The best star host camping in South Carolina

Hemmed in by the Savannah River and the Atlantic Coast, the southwestern lowlands are an idyllic stretch of marshlands, barrier islands, and coastal towns. Hunting Island State Park is the state’s most visited park, and a paradise for bird-watchers and campers, while RV parks dot the beaches of Hilton Head Island. The palmetto-fringed beaches of Edisto Beach State Park are a favorite for summer campers, and James Island County Park, just outside Charleston, is a crabbing hotspot.

The state capital Columbia dominates the rolling hills of South Carolina’s Midlands, and the region’s highlights all lie within easy reach. Family campgrounds dot the shores of nearby Lake Murray, Sesquicentennial State Park has a woodland campsite and boating lake, and part of the 500-mile Palmetto Trail passes through Poinsett State Park. Nearby, Congaree National Park has hiking and kayaking trails, two campgrounds, and backcountry camping.

The Blue Ridge Mountains tumble down over the border from North Carolina, and South Carolina’s mountainous north is a natural playground of forested valleys, lakes, and waterfalls. Greenville is the starting point for exploring the north, from where you can hike the 3,533-foot summit of Sassafras Mountain, the state’s highest peak; camp amid the mountains in Table Rock State Park; or explore the multi-use trails at Paris Mountain State Park. For backcountry camping, it doesn’t get much better than the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area, which links the Jones Gap and Caesars Head state parks.