Best Campgrounds near Winnsboro, SC

The Winnsboro, South Carolina area provides several established campgrounds within a 30-mile radius, including Lake Wateree State Park Campground and Broad River Campground. These developed campgrounds accommodate both tent and RV camping with varying levels of amenities. Lake Wateree State Park features full hookup sites with electric, water, and sewer connections, while also maintaining tent-friendly areas with more rustic appeal. Several locations offer cabin accommodations, including Woodsmoke Family Campground and Rosewood Farm and Agripark, providing alternatives for visitors seeking more structured shelter options.

Many campgrounds in the region require advance reservations, particularly during summer months when lakeside sites fill quickly. Most developed campgrounds remain open year-round, though seasonal considerations affect comfort and accessibility. Lake Wateree State Park maintains paved roads suitable for standard vehicles, while some of the more remote locations may require higher clearance during wet weather. The region experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F, making water access particularly valuable during these months. Winter camping offers milder conditions with occasional freezing temperatures. A visitor to Lake Wateree noted, "While there are a few hiking trails, if you don't have a boat or canoe you will be missing out on most of the appeal of this park."

Campers consistently rate lakeside locations higher than inland sites, with water access serving as a primary draw. Lake Wateree and Dreher Island State Parks receive particularly strong reviews for their water recreation opportunities. Several visitors mentioned the importance of selecting sites carefully, as quality can vary significantly even within the same campground. Tent campers should note that some primarily RV-oriented campgrounds offer limited flat, non-rocky tent sites. According to one review of Chester State Park, "Tent campers would have a hard time finding a suitable site that would not be too rocky." Most campgrounds provide basic amenities including fire rings, picnic tables, and access to restrooms, though the quality of facilities varies. Visitors particularly appreciate campgrounds that balance natural settings with functional infrastructure, with shaded sites receiving consistently positive mentions in reviews.

Best Camping Sites Near Winnsboro, South Carolina (66)

    1. Lake Wateree State Park Campground

    17 Reviews
    Great Falls, SC
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (803) 482-6401

    "While there are a few hiking trails, if you don’t have a boat or canoe you will be missing out on most of the appeal of this park."

    "We had site 39 and there was nothing but woods behind us which was perfect for us."

    2. Sesquicentennial State Park Campground

    29 Reviews
    State Park, SC
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (803) 788-2706

    "The site was level with a gravel drive and parking area. Lots of pines all around but the site was clear enough for easy parking. No sewer hookups."

    "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."

    3. Dreher Island State Park Campground

    48 Reviews
    Chapin, SC
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (803) 364-4152

    "This campground is a popular spot in South Carolina. Campsites are pretty close together but it's usually peaceful - lakeside sites, good fishing, but be prepared for the mosquitos!"

    "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"

    4. Broad River Campgound

    4 Reviews
    Chapin, SC
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (803) 749-9100

    "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."

    5. Rosewood Farm and Agripark

    1 Review
    Winnsboro, SC
    6 miles
    Website

    $80 / night

    "This super cute cabin is nestled beside a small pond at the bottom of a hill and surrounded by trees. Book your stay and leave them some love."

    6. Alston Trailhead

    5 Reviews
    Chapin, SC
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (803) 771-0870

    "Lovely walk on the Palmetto trail in the morning. There are also “walk-in” campsites right behind the trailhead signs in the trees."

    "But we laughed, it was like being a kid where you could hear the train off in the distance and would ride your bike to go watch it pass."

    7. Blythewood Acres

    1 Review
    Blythewood, SC
    13 miles
    +1 (803) 312-4381

    $45 - $55 / night

    8. Chester State Park Campground

    10 Reviews
    Chester, SC
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (803) 385-2680

    "Tucked away just outside the historic cut of Chester, SC this park has a lot to offer, hiking trails, exploring, fishing, kayaking its great. It's our favorite little get away."

    "The lake from the campground has a fairly new access via a ADA compliant walkway with lighting leading to swings, benches and Adirondack chairs surrounding a rock fire pit."

