4 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Charleston KOA's pet-friendly camping facilities allow dogs of all sizes with no breed restrictions. The campground includes tent sites, RV spots, and cabin accommodations where pets are welcome. Guests must keep dogs on leash throughout the property, as the campground strictly enforces their "must have an owner attached" policy, with warnings issued to those who leave pets tied up unattended. Laundry facilities remain accessible while camping with pets, though the small playground area provides limited recreation for families with both children and dogs. The adjacent fenced dog park offers a dedicated space for pets to exercise off-leash, featuring a swing, picnic table, and waste disposal. Many campers note the campground serves more as a convenient base for exploring Charleston rather than a destination itself.
Joint Base Charleston Outdoor Recreation Center maintains immaculately clean grounds that welcome military families and their pets. The RV park features long paved patios that are thoroughly cleaned between guests, with camp hosts who are notably helpful and kind to visitors with pets. Dogs must remain leashed while walking around the base, which offers good biking paths and open spaces. Though aircraft noise is noticeable during takeoffs and landings, the pet-friendly accommodations provide exceptional value compared to nearby commercial options. The campground's location offers reasonable access to Charleston's attractions while providing necessary pet amenities. During fall months, campers should expect significant leaf accumulation, while some tent sites may experience flooding during heavy rains, particularly site C.
"Nice dog park. Had a 30lb propane tank filled at what I would consider a decent price. There were other amenities, but we didn't use them. A little bit of a noisy area, but we've been in worse."
"This KOA is located 30-45 minutes from the city, if you have to be closer to the north area for family or just cause Charleston has limited availability for RV’s , this is the place."
"When making reservations at James Island County Park we had modest expectations, but we were going to tour Charleston most of the time, so we decided anything close to the city would be good enough."
"The park does allow pets and has a dog park with a beach; it seems like the pups were having a marvelous time playing chase on the beach.This is a County Park with trails for walking or leisure biking."
Available this weekend
from $43 - $269 / night
"I called day of visit decided to stay 2 night Very helpful staff Was given lots of information about area which was great as we had our dog and they mentioned several dog friendly parks We we’re camping"
"Santee State Park is a beautiful forested park by the lake."
"The campground is located near the golf course and outdoor recreation center, providing close access to golfing, soccer golf, disc golf, a climbing wall, and archery range."
"The campground is well kept with under 100 slots, it has an adjacent park, tennis and basketball courts. Next to both a frisbee and a nice golf course."
from $23 / night
"There’s a small pool, dog park, pasture with cows, and a play area. My favorite feature was the recycling area! Almost no RV parks provide recycling, so the fact that this park does is really nice."
"Beautiful location! Easy spots to get in and out of, not on top of each other. Great WiFi. Super pleasant and helpful staff. Clean bathrooms, Nice dog run, great food truck."
"IF you meet the qualifications to stay (military affiliated), this is REALLY close to the Navy Nuke School!"
"Close to mount p shopping. There’s an on site dog park that dogs can swing in the lake as well. There’s also frisbee golf on site."
"They even have a dog park that has access to the lake, so your water dogs can take a swim without the worry of alligators!!!"
from $68 - $300 / night
"I'm an Army Veteran and recently stay at the FAMP CAMP Located on the Joint Base Air Force Base located in Charleston S.C. "
"At night there is low-level lighting around the site that makes it beautiful. Now, let’s talk about the real surprise—the hot tub. What a find."
from $75 - $125 / night
TravelerSuch a gem & so much fun! Farm animals galore! As you pull in, you are greeted by some friendly feathered friends (chickens galore) & and an adorable barn with all the other farm friends. Camp host is the sweetest; she is the icing on the cake!
ScoutVery quiet campground. The campers and staff are all very nice. Will definitely come back!
GuideWe love the Live oaks campground in Edisto Beach State Park. Level sites with plenty of privacy. We are in site 120 this trip and we have stayed in sites 118 and 122 on previous trips. these sites back onto the salt marsh which gives you some incredible scenery just behind the site
GuideClose to I95 & I26. Great stopover when passing through. Family owned farm and campground combined. Easy check in. Clean and private bathhouse.
ScoutNo camping signs all over the place and the old sites are now fenced off
GuideMost campers are here to go out shrimping. It’s a beautiful, small campground with level sites, some shade, electric and water hookups and tent sites right along the water. The bathroom could use an update but it was very clean and the shower was roomy and hot enough. A dump station is available. I understand the park will close after shrimp season (mid November..?) for updates. I lucked out on a first come, first serve site for the night. I’d definitely stay here again.
LegendYou’ll find this hidden campground VERY far off the beaten trail (and trust me, this trail is as beaten up a road as you’ll find just about anywhere in South Carolina, so you'll want to drive down the lane here SLOW) on the easternmost side of Lake Marion off Ferguson Landing in southeastern part of the great Palmetto State. Given its direct access to Lake Marion, the place gets high marks for its location, but lower marks for overall upkeep and the basic downtrodden nature of the place. You’ll be impressed by the shallow water access and boat launch here, where you’ll have to maneuver around scores of submerged Cypress trees, which makes for quite the enchanting entry to Lake Marion, which if you weren’t aware, offers up 315 miles of shoreline, spans 110,000 square acres or 174 square miles and is the largest lake in South Carolina.
That said, IMHO Taylor’s Landing could use a serious bit of refurbishment and grooming, including the grounds themselves, which were quite overgrown when we stopped by. There is a general store of sorts on-site that sells sundries, ice and most camping needs as well as providing propane tanks for sale. Overall, this place is built more for the RV’ing crowd, although they do offer a few places for tent campers, but don’t offer much in terms of amenities. There was a communal dog area that was pretty worn down right near the area designated for tent camping, which given that most of the dog owners didn’t take their dogs for a walk, the smell emanating from this area was enough for us to decide not to camp here for the night. The entire CG is wide open without any benefit of shade or privacy between sites, although the perimeter has a nice treeline.
