Map showing campground location near St. Matthews, South Carolina

Camper submitted image from Sweetwater Lake Campground

Sweetwater Lake Campground

SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

All sites face the lake. That single layout detail defines the experience at Sweetwater Lake Campground, a small, family-owned RV park outside Orangeburg, South Carolina, where roughly 12 to 16 sites are arranged in a single row with water views from every spot. The campground operates on a self-pay honor system, with no reservations required, though reviewers note it can fill closer to capacity than the owners sometimes suggest.

The lake is not open for swimming, but it provides a consistent backdrop and draws wildlife. The bigger draw for many visitors is the group of rescue donkeys kept on the property, whose grazing area sits directly behind the camper row. They are approachable and will accept attention, though the owners caution that donkeys can bite. Sites sit on grass or gravel and are reasonably level. There are no individual fire rings at each site, only a shared community fire area. A rope swing, hammocks, and Adirondack chairs round out the common spaces. Bathrooms and showers are functional, with decent water pressure, though reviewers describe them as worn. Nearby overnight stops for RVers passing through include Pilot Travel Center — St. Matthews to the east and Walmart — Orangeburg Supercenter to the south.

Becky M. describes the atmosphere as "like we're camping at our aunts big estate," which captures the informal, residential feel of the place. At $30 to $35 per night with full hookups including water, electric, and sewer, and a dump station on site, it works well as a one-night stopover or a low-key base for those exploring camping near St. Matthews. Past reviews include one account of a negative interaction with an owner and a non-functional electrical hookup, so campers should verify site conditions before settling in. This campground suits self-sufficient RVers who want lake views, full hookups, and a no-frills setup without the structure of a larger park.

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Map & DirectionsSweetwater Lake Campground is located in South Carolina near St. Matthews

RV Park

Directions

From jct I-26 (exit 139) & Rd-22: Go 2 mi W on Rd-22, then 1/2 mi N on Sweetwater Rd, then follow signs.

Address

58 Campground Trail
Orangeburg, SC 29135

Coordinates

33.62650219 N
80.89948382 W

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Connectivity

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Verizon5G
Excellent Coverage
Verified by 10 users
Last on 8/6/26
AT&T5G
Excellent Coverage
Verified by 1 user
Last on 3/3/26

Connectivity

Presented by

T-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More

T-Mobile5G
Excellent Coverage
Verizon5G
Excellent Coverage
Verified by 10 users
Last on 8/6/26
AT&T5G
Excellent Coverage
Verified by 1 user
Last on 3/3/26

Access

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

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

Market
ADA Access
Trash
Picnic Table
Firewood Available
Phone Service
Reservable
Showers
Drinking Water
Electric Hookups
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Sewer Hookups
Water Hookups
Pull-Through Sites
50 Amp Hookups
Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

+18038743547

Drive Time

30 min from Columbia, SC
53 min from Sumter, SC
1 hr 23 min from Florence, SC
1 hr 32 min from Augusta, GA

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Reviews6 Camper Reviews - Sweetwater Lake Campground

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5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

4.0

out of 5

6 Reviews

A small family campground with lakefront sites and rescue donkeys that operates on an honor system with no reservations required. Most visitors appreciated the friendly owners and scenic lake views, though some noted mixed facility conditions.

SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

becky M.

Scout

Reviewed May. 25, 2022

great lil spot

is a mainly rv campground, i think 12-16 sites, only 4-5 open when we got here around 3pm. all sites have water and hookup, not sure if vans allowed but it’s family owned & they live at the bottom of the road so i’m sure you could ask. $30/night, self pay, shower/bathrooms are oddly homey and a lil gnarly looking but water has good pressure/temp control. neighbours are super friendly! the lake is no swimming unfortunately cuz it gets hotttt here. there are a few rescue donkeys that are super cute and not nearly as annoying as you would think. they have no fire rings at individual sites, but a group use one. oh and a public hammock, rope swing and a few adirondack chairs. overall very homey and welcoming, like we’re camping at our aunts big estate or something. def worth it if you can’t find camping in congaree!

Site5

Month of VisitMay

Katie M.

Ranger

Reviewed Aug. 4, 2021

Great In a Pinch

First of all: this place is mainly an RV campground and I am a tent camper.

But I was desperate, so I showed up here without any prior contact or reservation.

They allowed me to pitch my tent close to the lake, far away from the RVs. They do have a bathroom with a shower and it’s not in the best condition, but when you haven’t showered in a week, it’s just fine.

This place wasn’t ideal, but it was great in a pinch for one night.

Month of VisitJune

Michelle P.

