With 41 state parks, recreation, or historic sites that offer camping, lodging, and picnic or day-use areas, 11 offer cabins or villas that will accommodate big families. South Carolina State Parks won’t disappoint. Each park has a ton of outdoor activities for your family to enjoy, there won’t be time for anyone to complain of boredom. You’ll save some packing space as most parks participate in the Tackle Loaner Program sponsored by the SC Dept. of Natural Resources. Rods and reels are available for loan at park stores.
Quaint, rustic CCC cabins have a rugged feel to them and can be found in several of the parks from quiet lots in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Escarpment to quiet locations located only a short walk to the beach. The cabins, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, have their place in history, but all the amenities of a modern-day cabin, including linens and fully-equipped kitchens.
Cheraw State Park
With 7361 acres of parkland, Cheraw State Park takes traditional recreational park activities to a new level of fun. The 18-hole, championship Cheraw State Park Golf Course winds its way through piney woodlands while maintaining and protecting the surrounding natural habitat of the park. Lake Juniper measures in at 360 acres and can be explored by kayaks and canoes or via a boardwalk that runs along the lake. Try fishing from the boardwalk or by boat, or take time to explore other areas of Cheraw on the park’s extensive biking, hiking, and equestrian trail system.
Stand up paddleboards (SUPs) are available for rent for $10/hour or $30/day, each day of the week, Apr. through Oct. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You must be 18 years old to rent them or accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Pedal boat rentals are available for $15/ hour or $30/day. A person of at least 18 years of age must be present in the pedal boats at all times.
Four Bedroom Cabin/Villa: Cabin #9 is a four-bedroom, two-bath cabin and sleeps six to eight people. The cabin includes five twin XL beds, one twin bunk bed, and one queen bed. It is also ADA accessible.
Cheraw State Park was the first state park in South Carolina that had land set aside for the development of a state park. The children of the town of Cheraw collected pennies to buy the original 700 acres for the park. It was later developed by the CCC.
Devils Fork State Park
Enjoy the mountain spring-fed Lake Jocassee and the Jocassee Gorges, waterfalls accessible only by boat, and some of the best South Carolina trout fishing in Devils Fork State Park. The land around 7,565-acre Lake Jocassee remains mostly undeveloped and the only public access point to the lake is through Devils Fork. Four mountain streams and several waterfalls feed into the lake, making it cooler than others and a great South Carolina trout fishing spot
Spend a week in a Villa to take advantage of all the excitement that Devils Fork has to offer. Villas are fully-furnished to make you feel right at home during your stay. Capitalize on the opportunity to rent a boat to take a tour of Lake Jocassee in search of the breathtaking waterfall that is only accessible through boat. While seeking out the waterfalls, you may come across the Lake Jocassee Rock Wall.
Three Bedroom Cabin/Villa: Five 3-bedroom/2-bath villas accommodate up to six people, and include a queen bed in two of the bedrooms and two single beds in the third bedroom.
Dreher Island State Park
Dreher Island State Park spans three islands, 348 acres, and provides access to 12 miles of Lake Murray shoreline. Visitors will find recreational water activities, nature trails, and some of the best striped and large-mouth bass fishing spots, all only 30 miles from Columbia. Three playgrounds are located in the park. One near the Visitor Center, one on White Oak Lane, and the third in Camping Area B.
Three Bedroom Cabin/Villa: Three 3-bedroom/2-bath villas accommodate up to six people. The three-bedroom villas have a queen bed in each of the bedrooms.
Edisto Beach State Park
Rich in Native American history, Edisto Beach on Edisto Island is one of four oceanfront state parks in South Carolina.
Edisto Beach State Park features trails for hiking and biking that provide a wonderful tour of the park. A series of short, mostly level trails wind through Edisto Island’s maritime forest of live oak, hanging Spanish moss, and palmetto trees. During your walk, you may see white-tailed deer, osprey, or alligators (yikes!), and may even catch a glimpse of the wary bobcats.
Visit the education center to learn about the wise use of coastal resources. It is headquarters for Edisto Beach State Park’s interpretive programs and curriculum-based field studies, and for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources’ education and research services. An exhibit in the center features interactive displays, which helps visitors understand the fragile resources of the ACE Basin estuarine reserve, the largest such natural reserve on the East Coast.
Three Bedroom Cabin/Villa: Two three-bedroom cabins accommodate up to six people, and include a queen-size bed in each bedroom.
Givhans Ferry State Park
Givhans Ferry State Park is the perfect place to take a float down the serene Edisto River, the longest free-flowing blackwater stream in North America. The park is also known for its limestone river bluff and sinkholes, some six to eight feet deep. Enjoy fishing in the Edisto River for flathead, catfish, redbreast, channel catfish, largemouth bass, striped bass, shellcrackers, blue catfish, and eels. Swimming is permitted in the Edisto River. There is no designated swimming area and all swimming is at your own risk.
