73 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The Sunset, South Carolina area provides tent campers with several state parks and wilderness areas offering primitive camping experiences. Jones Gap State Park Campground features secluded walk-in tent sites along creeks and waterways, while Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area offers trailside tent camping with varied terrain. Table Rock State Park's Pine Point Primitive Campground provides hike-in tent sites approximately half a mile from parking areas, offering solitude for tent campers seeking a more remote experience.
Tent sites throughout the region typically include basic amenities such as fire rings and tent pads, though facilities vary significantly between locations. Most walk-in tent locations require campers to carry all supplies from parking areas, with distances ranging from 0.4 to 3 miles depending on the campground. Potable water is limited at primitive sites, with Jones Gap and Table Rock providing water sources at main facilities but not at remote tent campsites. A camper noted about Pine Point Primitive Campground, "You do have to pack everything in and pack everything out, approximately a quarter mile or more." Vault toilets are available at most established areas, though some primitive sites have no facilities whatsoever, requiring proper backcountry waste disposal techniques.
Walk-in tent sites in the Sunset area frequently offer creek-side camping with natural sound barriers and increased privacy between campsites. The tent-only campgrounds in Jones Gap provide creek views and access to multiple trail networks directly from camp. A visitor to Jones Gap commented, "Site 4 is right beside a creek that you can hear all night. The sites are clean and well maintained and the short hike in is very nice." Many tent campsites in Mountain Bridge Wilderness require permits and reservations, especially during peak seasons. Pine Point's tent sites offer lake proximity but steep trails limit easy water access for swimming. Bear activity is common throughout the region, particularly in Gorges State Park, requiring proper food storage at all tent camping locations and awareness of wildlife during overnight stays.
"Love the privacy of this spot (#8) which is the closest walk in spot from the Parking area."
"Tent camping only. Nice, private walk-in sites. Creek runs through park. Definitely no call service. Only an emergency call box if anything goes on at night. It's a pack in pack out park."
"This small primitive campsite is located near the NC side of Jocassee."
"My only complaint was that the grounds could have been cleaner but I’m sure part of the blame is on the poor weathers we have been having for the past few weeks."
"Campground Review: In March 2017, our family of 6 went on our 1st overnight backpacking trip. A friend had recommended the Chattooga River Trail in South Carolina."
"Trail/Campground Review: The East Fork trail at the end of Burrells Ford is quite an easy trail! "
"Pine Point Primitive Campground is found in SC and considered part of Table Rock State Park. A handful of sites are offered, each with a tent-pad, picnic table and firepit. "
from $20 / night
Check Availability"This trail was lots of fun! My friend and I decided to go here on a whim and it didn’t disappoint."
"My friend and I hiked the Raven Cliff Falls loop trail a while back and have added it to our list of top 10 favorite trails."
"Wonderful trails with breath taking views and technical climbs plus discrete camping."
from $4 - $20 / night
Check Availability"I want to welcome Josh, your host, to our platform. Right on the border of Pisgah National Forest. This property can accommodate large groups and offers fire-pits at each site."
from $300 - $2500 / night
Check Availability"There are grills an firepits beside each platform (each platform is large enough for 3 four person tents) and there are two common shelters with electricity and GORGEOUS bathrooms."
"There are only four sites available, but there are tent pads, lantern poles, and fire rings."
"Tent sites in need of maintenance.."
"Packing up in the morning and a fisherman showed up to walk down the hill. Otherwise, saw no one. Very nice large area to spread out, if you have a group."
ScoutWe stayed for a week in late October. Quiet and secluded but right outside of Franklin. Very. Nicely decorated. Has small campstore, very nice laundryroom, and a guest event center. Rick, the campsite host, helped me get backed in and asked if I needed any more help. Some pull-throughs. Some sites are a little tight but others really nice. We will definitely come back.
ScoutWhatever person or group of persons designed the campground were clueless as to how to develop a campground. Sites are packed in the most preposterous configuration to have tents, trailers motorhomes all jammed together nearly touching each other with zero privacy. Come for the hikes and views of the gorge but come with the lowest expectations for the campground and you’ll be fine
TravelerMy son, daughter-in-law, and twin grandchildren, and I camped here to watch the full solar eclipse in 2017. We had a beautiful tent site. There was a little playground that the kids really enjoyed and abundant shade at the camping site. Bathrooms were clean, wood for campfires was available, and we had a wonderful time.
TravelerThis place is a nice campground, quiet and the guests (during our stay) respect others by keeping the noise down. The spaces are set up to maximize privacy between sites. There is no cell phone service (to do this report we are in a picnic area by a small lake and I can get cell as well as internet on my travelfi device) sos is the only access. I normally listen to audio books but not while here. On my computer I could see three others with low signals; they might have had a better device/provider. The spots tend to the small back in typically found in campsites built before RVs got really big, type. There is another camping area I haven’t been to yet and I did see a large over lander (looks indestructible and tall/long) towable head that way and the campground attendant didn’t predict any problems so perhaps there are larger spots elsewhere. This place has single person shower rooms and nice flush toilets. The whole place is set in woodland so it isn’t like a commercial RV place that was more concerned with volume over aesthetics. This is a lovely spot with ample amenities (my space had no hookups) for our type of camping (toilets, trash, quiet neighbors, semi private spaces) just zero phone or internet.
ScoutWalk to trail sites, clean bathrooms, sites close together…water and electric at site. Sites are sloped gravel.
TravelerThis campground has a great location in maggie valley, close to Waynesville with plenty to do in close proximity. While it is a traditional campground, they have very competitive rates for weekly and monthly stays. For us its the perfect getaway destination for the summers and fall. The staff is super welcomming and friendly. You find a cute creek on the backside of of the campground with trout as some fisherman told me. The staff takes pride in all the flowers, landscaping and seasonal decorations. Also nice to know is you are not being looked down to with an older camper. As long as your rig is decent and functional you are admitted.
