Hidden Gem
Definitely one of our favorite state park! Super clean, wooded, and right on the lake.
A water lovers dream
This lake was beautiful. Great views of lake and mountains. The water was warm in October. Site #27 was good. Some sites were unlevel and on a steep grade and close with minimal greenery between. The walk-in tent sites were excellent. All sites had table, fire ring, lantern hook, and a gravel tent pad in addition to paved site. Most of the sites were shaded. Bathrooms were good with a big laundry area. There weren't really any paths to bathroom so it would be difficult in the dark if you were further away. We took a waterfall boat tour which was excellent. There are several paths to get to lake from different spots in campground. Which are like a private beach area. This park/campground is very busy on weekends but Sunday night it emptied out. Bring your boat, floats, kayaks, canoes. There is not much in area outside park. There was a Dollar General store within 15 minutes. The park store was well stocked with many items. Park staff were not that friendly. There are several boat ramps in park. Divers also use this lake since the lake is clear.
Probably the coolest place to camp in South Carolina.
Book your trip a few months in advance, get a spot on the water. Sites are a little small, and close together, but the sunrise from your tent/site is totally worth it. Amazing water clarity, bring a kayak. If you enjoy fishing there’s great trout.
Beautiful lake campground
Reserve well in advance
A great.time
We had a great time. We had reserved a walk-in tent sight and absoulty loved it. Even though there were camp sites next to us they were far enough away to give a little privacy and just far enough in the woods to give you the feeling of being away from everything. It was a great couple of day sour view from the camp site.
Favorite Park in the upstate!
The park is very nice with a lot of good sized camp sites and tent sites closer to the lake. The lake is beautiful and clear. I highly recommend visiting and staying for a while.
Absolutely perfect!
The best campground I've stayed at in SC! So much to do and the lake is like none other. Crystal clear water (think scuba dive clear~honestly) expansive Mountain View's as well as clean bathrooms with hot showers! Water sports rentals available on site. Spent four nights, could have stayed for four more. Hiking in the Jocassee Gorge is literally 30 minutes away via the foothills trail. Had a blast!
Nice and shady sites
On beautiful Lake Jocassee the campgrounds is close by. Very nice size and very shaded.
Great place for swimming and kayaking
This is a wonderful spot to access the absolutely gorgeous Lake Jocassee. There are some fantastic places to swim connected to the campground. The tent spots are by far the best and just a short walk in from the parking area. There is a place to rent kayaks and canoes within the campground.
Month of VisitSeptember
Lovely lakeside camping
This is one of my favorite campgrounds so far. Plenty of trees help shade the sites and give more of a feeling of privacy. Our site (34) and the adjacent sItes were a short walk to a nice sandy alcove on the lake, perfect for a dip or float. We rented kayaks for the day to explore some small waterfalls and shallow caves. The facilities were clean for a public park.
Why go to the coast for beach when you have real views here?
A favorite RV style camping spot, where we bring out all the toys: Hobie sailing/paddlig/peddling... to a cove for mighty fine swimming. This year we will add a couple inflatable kayaks to the mix for friends. We love the views whether in tents or glamping. Don't miss the rare Oconee Bells wildflowers in March! Nearby dayhiking or backpacking the Foothills, take a boat rental across the lake, fish, or visit nearby Dupont State Forest. It's all here!
Month of VisitSeptember
relaxing
We spent part of our honeymoon here and had a wonderful time
Serene lake front park
I arrived at sunset just as the fog was lifting off the lake. The clouds were reflected in the still water. I found my campsite and hooked up my RV only to find that there was a path leading down to a private beach right behind my site. I sat on logs alone watching the nightfall and listening to the lapping waves. It was the perfect way to end a long day.
Site37
Month of VisitMay
My family's favorite
We weren't even able to do everything there is to do here, and my children still keep asking when we are going back! It's everyone's favorite now!
Site39
Month of VisitApril
Beautiful Lakeview Camping
We had a great time camping and touring the lake. The tent sites are tiered on a hill;so, most sites have a great view of the lake. They have kayaks for rent. Lake Jacossee boat tours launches from the park boat ramp. The pontoon boat tour was a great way to see all the waterfalls. The park was clean and we'll maintained and the bathrooms were fairly new.
