our spot."

      "Very quiet park, bathrooms were closed to overnight guests so didn't get to see them. Full hook ups(including sewer) which were easy to access."

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      8. Big Rig Friendly RV Resort

      5.0(3)15mi from State ParkRVs

      "This RV Resort has the largest sites around and also great amenities including pool, 4 pickle ball courts, clubhouse with large meeting room, full gym and very nice bathrooms ."

      "Bsths with showers, playground, dog park and more."

      9. Little Cedar Creek Campground

      5.0(1)14mi from State ParkRVs, Tents, Cabins
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      10. Woodsmoke Family Campground

      3.3(4)17mi from State ParkRVs, Tents, Cabins
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    Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near State Park, SC

    40 Photos of 47 State Park Campgrounds

    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near State Park, SC

    381 Reviews of 47 State Park Campgrounds

    • Jonathan E.
      Dec. 9, 2025

      Outside Inn Campground

      Great Family Trip Especially for the kiddos!!

      This was our second visit to Outside Inn Campground and both times we stayed in the camper they offer as a rental. Itā€™s the first thing you basically see when pull into the campground and when we come back next time thatā€™s where we want to stay again. Itā€™s perfect for a family with multiple kids and for us we had 3 adults and 3 kids and we couldnā€™t have been more comfortable. The owners Chris and Clair are just the best. They are so accommodating and always there if you need anything. The kids really enjoy the animals and activities they provide, especially feeding the goats when they were babies. The facilities are in exceptional condition and especially if you may have forgotten somethingā€œfire wood for usā€ they have that available to you as well. We canā€™t wait for our next trip back and are really looking forward to seeing the new changes the have in progress like the Glamping Tents and pond. Overall this was one of our best experiences as a family camping in South Carolina. Thank you again Clair for being present and patient with Avery and Albie while they were around the animals! We look forward to seeing yā€™all again soon!

    • Julia R.
      Feb. 6, 2022

      Dreher Island State Park Campground

      Camper Cabins R Great!

      My bf and I rented a camper cabin-electricity, heat, air, bunkbeds + full bedā€¦secluded from the rest of the park, located on its own loop, separate showers(2) + 3 stalls + changing room in the public restroomsā€¦AND IT WAS ALL VERY CLEAN! Very helpful and friendly park rangers available, but not ā€œin your faceā€ šŸ˜‰ We had a wonderful time! Kayaking, paddle boarding(both mine) and brought our boat to put in at their small, but efficient, Marina! Beautifully well kept groundsā€¦but left to age untrained on ginormously stellar Lake Murray, South Carolina(Mid-state) I would HIGHLY recommend a visit/stay to this family, pet, everyone friendly State Park!!!

    • 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.Ā  I would highly recommend this place!

    • K
      Feb. 22, 2021

      Poinsett State Park Campground

      Pretty Park & Great Hiking but Poor Roads & Rude Camp Host

      Poinsett State Park is absolutely beautiful and a true hidden gem. We recently visited South Carolina and after spending the weekend visiting nearby Congaree National Park, we opted to stay at Poinsett State Park for 4 nights in our Mercedes Sprinter campervan. As we had read online, the roads into and around the park are truly in desperate need of repair, but once in the campground, the sites are very nice. Site 24 was perfect as it is the last one with hookups and that allows RVs. The hiking is fantastic- I was able to easily hike several miles each day with my dogs and most of the hiking trails are very peaceful and pretty. Even though we were there in early February, we did encounter some gnats/mosquitos and we had to be incredibly vigilant about picking ticks off of our dogs. The only negative is that the park host was incredibly rude to us. We travel with our two well behaved dogs and ALWAYS keep them on a leash. I spent several hours a day hiking with them and walked through the campground with them on several occasions, which I know the host saw since we walked past him multiple times. On the third day of our stay, as I was bringing one of our dogs back and we were switching leashes and harnesses, our other dog jumped out and got away from us for a minute. We immediately ran after her, and after calling her name, she turned around and came back. She was out for less than a minute, and we were actively pursuing her with leash in hand the entire time. My husband was literally running after her without shoes on. The camp host came and yelled at us claiming that our dog"almost attacked his dog." She's a 9 year old Golden Retriever that is literally the most friendly dog on the planet. She was in our view the entire time and never barked or growled, only went up somewhat near them(several feet away) to say hello. It was clearly a mistake that she got out and something we rectified immediately. He kept yelling at us well after she was in our control. While I 100% understand and agree that all dogs should be on leash, it was clearly a mistake and absolutely nothing happened. It made us feel really awkward and uncomfortable. Then, on top of that, the next day, we couldn't even walk our dogs because there were 2 loose dogs running all over the campground with literal bells on- the camp host of course didn't address what was actually a flagrant violation of the rules by a neighboring camper. Other than that, our 4 day stay was perfect, but this really negatively impacted our stay.

    • J
      Sep. 5, 2019

      Sesquicentennial State Park Campground

      In the middle of Columbia SC

      Built to celebrate the Sesquicentennial of South Carolina in the 30ā€™s . At one time on the furthest outskirts of Columbia SC. It is now firmly in the muddle of the Metro area. Plenty of trailer sites. Tent site and primitive camping. Has recreational areas. Restaurants and shopping nearby

    • 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.

