Columbia, SC is the capital city of SC, in the Midlands region of the state. It’s a growing and bustling city with great entertainment, arts, dining and more.
And, its central location means it’s only a 2-hour drive in either direction to the mountains or the beach!
This makes Columbia a great stop for your Southern road trip or a weekend getaway. Especially for your next camping trip!
There are 8 great campsites in and around Columbia, SC for your next family vacation.
Why Camp in Columbia, SC?
Columbia, SC is a city center surrounded by growing suburban counties and towns. It has a local and small city feel but also has attractions and entertainment you’d find in a bigger city.
On top of a great downtown scene, Columbia has a beautiful natural scene as well. There are multiple riverwalks, nature trails and parks in and around Columbia, SC.
Check out some of the fun ways you and your family can enjoy Columbia:
- Kayak on the Congaree River
- Enjoy delicious local dining
- Shop at local boutiques and walk-through art galleries in the Vista District
- Take your boat out on Lake Murray or another nearby lake
For even more ways to explore Columbia, SC, check out this video:
Columbia is also a short distance from larger cities. It’s about 116 miles (~2-hour drive) to Charleston, SC and 214 miles (~3-hour drive) to Atlanta, GA.
Campsites in Columbia, SC
In this article, we’ll look at the top campsites in Columbia, SC for your next camping trip!
Below are the top 8 campsites, which average a 20-minute drive to Downtown Columbia, SC.
1. Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park is in Hopkins, SC. It’s 17 miles (about a ~30-minute drive) to Downtown Columbia.
Fun fact: this is the only national park in the state of South Carolina!
Congaree National Park has two front-country campgrounds and one backcountry campground. These campgrounds are tent-only sites, which means no RVs can camp here.
Camping at Congaree is a great way to explore the national park’s trails and take in the beautiful swamp/marsh surrounding the park.
Amenities at this park are limited, so prepare in advance.
To Book: Find availability and book online at the Recreation.gov website.
Rates: Sites start at $5 per day.
Address: 100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC 29061
2. Dreher Island State Park
Dreher Island State Park is 34 miles, or about an hour drive to Columbia, SC. It’s a great campground to visit if you want to spend time on Lake Murray!
There are 12 miles of shoreline at this park for fishing, boating, kayaking and other water sports.
Click here for other great campsites and RV Parks on Lake Murray!
Dreher Island State Park has 100 tent and RV sites. Here are some of the other features:
- 5 lakeside villas
- Designated picnic areas
- Boat ramps
- Nature trails and more!
To Book: Book your stay and learn more about Dreher Island on the South Carolina Parks website.
Rates: Most sites require a two-night stay and rates start at $32/night.
Location: 3677 State Park Rd., Prosperity, SC 29127
3. Sesquicentennial State Park
Sesquicentennial State Park is 13 miles or about a ~25-minute drive from Columbia. It’s a spacious park immersed in nature but still close to the city.
There are 78 campsites at this park for tents or RVs. Each site has an electric and water hookup.
Some other amenities at this park include:
- Picnic shelters
- Kayak and canoe rentals
- Fire rings
- Restrooms with hot showers
Bringing your own kayak to the park? Check out our favorite one-person blow-up kayak on Amazon.
To Book: Go to the South Carolina State Parks website.
Rates: A two-night stay is required. Most sites range from $20-$40/night.
Address: 9564 Two Notch Rd., Columbia, SC 29223
4. Broad River Campground and RV Park
Broad River Campground and RV Park is a 20-minute drive from Downtown Columbia. There are many shaded tent sites and RV sites at this park.
Broad River Campground and RV Park is kid-friendly and pet-friendly, which means the entire family can tag along!
Here are some of the amenities you’ll find at this campground:
- Free Wi-Fi
- Laundry and bathhouse
- Full hookups at each site
- Nature trails
To Book: Head to the Broad River Campground website
Rates: Sites average $50/night
Address: 16842 SC-215, Winnsboro, SC 29180
5. Siesta Cove Marina and Campground
Siesta Cove Marina and Campground is in Gilbert, SC about 28 miles (a 43-minute drive) from Columbia.
This is another campground located on Lake Murray.
In addition to the campground at Siesta Cove, you’ll find a full-service marina. That makes this campground a great place to stay if you enjoy fishing, boating and other water sports!
Siesta Key offers daily, weekend and long-term stays. There are both tent and RV sites here. The campground has full hookups, clean showers and picnic areas.
To Book: Call (803) 892-2978 or email siestacovemarina@aol.com.
Rates: Must call for rates.
Address: 256 John Long Rd, Gilbert, SC 29054
6. Magnolia Campground
Magnolia Campground is in West Columbia, only about 10 minutes from Downtown. This is a small family-owned and operated campground.
There are 12 sites available here, and each site can accommodate up to a large camper.
Full-service hookups, free cable and Wi-Fi come with each site.
To Book: Visit the website or call 803-926-2272 to book.
Rates: Rates are available for single nights up to a month’s stay. Contact the campground for rates.
Address: 4031 Charleston Hwy West Columbia, SC 29172
And if you need a GPS to help find your way to this park, check out this one on Amazon.
7. Woodsmoke Family Campground
Woodsmoke Family Campground is in Irmo, SC about 20 minutes from Columbia. It has easy access to Lake Murray, downtown Columbia, and other local entertainment.
Woodsmoke Family Campground is great for families who enjoy sports and outdoor activities! The campground itself has:
- A basketball court
- Horseshoes and other games
- A playground
- A fishing pond
The campsites have all the amenities. From full hookup sites to a laundry room and free wireless internet service.
To Book: Book on their website, or call 803-781-3451 to get on their waitlist for monthly stays.
Rates: Rates start at $30/day for tent sites and go up to $45/day for RV sites with full hookups.
Address: 11302 Broad River Rd, Irmo, SC 29063
8. Cedar Pond Campground
Cedar Pond Campground is in Leesville, about 30 minutes outside of Columbia. The campground is open year-round and has both shaded and open site options.
Other amenities at Cedar Pond Campground include:
- Full hookups
- Laundry facility
- Fishing
- Boat rentals
- A playground
To Book: Call 803-397-4675 to book.
Rates: Daily and monthly rates are available. Call for rates.
Address: 4721 Fairview Rd, Leesville, SC 29070
Other Places to Consider
As you can see, there are some wonderful campsites and RV parks near Columbia, SC!
Looking for other campgrounds around South Carolina and Georgia? Check out our camping guides below:
