Oconee State Park Campground

My wife& I stayed at Oconee State Park Oct. 28th-31st in a Cabin. For 90% of the stay, we had a wonderful time in the Cabin and walking/viewing the Lake, etc. However, there were several events that occurred in the Cabin that were disgusting and resulted in a BAD Situation and which I would assume is also occurring throughout the entire Oconee Park Cabin locations. On the 1st Night: We killed a"huge" Brown Recluse in our bathroom, on the floor near the sink wall. Luckily, I captured it and threw it in the fire. Next Morning: I noticed a big Fat Worm about 2-3" long of some unknown type on the bathroom floor near the sink area again. Obviously disposed of it. That afternoon, we went to the Station and told the Ranger attendant guy about our 2 experiences already. He searched and gave us a white Orkin Glue Strip to use and explained that Pest Control occasionally visits the Cabins?? Really?? Apparently not ours! 2nd Night: After placing the Glue Strip in the bathroom near the sink wall, I could not believe that, after hearing my wife scream, I discovered a Mouse partially trapped by the glue trap and only able to barely crawl toward the log wall with its front legs. I cautiously picked-up the glue trap from behind and threw the critter outside, still attached. 3rd Morning: Once again, another type of unknown Big Fat Worm in the bathroom near the sink and about 2" long. Again, disposed of. I cannot believe that, as nice as the rest of our Cabin#5 was, that there were that many insects& Varmints freely entering the Cabin walls. That was truthfully, DISGUSTING& VERY DISAPPOINTING. It is apparent that this Oconee State Park Cabin(s??) is managed by Gross Oversight& Negligence by someone. These four(4) unpleasant events greatly disturbed our stay and left a Very Unpleasant Taste in our Minds due to these occurrences. Imagine how uncomfortable you might be trying to slip into your bed linens at night with this invasion happening!!! If this State Facility is using any kind of Pest Control Measures, then obviously it is NOT WORKING and someone should be Disciplined or Fired! We have already filed a Complaint with the Oconee Park Manager several weeks ago and with the SC State Parks but as usual& expected, NO RESPONSE FROM ANYONE! NO ONE! Obviously, SC Parks and their Park Manager could care less about their customer’s bad experience, or the terrible condition of their specific cabins. All they want is YOUR MONEY$$$ and then you can leave!

We have been for 8 days with tomorrow being our day to head home. First for the pros. There is a fhu area with several buddies sites. These sites look to be upgraded from in the not to far past. My site was easy to back into with my 37’ 5th wheel with plenty of room for my truck. There are plenty of tent and water/electric only sites. Those are suited mostly for smaller rigs. There 2 lakes with easy trails around both. A swimming area , putt putt course and a park store. Many adventure in the area to be had, waterfalls , hiking, history, and other state parks. There was a square dance Friday night and by the screams of the kids it was a hit. A snow cone food truck is on site with weekend hours. Trash pickup is done by the park staff daily, which was nice. Now for a few cons. Many people put their trash out at night and garments opened the bags and staff were left with picking it up. Bathrooms were a little neglected during the week until the park becalm loaded again. Putt putt course is in pretty bad shape but still playable. As with most parks roads are directional and many people just ignored the signs or did not see them so the signs could be clearer. Our site need the grass trimmed due to the sand spurs growing. And last, a pet peeve of mine, pet on a leash or lead is for everyone, no Matter how well trained you think they are and we saw lots of dog poop in and around some camp sites where the campers were just leaving it for the next person to deal with. Overall our stay has been nice. Saw some waterfalls, and there are many in the area. Hiked , and hit devils fork for a swim in the clear lake. I would visit this park again since overall it has so much to offer in the area.

Great family vacation. Paddle boats and a beach. Dog friendly. Clean bathhouses. Garbage pick up. Close to Walhalla, if you need supplies. It's crowded. Reserve way in advance.