Insider’s tip? Here’s a few: (1) If you are a history buff, then you’ll be lured nearby to discover the Sunken Ghost Town of Ferguson, which was once a Congaree Indian Village, which we could access with our kayaks to explore; (2) There is a sandy beachhead that you’ll discover on one of the few trails you’ll come across here at Taylor’s Landing; (3) From an entertainment standpoint, this CG does offer up some interesting creative options during different times of the year – when we were there during the latter part of October, they offered up a ‘Trail of Terror’ for Halloween; (4) If you want to get your hike on, right nearby is Santee Cooper Nature Trail, which makes for some relative easy-to-modest hiking; (5) There’s nothing out in these parts, so if you want to grab a bite to eat, you’ll need to head back to Eutawville where there’s a few mom & pop joints like Tricia’s Café, Sweatman’s BBQ and Casters at Bells; (6) The fishing dock here is solid and offers great opportunity to reel in largemouth bass, catfish, striped bass, crappie and panfish like bluegill; and (7) The best asset here at Taylor's Landing is the fairly EZ to access boat launch that will have you in Lake Marion in no time flat, whether you have a motorized boat or a simple kayak or canoe.
Overall, Taylor's Landing could be a nice place, just in dire need of some upgrades and overall maintenance.
Happy Camping!
TravelerWe were traveling with two large dogs and looking for a pet friendly site. This is a people friendly site so many game playing areas swimming pool and clean manicured lawns with a lake view on some sites.
RangerMike was proactive wirg communication and extremely easy to work with. Clear instructions and a unique assortment of goodies in the farm store. We enjoyed exploring the land too!
Camping near Summerville, South Carolina offers convenient access to Charleston's attractions while providing more affordable rates compared to downtown options. The area features a mix of private and state-run campgrounds within a 30-minute drive of Summerville. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, while spring and fall camping seasons provide milder conditions with temperatures in the 60-80°F range.
Water recreation at Edisto Beach State Park: The park provides beach access for swimming and shell collecting. "Shelling was incredible—especially if you walk towards the inlet around low tide," notes a visitor to Edisto Beach State Park Campground.
Biking through James Island County Park: The park features over 5 miles of paved paths for cycling. A camper reports, "There are many kid friendly activities to do including corn horn and other games," making James Island County Park a versatile recreation option.
Fishing opportunities at Lake Aire: The campground offers a stocked pond for catch-and-release fishing. "Nice pond for fishing," mentions a Lake Aire RV Park guest, who appreciated the proximity to both rural settings and urban attractions.
Clean facilities at Mount Pleasant KOA: Visitors consistently mention the cleanliness of this campground. One camper states, "The bathhouse area was clean. The park offered fishing, kayak/canoe/paddle boat and paddle board rentals," highlighting the Mount Pleasant-Charleston KOA amenities.
Spacious sites at Oak Plantation: The layout provides good separation between campsites. "Large park with paved and grass sites. I stayed in a paved full hookup site P2 and, even though there were a fair amount of guests, they spread everyone out so I had no immediate neighbors," explains a visitor to Oak Plantation Campground.
Natural beauty at Givhans Ferry State Park: The riverside location creates a peaceful atmosphere. "Small but nice park on the river," notes a camper, with another adding that it's "not far from Charleston and very close to Bee City Zoo."
Seasonal considerations: Summer brings intense heat, humidity, and bugs throughout the area. At Givhans Ferry State Park, a camper warns, "definitely need to wear your bug repellent."
Traffic management: Access to some campgrounds requires planning. At Oak Plantation, "The road in front of campground is extremely busy (Hwy 17) and I wouldn't attempt ever turning left to get out. Just take a right and another right behind campground to get you out."
Limited cell service: Some campgrounds have connectivity issues. A Givhans Ferry State Park Campground visitor mentions, "Beware of no cell service at least for us and we use att and Google fi."
Playground access: Most campgrounds feature children's play areas. At James Island County Park, families appreciate that there's a "Huge playground" and "Spray Play Waterpark" for cooling off.
Kid-friendly activities: Some parks schedule regular events. "They also had a free wagon ride to a nearby plantation a couple of times a week," shares a Mount Pleasant KOA visitor about a unique educational opportunity.
Site selection for tent campers: Choose sites based on weather and terrain. At James Island, a camper explains, "You cannot park your car right at the site. There is a parking lot so you have to hike in just a little bit."
Site spacing considerations: RVers appreciate adequate room between sites. "The sites are wide, level, paved, and well-spaced," notes a Joint Base Charleston Outdoor Recreation Center visitor about the military campground.
Full hookup availability: Many campgrounds offer complete services. An Oak Plantation camper mentions, "The park has full hook ups and has pull thru and back in sites. The sites are large and are not on top of each other."
Level site selection: Some campgrounds feature more level sites than others. "Spots are flat, full power and water," comments a visitor to Foster Creek RV Park, noting the concrete pads provide stability for larger rigs.
Navigating tight spaces: Some campgrounds present access challenges. At Lake Aire RV Park, a visitor notes, "Back-in spot was a little tight, but fairly level. We were very close to bathrooms that could have been cleaner but were handy."
Pet friendly camping near Summerville, South Carolina accommodates various sizes and breeds at most campgrounds, with many parks featuring dedicated dog areas. For campers with pets exploring Summerville camping options, most locations require leashing and proper waste disposal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Summerville, SC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Summerville, SC is Charleston KOA with a 2.8-star rating from 20 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Summerville, SC?
TheDyrt.com has all 62 dog-friendly camping locations near Summerville, SC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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