ScoutLovely spot on the river. Freeway was loud but not too bad.
ScoutGreat spot to pull in last minute. There are multiple spots along this stretch of road. Would not recommend if you want to post up somewhere private, decent amount of traffic pulling through for a mountain road.
ScoutVery pretty site but its right on the road
Tent camping near Sunset, South Carolina offers diverse terrain from creek-side sites to forest clearings across elevations ranging from 1,100 to 3,000 feet. The Sumter National Forest portion surrounding Sunset provides tent campers with year-round access, though water levels in streams can fluctuate dramatically during summer months when rainfall averages drop below two inches monthly. The region typically maintains moderate humidity levels compared to lowland areas of South Carolina.
Waterfall hiking: Distance trails at 0.5-2.5 miles at Jones Gap State Park Campground lead to multiple falls. "We did a short day hike to check out the camp sites and look at the waterfalls. The trails and the park are so very well kept up!" notes Melissa R.
Trout fishing: Year-round access at Burrells Ford provides excellent angling. "Good amount of camping with a short hike in. Sites are right on the Chatooga River. This river is stocked with trout. Fishing license is required but both SC and GA are acceptable as the river is the state line," explains Jason D.
Creek exploration: Rock-hopping permitted at multiple sites along watershed areas. "Site is right on the river and a great place to catch some sun on the rocks or rock hop. There are several hike options right from your site including a nice little waterfall," shares Laura C.
Cable crossings: Technical trail feature available for hikers seeking adventure. "My word of advice is to not take dogs that can't swim across the river; we saw a few couples who struggled to carry their pooches across the cable," warns Maggie J. from Asbury Hills Summer Camps.
Site privacy: Spaced 0.25-0.5 miles apart in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area Trailside Camping. "I seem to always believe my most recent adventure is my most favorite but nowhere in the upstate of SC has stood out to me like this area. Wonderful trails with breath taking views and technical climbs plus discrete camping," reports Maddi P.
River access: Sites situated 5-50 yards from water sources. "Site 7 because an oncoming storm made me bug out of my trailside plans. Gorgeous site, a bit chilly by the river but beautiful and close enough to still use the park bathrooms! Sites are large and have varying degrees of privacy," Sara M. describes at Jones Gap.
Flat tent pads: Level surfaces maintained at established sites. At Pine Point Primitive Campground, "Best of all the remote sites had FLAT tent pads, which always make for a better night sleep!" according to Kirsten J.
Solitude: Limited site numbers keep crowds minimal. "I rate this campground two stars only because it has no facilities. Rating a campground such as this one is subjective. Some people would love staying here. It is peaceful since there will not be any other campers for miles around," explains Myron C. about Sumter National Forest Big Bend Campground.
Bear activity: Required food storage precautions at all sites. "There are bear boxes to protect food and trash to help keep unwanted visitors from troubling guests," mentions Josh L.
Access restrictions: Vehicle clearance requirements for certain campgrounds. "You cannot drive to this site with a low clearance sedan. It is almost impossible without scraping the bottom of your car. Fortunately, I had a 4-Runner, and I was using 4WD," warns Myron C.
Weather variability: Temperature swings of 40+ degrees possible in shoulder seasons. "I do not recommend staying there in the winter unless you are ready for cold nights. Fortunately, a down sleeping bag is my best friend when camping in the winter," shares Myron C. about Ammons Branch Campground.
Pack in/pack out: No trash facilities at most primitive sites. "All water has to be taken in since there are no sources of water within miles. This is true primitive camping," notes Myron C.
Start with site #8: Easiest access point for young children. "Love the privacy of this spot (#8) which is the closest walk in spot from the Parking area. We were able to hike in a ton of gear (coolers, dog bed, etc (with a little work and a few trips) and it was worth it for the seclusiveness. Having both toddler and dog we knew we couldn't go far but this still felt like we were in the middle of nowhere," shares Laura C.
Plan for carry distance: 0.25-0.5 mile hikes required at many tent sites. "Pine Point Primitive Campground is found just past the visitor center. If you pull past the visitor center and the beginning of the lake, you should park towards the far end of the lot. The hike is an easy half mile, on a trail, with slight ups and downs," explains Kirsten J.
Water crossing preparation: Bring extra footwear for creek areas. "Site is very close to the stream and there are two good shores for filling your water bottles. There are several camp site along the trail but they are well spaces so you get lots of privacy," notes Stacy B.
Toilet access planning: 0.25-0.5 mile walks to facilities at primitive sites. "There is one pit toilet for this campground, and from my site, it is almost a half mile away. That means that if you have to go in the middle of the night, take a strong flashlight with you since there are NO artificial lights at this campground," advises Myron C.
Small trailer only: Maximum 18-foot length for access roads. At Jocassee Gorges Wildlife Management Area, "Lots of opportunities for kayaking, hiking. Not an easy place for first timers to get into. No swim access to the lake. Small campground loop," mentions Candy H.
Generator restrictions: Noise limitations at most area campgrounds. "At night, it is quiet, especially since there was no one else there, but also because it is miles from the nearest town. The only sounds this time of year are the sounds of Ammons Branch and the wind," describes Myron C.
Gravel road navigation: Allow extra travel time when approaching sites. "To get to this campground, you have to travel curvy, mountain roads. It is not a campground for large RVs. It is better suited for tents or small RVs. Once you get on Bull Pen Road, which is a national forest road, you have to drive about 1.2 miles on gravel," explains Myron C.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Sunset, SC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Sunset, SC is Jones Gap State Park Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 16 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 73 tent camping locations near Sunset, SC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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