Where to sleep on a South Carolina paddling trip, from state parks to river camps.
Where to sleep on a South Carolina paddling trip: Upstate and Midlands state parks, the Chattooga and Congaree, Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests, Lowcountry and Pee Dee river camps. Every fee, reservation line and rule on these pages came from the people who run the place, and each card says who. Where they do not publish something, the card says so instead of guessing.
The first 6 pages open right here. One email opens the whole guide, and the same email opens every other Blackwater guide too.
The Camper's Guide covers 57 places to sleep on a South Carolina trip, from state parks to river camps. Each entry below is taken from the book: what kind of camp it is, the sites, the reservation details, pets and fire rules, and whether you can paddle from it. Fees and rules were checked Sept 2026 and change, so confirm with the operator before you go.
Mountains and lakes. Table Rock, Jones Gap and Oconee state parks, Lake Hartwell, the Chattooga River camps and the Sumter National Forest campgrounds.
Baker Creek State Park is a South Carolina State Parks campground with Lake Thurmond boating and paddling access published by the park. Rates and rules were not published when we checked.
Paddling: The park publishes boating and paddling access to Lake Thurmond.
Burrell's Ford is a walk-in camp on the Chattooga River, a quarter mile from the parking area near FS Road 646. There is a vault toilet and picnic tables but no drinking water, so bring your own. No fee is required.
Paddling: Chattooga River access near FS Road 646; walk 0.25 miles from parking to the campsites.
Calhoun Falls State Park has three campgrounds on Lake Russell, with hookups, showers, laundry and walk-in tent sites. Rates change with the season and demand.
Paddling: The park publishes Lake Russell shoreline access and boating.
This is a stretch of the Chattooga River corridor, not a named campground. The Forest Service requires a visitor pass or permit for camping in undesignated areas, so ask the district about the exact spot before you go.
Paddling: Chattooga River corridor. Confirm the exact site with the district.
This is the Chattooga River corridor, not a named campground. The Forest Service requires a visitor pass or permit for groups of any size camping in undesignated areas. Confirm your landing and campsite locally.
Paddling: River corridor access. Confirm the landing and campsite locally.
Twenty-five boat-in campsites on Lake Jocassee, about two miles from the main boat launch. There is no water, electricity or restroom, and a minimum stay of two nights. Camping is not allowed on the rest of the lake shoreline or islands.
Paddling: Boat access required, about two miles from the main boat launch.
Devils Fork State Park offers tent and RV camping on Lake Jocassee, with a boat launch and paddling access published by the park. Rates were not published when we checked.
Paddling: The park publishes a Lake Jocassee boat launch and paddling access.
Hamilton Branch State Park is a South Carolina State Parks campground, with Lake Thurmond shoreline access published by the park. Rates and site counts were not published when we checked.
Paddling: The park publishes Lake Thurmond shoreline access.
Hawe Creek is a 34-site Corps of Engineers campground on Lake Thurmond, with showers, flush toilets, a boat ramp and a courtesy dock. Gather only dead wood from the ground and keep fires in the rings or grills.
Paddling: Lake Thurmond boating, canoeing and kayaking, with a boat ramp.
Hickory Knob State Resort Park lists camping and lodging, with Lake Thurmond access published by the park. Rates and site counts were not published when we checked.
Paddling: The park publishes Lake Thurmond access.
Jones Gap State Park offers backcountry camping. It is a hike-in camp, not a river landing, so this one is for walkers.
Paddling: A hike-in camp rather than a river landing.
Keowee-Toxaway State Park is a South Carolina State Parks campground, and the park publishes access to Lake Keowee. Confirm the launch details before you go.
Paddling: The park publishes Lake Keowee access. Confirm the launch details.
Lake Hartwell State Park is listed as a camping park by South Carolina State Parks, with boating access to Lake Hartwell. Campground details were not published when we checked.
Paddling: Lake Hartwell boating access is published by the park system.
Modoc is a Corps of Engineers campground on Lake Thurmond with showers, flush toilets, a boat ramp, a dump station and a playground. Fees and site counts were not published when we checked.
Paddling: Lake Thurmond boating and kayaking, with a boat ramp.
Oconee State Park offers tent and RV camping in the Chattooga and Jocassee area. No on-site river launch was published on the park page.
Paddling: No on-site river launch published.
Paris Mountain State Park is a South Carolina State Parks campground, and the park publishes lake paddling. Rates were not published when we checked.
Paddling: The park publishes lake paddling.
Sadlers Creek State Park has 37 lakefront sites on Lake Hartwell, with a fishing pier. Rates are shown by date and site on the reservation page.
Paddling: Lake Hartwell shoreline and boating access.
South Cove is a county park on Lake Keowee that publishes overnight camping and boat access. Fees, site counts and reservations were not published when we checked.
Paddling: Lake Keowee boat access is published by the county.