    9. Woodsmoke Family Campground

    4 Reviews
    Chapin, SC
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (803) 781-3451

    10. Kaleidoscope Farm

    1 Review
    Irmo, SC
    15 miles
    +1 (803) 414-9966

    $25 - $30 / night

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Recent Reviews near Winnsboro, SC

361 Reviews of 66 Winnsboro Campgrounds


  • C
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Crown Cove RV Park

    Unfriendly and Poorly Maintained

    This is a very strange place. The vibe is way off. I stayed for 2 weeks and that was 2 weeks too long. The staff are not friendly or helpful. And they use THE RULES as a means to justify their behavior. They will literally yell at you. I have no idea who these people think they are. Don’t waste your hard earned money with people like this. Day One: Huge ant infestation. Spent the next several days exterminating. Not fun. Much of the sites are not well kept. Way out of level. I had requested an open sky for my Starlink connection. It seems like they gave me the only spot with tree cover. There are dozens of other vacant spots with an open view. Weird but okay… They will not accept packages. So, don’t bother ordering anything unless you can pickup at a nearby locker. This is crazy! One day a distraught camper with tears running down her face approached me while I was outside my rig. Turns out her dog died and she needed help moving the body. Maintenance told her they couldn’t help because of THE RULES. I, of course, helped her move the body to her car. This just seems inhuman.

  • 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.  I would highly recommend this place!

  • Allissa F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Longleaf Campground — Congaree National Park

    One night stay

    I stayed at the site closest to the parking lot. It’s a quick walk. I only stayed one night so I didn’t bring everything to the site, but if I did, it would be nice to have a second person or a wagon. There’s a two-stall pit toilet in the parking lot and trash/recycling cans. Att signal was 1 bar, no signal problems. There is a convenience store with sandwiches, ice, beer, and groceries in Gadsden 8 min away which was convenient. Just a couple minutes from Congaree national park. Bring bug spray!

  • K
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Charlotte-Fort Mill KOA

    Rundown

    This is ok is your passing though but it’s rundown.
    Older. Clean! But really needs to be updated!

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Cane Creek Park

    Good Campground

    This campground is one of my regular stops. It is well kept.

  • Lisa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Brick House Campground (Sc) — Francis Marion And Sumter National Forests

    Nice for almost free camping

    We stayed here for three nights in space number 17. Surprisingly it was quite level. The whole time we were there there was only usually about three or four other campers in the 21 spaces. Beware of the giant pothole when turning off the 66 onto the Brickhouse Road. We hit it and it jarred the trailer so much it broke our back window. This is totally dry camping and there are two sets of vault toilets. Nearest town was Whitmire about 7 miles away. Minimal facilities. Clinton and Newberry are both about 15 miles away and they both have plenty of shopping facilities. Hikes in the forest noted several downed trees, most likely due to the hurricane that occurred last year. Some of the trails were impassable.

  • Rocky The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 10, 2025

    Big Rig Friendly RV Resort

    Home Away From Home

    We are newbies at this life and spent our first winter here. We are from Nova Scotia Canada and were just astonished at how everyone treated use like a long lost friend had returned home. The amenities were great and the temp was very comfortable. At the site we made a new friend the railway engineer who past by every day and whistled every time as we waved back. That was great as we only have one train for all of Canada (no joke). Our  pooch "Henry the Hound" also made friends and was a hit with everyone he met. We had thought about other resorts before we saw this one but being here once we have decided to make this our winter home from now on. Fuel, groceries, beverages, service stations hardware stores and mini malls are just a 10 min drive away and for those who want home delivery of groceries they are phone call away for a very nominal price. This is a must stay place.

    Rocky/Cathie

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Eden in Lancaster SC

    4.5 STARS Peaceful area.

    This is a nice place to stay for a peaceful and quiet getaway. It’s a good place to relax. The owner is very nice and accommodating to your needs. You’re about 10 minutes away from the town of Lancaster, South Carolina.


