Searching for the perfect place to pitch your tent in South Carolina? Find the best tent camping sites in South Carolina. Whether you're looking for a quiet location in the woods or a full-service RV resort near attractions, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
This campground is located just off the park entrance road, approximately mile before the Harry Hampton Visitor Center, in a mixed pine/hardwood upland forest. This campground is located at a higher elevation than the floodplain and is not subject to the flooding events that occur regularly in other parts of the park.
Campers with reservations at the Longleaf Campground have easy access to the parks 27 miles of hiking trails. Campers can reach the Harry Hampton Visitor Center by car or by hiking on the Longleaf Trail. At the visitor center you can access the Boardwalk and find information on other trails to plan your trip into the old-growth forest of Congaree National Park. Those who would like to explore and experience Congaree via canoe or kayak can launch from one of the park's two landings, located between 5-10 minutes by car from the campground.
Located in a mixed pine/hardwood upland forest, campsites are surrounded by pines and other trees. Campsites are generally in shade for large parts of the day. An open field in the middle of the campground is available for use by campers throughout the day, and this location offers campers excellent opportunities for observing wildlife such as birds, butterflies, and the occasional southern fox squirrel.
Congaree National Park is located near many attractions including state parks, forests and parks. The city of Columbia is a short drive from the park and offers access to many attractions including museums, city parks and shopping.
$15 - $25 / night
Burrells Ford campground is open year round with no charge. A pit toilet and picnic tables are available. Walk .25 miles to camp on the Chattooga River.
Camping Information : Camping is allowed only on designated campsites. Camping in other than designated areas may result in a fine. No drive up campsites are available on the park. There are no water or electricity provided at the campsites. Camping Reservations : To make a backcountry trailside camping reservation, call toll-free 1-866-345-PARK (7275) or make it online by clicking Park Reservations. Reservations requested less than one (1) day in advance of check-in must be made directly through the park. For example: If today is Friday and you are making a reservation checking in on today, Friday, you must make the reservation by contacting the park directly. Trailside Camping : The Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area offers trailside backcountry camping at 18 primitive sites. Fourteen sites provide fire pits, while four allow no fires. Permits are required, and camping is allowed in designated areas only. Campers are asked to follow internationally recognized "leave no trace" camping practices. For more information on leave no trace practices, visit the official leave no trace ethics website. Campers are asked to check-in at least two hours before dark in order to safely reach their campsites. Costs are $8-20/site/night. Backcountry Group Camping: The Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area offers one backcountry group campsite. The group site can be reserved for 10-20 people. Reservations for the group campsite must be made by calling the park directly. Costs are $4.40 - 5.50/person/night. Registration is required. PETS Pets : Pets are allowed in most outdoor areas provided they are kept under physical restraint or on a leash not longer than six feet. Owners will be asked to remove noisy or dangerous pets or pets that threaten or harass wildlife.
Brick House Campground is located on SC Route 66, 3.5 miles east of I-26, situated in the heart of the Enoree Ranger District in Newberry County. The campground is surrounded by a mixed pine-hardwood forest with an elevation of approximately 550 feet. Long hot summers and mild winters are the norm for the Enoree Ranger District. Winter temperatures range from low 40's to upper 60's degrees and summer temperatures range from high 80's to high 90's. Wild azaleas are clumped by the old homesites and wildflowers and dogwoods dot the landscape. This site offers a great opportunity for all season camping. Ample hunting opportunities for wild turkey and whitetail deer are available in the surrounding general forest. The campground is located 51 miles north of Columbia and is 41 miles south of Spartanburg.
Brick House offers a year-round primitive, single loop campground with 21 campsites. The small campground offers a primitive laid back setting that one can relax and enjoy in. Available by reservation only year round through recreation.gov. The 30 mile Buncombe Horse Trail offers a variety a loops which riders can choose between a short or all day ride. The trail is open to horses, hikers and mountain bikers. The 24 mile Enoree OHV Trail is a short 10 minute drive north of Brick House. The motorized trail is open to atvs, utvs, and dirt bikes that are 50 inches and less in width. Bring your own equipment. The trail has a user fee and is closed when trail conditions are too wet for riding.Call the "Call Before You Haul" hotline. The surrounding national forest lands are a great place for big game deer and turkey hunting along with other small game hunting. Hunting and fishing in South Carolina is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Visit www.dnr.sc.gov for more about the SCDNR.
Over 700,000 acres of pine-hardwood forest with gently rolling terrain make up the Enoree Ranger District. Headleys Creek runs through the area a bit over half a mile away from the campground by road.