Table Rock State Park is a South Carolina State Parks campground, and the park publishes lake boating. No Broad River launch was published on the park page.
Paddling: The park publishes lake boating.
The Forest Service publishes the Turkey and Stevens Creeks canoe trail but no fixed campsite list. Ask the district about camping and any visitor pass or permit before you plan an overnight.
Paddling: The official Turkey and Stevens Creeks canoe trail.
Twin Lakes is a 102-site Corps of Engineers campground on Lake Hartwell with hookups, showers, a swim area and a two-lane boat ramp. Fees were not published when we checked.
Paddling: Lake Hartwell boating and a two-lane boat ramp.
Watsadler is a 51-site Corps of Engineers campground on Lake Hartwell with full water and electric hookups, showers and a boat ramp. It is open year round.
Paddling: Lake Hartwell boating and a boat ramp.
Rivers and big lakes. Congaree National Park's backcountry camps, Lake Wateree and Santee state parks, and the canoe-trail camps on the Enoree and the Tyger.
Aiken State Park is a South Carolina State Parks campground, and the park publishes canoeing on the South Fork Edisto River. Fees and rules were not published when we checked, so look at the reservation page before you go.
Paddling: The park publishes canoeing on the South Fork Edisto River.
Andrew Jackson State Park offers full-hookup and tent camping through South Carolina State Parks. No river launch was published for the park, so this is a land camp first.
Paddling: No river launch published for this park.
Bluff is a six-site hike-in campground in Congaree National Park, about a mile from parking. It is tent only, with no restrooms or running water, so pack in what you need.
Paddling: Bluff is reached by trail, not by water.
Brick House Recreation Area is a Forest Service camp near the Enoree River Canoe Trail. The Forest Service page did not publish fees, site counts or reservations, so confirm the details and the water access before you plan a trip.
Paddling: Enoree River canoe trail area. Confirm the water access locally.
Cane Creek Recreation Area is a Forest Service camp near the Tyger River Canoe Trail. The Forest Service page did not publish fees, site counts or reservations, so confirm the details and the water access before you go.
Paddling: Tyger River canoe trail area. Confirm the water access locally.
Chester State Park is a South Carolina State Parks campground. No launch was published on the park page, so plan on a land camp.
Paddling: No launch published for this park.
Congaree National Park allows backcountry camping with a free permit, and you can reach the backcountry by canoe or kayak. Camp at least 100 feet from Cedar Creek, Tom's Creek, Bates Old River and Wise Lake. No open fires; backpacking stoves are fine.
Paddling: The backcountry can be reached by canoe or kayak.
Dreher Island State Park has paved water and electric sites, tent-only sites, a boat ramp and shoreline access on Lake Murray. Rates change with the season and demand.
Paddling: The park publishes Lake Murray shoreline and boating access.
The Forest Service publishes the Enoree River Canoe Trail but no fixed campsite list. Ask the district about camping and any visitor pass or permit before you plan an overnight.
Paddling: The official Enoree River Canoe Trail.
Goodale State Park is a South Carolina State Parks campground, and the park publishes paddling on its lake. No river landing was published on the park page.
Paddling: The park publishes paddling on its lake. No river landing published.
Kings Mountain State Park has a campground, trailside camping and group primitive camping. The park map shows Lake Crawford and Lake York for paddling.
Paddling: Lake Crawford and Lake York are on the park map.
Lake Greenwood State Park has 125 paved campsites with electric hookups, two boat ramps and a fishing pier. Leashed pets are welcome in most outdoor areas.
Paddling: Two boat ramps give access to Lake Greenwood.
Lake Wateree State Park is a South Carolina State Parks campground with boat access to Lake Wateree published by the park. Rates were not published when we checked.
Paddling: The park publishes Lake Wateree boat access.
Longleaf is the frontcountry campground at Congaree National Park. You park in a gravel lot and walk to your site. It is tent only, with vault toilets and drinking water nearby.
Paddling: Longleaf is near the park entrance road, not on the water.
Poinsett State Park is a South Carolina State Parks campground. No launch was published on the park page.
Paddling: No launch published for this park.
Santee State Park is listed as a camping park by South Carolina State Parks, with a boat ramp and Lake Marion shoreline access. Campground details were not fully published when we checked.
Paddling: Lake Marion shoreline and boating access.
Sesquicentennial State Park is a South Carolina State Parks campground. No Congaree River launch was published on the park page.
Paddling: No Congaree River launch published.
The Forest Service publishes the Tyger River Canoe Trail but no fixed campsite list. Ask the district about camping and any visitor pass or permit before you plan an overnight.
Paddling: The official Tyger River Canoe Trail.
Blackwater rivers to the Grand Strand. Cheraw, Lee and Little Pee Dee state parks, Lynches River County Park, and Huntington Beach and Myrtle Beach.