Programs and guided tours are available by request. Astronomy programs are held at the park each year and a nature walk in the spring. For more information, be sure to check our programs and events listings.
Cabins are completely furnished, heated, air-conditioned, and supplied with bath and bed linens, basic cooking and eating utensils, coffee maker, microwave, a television and include a screened-in porch. The cabins are located on a bluff overlooking the Edisto River.
Two Bedroom Cabin/Villa: Each two-bedroom cabin accommodates up to six people. and includes a double bed in one bedroom, a double bed or a set of bunk beds in the second bedroom and a portable roll-away bed.
Hunting Island State Park
Hunting Island is South Carolina’s single most popular state park, attracting more than a million visitors a year. Five miles of pristine South Carolina beaches, thousands of acres of marsh and maritime forest, a saltwater lagoon, and ocean inlet are all part of the park’s natural allure.
Built in 1859, Hunting Island Lighthouse is the only one in the state that is publicly accessible with a small fee. From the top, guests can stand 130 feet above the ground to take in the breathtaking, panoramic view of the Atlantic Coast and surrounding maritime forest. Please note that children must be at least 44″ tall to climb the lighthouse.
Guests will enjoy fishing in Johnson Creek, the lagoon, or surf fishing on the beach. Bait, equipment, and other supplies can be purchased at the park store located in the campground. Or try fishing off the pier, extending 1,120 feet into Fripp Inlet.
Swimming is permitted in the Atlantic Ocean at your own risk. There is no designated swimming area and no lifeguards are on duty.
The Nature Center, located next to the fishing pier, is open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., seven days a week, year-round. The center featuring live reptiles and exhibits highlighting the park’s natural resources. And a museum with display and exhibit on the history of the lighthouse can be seen at the park visitors center.
Two Bedroom Cabin/Villa: Only one cabin is available, a 2BR unit that accommodates up to six. ADA Accessible, Air Conditioning, BBQ Grill, Coffee Maker, Deck/Porch, Dishwasher, Family/Great Room, Heating & Air Conditioning, Kitchen, Linens Provided, Microwave, Oceanfront, Picnic Table, Refrigerator/Freezer, Stove/Oven, TV with Cable & DVD, TV with Cable/Satellite, Utensils/Pots & Pans, Washer/Dryer, Water Heater, WiFi Internet.
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Keowee-Toxaway State Park
With some of the most stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Keowee-Toxaway State Park is truly one of South Carolina’s pretty places. Two hiking trails in the park take visitors over a natural bridge and through the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains, land once traveled by Cherokee Indians. A short, half-mile trail leads to Lake Keowee where guests can enjoy fishing for bass, bream, crappie, and catfish.
The Jocassee Gorges Visitor Center houses exhibits about the region’s extraordinary natural diversity, the region’s importance as a scientific research destination, the history of the people who lived here in the past, and features a three-dimensional topographic map of the region.
Three Bedroom Cabin/Villa: A three-bedroom cabin accommodates up to ten people, and includes a queen bed in two of the bedrooms, a bunk bed, and queen bed in the third bedroom, and a fold-out sofa in the living room. The cabin is completely furnished, heated, air-conditioned, and supplied with linens, basic cooking, and eating utensils, ice maker, toaster, washer/dryer, satellite television, Wi-Fi, automatic coffee maker, and two fireplaces. The cabin overlooks Lake Keowee with a private boat dock.
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Myrtle Beach State Park
Along the far-reaching stretch of Grand Strand coastline, Myrtle Beach State Park sits nestled among oceanfront maritime forest. A quiet, and surprisingly green, escape from the otherwise bustling beach, the park provides educational opportunities, a nature trail and some of the best surf fishing South Carolina has to offer as well as stunning ocean views and another great fishing spot on Myrtle Beach pier.
Myrtle Beach State Park beckons visitors with its beautiful 1-mile stretch of relatively undeveloped beach. The park offers boardwalks to easily reach the beach as well as outdoor showers to rinse off. Plenty of bathrooms and changing facilities are available just a short stroll from the beach.
The park has two main playgrounds. One is located in the main picnic area near the beach, and the other is in the campground located between circles three and five. There are also some tire swings behind Shelter #1.
Six cabins, located 200 yards from the beach, are completely furnished, heated, air-conditioned, and supplied with bath and bed linens, basic cooking and eating utensils and TV.
Two Bedroom Cabin/Villa: Four, two-bedroom/one-bath cabins are available that sleep up to six people. Each cabin includes cable TV and DVD player, fully-equipped kitchen with appliances including a microwave, central heat and air, screened porch with rocking chairs, an outside charcoal grill with a picnic table, and outdoor shower. All linens are provided. Two-bedroom cabins include cabin 1, 3, 4, and 5.