We love this park! We've been for Halloween twice now and out little guys loves it! The staff is so kind, and the garbage pick up twice a day is great! I will say, compared to other state parks, these campsites are TIGHT! Be prepared. We've come across this with other state parks in South Carolina. The facilities are clean, and the nature is beautiful! Can't go wrong with this campground!

This park is very pretty. The people camping here were very nice. Bathrooms are clean. The sites are notoriously NOT level. We had to move because we could not get level. Ended up in a site that faced the street (which was vey busy). A lot of the sites are very private and some have water views. The sites with sewer are very parking lot like.

This was our first time staying here and all in all we really enjoyed it! It’s a tradition of our to camp during Halloween weekend and our little guy loves his best life! I’ve never been to a camp that goes all out as much as this campground does, and not just the rangers, the other campers as well. It was so fun. Our site was a little tight and difficult to get into, but once in we enjoyed ourselves. We will definitely be going back! There is a playground near the ranger office, and then throughout there are stations of tire swings and we al enjoyed the tire swings being right next to our site, nice added bonus. This campground quickly became one of our favorites.

First time visitor and already planning the next trip. I stayed in cabin 12 which is an ADA cabin. Privacy, location, amenities were all top notch. The only disappointment was that a wheelchair bound person would not be able to join, or have great difficulty , at the firepit.

We camped here last month and it quickly became one of our favorite campsites.. you’re not so close to your neighbor so it’s still private but there’s still plenty of people around in case you need help or something happens.. the bathrooms were probably my favorite lol the showers are the nicest showers I’ve seen at a campsite

I’ve been going to Oconee State Park since I was a kid and have always enjoyed it. It is very family friendly and great for kids. Several trails to hike and lots of history at the park. The only negatives is the park is not a great park for a getaway in my opinion. It’s more focused on the family time (nothing wrong with that) and the sites are very very close together. I stayed at tent site 12 and it was great but was a very far hike in. Not a bad thing but wasn’t planning on backpacking on this particular trip. Overall a great park and will always go back!

The waterfall is beautiful and there are plenty of trails for hiking. Single track and double track. The facilities are decently clean. The are around the park is very clean.

Well maintained campground, with pretty views. Campsites are often uneven with alot of tree roots running throughout. It does require consideration before parking your trailer or RV.

What a lovely, relaxing park. There is an area for day-use people, with boat rentals, a small swimming area, and playgrounds (including mini golf!). 

As for camping, you have two options: a large drive-in section (each with electric and water), some near the lake, some more forested, and some in the middle on higher ground.

Pro-tip: Site 18 has an amazing view, of the lake, and you can walk directly down and boat (but not swim) from the site. It's also on a "finger," so there's a tiny bit more solitude.

For strictly tent camping, there's a walk-in only section with a dirt path leading two two campgrounds, one of which abuts another lake. 

All campsites on both the drive-in and walk-in sections have a fire ring and picnic table. 

The camp HQ/store has good wifi and there's a weak phone signal is available in most of the park (site 18 has no Verizon signal, but walk a bit towards camp and you'll pick up two bars of LTE). I found the camp store prices to be reasonable and they have firewood bundles for $5.99. If you arrive after the office closes at 5pm, you can go to a site and check in the next morning.

We really have enjoyed SC state parks but will never come back to this one. We had to move spaces because it was so ridiculously unlevel (other campers shared same experience). The only one we could get literally faced the street and had zero privacy. There is a full hook up area (rare in a state park), but literally you are on top of your neighbor. Some people do love this as we met lots of repeat visitors. This park was NOT for us as we prefer something more open, spacious and level. The hiking trails were not super well marked which was also annoying.

My family of four stayed here for 3 nights and loved it, even though it rained a little. There is the Stumphouse tunnel and a waterfall nearby that are a lot of fun too. My daughter enjoyed paddleboats and mini golf. The prices were great for activities. We would love to come here again.

We've stayed here a couple of times in 2021. Lots of construction going on right now as some of the loops get upgraded RV parking. The tent loop is great for those who want more privacy and are willing to trek their gear a short distance, but the park needs to address parking for the tent area. The best feature of the park are it's access to excellent hiking for all skill levels.