One boat-in campsite on Lake Juniper in Cheraw State Park. You need a boat to reach it, and the lake allows private boats with a 10 horsepower gas or electric trolling motor.
Paddling: Boat required. Private boats with 10 hp gas or electric trolling motors are allowed on Lake Juniper.
Cheraw State Park offers tent, RV and boat-in camping, with boat access on Lake Juniper published by the park. Rates were not published when we checked.
Paddling: The park publishes Lake Juniper boat access.
H. Cooper Black Jr. Memorial Field Trial and Recreation Area is a South Carolina State Parks campground. No river launch was published on the park page.
Paddling: No river launch published for this park.
Huntington Beach State Park has overnight camping, and the park FAQ publishes salt marsh paddling access. Rates and site counts were not published when we checked.
Paddling: The park FAQ publishes salt marsh paddling access.
Lee State Park offers full-hookup, RV and tent camping beside the Lynches River, and the park publishes river recreation. Rates were not published when we checked.
Paddling: The park is beside the Lynches River and publishes river recreation.
Little Pee Dee State Park has full-service, water and electric, tent and trailside primitive sites, with hot showers and a dump station. Reservations need a minimum of two nights.
Paddling: No river launch listed on the camping page.
Lynches River County Park is run by Florence County, which publishes a family campground, an equestrian campground and canoe and kayak access on the Lynches River. Confirm site details and rates before you plan on it.
Paddling: The operator publishes canoe and kayak access on the Lynches River.
Myrtle Beach State Park is a South Carolina State Parks campground on the coast. No Waccamaw River launch was published on the park page.
Paddling: Coastal access. No Waccamaw River launch published.
Marsh, plantation rivers and sea islands. Edisto Beach and Givhans Ferry state parks, Francis Marion National Forest camps and the Wambaw Creek canoe trail.
Barnwell State Park has a 25-site campground with fishing and non-motorized boat rentals on the park lakes. Leashed pets are welcome in most outdoor areas.
Paddling: Non-motorized boat rentals are published on the park lakes.
Buck Hall sits on the Intracoastal Waterway with a boat ramp and water toward Cape Romain. The camp has hookups, showers and flush toilets. It closes for roughly 18 months of renovation once the contract is awarded, so check Recreation.gov before you drive out.
Paddling: Intracoastal Waterway, a boat ramp and access toward Cape Romain.
Colleton State Park sits on the Edisto River and publishes river access. Every campsite is full hookup, which makes it an easy base for a river trip.
Paddling: The park is on the Edisto River and publishes river access.
Edisto Beach State Park has oceanfront and inland camping, and the park publishes salt marsh and coastal water access. Rates and site counts were not published when we checked.
Paddling: The park publishes salt marsh and coastal water access.
Givhans Ferry State Park offers tent and RV camping on the Edisto River, with river access published by the park. Rates and site counts were not published when we checked.
Paddling: The park is on the Edisto River and publishes river access.
Honey Hill Recreation Area is a Forest Service camp in the Francis Marion National Forest. The Forest Service page did not publish fees, site counts or reservations, so confirm the details and any launch locally.
Paddling: Francis Marion forest water-trail region. Confirm the launch locally.
James Island County Park is run by Charleston County, which publishes overnight camping and saltwater and tidal creek recreation. Confirm the details and any Ashley River access with the park.
Paddling: Saltwater and tidal creek recreation. Confirm any Ashley River access.
Oak Plantation Campground is a private campground that publishes RV and tent camping and over 200 campsites. Rates and reservation details were not published on the operator page, and direct Ashley River access was not published either.
Paddling: Near Charleston waterways. Direct river access not published.
The Forest Service publishes the Wambaw Creek canoe trail but no fixed overnight campsite list. Confirm that camping is allowed at your landing before you plan an overnight.
Paddling: The official Wambaw Creek canoe trail.
Every fee in this book carries its check date, September 2026. South Carolina State Parks, the Forest Service and the Army Corps set their own rates and change them, so where a page did not publish a fee, the entry says so and points you to the agency.
Small places fill first. Backcountry, paddle-in and river camps often need a permit or a reservation. The Reserve line in each entry says what the agency published.
Pack out everything you pack in, food scraps too. Camp on sand, rock or an established site, well above the waterline. Use the toilet provided, or dig a cathole well away from water and camp. Leave what you find, and let the wildlife be.
Fire rules change with the weather. Fires only in provided rings where allowed; check the managing agency's alerts page before every trip. Carry a stove on every trip so a burn ban never costs you supper.
Storms, low water, construction, hunts and wildfire close campgrounds without warning. Check the agency page the week you go.
Every river in South Carolina, with put-ins, take-outs, gauges and hazards.
Home watersSeventeen rivers within reach of St. George, Georgia.
River pagesAccess, gauges and our trips, river by river.