The National Forests in South Carolina offer several family-style campgrounds as part of recreation areas with additional amenities, and many undeveloped seasonal campgrounds, some of which are specifically for use during fall's deer season.
2967 Steed Creek Road
Huger, SC 29450
(843) 336-3248
- Buck Hall Recreation Area, U.S. 17 north from Charleston to Buck Hall Landing Road (Forest Service Road 242). Adjacent to Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. 14 RV sites with full hookups, five tent sites. Showers, drinking water, toilets, picnic table, picnic shelter, fire rings, lantern posts, boat ramp. Open all year. $20 RV with hookups, $15 tent. Reservations required: (877) 444-6777 or www.recreation.gov.
- Elmwood Recreation Area, U.S. 17 north from McClellanville to Rutledge Road and FSR211. Primitive tent sites, water, vault toilets, picnic tables. Open all year. No fee.
Halfway Creek Trail Campground, off Halfway Creek Road (S.C. 98S). Primitive campsite along the Swampfox Passage/Palmetto Trail. Water pump. Open all year. No fee.
- Honey Hill Recreation Area, off S.C. 45 west at McClellanville. Primitive tent camping on loop around abandoned fire tower. Vault toilets, water pump, picnic tables. Open all year. No fee.
- Nicholson Creek Primitive Campsite. Primitive campsite along the Swamp Fox/Palmetto Trail.
- Wambaw Cycle Trail (North Loop and South Loop)off U.S. 17 north of Charleston, to Steed Creek Road (S.C. Route 133-S) and Halfway Creek Road (S.C. Route 98-S). Tent camping at OHV and mountain bike trail. Vault toilets, picnic tables. Fee for OHV, mountain bike riding.
Sumter National Forest
4931 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 561-4000
Andrew Pickens Ranger District
112 Andrew Pickens Circle
Mountain Rest, SC 29664
(864) 638-9568
- Big Bend, near Walhalla. Undesignated, primitive sites across road from Cherry Hill Recreation Area (below). Open all year. No fee.
- Blackwell Bridge, on north side of Whetstone Road at Chauga River Bridge. Primitive undesignated sites. Open all year. No fee.
- Brasstown Falls, east of Long Creek on U.S. 76. Walk-in primitive site at top of waterfall. No amenities. No fee.
- Burrell's Ford, in Walhalla. Walk-in primitive camp (.25 mile) on Chattooga River. Pit toilet, picnic tables, fire rings, lantern posts.
- Cassidy Bridge Hunt Camp, north of Walhalla off of S.C. 28 on banks of Chauga River. Pit toilet. Open all year. Free during big-game and turkey hunting seasons, October - December. Can be reserved in other times of year. (864) 638-9568.
- Cherry Hill Recreation Area, north of Walhalla on S.C. 28 to S.C. 107 north. 29 sites for tents or RVs. Drinking water, flush toilets, warm showers, dump station. April-October. $10. 19 sites available by reservation at ReserveAmerica.
- Double Branch, near Cassidy Bridge (above). Primitive site. No amenities. No fee.
Fall Creek, east of Chattooga River off of S.C. 76. Primitive site. No amenities. No fee.
- Grapevine, about 1.5 miles south of Whetstone Road and Chattooga Ridge Road. Primitive site. No amenities. No fee.
- Hell Hole, off Cassidy Bridge Road. Primitive site. No amenities. No fee. Closed to overnight camping and vehicle because of damage. Open for walk-in day-use only.
- King Creek, off S.C. 107 and Burrell's Ford Road. Primitive site next to creek. No amenities. No fee.
- Long Bottom Ford, off S.C. 28 on Low Water Bridge Road. Primitive site. No amenities. No fee.
- Nicholson Field, half-mile past Long Bottom Ford (see immediately above) take the middle fork. Primitive site. No amenities. No fee.
- Riley Moore Ford, off Spy Rock Road (748) and Riley Moore Falls Road (748C). Primitive camp on Chauga River open to saddle, pack and draft animals. No amenities. No fee.
- Tamassee Camp, west of Lake Cherokee on Winding Stairs (Cheohee Valley) Road. Primitive camp on Townes Creek open to saddle, pack and draft animals. No amenities. No fee.
- Thrifts Ferry, east of the Chattooga River off S.C. 76 and road 795. Primitive site. No amenities. No fee.
- Timmy Place, at end of Earl's Ford Road, then primitive road that may be impassable to low-clearance, two-wheel vehicles. Primitive site. No amenities. No fee.