We camped here at Oconee, at site 7, on the Lake Loop, in the middle of May 2020. PERFECT!! We were able to pitch a tent AND had room for my tow vehicle and teardrop camper! The folks that run the Visitor Center were PHENOMENAL! Plenty of room, nice sun and shade areas, EXTREMELY clean bathrooms and bathhouses, wifi, MANY trails to walk and hike, and really awesome buildings and a man made lake, that were built by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps)! I HIGHLY recommend checking this place out, and camping here! We're planning another trip in the Spring!

You can also visit nearby Table Rock State Park, Bald Rock Heritage Preserve, and Riley Moore Falls!

Nice campground, nice facilities, nice trails.

The area very serene, quiet and pretty. Nice hiking area and swimming area. If you need to get ahold of someone though you'll have to drive 10 to 15 minutes into town.

Only stayed one of our two nights due to rain but we hope to be back! Our site was great size for our two vehicles to back into. Set up our area and hammocks!

One of the gems of the Palmetto State. Oconee has a variety of hiking trails and private, wooded campsites. The fishing lake has a netted swimming area and the option to rent kayaks and paddle boats. The replica of the historic water wheel is a must see! Be sure to stop at the visitors center for free WiFi because you won't have a cell signal anywhere else :-)

When I stayed here, there were very few campers. Part of the reason was that school had started, and it was during the middle of the week. That was a good thing since there is limited privacy between the sites. I say limited, but compared to most campgrounds, there is a lot more privacy than some that have very little space between sites. The sites are well shaded, there is electricity and water, there are picnic tables, and lantern poles. The sites are gravel, which is fine for RVs but not necessarily for tent campers. However, there is a separate group tent section. The only other thing I didn’t like about staying here were the mosquitoes, but that’s to be expected in this environment. There are a lot of things to do. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to explore everything, and the beach area was closed. There are two lakes, so I could go fishing and/or kayaking. During the season, peddle boats and canoes are available for rent. There is a really nice playground area for children. When I go back the next time, hopefully with grandchildren, they will take full advantage of that. What really surprised me was the condition of the bath rooms. It was modern and up to date with tiled floors. I felt as if I were in an exclusive resort. There is also a camper recreation building, along with a community building for special events. The trading post is interesting looking with an old ca. 1930s gas pump out front. There is quite a bit of history at this state park. Not only is there a CCC dedication with statue and plaque, but there is also a plaque recognizing the treaty with the Cherokee moving the frontier boundary into what is now Oconee County. The possibilities at this campground seem endless. There is mini-golf, a wildlife habitat, and lots of trails(including the Palmetto Trail), a fishing pier, and one of my favorites—the waterwheel. Overall, I spent too little time here to enjoy it all, but I will definitely want to come back. The only downsides are the gravel for the tents and the minimum two-day reservation system.

We stayed a weekend. This campground while advertised as a tent friendly.. is definitely more comfortably set up for campers. I also felt the sites were on top of each other. The sites that sit on the water are more of a novelty as you can’t get in the water. There is a swimming area... but it sits way at the end of the park.. no sites near. Trash pick up is nice, but feel like there should be an evening pick up after dinner time. We got in a little early for check in (but never saw anyone at any other campsites) trash all over site not picked up well at all. Also felt for what it was fee was high $28+ (but all sites have power, again set up for campers)

In the midst of all the Covid claustrophobia, it felt amazing to get up to the mountains and feel like being alone was normal.  The site was great, the bathrooms are amazing, and the campground was everything you'd hope an RV/tent-camping place would be.  There are primitive, walk-in sites that had the benefit of added privacy, but with 3 little kids, bathroom proximity was a higher priority this time around.  The waterfalls are closeby and you should really try King's Creek (30 min hike), Reedy Branch (10 min walk) or Yellow Branch (1.5 hr hike), they're some of our favorites.  Hidden Falls is also a hike that starts from the campground, about 1.5 hrs each way. So lovely and remote!Being able to get up in the morning and go to the falls without having to drive 1+ hrs to get there made it just dreamy for our crew!  The fire pit was easy to cook over, there's a mini-golf area and a playground that was closed still while we were there.  We loved it and will definitely be going back, my 5yo hails our time there as "best of the summer" everytime we ask :)

Nice park with a lot to do close by. We tent camped here the first weekend in June.

