Camper submitted image from Santee Coastal Reserve - 1

View Photos

Camper submitted image from Santee Coastal Reserve - 2
Camping
Camper submitted image from Santee Coastal Reserve - 3
Facilities
Camper submitted image from Santee Coastal Reserve - 4
Roads
Camper submitted image from Santee Coastal Reserve - 5
Nature
Unlock Planning Tools in App
pro

Free Camping Collection

Established Camping

Santee Coastal Reserve

Do you own or manage this property?

Claim Your Listing
CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Santee Coastal Reserve, near McClellanville, South Carolina, is a fantastic spot for those who crave a peaceful escape into nature. This campground offers primitive camping with spacious sites that are perfect for tents and RVs, allowing you to soak in the beauty of the surrounding wetlands and wildlife.

Visitors rave about the tranquility of the area, with many noting the stunning oak trees draped in Spanish moss. The trails here are a highlight, providing easy walks through marshlands where you can spot alligators and a variety of birds. One camper shared, “I explored 3 of the trails today... a great campsite for folks wanting to bird watch or get back to nature.”

While the campground is free and doesn’t require permits, it’s essential to come prepared. Campers frequently mention the need for bug spray due to the local mosquito population, especially during warmer months. As one reviewer humorously advised, “Make sure to take your deterrent so they don’t carry you off or take all your blood.”

If you’re looking to venture beyond the campground, the nearby town of McClellanville offers charming local eateries and a taste of southern hospitality. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer stay, Santee Coastal Reserve provides a serene backdrop for outdoor adventures and relaxation.

Fee Info

Free

Suggest an Edit

Location

Santee Coastal Reserve is located in South Carolina

Detail location of campground

Directions

From McClellanville travel North on SC Hwy 17 toward Georgetown. Approximately 3 miles out of McClellanville, turn right onto South Santee Road. Travel for about 3 miles and then turn right onto Santee Gun Club Road adjacent to the St. James Community Center which is a dirt road that leads into Santee Coastal reserve. Proceed 2.5 miles to kiosk for more information.

Coordinates

33.15408 N
79.36703 W

Open in Google Maps

The Dyrt Alerts

Get reservations at sold-out campgrounds.

Learn More
Presented byT Mobile

Drive Time

Presented byToyota Trucks

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Connectivity

Presented byT-Mobile SatelliteT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 8 users
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T
    No Coverage
    Verified by 7 users

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites
  • Big Rig Friendly

FREE established camping

Enjoy camping on government land. Limited or no services at this camping area.


PERMIT might be REQUIRED

We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Santee Coastal Reserve needs a permit.


2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Reviews

Add Review

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

67%
25%
0%
10%
0%

4.5

out of 5

12 Reviews

Reviewed Aug. 30, 2025

Pretty

Pretty campground. Good for an RV but lots of mosquitoes. We stayed inside.

Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Feb. 19, 2025

Quiet and Free

Small and quiet public campground. Large spaces with fire ring and picnic tables in most. I noticed that others complained of mosquitoes but none that I saw in the middle of February.

Site#4
Month of VisitFebruary
  • Review photo of Santee Coastal Reserve by Mike G., February 19, 2025
  • Review photo of Santee Coastal Reserve by Mike G., February 19, 2025
Reviewed Apr. 24, 2023

M O S Q U I T O E S

Area is quiet and pretty but you literally cannot step out of your van/car/camper/tent without getting eaten alive by the biggest mosquitoes I’ve ever seen! I opened my van door twice for about 5 seconds both times and over 100 mosquitoes had to have gotten in! I was up all night killing mosquitoes in my van. Will never go back

Month of VisitApril
Reviewed Mar. 20, 2023

Quiet

This is a quiet nice campground to get away from it all. If you love nature this is a wonderful place. BEWARE though, mosquitoes are in bazillions here and huge. Make sure you take your deterrent so they don’t carry you off or take all your blood.

