Camping

83 spaces with full hook-ups and 50 and 30 amp electrical service. Hot showers, picnic tables, grills and easy access with all pull-through sites. I-20 and US Hwy. 601 (exit #92), just 0.7 miles on Hwy. 12.

Established in 1939 as a federal refuge for indigenous wildlife and game management demonstration project, the 45,348-acre refuge now serves as a demonstration site for land management practices, which preserve and enhance the longleaf pine/wiregrass ecosystem. It supports approximately 190 species of birds, 42 species of mammals, 41 species of reptiles, 25 species of amphibians, and innumerable species of plants, including several species of fauna and flora that are listed as threatened or endangered. These include the Swainson’s warbler, red-cockaded woodpecker, pine barrens treefrog, white wicky, Well’s pixie moss, and the sweet pitcher plant. It supports an estimated 125 clusters of the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, the largest population in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Offers 30 man-made lakes & ponds, walking trails, an auto tour route, picnic areas, hunting and fishing. Click here to join the FaceBook group, Friends of Carolina Sandhills NWR.  

This quiet 523-acre park provides a tranquil setting which is enjoyed by campers, day-users and nature lovers. The park’s 160 acre lake offers excellent fishing opportunities by land, boat, or fishing piers. Public boat ramp, boat rentals, picnic shelters, playgrounds, nature trails, and the Lakeview Hall meeting facility are available daily. Also available are a 27-hole Disc Golf course and 25 campsites with water & electricity. The campsite has a bathhouse with hot showers, a sewage disposal station, picnic area, playground, fishing lake, fishing boats and canoes for rent, tournament-level disc golf course, nature trails. Park hours: 9 am–sunset daily. Admission charged. Located 2 miles west of Chester on SC 72. 759 State Park Dr., Chester. (803) 385-2680.

This is a county-maintained park located on the shores of Lake Wylie. Offers camping, picnic areas, swimming fishing and boating. 69 fully equipped campsites (advanced reservations accepted). Reservations are also recommended for the five picnic shelters. Open from daylight to dusk, Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day with lifeguard on duty, 11 am-6 pm, A daily parking pass is required. I-77, exit 82-C.

History and nature come together at this 6,883-acre park that was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the late 1930s. Many of its buildings and structures are still in use and the impressive stonework can be viewed throughout the park. Amenities include 2 lakes for fishing, several streams, and almost 35 miles of hiking, nature, & equestrian trails. The park features the Living History Farm, which offers visitors a chance to experience how South Carolina yeoman farmers lived during the 19th century. Several “Living History” days and festivals are held throughout the year. Offers 115 standard campsites with water & electricity, 10 rustic tent sites, 7 primitive group campsites, and 15 primitive equestrian campsites. Also available are the historic Camp York and Camp Cherokee group camps. These camps have several primitive cabins with a large dining hall in each camp designed for groups of over 100 guests. Open 365 days per year from 8 am–6 pm, extended to 7 am–9 pm during Daylight Savings Time. Self-guided tours of the Living History Farm are available daily from 8am--8pm March through October and 8am--5pm November through February. 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. Pets are not allowed in or around cabins, cabin areas or other lodging facilities. Park entrance fee: $2/adult; $1.25 for SC Seniors; children age 15 and younger are free.

Offers seasonal campgrounds that are open during big-game deer and turkey hunting seasons. The campground has designated campsites in open areas surrounded by woods. No reservations taken. The surrounding forest environment sustains abundant wildlife populations, making it one of the most desirable hunting areas in the upstate. 

46,838 acres operated as a demonstration, conservation area embodying the principle of multiple-use management. Many miles of sand roads for equine and other activities, 14 fish ponds, hiking trails, camping, picnicking, bird watching, hunting and more. Permit required for all activities except hiking. Permits may be purchased at forest headquarters. Encompassing Sugarloaf Mountain and H. Cooper Black Jr. Memorial Field Trial Area, this is a self-supporting state forest.