In terms of places that you should visit, Charleston, South Carolina, should rank somewhere near the top. This beautiful and historic city has everything you’re looking for in a destination: great shopping, seaside restaurants, a walkable downtown, and much more.
A lesser-known fact about Charleston, South Carolina, is that it’s also known for its state parks and national monuments in the area. Here, you can hike, sightsee, kayak, fish, & even camp (if you want to enjoy your trip on a budget).
Historic Fort Sumter National Monument
If you’re a history junkie, then you know the significance of Fort Sumpter. It’s where the American Civil War began, as Confederate troops fired upon Union soldiers inside Fort Sumter. Those infamous opening shots led to the greatest conflict ever on American soil, and the Historic Fort Sumter National Monument was built to commemorate its origin.
The only way to access Fort Sumter is by taking a ferry from the mainland to Fort Sumter Island. In addition to being a beautiful boat ride, there’s also a great museum you can visit once you reach the island.
While a day at Fort Sumter is definitely worth the trip, be aware that there’s no camping or lodging on the island itself. The nearest campground is James Island County Park, which allows tent and RV camping and also has several cottages for rent.
Givhans Ferry State Park
Situated along the blackwater Edisto River, which is a sight in itself, you’ll find Givhans Ferry State Park. This state park is on the small side, but there’s still plenty to do, including kayaking, fishing, and tubing. The park is even close enough to the Atlantic Ocean that you can go hunting for shark teeth in the Edisto River!
Givhans Ferry is also just a short drive from other state parks, including Colleton State Park, which is just a 23-mile kayak ride away.
The park features 25 campsites for tents or RVs, each equipped with water and electricity hookups. Four cabins are also available for rent if you don’t have a tent or RV.
Colleton State Park
As we said before, Colleton State Park is just a 23-mile boat or kayak ride from Givhans Ferry State Park, making it a great park to visit during your stay in Charleston.
As with Givhans Ferry, Colleton State Park is best known for the many water activities on the Edisto River, including kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and tubing.
There are 25 tent and RV campsites within Colleton, each one offering full hookups. Although there’s no admission to get into the park, there is a $15 fee for the campsites. However, that’s a small price to pay if you’re a water enthusiast and want to explore the Edisto River, which is the longest free-flowing blackwater river in North America.
Barnwell State Park
Once you wrap up at Colleton State Park, head on over to Barnwell State Park, which is just a 2-hour drive from Charleston. Barnwell State Park is located in Blackville, SC, and is one of the top state parks in South Carolina for fishing enthusiasts. The park features a series of small lakes that are full of fish (and ripe for the picking).
After you’re done fishing and boating, there are also several short hiking trails to explore within the park. And when you’re ready to bed down for the night, there are 25 campsites with electric and water hookups capable of handling tents and RVs.
For those glampers, there are also five cabins available for rent! While admission to the park is free, camping rates start at $13 per site.
Aiken State Park
If you continue along the Edisto River, you’ll run into yet another state park – Aiken State Park. Located in the small city of Windsor, this state park is yet another solid option for fishing, kayaking, and other water activities. It joins Barnwell State Park as one of 16 South Carolina state parks established by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Once you’re done fishing in the Edisto River–and the four small lakes within the park–be sure to check out the natural Artesian well, which offers some of the most refreshing water in the state. If you want to stay overnight at Aiken State Park, you’ll have 25 tent and RV sites to choose from, each one with water and electric hookups.
Fees include a $3 admission fee and campground fees, which start at $12 per night. You should also note that there are two full-hookup RV sites and that most sites have a 35-foot RV size restriction.
Lee State Park
If you head two hours straight north of Charleston, you’ll run into Lee State Park. This is one of the oldest state parks in South Carolina, founded in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corp. Lee State Park is situated along the Lynches River, making it another hotspot for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing enthusiasts.
If you’re not in the mood to spend a day on the water, however, there are plenty of other things to do at Lee State Park. There are also hiking and equestrian trails, as well as four artesian wells to explore! You can also find up to 145 different bird species within the park, making it a popular stop for birders.
Lee State Park features 25 standard tent and RV campsites with water and electric hookups. There are also 23 campsites for equestrian camping. The best part is that park admission is free.
Myrtle Beach State Park
Myrtle Beach State Park is one of the largest and most popular state parks in South Carolina. It’s located 2.5 hours up the coast from Charleston, making it a good place to stop on your way home or to Charleston.
Myrtle Beach State Park is famous for its white sandy beaches. Some even refer to it as a “coastal paradise,” where you can treat yourself to a day of hiking, fishing, boating, and beachcombing. Because of its close proximity to Myrtle Beach town, it has some of the best shopping and dining options in SC.
In addition to everything there is to do in and around Myrtle Beach State Park, it also has a massive campground. In total, there are 278 tent and RV sites, 138 of which offer full hookups. On the park grounds, you’ll also find 30 designated tent sites and two souvenir and gift shops.
Poinsett State Park
If you want to get away from the coast and explore South Carolina’s mountains, Poinsett State Park is a great place to do it. Located in the heart of the state in Wedgefield, SC, Poinsett State Park is an outdoor lover’s paradise. It features more than 300 different plant species, diverse swamps, vibrant tulip poplars, rolling mountains, and over 25 miles of hiking, biking, and running trails.
There’s also a 10-acre lake, Levi Mill, that offers top-notch fishing and boating opportunities. If you want to make it an overnight trip, Poinsett offers 50 tent and RV sites, 24 of which have electricity and water.
Final Thoughts
Once you’ve finished your exploration of all the great state parks near Charleston, South Carolina, you’re ready to head home. If you completed your road trip in an RV, you’ll want to put it back into storage so that it’s ready for your next adventure.
If you don’t have the proper facilities to store your RV on your property, consider turning to Neighbor. As a peer-to-peer storage marketplace, Neighbor has hundreds of RV storage locations around the country. You can expect safe, affordable, and climate-controlled RV storage options when you turn to Neighbor.