Site8
Month of VisitMarch
  • Review photo of Santee Coastal Reserve by Alicia B., March 20, 2023
  • Review photo of Santee Coastal Reserve by Alicia B., March 20, 2023
  • Review photo of Santee Coastal Reserve by Alicia B., March 20, 2023
  • (7) View All
Reviewed Feb. 18, 2023

Additional review for Santee Coastal Reserve

Great free camping. I explored 3 of the trails today. The Marshland trail short 1.6 mile hike through some pleasant marshland and Cypress trees and bogs. It then opens up to the water are where there is an abundance of wildlife. I saw 3 alligators sunning. The Eldorado trail with the remains of the old plantation. All the trails are easy walking with flat terrain. A great campsite for folks wanting to bird watch or get back to nature

Month of VisitFebruary
  • Review photo of Santee Coastal Reserve by Andy K., February 18, 2023
  • Review photo of Santee Coastal Reserve by Andy K., February 18, 2023
  • Review photo of Santee Coastal Reserve by Andy K., February 18, 2023
  • (25) View All
Reviewed Feb. 15, 2023

Beautiful location and quiet

What a great place, so quiet and pretty. All the oak trees covered in Spanish moss. Shame you can only stay 4 days. No bugs at this time of year. Some great hiking trails which all seem to be flat and easy going.

Site4
Month of VisitFebruary
  • Review photo of Santee Coastal Reserve by Andy K., February 15, 2023
  • Review photo of Santee Coastal Reserve by Andy K., February 15, 2023
  • Spanish moss
    Play button icon
  • (53) View All
Reviewed Jan. 10, 2023

Very Quiet

Spent 4 days in early January,23. Only 2-3 f the 8 sites were occupied. Extremely quiet except a few gunshots at dawn. Useable Verizon & T-Mobile. It’s down a couple miles of gravel road in really good condition.

Site6
Month of VisitJanuary
  • Review photo of Santee Coastal Reserve by steve W., January 10, 2023
Reviewed Jan. 4, 2022

Amazing place for primitive camping/RVing.

This is right in a hunting area; which didn’t bother us. They had it set up very well and safe! Absolutely gorgeous and quite. We brought our fur son and had evening fires and really enjoyed it! McCellanville is a small southern town around the corner and they also have restaurants and whatnot. This camp ground also had a boat landing on the inter coastal waterway.

Site1
Month of VisitNovember
  • Review photo of Santee Coastal Reserve by summer A., January 4, 2022
  • Review photo of Santee Coastal Reserve by summer A., January 4, 2022
  • Review photo of Santee Coastal Reserve by summer A., January 4, 2022
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Dec. 11, 2021

Great, But Man those Mosquitoes

Really really loved this campsite. I just wish the mosquitoes were less relentless. I can only imagine how bad they can be during the summer. Make sure to bring the entire arsenal of big deterrent when coming here, or pay the price! I’m talking bug spray, area repellent, long sleeves, bug netting for you face, and magical protection from your local witch.

Other than those buggers, this campsite was really lovely. I really enjoyed camping under the love oaks and watching the stars at night. There were also some nice trails nearby (note: the mosquitoes are horrendous on these trails and it is a little easy to get lost). It is very safe here with little traffic. I left my teardrop here one day while I made a day trip to Charleston and it was A okay.

Site8
Month of VisitDecember
  • Review photo of Santee Coastal Reserve by Sam S., December 11, 2021
  • Review photo of Santee Coastal Reserve by Sam S., December 11, 2021
  • Play button icon
  • (7) View All
Reviewed Oct. 18, 2021

Awesome but bring bug spray

Gorgeous camp, great trails, easy to drive into, quiet even with a few other campers. Just gorgeous, but be prepared with lots of bug spray really only downside.

