Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make a reservation at a state park?

Reservations at state parks may be made up to 13 months in advance. There are three convenient ways to make reservations at South Carolina State Parks:  

Reservations for group camps or primitive camping must still be made through the state parks.  

Camping Reservations: Reservations requested less than one (1) day in advance of check-in must be made directly through the park. For example: If today is Friday and you are making a reservation checking in on today, Friday, you must make the reservation by contacting the park directly. Campsite reservations require payment in full at the time the reservation is made.  

Cabin Reservations & Day Use Facilities: Reservations requested LESS THAN three (3) days in advance of check-in must be made directly through the park. For example: If today is Wednesday and you are making a reservation for the upcoming Friday, you must make the reservation by contacting the park directly.


Is subletting of campsites or cabins permitted?

South Carolina State Parks has a strict policy against subletting sites. This means that you cannot book a site and then sell or transfer it to someone else. The person who reserved the site must occupy the site.

If we discover that you have sublet a site, we will take the following actions: 

  • We will contact you and put you on notice that you have violated our policy and ask that any reference to a guaranteed date at a state park be removed from your advertisement within 24 hours.  
  • After you are on notice of the initial violation, any further breach of the policy including not removing guaranteed dates from the advertisement will result in a cancellation of bookings and the park will not accept future reservation requests.   
  • You will receive an email from our legal team, informing you that all your future bookings will be cancelled and you will be liable for the cancellation fee for them.


Is a minimum stay required for cabins and campsites?

Cabin and campsite rentals are typically accepted for a two-night minimum, however, during busier periods, minimum stays may be increased at some parks.


How far in advance may I make a reservation?

Reservations may be made up to 13 months in advance. For example: If you would like to check in on July 4, 2019 you can call or go online to make reservations on June 4, 2018.


What are the costs associated with making a reservation and payment requirements when making a reservation?

Camping: Full payment is due at the time of reservation. 

Lodging: A 50% deposit is due at the time of reservation. The balance is due upon arrival at the park. The customer may pay in full, if they wish, when the reservation is made. 

Day Use: Full payment is due at the time of reservation for pavilions, picnic shelters, amphitheaters, meeting rooms and community buildings.


What are check-in and check-out times for cabins and villas?

Check-in time for cabins and villas is 4 p.m. and check-out time is 10 a.m. at all parks except for Hickory Knob.  Please contact the individual parks for late arrival instructions.


What are check-in and check-out times for camping?

Check-in time for camping is 2 p.m. and check-out time is noon for all parks.  Please contact the park for late arrival instructions.


What is the minimum age required to reserve/occupy a campsite?

To reserve and/or occupy a campsite, a member of the party must be least 18 years of age and present at the time of check in. They must also be present on the site with the camping equipment.


How many tents or RVs are allowed per campsite?

Campers are allowed a maximum of one trailer/RV and one tent, OR two tents per site. 


How many people may occupy a site?

No more than six (6) persons may occupy the same site.  Exceptions may be made for single families larger than 6.


What is the cancellation policy for park reservations?

Penalties assessed to reservation cancellations or changes are based on the amount of notice given in advance of the arrival date.  Below is more detailed information: 

CANCELLATION POLICY:  Applicable transfer charges are applied as well as the cancellation charge.

Campsites:

  • 60 + days away – no charge
  • 15 - 59 days away- $10 Administrative Fee (non-taxable)
  • 4-14 days- 1st night's stay
  • 3 days or less- no refund.

Lodging: cabins and lodge rooms only (not villas)

  • 30+ days- $10 Administrative Fee (non-taxable)
  • 15-29- 1st night’s stay
  • 14 or less- no refund

For lodging reservations where the deposit paid was 100% of the total and the customer is cancelling the reservation between 0-14 days, the system will automatically refund customers 50% of the site use fees paid.

Lodging:  villas only

  • 60+ days- $10 Administrative Fee (non-taxable)
  • 30 – 59 days – $75 Administrative Fee (non-taxable)
  • 15 – 29 days – 1st night’s stay
  • 14 or less- no refund

For lodging reservations where the deposit paid was 100% of the total and the customer is cancelling the reservation between 0-14 days, the system will automatically refund customers 50% of the site use fees paid.

Day Use:  (Does not include contracted rental facilities by the park. Contract terms apply.)

  • 15+ days away- no charge
  • 4-14 days- $10 Administrative Fee (non-taxable)
  • 3 days or less- no refund

Changing the name on a reservation is considered a cancellation.

TRANSFER / DATE CHANGE POLICY: (defined as changing entire reservation dates)

Campsites:

  • 7+ days away- no charge
  • 6 days or less away – $10.00 Administrative Fee (non-taxable)

Day Use:  (Does not include contracted rental facilities by the park. Contract terms apply.)

  • 15+ days away- no charge
  • 14 days or less - $10 Administrative Fee (non-taxable)

Lodging:  cabins, lodge rooms and villas

  • 30+ days away- no charge
  • 15-29 days away- $20 administrative fee (non-taxable)
  • 14 or less days away- entire deposit, no refund (i.e. transfer charge will be 50% of the existing reservation- required deposit.  A new deposit will be required for a lodging reservation for the new dates)

**To ensure fairness in reserving campsites and cabins, you cannot transfer or shorten a reservation more than 12 months in advance of the arrival date.  

