Campers have easy access to South Carolina’s natural wonders in the “Famously Hot” state capital.
Smack-bang in the heart of the state, the state capital of Columbia has easy access to South Carolina’s Great Outdoors. Camping getaways from the city are as varied as you could imagine. Drive two hours south, and you’ll hit Charleston and the Atlantic coast beaches; head north, and you’ll reach the Blue Ridge Mountains in the same amount of time. Closer to the city, Congaree National Park is a paradise for kayaking, Santee State Park sits on the shore of the 110,600-acre Lake Marion (the state’s largest), and Sesquicentennial State Park has pet-friendly RV and tent camping with a dog park on-site. Campers will find plenty of RV parks & campgrounds in and around the city, ranging from quiet rural Hipcamps to busy family campgrounds. Some of the best camping areas are dotted around Lake Murray in West Columbia, where you’ll also find great hiking trails, several boat ramps, and Dreher Island State Park.