Sitesite 7
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Santee Coastal Reserve by courtney , October 18, 2021
  • Review photo of Santee Coastal Reserve by courtney , October 18, 2021
Reviewed Apr. 8, 2021

Beautiful Primitive Campground

Set up my pop up in #4. Large, beautiful private sites. Gorgeous trails within walking distance. Great opportunity to see wildlife. Lots of mosquitoes, but not miserably so. Short drive to the beach.

  • Review photo of Santee Coastal Reserve by Kristin S., April 8, 2021
Reviewed Mar. 30, 2021

Beautiful Spot for Primitive Camping and Wildlife Viewing

Santee Coastal Reserve is a hidden gem near the South Carolina coast offering eight, first come, first served primitive campsites in the Santee Coastal Reserve Wildlife Management Area.

The campsites are spacious and can easily accommodate multiple tents and/or RV's. This is primitive camping so there are no water or electrical hook-ups. We drove the short distance to the Elmwood Recreation Area to fill our water jugs. They do not sell firewood at the campground and we didn't see any for sale by local residents on our way in. Fortunately, we were able to gather a lot of downed wood around our campsite since it wasn't until the end of our stay that we found out that firewood, groceries, fishing, and other supplies were available at the Seewee Outpost, about 26 miles south of the reserve on highway 17.

Out of the eight sites, only about 4 or 5 were occupied at any given time and everyone was fairly quiet. Except for one camper who ran his RV generator for hours morning and night. Fortunately, they only stayed one night.

There are several hiking trails around the reserve where you can see various birds and spot alligators bathing in the sun. The only wildlife that we weren't happy to see were the gnats and mosquitos, which we weren't respecting so early in the season.

Overall, this is a beautiful campground and e look forward to visiting again.

Site#3
Month of VisitMarch
  • Review photo of Santee Coastal Reserve by Kevin H., March 30, 2021
  • Review photo of Santee Coastal Reserve by Kevin H., March 30, 2021
  • Review photo of Santee Coastal Reserve by Kevin H., March 30, 2021
  • (7) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you camp at Santee Coastal Reserve Wildlife Management Area?

Yes, camping is available at Santee Coastal Reserve Wildlife Management Area. The reserve offers eight primitive campsites that are available on a first-come, first-served basis. These sites are spacious and set in a peaceful natural environment. Campers are limited to a maximum stay of four days. The campground is accessible via a couple miles of well-maintained gravel road, making it relatively easy to reach despite its secluded setting.

What wildlife and natural features can I see at Santee Coastal Reserve?

Santee Coastal Reserve offers diverse wildlife viewing opportunities and stunning natural features. Visitors can spot alligators sunning themselves near water areas, especially along the Marshland trail. The reserve features beautiful oak trees draped in Spanish moss, cypress trees, and extensive marshlands. Several hiking trails provide access to various ecosystems - the Marshland trail (1.6 miles) leads through bogs and opens to water areas rich with wildlife, while the Eldorado trail showcases historical remains. The reserve's quiet environment makes it ideal for nature observation and photography throughout its forests, marshes, and waterways.

Can I bring an RV to camp at Santee Coastal Reserve?

Yes, RVs are welcome at Santee Coastal Reserve. The campsites are spacious enough to easily accommodate RVs along with tents. The gravel access road is in good condition, making it navigable for recreational vehicles. Keep in mind this is primitive camping without hookups or modern facilities, so you'll need to be self-sufficient. During warmer months, many RV campers opt to stay inside their vehicles due to the mosquito activity in the area.

What do visitors say about Santee Coastal Reserve in their reviews?

Visitors consistently praise Santee Coastal Reserve for its beauty, tranquility, and spacious, private campsites. The abundance of wildlife viewing opportunities and well-maintained hiking trails are frequently highlighted as standout features. The campground is described as quiet and peaceful, even when multiple sites are occupied. The most common caution concerns the mosquitoes, which can be extremely numerous and aggressive, particularly during warmer months. Winter visitors report minimal bug issues. The proximity to McClellanville, a small southern town with restaurants and amenities, is noted as convenient. Many appreciate the campground for its natural setting and opportunity to disconnect.