    • Matt G.
      Jul. 9, 2016

      Cypress View Campground ā€” Santee State Park

      Good Little State Park

      There are quite a variety of things to do at this state park, and the camp sites are spacious. There is a little store where you can buy any of the little things you may have forgotten. There were not too many people camping during our visit, but it could be that not many people want to stand the South Carolina heat! Either way, it made the visit quiet. There are also plenty of geocaches around, if you're into that. There are 2 places to shower in the campground, so I imagine that once it fills up, you may have to wait to shower. It was pretty clean and the water was clear, so I guess you could just go for a swim! I wish we had brought our tubes and some rope to float out on the water!

    • B
      Jan. 20, 2025

      Big Rig Friendly RV Resort

      Beautiful large sites with great amenities

      This RV Resort has the largest sites around and also great amenities including pool, 4 pickle ball courts, clubhouse with large meeting room, full gym and very nice bathrooms . Full laundry and playground, dog park and more

    • B
      Jan. 20, 2025

      Big Rig Friendly RV Resort

      Extra large sites with great amenities

      Beautiful large sites, mostly pull thru with pool, pickle ball courts, full gym, large clubhouse wit meeting room. Bsths with showers, playground, dog park and more.

    Guide to State Park

    Sesquicentennial State Park sits within Columbia city limits near several dog friendly campgrounds in central South Carolina. The park's elevation ranges between 350-400 feet above sea level with sandy soil typical of the Sandhills region. Most campgrounds in the area offer shaded sites under mature pine and hardwood forests, with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 90Ā°F between June and September.

    What to do

    Trail exploration: The Palmetto Trail passes through the region with several access points. "There are several camp areas, fire pits and picnic tables at the beginning of the trail with a big gravel parking lot," notes Addison C. about the Alston Trailhead.

    Fishing opportunities: Lake Wateree at Lake Wateree State Park Campground offers various fishing spots. "Good views and boat access. It is relatively small and reservations are difficult to get," explains Kevin B.

    Mountain biking: Poinsett State Park Campground maintains dedicated mountain biking trails. "Poinsett State Park has some of the best hiking and biking trails in the Palmetto State. You could spend multiple days camping here and have a chance to hike different trails every day," writes Jason F.

    What campers like

    Spacious sites: Campers appreciate the generous site sizes at newer facilities. "This RV Resort has the largest sites around and also great amenities including pool, 4 pickle ball courts, clubhouse with large meeting room, full gym and very nice bathrooms," according to Bill M. reviewing Big Rig Friendly RV Resort.

    Quiet atmosphere: Despite being near urban areas, many campgrounds maintain peaceful settings. "We were just traveling to Fl and needed someplace to spend the night without unhooking. The site was perfect and the campground was wooded and lovely," explains Benda N. about Woodsmoke Family Campground.

    Wildlife viewing: Several pet-friendly campgrounds near State Park offer wildlife observation. "I love going to this campground, I enjoy doing the trails and spotting dear. And there is a small water play area for children. They have paddle boats also," shares Ruth J. about Sesquicentennial State Park.

    What you should know

    Train noise: Some free camping locations have nearby train tracks. At Alston Trailhead, "The only problem is the train. It woke us up at least 4 times last night. You can see the train from your campsite," warns Isabel B.

    Reservation requirements: Many dog friendly campgrounds near State Park fill quickly during peak seasons. "This campground tends to be booked solid on weekends so important to make reservations," advises Ramona K. about Lake Wateree State Park.

    Limited shopping: Some campgrounds require planning for supplies. "Campground is pretty far from restaurants, grocery stores, etc so plan accordingly," notes Kim S. about Broad River Campground.

    Tips for camping with families

    Water activities: Kids enjoy the water features at several parks. "I took a group of 8 wild middle schoolers here and we had a blast hiking the trails, boating, and unplugging for a while!" says CeCelia L. about her stay at Poinsett State Park.

    Field spaces: Look for campgrounds with open play areas. "Shaded, a large field for the children to run and play with their new-found friends, and a nice recreational building available for campers to use, complete with games, books, tables, and electricity," explains Trina W. about the family amenities at Poinsett.

    Pet-friendly features: Many campgrounds accommodate both kids and dogs. "We stayed here for our son's first birthday, in campsite 30! It was beautiful and we felt like we had plenty of privacy. Our site had a trail attached to the back of it which was really nice for hiking," reports Alisa H.

    Tips from RVers

    Site leveling: RVers should prepare for uneven terrain at some locations. "To date, our most unlevel site we have found," reports Joe R. about Woodsmoke Family Campground.

    Access considerations: Some parks have challenging access roads. "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," warns Jason F. about Poinsett State Park.

    Hookup positioning: Check utility locations when reserving. "I was in a spot that had the Hookups at opposite end of concrete pad and opposite side. I ended up buying an additional 20 ft. of dumping tubing ($60)," shares Troy P. about his stay at Weston Lake Recreation Area.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near State Park, SC?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near State Park, SC is Sesquicentennial State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 31 reviews.

    What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near State Park, SC?

    TheDyrt.com has all 47 dog-friendly camping locations near State Park, SC, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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