State Parks near Columbia, SC

Aiken State Park can be found in the Midlands region of South Carolina, around a thirty-minute drive east of Aiken. Sitting halfway between the busy cities of Augusta, GA, and Columbia, SC, the state park has become a popular retreat for city folk and nature enthusiasts alike.

Built during the early 1900s, Aiken State Park was one of the first state parks to grace the state of South Carolina. Its history traces back to the times of the Great Depression when two Civilian Conservation Corps combined efforts to create an area of isolated natural beauty. For over 100 years now, the park has provided the general public with a picturesque and fun motorhome camping spot. With more …

Andrew Jackson State Park in South Carolina is located in Lancaster County, and just north of the city of Lancaster. The state park is obviously named for Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States. Born near Lancaster in 1767, Jackson is the only president to be born in South Carolina. His political home was Tennessee, but he was raised in South Carolina.

Lancaster County has a humid subtropical climate, which means that its summers are hot and humid while its winters are fairly mild. The high elevation in some of the upstate areas such as Lancaster means that they have fewer of the subtropical characteristics. Summers are not as hot and humid as they might be further south …

Baker Creek State Park is located in western South Carolina, on the Georgia border, between the cities of Greenwood, SC, Columbia, SC, and Augusta, GA. The state park is one of many state parks that straddle the great Lake Storm Thurmond, which is also known as Clarks Hill Lake. The scenic woodland and lakeside Baker Creek State Park provides a picturesque getaway for residents of both South Carolina’s and Georgia’s cities.

From its exceptional lake-based recreation to the numerous hiking and mountain biking trails, Baker Creek State Park has it all. This perfectly located state park is one of the best places to take an RV rental in all of western South Carolina and eastern Georgia. Accessing …

Barnwell State Park is a park located near Blackville, South Carolina in Barnwell County. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps built 16 state parks across the state of South Carolina. Barnwell State Park is one of them; the land was initially purchased from private landowners in 1937. Many of the buildings built by the Civilian Conservation Corps are still in use at the park today.

The park and the county are both named for John Barnwell, an officer in the South Carolina Militia during the American Revolution. Barnwell also served in the South Carolina Provincial Congress and the official South Carolina legislature after independence. His brother, Robert Barnwell, was also a revolutionary soldier and a South Carolina legislator. His …

Private landowners and farmers purchased a large swath of sandy dunes with the hopes of turning the land into farms during the early 1900s. However, due to the sandy soil and poor management of the already-thin topsoil, the efforts were unsuccessful. The state of North Carolina purchased the land from desperate farmers during the height of the Great Depression and set it aside as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1939. The Civilian Conservation Corps, operating under President Roosevelt’s New Deal program, paved several miles of roads and nurtured fragile plants and grasses to restore the original habitat. Thanks to the organization’s efforts, Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge is a thriving dune biodome in South Carolina.

The closest large town is …

The Charles Pinckney National Historic Site is a memorial to one of the founding fathers of the United States and a principal U.S. Constitution signer. The site, located in Mount Pleasant, was formerly Pickney's plantation. Following the American Revolution, Pinckney worked for several decades as a politician while maintaining his plantation as a source of income. In 1817, he sold the farm, which subsequently had numerous owners, and in 1973, the remaining plantation property was declared a national historic landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Camping in an RV near Mount Pleasant is the best way to see this historic site without having to rush. While you're here, you can hike the nature trail, view …

As you are heading into the wilderness of beautiful South Carolina on a motorhome camping trip, consider cruising over to Chester State Park, a 523-acre green oasis and haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Located near the town of Chester, just fifteen minutes off Interstate 77, and aptly located midway between the cities of Columbia, SC and Charlotte, NC. Book an RV in Chester County to explore the state park and its neighboring towns and cities.

Developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935, the park is one of 16 parks commissioned to be built by the CCC in South Carolina, in an attempt to provide employment to the youth. This move also hugely popularized the outdoors and went on …

North Carolina’s western region is famous for its stunning mountains, many of which form part of the Appalachian Mountain Range. Hidden away in the southern realms of these mountains is the picturesque Chimney Rock State Park. The park’s beauty is easily accessible, thanks to nearby highway 64 running past its boundaries, that adjoins to Interstate Route 26. So, when you book an RV in Rutherford County, you’ll be an easy hour’s drive away from both Charlotte and Asheville.

Should you manage to take your eyes away from the sheer beauty of the park, you’ll unveil a fascinating history too. In 1902, a man named Dr. Lucius B Morse acquired 64 acres of Chimney Rock and continued to purchase …

Motorhome camping in South Carolina can be very rewarding, with dense forests, plenty of rivers and streams, and gently rolling hills offering wide sweeping views. When you book an RV in Colleton County, you’ll be southeast section of the state, just south of St. George and north of Walterboro. Colleton State Park can be found in Colleton County, and when you stay with an RV in Colleton State Park, you’ll be less than 60 miles from Charleston, one of the state’s many popular cities.