Scout

Reviewed Jan. 19, 2021

One Star is Too Much

I would like to give an honest review of this campground because I rely on other peoples’ reviews to choose campgrounds that I have not been to before. I cannot in good faith recommend this campground to anyone. I called the week ahead to confirm that reservations were not required. I spoke with a lovely lady who shared reservations were not required and that their campground never fills up. (However I will have to say the night that I arrived, there were very few spaces left.) I told her I had read good reviews and that we were local and were excited to come.
My first impression - I would prefer to camp under the stars. Instead, at this campground you camp under a light pole at each campsite. We also like to have a fire ring to have a fire going to cook our food, but not at this campground. There’s a community fire, and no fire rings at the campsites. But the most deplorable part of our short stay was the treatment received from the owner. We arrived after dark, in the fog and after setting up our camper, we went to plug it in only to find that there was no wiring in the electrical box. Unfortunately we did not notice the small, paper sign, wet and faded stating that the electric box was out of order. When we spoke to the owner, he had no professional courtesy at all. He was the rudest person I have ever met. He blamed us for not reading his wet, faded sign that could not be seen in the dark. He did not offer to help, but instead raged on and noticed that we had South Carolina plates. He then said we weren’t even supposed to be there, that their campground is for out of state campers. I have never heard of such a thing and not to mention, the lady I spoke to earlier in the week knew I had said we were local and did not mention this policy on the phone. If I I am paying to camp, I expect a working campsite. If it does not have working electricity or sewer, it should be roped off so that people know not to park there. We packed up and left because of the unprofessional behavior of this campground owner. If you are looking for a place to camp, I would highly recommend skipping Sweetwater Lake Campground and checking out one of our State Park campgrounds instead. They have working campsites under the stars with electricity, water, fire rings, and park rangers that care about your camping experience.

Darla

Guide

Reviewed Jan. 10, 2021

I love this place!

Sweetwater Lake Campground is a small RV campground. There is electric and water hookup and a dump station. Lots are decent size and fairly level on grass or gravel. The owners are very nice and available, if needed. Reservations are not taken, so you pull in and pick your spot. Drop your money in a lock box. The property has a nice size lake and all spots face it. There are fire pits and hammocks. The best and most fun part about this campground are the rescue donkeys. Their shelter and grazing area is situated directly behind the camper row. You can hear them bray and they will come to you and let you pet them, although, you should use caution as they warn you that donkeys bite. This is a very nice, quiet campground surrounded by private property of fields and lake. I really enjoyed our stay here!

(15) View All

Dawn D.

Scout

Reviewed Nov. 28, 2020

Open year round , do not have to have reservations! All sites lake front. So convenient and easy!!! One mile off of interstate i26, exit off on exit 139. So clean, easy and beautiful!!!!!!!awesome for pets!! You will love it!!

You have to see this!!! Friendly owners, easy in and out, always have sites available, do not have to make reservations!!! Best kept secrete!!!! Exit 139 off of i26

fcsdavis@yahoo.com

Traveler

Reviewed Sep. 26, 2020

excellent

We were looking for a stopover for one night. Called enroute and the friendly owner said to come on in. It is a small family owned campground. Put money in box as honor system. All sites face the lake. Cute as it can be.

$35

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to camp at Sweetwater Lake Campground in South Carolina?

Camping at Sweetwater Lake Campground costs $30-35 per night. The campground operates on an honor system where you self-pay by dropping your payment in a box upon arrival. No reservations are required, making it convenient for spontaneous stays. This family-owned campground maintains simple pricing with no apparent additional fees for amenities or services.

What do visitors say about Sweetwater Lake Campground in their reviews?

Most visitors appreciate Sweetwater Lake Campground for its simplicity and lake views. Many highlight the friendly, accessible owners who live nearby. Campers enjoy the no-reservation policy and easy in-and-out access, making it ideal for spontaneous trips. The campground receives praise for its quietness and charm, with all sites facing the water. While primarily catering to RVs, tent campers have found accommodation by the lake. A few guests have had less positive experiences regarding site availability and conditions, but most consider it a hidden gem for short stays.

What facilities and amenities are available at Sweetwater Lake Campground?

Sweetwater Lake Campground is primarily an RV campground with 12-16 sites that all face the lake. Each site provides water and electric hookups, and a dump station is available on the property. The campground offers bathroom facilities with showers, though they're described as basic. Sites are fairly level and situated on grass or gravel with decent spacing. Tent camping is also permitted, with spots available near the lake away from the RV section.

Where is Sweetwater Lake Campground located in St. Matthews, SC?

Sweetwater Lake Campground is located in St. Matthews, South Carolina, conveniently situated off Interstate 26 at Exit 139. This small, family-owned campground sits on a lake, providing waterfront sites for campers. The owners live at the bottom of the access road, making them readily available when needed. Its interstate proximity makes it an excellent stopover location for travelers passing through the area.

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