Enoree OHV Trail- 10 minutes up the road is a 24 mile designated trail for motorized atvs, utvs and dirt bikes that are 50 inches wide or less. Warning: the trail closes when trail conditions are too wet for riding. Use the Call Before You Haul hotline to check trail status. Newberry Opera House, Newberry, SC. https://www.newberryoperahouse.com/
$5 - $150 / night
Primitive campsite. Primitive campsites are typically sites within the forest that have been designated for use based on desirable location. Most primitive sites have no amenities such as toilets or picnic tables. Stay is limited to 14 days. Saddle, pack and draft animals are not permitted at any campsite.
All sites are open with the exception of the following: Buck Hall Campground - closed while work is still underway on the water system. Reservations have been canceled through Feb. 7 in anticipation to re-open Wambaw Cycle Trail - closed until the trail can be assessed for hazards. Anticipate opening later this week. Boggy Head Rifle Range - closed. The site was used and abused heavily during the shutdown. Users ignored the site inappropriately and left trash. It is closed until the site can be thoroughly cleaned. Note: Please mark your calendar for Sat., Feb. 2 for the annual Francis Marion National Forest annual cleanup. If you would like to volunteer meet at the Huger Recreation Area at 9 a.m.
Primitive camping by the creek currently has 2 very private camp sites. Fire pits and wood is provided at each site. Picnic tables are also available. We are currently open 7 days a week, 12 months of the year. Each site is primitive and private - We have one potable water spigot, and a outhouse with working toilet, which is shared between the two campsites. No electricity (generates are allowed). Each site has a max, of 6 to 8 persons. Pets are allowed but must be on a leash at all times.
Campers/small RV's/Vans are allowed, sites are level and drive through. Trash bins are provide at each site.
We are located less than a 1/2 mile from Interstate 85, at exit 104. There are gas stations (with showers), convenient stores and restaurants close by.
We are within 15 minutes drive to horse, bike, and hiking trails. Kings Mtn State Park, Kings Mtn National Park and Crowders Mtn State Park.
If you have any question contact David @ 864-761-6297.
$30 / night
$10 / night
Tent campites on the Intercoastal Waterway overlooking the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. This is a nature lovers dream. We offer primitive campsites that have access to communal water sources, power, restrooms, and shower facilities. Our campground has a full length basketball court, Pickleball Court, and swings for your enjoyment. You will have access to a floating dock for launch of kayaks into the Intracoastal Waterway. If you do not have your own kayak, we always have them for rent. There is easy access to the iconic Awendaw Passage of the Palmetto Trail, which runs directly through the property and offers hiking and off-road biking opportunities. If you love to set up hammocks, we encourage that on our many majestic Oaks and Palmettos around the property. There are also many offsite activities in the surrounding area that you can enjoy. Please refer to the park map in the photos. The Flushing Toilets, Showers, and Water source is located at the Conference Center area of the property(there are portable toilets at waterfront). You will need to bring something to store your water in. Power access is at the Conference Center and a single access point at the waterfront. You can easily drive between the waterfront camping area and the Conference Center. You can drive directly to the sites and park. We do allow camper vans and small popup tents/campers. We do not have hookups at each site so you will need to plan accordingly. Anything over 20 feet is not allowed. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. There is a communal area at the end of dock for everyone to enjoy. The swings and basketball/pickleball court is for everyone as well(basketballs, pickleball equipment, soccer balls, footballs, and other recreation equipment are provided).
$38 / night
We are the only adventure outfitter that has an outpost on the Waccamaw River that features 1 acre of fun yard games, tree swings, hammocks, large fire pit, clean bathroom, boat dock & ramp, river side picnic tables and access to a 48 acre private island in the middle of the river to explore and camp overnight!
We offer a variety of activities and adventures, including: Escape River Island, kayak and river boat tours to our private island, custom overnight river camping trips, birthday & group events.
$40 - $65 / night
Traveler
As a primitive tent camper, the price was a little steep at $34 per night, however.. very quiet and fairly private on the tent camping side of things. Showers and bath house in general was always clean and campground owners very nice and welcoming. I'd definitely stay again! The no-see-ems were pretty thick in a tent site in early April, so bring bug spray if you want to sit outside during the day.
Guide
Sprawling park and campground right between Charleston and Folly Beach. There is a camp store which is well stocked and stays open till 8pm. The predominance of this campground is RV sites. The sites are well maintained and with enough space between each site.
