Lee State Park, located 20 minutes from Timmonsville in Bishopville, sits within the Sandhills region of South Carolina where sandy soil and longleaf pines dominate the landscape. The park's camping areas remain open year-round with temperatures ranging from 30°F in winter to over 90°F during summer months. Mosquitoes and flies are common during warmer seasons, particularly near the park's equestrian facilities.
What to do
Hiking trails: Lee State Park offers several walking paths through natural landscapes with minimal elevation change. "The trails were nice and lots to see," notes a visitor who appreciated the park's natural features despite mentioning "swarms of flies" near the horse areas.
Artesian well exploration: View the unique natural spring that emerges from underground at Lee State Park. As one camper shared, "Loved the spring water. Love seeing the horses around the campsites," highlighting this distinctive geological feature that provides a refreshing stop along park trails.
Horseback riding: Little Pee Dee State Park offers equestrian access and viewing opportunities. While not specifically an equestrian park like Lee State Park, visitors note its peaceful woodland setting: "The driveway is about two miles long, and is a beautiful road with tall pines and oak trees, both decorated with Spanish moss."
Lake activities: Cheraw State Park provides opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing on its lake. One visitor noted, "You can rent kayaks and canoes to take out on the lake, and the fishing is excellent!" The park's lake includes a swimming area during warmer months.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds in the region offer well-spaced sites with natural separation. At Cheraw State Park, campers appreciate that "It felt very private even though there were people all around" and that "there are plenty of large spaces for RVs with lots of room around them for privacy."
Clean facilities: Visitors consistently mention well-maintained bathhouses and grounds. One camper at Lee State Park noted: "Clean bathrooms. My dog was a bit confused by seeing horses for the first time. Super friendly staff." Another mentioned that sites were "gravel and level" with "bath house were clean and well maintained."
Wildlife viewing: Sugarloaf Mountain offers excellent opportunities for stargazing and wildlife observation. "Far away from city lights so great for stargazing," notes one visitor who also appreciated the "beautiful views" and "rustic stone and wood shelters" at this primitive camping area.
Water access: Several campgrounds feature lakefront sites or water proximity. At Little Pee Dee, "The lake is absolutely beautiful, and one of my favorite things about this park. Part of the lake is from the Carolina Bay, and the coloring of the water is gorgeous."
What you should know
Limited services: Many campgrounds in the region have minimal amenities. For Sugarloaf Mountain, a camper noted: "This is a great place for quiet, no frills camping. There are 7 camping areas, 5 of which have camping shelters." Stock up on supplies before arrival as stores are limited.
Insects can be problematic: Campers regularly mention bugs during warm months. One Lee State Park visitor warned: "If you have never stayed with horses you can not be prepared for the flies. They were swarms of them," while another mentioned "horrific mosquitos" as a challenge.
Road conditions: Access roads to some campgrounds can be challenging. One Little Pee Dee visitor warned: "Road to campground is horrible! Very narrow, trees hanging over it, dirt, but huge holes! Obviously needs to be graded."
Varying site sizes: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger RVs. Lee State Park can handle bigger rigs, but as a Little Pee Dee camper noted about their site: "We booked a pull thru per map, but was not. Had to change to site 29. Loose dirt but fairly level."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Little Pee Dee State Park offers recreation areas for children. "If you have kids they will love the playground that is in the campground as well," notes one family visitor who also enjoyed daily hiking during their stay.
Ranger interactions: Lee State Park rangers engage well with younger visitors. One family camper shared: "We tried out camper camping here, and it was great. The ranger is very friendly, and made the kids' visit even better!"
Group camping options: For scout troops or large family gatherings, Cheraw State Park provides designated areas. A troop leader noted: "We stayed in the camp juniper group area this time, but have camped in the regular campground in the past. The regular sites are usually full, and very close, but the lake front sites are gorgeous and worth being close to neighbors."
Swimming opportunities: Yurt camping near Timmonsville offers several lake swimming options. At Cheraw State Park, "There is a lake with a swimming area that was also well-maintained and clean, it has a boardwalk that goes around a large portion of the lake that connects the campground with the beach area."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Choose sites carefully based on seasonal considerations. At Lee State Park, a camper with an RV noted it was "Fine for what it was" but mentioned "rough roads inside park with big ruts that filled with rain." They added it was "perfect for what it was...getting far enough out of town to feel like the adventure started."
Water access sites: Falcons Nest FamCamp offers full hookup sites for military personnel. "Very nice campground. Lots of trees. Must have access to Shaw AFB to stay," notes a visitor about this yurt and RV camping option near Timmonsville, South Carolina.
Leveling requirements: Sandy soil in the region affects site conditions. A Lee State Park visitor mentioned sites were "gravel and level" while a Little Pee Dee camper noted: "Loose dirt but fairly level. Very quiet and Lake Horton near us."
Seasonal timing: Off-season camping offers advantages in the Timmonsville area. A Cheraw camper shared: "We were lucky enough to catch a great view of Jupiter merging with Saturn last night. Super cheap. We stayed four nights for under $100. 30/50 hookups and water. No sewer but very close dump station in campground."
