Congaree National Park, South Carolina
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Congaree National Park in South Carolina is home to one of the oldest and downright tallest old-growth forests anywhere in the United States. Largely undisturbed by storms, geological activity, or human interference, the deciduous woods near the Congaree River have had countless centuries to grow due in large part to the flooding of the river itself. Like the famed Nile, each year the Congaree floods, bringing life to the trees, fish, and animals who call Congaree National Park SC home. This is one of the top destinations anywhere in South Carolina, and well worth an RV road trip to see everything the park and the surrounding area has to offer. Here’s why.
Hiking at Congaree is a major draw to the park and with good reason. Because the forest grows atop a flood plain, most of the park is completely level. That means hiking is particularly accessible at Congaree National Park, with most of the park’s 11 trails rated as “Easy” on a three-level scale. Take, for example, the Boardwalk Loop Trail. As its name suggests, the entire 2.6-mile trail is on a raised boardwalk making it wheelchair and stroller accessible.
For those hikers looking for a bit more of a challenge, the park’s other trails reward hikers with great views of wildlife, including otters, waterfowl, deer, and wild turkey. The Weston Lake Loop Trail takes hikers through a dried-up riverbed, and the River Trail leads to the Congaree River that gave the park its name. For more information on the great hiking opportunities at Congaree National Park, visit the National Park Service website.
Cedar Creek, which runs through Congaree National Park before eventually feeding into the Congaree River itself, makes the park a top canoeing and kayaking destination in South Carolina. There’s a marked trail, called the Cedar Creek Canoe Trail, that takes paddlers down 15 miles of beautiful forest views through a diverse variety of wildlife habitats. And though you’re planning to hit the road via your RV rental, canoeing in Congaree is a great way to get into the backwoods of the old growth forest for a night of tent camping. Learn more about the canoe trail here.
There isn’t a rental service within the park, however you are free to bring your own canoes or kayaks. Barring that, nearby Columbia, South Carolina has several outfitters that can rent you the paddleboat of your choice—many of which offer guided tours through Congaree National Park and can offer drop-off and pick-up services for rentals within the park itself. There’s a list of these outfitters and more info about planning a canoe trip on the NPS website.
Fishing is allowed everywhere inside Congaree National Park where you’re at least 25 feet away from any man-made structure (including the raised boardwalk trails or bridges). That’s good news for any anglers who make the trip, because Cedar Creek and the many oxbow lakes found in the forest are absolutely full of delicious game fish including yellow perch, channel catfish, bluegill, and much more. You’ll need a South Carolina fishing license, but once you have it, the limits in the park as far as both possession and creel are generous—check out this pamphlet from the NPS for more information.
There are a few other rules you should keep in mind if you plan to go fishing at Congaree. You cannot dig for bait in the park, and there are also limitations on the types of bait you can use. There’s no chumming allowed, and you also can’t use minnows, amphibians, fish eggs, or any other bait fish—though you can use any game fish you’ve caught in the park as bait for a bigger catch later. Fishing at Congaree is also limited to casting rods, fly rods, pole and lines, cane pole, or hand line.
The rangers at Congaree put on regularly scheduled programs and “walk and talks” designed to entertain visitors and educate them on everything from nature to ecological preservation, history, art, and biology. For example, take an Owl Prowl, a twilight hike around the park’s boardwalk loop where rangers share facts about the owls that call the park home at the perfect time to catch a glimpse of one. Or, if history is more your thing, consider a Prohibition Era walk to learn about how illicit liquor trade ran through Congaree after the Volstead Act.
From those interactive hikes to other programs, like yoga classes, birding tours, art events, and more, there’s always something interesting happening at the park. Check out the event schedule here to see what will be going on during your visit.
Sometimes, the only way to complete an RV trip is to take a night out from the vehicle with some backcountry camping. Congaree National Park offers both frontcountry camping in developed campsites and also backcountry camping with a permit. Really, though, even the frountcountry camping is inaccessible by vehicles and requires a hike in, so it’s truly rough camping no matter which way you go. The only difference is that fires are only permitted in the rings at the developed frontcountry sites.
If you want to camp at one of the developed campgrounds, Longleaf or Bluff, you’ll need to make a reservation through Recreation.gov and pay online in advance. Backcountry camping requires stopping in at the park’s Harry Hampton Visitor Center in person (open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM) unless you’re taking the Congaree River Blue Trail from nearby Columbia into the park, in which case you can call the visitor center to get your camping permit. For more information on camping in Congaree National Park, including links to reservations, click here.
Poinsett State Park in nearby Wedgefield, South Carolina is a great publicly managed option for the RV crowd heading to Congaree National Park. With 24 electric sites, all of which have their own drinking water and many of which can fit vehicles up to 40 feet, it’s a great place for rental RVs of most any size. Reserve your spot ahead, and enjoy both the hiking, camping, and fishing of Congaree National Park, plus everything Poinsett has to offer.
Another close public camping option to the national park is Santee State Park in Santee, South Carolina. This gorgeous park is a favorite for canoeing and for some of the most excellent fishing to be had anywhere in the state. With two campgrounds and a combined 158 RV-friendly sites, this is the perfect home base for any angler’s tour of the great national and state parks in the area.
Barnyard RV Park in Lexington, South Carolina comes highly recommended from members of the Good Sam Club for its clean and modern restroom facilities and other amenities. There are 129 level RV sites with water, sewer, and either 30- or 50-amp electric hookups. Enjoy the free cable, dog park, and children’s playground for a comfortable stay.
For a tranquil camping experience, check out Magnolia Campground in West Columbia, South Carolina. Conveniently located just off I-26 at exit 119, Magnolia is a rather small, family-owned campground with only 12 sites. Each of those sites has full hookups, and they’re all located near a nice pond. You’ll want to contact the campground well in advance since it is so small, but early birds will enjoy some real peace and quiet.
River Bottom Farms Family Campground, just about 30 minutes outside Columbia, South Carolina, is a true retreat for the RV crowd. Come for the 70 RV sites with full hookups and stay for the winding nature trails and well-stocked streams and ponds. There’s also a playground, arcade, clubhouse, pool, and more—offering a little something for everybody.
For more information on dining in Columbia, South Carolina, including a complete list of restaurants, visit the city’s tourism page.