SiteT008
Month of VisitMay
Devils Fork S P Lake Jocassee
Beautiful lake, this is where the movie Deliverence was filmed. Crystal clear water, waterfalls, camping sites you need a boat to get to. Main campsite is neat a well kept. Check-in was fast. Two hiking trails one is one mile the other is two and 1/2 miles. Three boat ramps 2 for motorized and one for non-motorized. Miles of shoreline to explore.. Two Dive Shops and great country store for supplies.
Site5
Month of VisitOctober
A little pricey, but a GREAT spot to camp
Took a weekend trip with two friends and stayed at campsite #06. The sites are pretty close to each other so it's not like backcountry camping, but it's fun and friendly.
Lake Jocasse is one of the most beautiful spots in the Southeast
I've camped/visited Devil's Fork State Park numerous times, and each time has been amazing. There are few places in the southeast that are as beautiful as the crystal-clear waters of Lake Jocassee!
The first time I visited, we reserved a drive-up campsite, which had an on-site fresh water pump and electricity hookup (although we didn't use it). The second time, we went with one of the hike-in campsites, which are a little closer to the water. The hike-in sites are still very close to the parking lot, so they aren't too "rustic" compared to other campgrounds I've been to. The hike-in sites have access to a community fresh water pump. The drive-up sites are arranged in a loop, with a central bathroom/shower/laundry facility available 24/7. I believe there are about 4 toilet stalls, 2 sinks, and 2-3 showers. It's also nice that it is heated in winter! The laundry facility has washer and dryers which you can pay for with quarters. I don't remember there being any detergent, etc., available for use, so if you plan on using these, be sure to bring your own. We had no intention of doing laundry during our stay, but we were immensely grateful for the dryers after all of our clothing and sleeping bags were soaked in an overnight rainstorm!
The people who work at the Devil's Fork ranger station are so friendly and accommodating. We were running late on one trip, but called ahead, and they had no problem leaving the gate open for us and allowing up to check in early the next morning. Plus, they had great recommendations on what to do and see during our stay, and their gift shop sold several things (such as firewood) that could come in handy if you forget to bring your own!
We rented our kayaks from the Jocassee Outdoor Center (http://www.jocasseeoutdoorcenter.com/), which we've had terrific experiences with. Their prices were affordable, they are very friendly and knowledgable, and they delivered our kayaks to the Devil's Fork docks in advance. Be sure to ask for their map of waterfalls in the area! They are really beautiful, although I'd recommend checking the water levels first, if possible. :)
Jocassee itself is absolutely beautiful. The clear waters contrasting with the rocky and red clay shores looks like a natural wonder from another planet...not like something you'd find in South Carolina! Water sports are great here, as is fishing and swimming. Even just walking along the shores offers beautiful views and is somewhat challenging at the rockier parts. Because it is a smaller campground, the large lake never feels too crowded. Jocassee is a man-made lake, and there is actually a small town at the bottom of it. Those who are scuba-certified can scuba dive down to the town and explore old churches, school houses, and even cemeteries, which I'm sure is a unique experience (although I've never done it myself).
All in all, Lake Jocassee and Devil's Fork State Park are truly jewels of the southeast and should not be missed!
Lake Jocassee
Great camping and beautiful water. This open mountain lake is full of hidden coves with white sand beaches, there's also cliff jumping and great fishing. Our four legged children agree that its the best lake in the south east!
Off the Beaten Path but Well Worth It!
This hidden gem is a few miles off a major highway but well worth the journey. I would consider it among my top ten 'near a lake' spots in the entire US. It's right beside Lake Jocassee, which is a marvelous location for any type of watersports. If you're a scuba diver, it gets even better. This area has an active dive community and there are quite a few great dive sites in the lake, including the remains of structures that were submerged when the dam was built. If you do come here, there aren't many stores really close by, so outfit and buy groceries before driving on it. That way, all you have to worry about is all the water-driven fun you'll be having.