The tent camping site and group tent sites are hike-in. The hike in is really not that far at all from where you park your cars, so no worries. The individual tent sites sit back in the woods, with a nice tree canopy, which gives it a real "primitive" feel to it. The sites are raised and contain a gravel bed.
There are bathrooms and private showers on site in a few locations. The bathroom and showers for the tent sites lay next to the group site, which is a short walk.
Shopping and stores are on hwy 117, just a few short minutes from the park.
Traveler
The cabins are nice, but small and no plumbing. If you're used to tent camping then the cabins are one step above that. Bonus is the air conditioning. Great view in Cabins 1 and 2. Gentle slope to a nice beach as well for those two cabins.
Tent sites are on the water as well but are right on top of each other. I could almost touch two of the tent pads at the same time.
Guide
Whether camping in a tent or renting a cabin, all are $20 per night. 🤔 Beautiful lake, flushing toilets and hot showers. I am passing through but see others boating, fishing and hunting. Laundry available upon request and current availability.
Ranger
We camped at Hunting Island over a long weekend and had a great time. We were in a 30 foot 5th wheel and stayed in site 95. In my opinion it was one of the best sites there. Nice size and lots of vegetation surrounding. The beach was just over the dunes. We couldn’t see the beach or ocean from our site but it was just a short walk away. The store was well stocked and people were very friendly. The tent sites looked very nice and if I was still tent camping I’d definitely be happy with the accommodation. They are also easier access to the beach. We had water and electric at our site. Two Dump stations available and were easy in and out. Bathhouse in each area was nice and clean. We visited Beaufort and fell in love with the cute town! Lots of water view restaurants to choose from. From the nature center we explored the path to the boneyard and was glad we took the 15 minute walk out there. Enjoyed our time and will definitely be back!
Guide
Built to celebrate the Sesquicentennial of South Carolina in the 30’s . At one time on the furthest outskirts of Columbia SC. It is now firmly in the muddle of the Metro area. Plenty of trailer sites. Tent site and primitive camping. Has recreational areas. Restaurants and shopping nearby
GuideThis is a good sized park with a good bit to do. There are meandering walking trails through the woods. There's the beach. There's the lighthouse, which is very blustery uptop, and quite a lot of stairs to get there. There are some historical museum type things around the lighthouse. Giftshop and hotdogs on the beach. The volunteers were great here--nice, helpful, funny.
Camping, especially tent camping, is just inland of the dunes. There's no water or power at tent sites. There were a million RVs and it was pretty loud with generators even though we were somewhat separated. It was also Spring Break season, so that lends to crowds.
There were lot of solo campers here, I guess due to being on the East Coast and perhaps a good road trip stop over for a night's stay. However, we actually didn't get to stay the night day two! It was so windy (no rain or storm) that there was no way we could sleep there. Taking down our tent and putting everything away while being blown sideways was exhausting. Only one tent camper remained when we left, and they were actually working with a hammock-station wagon combo. Off we went to a hotel and dinner in Beaufort, which is a nice, sleepy, old town on the water.
Legend
My favorite part of staying at this park was not actually camping, although I always love camping. My favorite part was hiking the trails, especially the Natural Bridge/Palmetto Trail. It is a loop trail, but you can opt to get on a longer trail along the loop. The hike seems easy at first, especially going down to the“natural bridge.” However, when you hike down, you have to hike up, and there were sections on the return that were steep. Along the way, not only do you see the natural bridge, but there is a small waterfall as well. As far as camping, there are RV sites and tent sites. I chose tent camping this time, and there was a large gravel pad. The sites seemed a little too close for me, but at least they were not on top of each other. The day that I went, the other tent sites were all reserved as far as I could tell. I found that surprising for a Tuesday night. Unfortunately, with so many people camping that close together, you never really get to sleep early since some people are up late talking. Nevertheless, once the talking died down, I went to sleep listening to the tree frogs. The bath house is a short walk away and is AIR CONDITIONED!!! Since I went in July, this was important. I was hoping to get in some canoeing, but there were strong thunderstorms and rain. As a matter of fact, I waited for a break so I could put up my tent. There is a camp store, and I enjoyed looking at the relief map in the visitor’s center. It also has displays in the visitor’s center with local history. There is also a boat ramp a short drive away from the campground. Even though I didn’t get to take full advantage of it, it is a lot better than many of the boat ramps I have seen. The biggest attraction for this park, other than the hiking trails, is obviously its access to Lake Keowee. Overall, it is a pretty good place to camp. I’m not fond of how close the sites were, but it’s a lot better than many campgrounds I have been to.