- Turpin Branch, off Chattooga Ridge Road (SC 196) and Fall Creek Road. Primitive site. No amenities. No fee.
- Whetstone Horse Camp, north of Walhalla on S.C. 28 to Whetstone Road. 18 sites with parking spurs for horse trailers. Drinking water, wheelchair-accessible toilets, grills, tables, lantern posts. Open year-round. 28 miles of nearby bridle trails. Single sites $12, two double sites $24. Nine sites can be reserved at (877) 444-6777 or www.recreation.gov.
- Woodall Shoals, off U.S. 76, SR S37-538 and Woodall Shoals Road. On Chattooga River; Woodall Shoals is a Class VI rapid nearby. Primitive site. No amenities. No fee.
Enoree Ranger District
20 Work Center Road
Whitmire, SC 29178
(803) 276-4810
- Brick House Campground, off I-26 at exit 60 (S.C. 66). 23 sites, restrooms, tables, grills, lantern holders. No drinking water. Eight sites are extended-stay sites during specified season; all others have standard 14-day maximum. Near Buncombe Horse Trail (below) and Enoree Off-Highway Vehicle Trail. $5 per night; $50 for calendar month, September to December, and April; $150 for season, September to December. (803) 276-4810.
- Buncombe Horse Trail, off I-26 at exit 60 (S.C. 66). Primitive camping is allowed along 31.5 miles of trail through forested hills and valley. Trail is also open to mountain bikers. $3, $25 annual pass. (864) 427-9858.
- Collins Creek Seasonal Camp, off I-26 at exit 72 (S.C. 121). 43 sites, drinking water, vault toilet, hot outdoor showers. Open deer hunting season (September to January). $5 per night, $50 for calendar month, $150 for season. (803) 276-4810.
- Herbert Seasonal Camp, north of Carlisle off S.C. 72. 16 sites, drinking water, vault toilet, hot shower. Open deer hunting season (September to January). $5 per night, $50 for calendar month, $150 for season. (803) 276-4810.
- Rocky Branch Seasonal Camp, off I-26 at Exit 74 (S.C. 34) toward Winnsboro. 10 sites, drinking water (must be boiled), vault toilet. Open deer hunting season (September to January). $5 per night, $50 for calendar month, $150 for season. (803) 276-4810.
- Sedalia Campground, off S.C. 49 in Union County west of S.C. 176. Drinking water, vault toilet. Open year-round. $5 per night; $50 for calendar month, September to December, and April; $150 for season, September to December. (803) 276-4810.
- Woods Ferry Recreation Area, western Chester County on Broad River near S.C. 72 and Leeds Road. 28 family campsites, seven with horse stalls; two group sites, one with horse stalls. Water nearby, restrooms, hot showers, picnic shelter, boat ramp. April through October. Family site $7, group site $14. (803) 276-4810.
Long Cane Ranger District
810 Buncombe Street
Edgefield, SC 29824
(803) 637-5396
- Fell Camp, off S.C. 10 and S 24-47 near Abbeville. 66 campsites on 15 acres used primarily by hunters and equestrians. Also serves as trailhead for the 26.7 mile Long Cane Horse Trail. Water, vault toilets, hitching post and tie rails, picnic shelter (can be reserved). $5; $3 day use fee per vehicle; $50 for month; $150 for season (September 14-January 4).
- Lick Fork Lake Recreation Area, near Edgefield, off S.C. 23 and S.C. 230 on nine-acre lake. Nine sites. Water, vault toilets, picnic tables, lantern posts, grills (some sites), fire rings (some sites). Showers, flush toilets at recreation area swimming area, plus trails, boat ramp, fishing pier. April 1 through December 15. $7; $3 day use fee per vehicle.
- Midway Seasonal Camp, off S.C. 72 near Abbeville. Undesignated sites. Water, vault toilets, garbage cans. Open deer hunting season (September to January). $5 per night, $50 for calendar month, $150 for season.
- Morrow Bridge Seasonal Camp, off S.C. 28 near Abbeville (adjacent to Parson's Mountain Recreation Area, below). Undesignated sites. Water, vault toilets, garbage cans. Open deer hunting season (September to January). $5 per night, $50 for calendar month, $150 for season.
- Parson's Mountain Recreation Area, off S.C. 28 near Abbeville on 28-acre lake nestled below 800-foot summit. 23 sites. Water, flush toilets, showers, picnic tables, picnic shelters, garbage cans, lantern posts (some sites), paved parking. Trails, swim area with bathhouse, fishing, boat ramp. April 1 through December 15. $7; $3 day use fee per vehicle.