Bathrooms were always clean and seem to have been recently redone. Sites were small but not overly so.

Being regular tent campers, we understand that sometimes you are at the mercy of your neighbors. The people staying across from us decided that 1030 was the time to start blaring music and screaming. No camp host showed up, but after they fought and someone threatened to crush someone’s tent, they decided to calm down.

There are tons of hiking opportunities in the area with tons of waterfalls. We did get to hike to a few, but wish we had more time to spend there. We live 4 hours away, and if it were closer, we would be regular visitors. We will definitely go back at some time.

The park staff came around twice a day to pick up trash, very nice. There were warning signs for bears, but we saw no trace of them. Posted in my pictures is one of two baggies we found at our site. Being a former corrections officers, I know what I think it is, but I’ll leave that to the reader.

This place is still getting 4 stars due to overall cleanliness and location.

I cannot not truly describe how much my family enjoyed this campground. It was our first time and living in the Upstate most my life I can not believe we have overlooked this park. There is such a variety of activities. My 13 yr old had a blast on the bike trail at Stumphouse and my 3 yr old grandson was in awe of the abyss of the tunnel. Hidden trail is an easy and beautiful hike/stroll in the woods not to be missed and the absolute high light of the trip for myself was the exact hole by hole putt-putt course that 100% mirrors the the old Table Rock course that was torn down years ago that brought back a flood of sweet emotions and memories for me!! FYI bring your own balls and putter for cooler evening playing. The swimming are has a feel of a 1950's wading pool in the shallow and a trip to the bath house will make you feel as if your are on the set of Dirty Dancing. We stayed 3 night and only had time for a quarter of the things we wanted to do. We will definitely be back many times more.

We stayed here for a weekend in July 18, I really appreciated the shaded site and the ac! Nice campground to walk around with a few hiking trails.

Wat do you like? Solitude? Try the dispersed campsites, they're awesome. Swimming? There is a roped off area for swimming in one of the lakes. RV camping? Full hookups available. Cabin? Cabins available for rent. Hiking? Trail head for the Foothills Trail as well as Secret Falls. Fishing? There's a lake stocked with bass and bream and even trout in cooler weather. Put-put? They have that too. Kayaking? Bring your own or rent one there. Hot showers? Got 'em. Waterfalls? Convenient to dozens including Station Cove, Yellow Branch, Issaqueena, King Creek, and Spoonauger to name a few. You seriously can't go wrong here unless you go in the summer and stay in a tent. It does get hot here.

We had a great first experience here. Nice amenities: playgrounds, lake , activities. Park was beautiful, but spaces were a little tight. Bathhouses & premises clean ! Wifi didn’t really work, but that can be expected. Stumphouse tunnel Isaqueena Falls is very close, gas station right down the road.

Really nice campground, lots of trails. But way to many geese there. They have put putting, a small game area. Plenty to do.

A large but secluded campground in the foot of the Appalachian mountains. The people at the park were very friendly and the park well kept. The lake was nice and provided a beautiful background for cool evenings watching the fireflies. Although we did not take advantage of some of the amenities, my wife went swimming and I went hiking a few times. I can’t vouch for the swimming area, but the hiking trails were well marked and maintained.

The facilities all worked as they should, and the park trash pickup came by at least a couple of times a day.

Do be aware that you will be out of touch when you stay here. There is almost no cell coverage, and wifi (weak wi-if) is only available at the office.

This campground is a welcome getaway. We will be back!