Legend
Table Rock State Park is a large park with at least three“campgrounds.” One is a primitive campground, and one is a traditional campground. I did not get to explore the third campground, but I believe it is a traditional campground as well. The site I stayed at, site 56, was level, except for the approach; however, the pad was rough gravel. I put down two tarps under my tent to help eliminate the roughness inside the tent. The site was shaded and wasn’t too close to my camping neighbors, but the biggest problem was dealing with the ants—big black ants, small black ants, and other tiny ants. There was no lantern pole, but there was a fire pit and a picnic table. The bath house was only a short walking distance away. There is no lack of things to do, and the trail system is extraordinary. The main attraction, I would guess, is Table Rock Mountain, but there are other things to do. There is a swimming beach and a diving platform. Beside the beach are picnic tables, including a picnic shelter with a standing grill. The visitors center/store was well stocked with souvenirs and supplies, and there is a laundry next to it. Sometime during the night when I had to go to the restroom, I discovered that there was not water. The next morning, I turned on the faucet at my campsite, and it sputtered out brown water at first and then it came out clear. I said that to say this. There was a problem and they dealt with it quickly. That impressed me. The heat and humidity was almost unbearable, but nothing can be done about that during the summer. If you camp in a tent during the summer, make sure to take and extension cord and a fan. Overall, this is a great place to camp during vacation, but the cost is a little more than I expected to pay for a tent site. Costwise, I’m not sure I would want to pay that much for camping for a whole week. It rivals the national campground franchises. However, if cost doesn’t concern you, it really is a good place to camp.
Legend
There are quite a few campgrounds in the area to choose from and this is among the best. I've camped here, swam here, explored the beach here, worked here, gotten to know many of the staff, and even hosted a triathlon here. You just can't beat Pirateland in summer or winter. If you don't want to camp in a tent, they have quite a few trailers and cabins for rent that are pretty nice. If you don't have a bike, you can even rent a golf cart and roll your way around. If you bring a kayak, there are some great salt marsh areas to check out as well.
Traveler
This was my family’s first time tent camping in the cold weather and it wasn’t that bad. The lakeside tent area provided beautiful scenery with access to restrooms and showers. It wasn’t too crowded as it was military members only and you can’t beat the price for a lakeside spot. We would definitely go tent camping here again!
Legend
The first time I went, I did not have reservations, but there is a camp host. I went to the camp host site to get a site, but s/he was not there. I looked around the campground and there were only three or four campsites taken. After driving and sightseeing, I came back about an hour later. Nobody was still at the host site. I did some more sightseeing and came back about another hour later. No success. The only way I was able to get a site was by reservation. Eventually, I got a site, but the process of having to reserve online ahead of time is frustrating, especially since I was told by a park ranger at another South Carolina State Park that even if you don’t have reservations you can show up if sites are available.
The campsite I was at had a level tent pad, which was gravel. There was a picnic table and a freeze hydrant for water. I checked the hydrant before deciding since the freeze hydrant on my last camping trip did not work. Parking was about fifty feet away since I stayed at the tent site area. Another option would have been to stay at one of the regular tent/RV sites closer to the bath room. The tent/RV sites are level and have fire pits, but I wanted a little more scenic view than having to see the bath house from my campsite.
There were very few campers this time, so it was quiet at the campground. However, I did hear some road noise until late evening since the tent sites are closer to the road. Since it is pretty far from any major town or city, it got really dark at night, so this was really nice for watching stars. '
The bath house had the basic needs—toilet, wash basin, and shower. The floor was concrete, and the toilet was stainless steel with no removable lid. I thought that was strange for a men’s bathroom.
Overall, it was a pleasant stay once I was able to actually get a site.
Guide
Very, very overcrowded. The tent sites were unlevel and muddy ( since it rained before we arrived and all the water ran down hill to the tent sites). Pretty decent bathroom but too cramped for me. Won't be back to visit.
TravelerDid some tent camping in mid October. Had tons of fun and the park was really clean. Bath houses were nice and had hot water. T mobile service doesn’t work at all, but they have Wi-Fi hotspots for rent for $5 per day. Tent camping was $7.50 per night. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5, was because Quiet hours are supposed to be from 11-7, but there were people partying pretty late. Definitely should’ve brought some ear plugs. Check out our review https://youtu.be/j-5JBxOl3uE
Legend
We had a tent site here for the weekend and were overrun with our neighbors children. No one was governing the curfews or the maximum allowed per campsite. There was literally a family of almost 50 people in two tent sites next to us. And they were there with the people on the other side of us. So we were just wedged in between them. We were woken up every morning to their children trying to unzip our tent. 