Guide to Winnsboro

Winnsboro sits in the Piedmont region of South Carolina, with an average elevation of 535 feet above sea level. Camping options near Winnsboro span across rolling hills and lakefront settings, with summer humidity levels typically reaching 70-80% during peak camping season. Temperatures range from mid-30s°F in winter to upper 90s°F in summer, making spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Lake Wateree State Park Campground offers excellent fishing access with dedicated spots for anglers. "The views of the lake are awesome... Great boat docks. Friendly rangers. Very quiet and relaxing place. Mainly water activities," reports one camper.

Trail exploration: Sesquicentennial State Park Campground provides multiple hiking options through pine forests. "I camp at Sesqui very often. I live in downtown Columbia, so its only a short drive away. Love the bike and hiking trails. Very nice area to kayak in, I love all the Lilly pads," notes a regular visitor.

Disc golf: For those seeking land-based recreation, Chester State Park Campground features a professional disc golf course. "Beyond the campsite, there is an amazing seating area near the fishing dock, with multiple hanging bench swings, communal fire pits and a great view of the lake. There was a nice trail around the lake, peddle boat rentals, and a world class frisbee golf course," mentions one reviewer.

What campers like

Lakeside access: Many campers specifically value the water access at Dreher Island State Park Campground. "We spent 90% of our time on the lake swimming, paddle-boarding, kayaking and enjoying one of the best lakes we've ever experienced," explains one visitor, highlighting the water recreation focus.

Clean facilities: Campground cleanliness receives consistent praise. "Bathhouses were clean. Many lakefront sites have posts to tie up your boat to if you have one. Beach area by the store," notes a Lake Wateree camper, emphasizing the maintenance standards.

Quiet atmosphere: The peaceful setting appeals to many visitors. "The campgrounds were quiet despite being pretty busy, and accommodate RVs and a tent-only site, plus there is a store. Sites are very shady and every site is surrounded by trees, so you don't feel very close to the other campers," observed a reviewer.

What you should know

Cell service limitations: Several campgrounds have spotty connectivity. "No WiFi and rarely did we have cell service but that's not a bad thing! Large sites with some pull through," reports a Lake Wateree visitor.

Store hours: Plan accordingly for campground store access. "Unfortunate that the camp store closes at 5 pm. So one must drive to Publix for firewood. The closest Walmart has $2 ice bags," notes a camper at Sesquicentennial.

Reservation requirements: Broad River Campground and other popular sites fill quickly. "CG is located east of Jenkinville on SC-215. Definitely for both long term and overnight RV. We have been here for a month," explains one long-term camper, indicating the need to book ahead.

Site selection: Campsite quality varies significantly. "Tent campers would have a hard time finding a suitable site that would not be too rocky," notes a Chester State Park visitor, highlighting terrain considerations.

Tips for camping with families

Kid-friendly water areas: Lake Wateree State Park Campground offers safe swimming zones. "The swimming area is by the office/shop. There is a really lovely strip of shaded picnic tables where we spent the hottest hours of the day. The water is pretty shallow, so the littlest ones had plenty of space to play and swim without us having to worry," shares a family camper.

Splash pad access: Some parks offer water play features. "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," mentions a Sesquicentennial visitor.

Biking opportunities: Several campgrounds feature bike-friendly terrain. "We have been camping here for years snd we love the camp ground. bathrooms are all remideled snd super clean. the grounds are fairly flat so bike riding is great," notes a family at Lake Wateree.

Tips from RVers

Site spacing considerations: Woodsmoke Family Campground and others have varying site sizes. "Very close to neighbor site, with fire pit being extremely close. Water, Sewer, Power, WiFi," cautions an RVer about proximity issues.

Leveling challenges: Prepare for potentially uneven sites. "To date, our most unlevel site we have found," notes one RVer at Woodsmoke Family Campground, suggesting bringing adequate leveling equipment.

Long-term options: Several campgrounds accommodate extended stays. "Good location off I-26 and shopping nearby. Friendly staff. Call for reservations. They keep only 5 sites open for one to two openings. They have a lot of full time people," explains a camper, indicating limited availability for short-term visitors.

Dump station lines: Plan extra time during busy periods. "Nice campground, trails were good sites to close for us. very busy campground. long line for dump station," advises one RVer about potential wait times.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Winnsboro, SC?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Winnsboro, SC is Lake Wateree State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 17 reviews.