Three Bedroom Cabin/Villa: One, three-bedroom/two-bath cabins are available that sleep up to six people. The cabin includes cable TV and DVD player, fully-equipped kitchen with appliances including a microwave, central heat and air, screened porch with rocking chairs, an outside charcoal grill with a picnic table, and outdoor shower. All linens are provided. Cabin 2 is the three-bedroom cabin.
Four Bedroom Cabin/Villa: One, four-bedroom/three-bath cabin is available that sleeps up to 10 people. This cabin is located in the campground area. The cabin includes cable TV and DVD player, fully-equipped kitchen with appliances including a microwave, central heat and air, screened porch, an outside charcoal grill with a picnic table, and outdoor shower. All linens are provided.
Oconee State Park
Oconee State Park has all of the perks of a relaxing mountain getaway. The Oconee State Park campground, Rustic, CCC-era cabins, a lake with a swimming hole, canoe rentals, and fishing opportunities are only a sample of the park’s offerings. Several wooded nature trails wind through the foothills region and serve as the southern trailhead for the Foothills Trail, South Carolina’s 77-mile wilderness hike on the Blue Ridge Escarpment.
Enjoy fishing in the park’s 20-acre and 12-acre lakes for bass, bream, and catfish. Private boats such as kayaks, canoes, and jon boats are permitted on the park lake. Cabin guests may rent watercraft for $50/two days. Guests may beach the boat at their cabin. Canoes, kayaks, pedal boats, and paddleboards are also available to rent.
Three playgrounds are located in the park. One is located beside mini-golf, one behind the mini-golf and one by the swimming area at the park lake.
Each year from Memorial Day until Labor Day, Oconee State Park holds Friday night square dances in the barn at the park. This tradition has taken place at the park for over 65 years.
Two Bedroom Cabin/Villa: Six of the two-bedroom cabins will sleep 6. Cabins include a fireplace, screened porch, outdoor charcoal grill, a picnic table and table pad, and a fire ring. They are completely furnished, heated, air-conditioned, and supplied with linens, basic cooking and eating utensils, refrigerator, stove, coffee maker, and microwave.
Poinsett State Park
In the High Hills of Santee, where the South Carolina Sandhills of the Midlands region meet the coastal plain region, you’ll find Poinsett State Park. Called the “mountains of the midlands,” this mixed ecosystem yields a high degree of biodiversity and some of the most unique natural sightings in the park system, especially along the Palmetto trail which winds through the Manchester State Forest. The High Hills of Santee are dotted with the hiking and biking trails that wind through the park–some of which connect to the Palmetto Trail that leads hikers through the Manchester State Forest.
Poinsett’s 10-acre lake makes for a serene setting and can be used for fishing. Pedal boats, paddleboards, and Jon boat rentals are available. Swimming is allowed but there is no lifeguard on duty.
Two Bedroom Cabin/Villa: Poinsett has one two-bedroom cabin that sleeps up to seven. The two-bedroom cabin is ADA accessible and includes two queen beds, one twin loft, and a twin bunk. Cabins are completely furnished, heated, air-conditioned, and supplied with basic bath and bed linens, cooking and eating utensils, coffee maker, and wi-fi. Each cabin also includes a fireplace and firewood is available for purchase at the park.
Table Rock State Park
Table Rock State Park is the natural beauty attributed to scenic Highway 11. The towering mountain, which gives the park its name, serves as a backdrop for the 3,000-acre park and two lakes, 26-acre Pinnacle Lake and 67-acre Lake Oolenoy. The Table Rock State Park hiking trails take hikers past mountain streams and waterfalls to the tops of Pinnacle and Table Rock mountains.
Anglers enjoy fishing in Pinnacle Lake and Lake Oolenoy for bass, bream, and catfish. Non-motorized fishing boats are available to rent on Lake Pinnacle year-round. Boats may be rented from the park headquarters year-round and seasonally at the Lake Pinnacle boathouse. Canoes and kayaks may be rented from the park headquarters year-round and seasonally from the Lake Pinnacle boathouse. Pedal boats are also available at both lakes.
Cabins are completely furnished, heated, air-conditioned, and supplied with bath and bed linens, basic cooking and eating utensils, automatic coffee maker, refrigerator, stove, microwave, and include a screened porch and fireplace.
Two Bedroom Cabin/Villa: Cabins 4 and 5 have one full bath, two full beds, and one sleeper sofa in the den and sleep up to six people. Cabins 6, 8, and 15 have one full bath, one full bed, one queen bed, and one sleeper sofa in the den and sleep up to six.
Three Bedroom Cabin/Villa: Cabin 12 is the only three-bedroom cabin in the park. The cabin sleeps eight and includes two full baths, one full bed, two sets of bunk beds, and a sleeper sofa in the den.