Guide
I was passing thru SC on the SCAR headed down to the Palmetto Rally and stopped here to camp. It was a very nice campground with level pads, picnic table and fire ring (bring your own wood). As well there were several vault toilets and there was even a water faucet. It was a good campground and I would stay here again. It is not reservable so first come first served. There was some cell coverage as well. I tent camped so can not comment on RV as the others in the campground were tent camping as well.
ScoutGood camp for rv or tent camping. Plenty of trails, splash park for kids and a lake for boating and fishing
Guide
Edisto has a beach camping area and a wooded area. The option for RV or tent camping without all the excessive price.
Traveler
This State Park is large with camping for everyone, RV’s, tent camping. On lake Thurmond between Plum S. C. And Modoc S. C. On hey 28.
Traveler
Stayed in a tent at tent site 3. Site was level and clean with water and electric, fire ring, and a picnic table. for $10 per night. There are also primitive tent sites as well for $5 per night. Lots of RV spots too! Bathhouse was cleans and has 2 showers and toilets on the mens and womens side. The office was closed before we arrived, but we were able to call on the phone to make a reservation. Seems like a few full time people in their RV. T mobile service worked well. Camp host was very friendly
Ranger
We had a wonderful time camping at Devil's Fork State Park. Our group took up rustic tent sites T1, T3, and T5. On the map, these sites seem not ideal, as they are not on the water. However, they are more isolated, more wooded (plenty of trees for hammocking), and seemingly larger than the other tent sites. They are a short walk from the tent-camper parking area, a short walk from the two water spigots in the parking area, and a short walk from the restrooms. The bonus is that, behind sites T1 and T3, is a jumping rock into a gorgeous cove of Lake Jocassee with beautiful blue-green water. It's a great place to enjoy kayaks, rafts, and other inflatables.
While site T13 books up quick because of its waterfront location on the point, the walk from the parking lot is no joke.
Notes about the rustic tent sites: They have been recently renovated. Each has a picnic table and a fire ring. Only 1 vehicle is allowed to park, per site, unless you pay for the extra vehicle and park in the overflow lot. There is no electricity, and two water spigots located in the parking area. The entire camping area (25 tent sites and 59 RV sites) share 2 restrooms (which were muddy and gross while we were there). No generators are allowed in the tent area. We did have a bear visit us multiple times in one night, putting teeth puncture marks in our cooler. And if the bear don't get ya, the raccoons will!
TravelerClean sites and facilities. Quiet atmosphere. We stayed at the walk in tent sites and they were very nice.
TravelerExcellent tent camping for family. I came with my pregnant wife, my 10 month old baby, my brother and my sister in law. It was such a great experience, amazing place. Definitely worth the experience.
Scout
Stayed here this past weekend and what a wonderful tent site! Slept in the hammock and woke up to a beautiful view!
Guide
I just love the name of this campground- Little Pee Dee is located in South Carolina and it is near the town of Dillon. The lake is absolutely beautiful, and one of my favorite things about this park. Part of the lake is from the Carolina Bay, and the coloring of the water is gorgeous. The campground and facilities are great. I thought the bathroom on site was very clean and taken care of. They also have a shower facility on site too. The shower facilities did get a little hot because there wasn't any fans in the area. It looked like they had some sort of heater, which would be nice for the winter. The area was a little hot and steamy after the shower. If you have kids they will love the playground that is in the campground as well. There are also a lot of great trails and hikes to do. My family and I did a hike everyday that we stayed here, for a total of 3 hikes. The scenery is gorgeous, especially the hikes that over look the lake. We camped with our RV, but you can also tent camp as well. I know when my family went in 2017 they had drained the lake because of a hurricane so If you plan on going I would suggest doing some research to see if the lake is back and running. If having no lake is fine with you, then I would definitely still recommend going. The hiking is amazing and worth the stay in itself.
Scout
Neat area, but too much gravel on the sites for tent camping. The spots were also too close together that there was no privacy in the campsite. I wish the camping was better because the river and trails are so worth the visit!
Scout
It's a very nice campground with very friendly people and nice trails around. The only issue which wasn't big for me due to tent camping, the sites looked washed out and very unlevel so depending on camper or RV might take some work getting level!
Tent camping in South Carolina offers a unique blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure, perfect for those looking to escape into the wilderness.
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