EARLY DEPARTURE POLICY: Cancellation Policy applies in conjunction with Policy for Emergency Waivers.


What is the discount policy for senior citizens, blind and disabled citizens?

South Carolina residents who are at least 65 years of age, legally blind or 100% disabled, qualify for certain rate reductions. Proof of age or disability is required.  These qualifying residents receive 35% off admission, camping, picnic shelters, golf and fishing pier admission. In order to receive the camping discount, qualifying individuals MUST occupy the site reserved.  Also these qualifying residents may purchase the ALL park passport for 50% off for the period of one year.  There are NO rate reductions for lodging, building or meeting facility rentals, leased facilities, resale items or equipment rentals.

For more detailed information, please contact the park you are interested in visiting, directly.


Do out-of-state senior citizens, blind or disabled citizens receive any discounts?

The same rate reductions as listed in the question above are extended to out-of-state U.S. residents only at the following parks: Baker Creek, Calhoun Falls, Hamilton Branch, Hickory Knob, Lake Hartwell and Sadlers Creek, EXCEPT for the Palmetto Passport discount.


Which parks offer free Wi-Fi service?

Some parks offer free wifi in some capacity on the park.  Please check the individual park pages to see if they offer wi-fi.


Are pets allowed in state parks?

Pets are allowed in most outdoor areas provided they are kept under physical restraint or on a leash not longer than six feet. Owners will be asked to remove noisy or dangerous pets or pets that threaten or harass wildlife. Pets are only allowed in designated pet friendly cabins or other lodging facilities at select parks.  See below for more information.


Are pets allowed in state park cabins or villas?

Pets are allowed in select cabins and villas at select parks.  Pets are allowed in select cabins and villas at:

Pets are not allowed in any other cabins, villas or lodging.  For more information and guidelines, please click here to view our Pet Policy Agreement.


Are alcoholic beverages allowed on park property?

It is unlawful for any person to consume or display in public any beverage of alcoholic content, including beer and wine, except where specifically authorized by the Department.


Can you carry a concealed weapon on state park property?

Weapons (open or concealed carry) are not allowed indoors on park property.  Permit holders are allowed to conceal/open carry outdoors on park property.  The exception to this are parks that we lease from the Army Corps of Engineers (Hamilton Branch, Baker Creek, Hickory Knob, Calhoun Falls, Lake Hartwell, Sadlers Creek). Open carry is not permitted on Army Corps properties, and concealed carry requires a federal permit.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our state park operations office at 803-734-0156, or speak to a park ranger.


Are golf carts permitted on state parks?

For information regarding the use of a personal golf cart, please contact the individual park that you plan to visit.


Are drones permitted on state parks?

If you are interested in bringing a drone to a South Carolina state park, please contact the park you are interested in directly for more information.


May we bring our own firewood into your parks?

Many invasive forest pests like Emerald Ash Borer, Asian Long-horned Beetle, and others can hitch rides on firewood logs. Even if no adult insects are visibly present on the wood, their larvae and pupae may be maturing inside the wood itself. While these beetles don’t tend to move very far from where they are found, they can spread very easily by travelling on firewood logs that campers bring from far away.  SC Forest Health authorities advise firewood should be bought and used locally to prevent spreading pests in the state. "locally" typically means wood that is purchased/harvested as close to where you are planning to burn it as possible. Preferably, your firewood should come from within 10 miles of the park, but less than 50 miles is acceptable.  The more local, the better! 

Neighboring states (including NC, VA, parts of TN and GA) have areas under quarantine for pests like Emerald Ash Borer, Thousand Cankers Disease, Europena Gypsy Moth, etc - it is illegal to move any regulated items (i.e. firewood) from quarantined zones out of these states into SC. For more information on this issue, visit www.dontmovefirewood.org


May I collect rocks, berries, nuts, roots, leaves, mushrooms or other forest items for personal consumption or use?

All components of the habitat protected by South Carolina State Parks are important to the plants and animals that live there.  Therefore, the collection, injury, manipulation or removal of any forest items including minerals, plants, plant parts, or mushrooms for personal consumption or use is NOT allowed. Activities, such as, rock stacking destroys sensitive burrows and is NOT allowed. Additionally, hunting wildlife of any kind is NOT allowed on SC Park property. However, collection of any of these items for scientific research purposes is permissible but requires the researcher to apply for a special permit through Resource Management.


What are your geocaching guidelines for state parks and state park properties?

Click here for a printable version of our guidelines concerning geocaching on state parks and state park properties.


What are your metal detection guidelines for State Parks and State Park properties?

Click here for a printable version of our guidelines concerning metal detector use on state parks and state park properties.


Where can I find a list of state park rules and regulations?

You can find the South Carolina State Park rules and regulations, along with campground rules and regulations at this link.


How can I get printed information on state park camping and lodging?

For detailed information on all state park camping and lodging facilities, you may download our comprehensive information sheet.  You can also find a printable park map and brochure for each park on our maps and brochures page.


Does the park service have a comprehensive guide with information on all 47 state parks?

You may purchase our official guide in our online park store, or at any South Carolina State Park.  To access the online, interactive version, please click this link.


Where can I find information about State Park employment, internships, etc?

Detailed information on employment with the South Carolina State Park Service and other areas within SCPRT may be found by clicking here or  visiting our agency website.