Colleton State Park is more than just a blip on the map, however, and guests who take time to explore this 35-acre park are often rewarded with adventures and memories. The park was …

Congaree National Park lies in central South Carolina, between the towns and cities of Columbia, Orangeburg, and Sumter. The forest was declared a national park in 2003 after a long campaign to preserve one of the last old-growth bottomland hardwood forests left in the United States. This ancient forest covers an area of over 26,000 acres, creating a picturesque and lush landscape of woodland, wetland floodplains. Congaree National Park has been designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve and a wilderness area, a testament to the natural beauty and rarity of the park.

Alongside this idyllic wilderness, Congaree National Park is also home to campsites and offers opportunities for hiking, kayaking, canoeing, and birdwatching. All of this makes it …

Crowder’s Mountain State Park, North Carolina, is a popular destination for those that rent an RV in Gaston County. Easily accessible to the nearby towns of Gastonia and Kings Mountain, as well as the city of Charlotte, it provides visitors with the perfect mountain escape. Offering challenging hikes, towering cliffs, and views that will take your breath away, Crowder’s Mountain is made for the adventure lover.

Crowder's Mountain State Park includes the peaks of Crowder’s Mountain and The Pinnacle and was named after the creek that runs through the park, originating at the mountain’s peak. A stay at the park will give you the adventure to remember.

Conveniently located midway between Brevard, NC, and Hendersonville, NC, DuPont State Forest, or DuPont Forest covers 10,473 acres of land. It spread out over parts of Henderson and Transylvania Counties in Western North Carolina near North Carolina/South Carolina state line. It is home to dozens of spectacular waterfalls, which are the prime attractions in the area. The most popular ones include Wintergreen Falls, Hooker Falls, High Falls, Triple Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. There are five mountain lakes within the forest, including five-acre Lake Dense, 99-acre Lake Julia, one-acre Lake Imaging, and Fawn Lake.

DuPont State Forest is a recreational haven for all ages and interests. The forest offers over 80 miles of recreational trails for walking, hiking, …

Elijah Clark State Park sits on the western shore of beautiful Clarks Hill Lake near Lincolnton, GA. The swimming area and beach invite visitors to cool off in while they escape the hot Georgia summers, and there are plenty of spacious campsites nestled here inviting people to rent an RV in Lincoln County. The park covers 447 acres, filled with a rich mixture of pine and hardwood forests, as well as one of the largest lakes in the southeast.

It has it all when it comes to recreational activities, with plenty of hiking trails, canoe rentals, picnicking, fishing, mini-golf, volleyball, basketball, and more. The park really does seem to be in the middle of nowhere, but you can easily …

Fort Sumter was originally built as a part of the Third System of seacoast defense, a series of forts built in response to the War of 1812. The site is packed with history; in 1861, the fort was attacked by the Confederate army, launching America into the Civil War.

By the end of the war, the three-tiered brick and masonry structure was destroyed. The fort was rebuilt and served as a lighthouse and again as a military site. Today, the atmosphere is tranquil, and you can visit Fort Sumter via a ferry tour. The fort, located on an island, consists of a museum with exhibits about the siege and local Civil War events, a bookstore, and an outdoor space where …

George L. Smith State Park, which is named after a former Georgia House of Representatives speaker, is a fantastic place to explore when you book an RV in Emanuel County. This state park is located to the east of the center of the state. Motorhome camping at the park is a great way to enjoy the serene atmosphere, explore the cypress filled waters, and hike the many trails.

Camping with an RV at George L. Smith State Park will give you unbridled access to the more than 1,600 acres of land and water within park boundaries. The park is relatively remote, which makes it a popular destination for both bird watchers and naturalists. Don’t worry, though; there are many …

Located in the Lowcountry Woods, Givhans Ferry State Park is a popular spot in South Carolina, offering everything from open spaces to relax into sports courts and camping areas. It is no wonder that so many people search for an RV in Dorchester County. The park sits on a stretch of the Edisto River, which is the longest free-flowing, blackwater river in North America, and there are many scenic spots that allow visitors a glimpse at this beautiful stretch of water.

Givhans Ferry State Park is easily accessed from a number of nearby towns such as Cottageville, Goose Creek, and St George, and is just 25 miles from the town of Charleston. The park was named …

Hamburg State Park is located in east-central Georgia, between the towns and cities of Augusta, Sparta, and Sandersville. Lying on the southern shores of its namesake Hamburg Mill Pond, Hamburg State Park is a quaint and idyllic lakeside park. Hamburg Lake is a perfect mix of green outdoor recreation with tangible local history. Hamburg State Park is a haven for fishing on both the lake and nearby Ogeechee River, and it is also the home of a restored 1921 water-powered gristmill, which still grinds corn on certain events and displays. This unique balance of history, traditional outdoor recreation, and modern park facilities make Hamburg State Park the ideal place to take an RV rental in central Georgia. …