Camping Info | South Carolina Adventure Route (SCAR)

Where can I camp?

INTERACTIVE CAMPING MAP: One of the interactive maps on this website includes only camping points of interest. These POIs include federal, state, county, and private campgrounds and a few dispersed camping areas. It is recommended that you research possible locations using this map. This map is not all-inclusive, nor does it imply endorsement, and it may contain outdated information or errors. Also, many of the campgrounds are seasonal (often closed in the winter or open only during specific hunting seasons), so you should check the status of any campgrounds before making plans by referencing state park or forest service websites, calling their respective offices, etc.

CAN'T I JUST CAMP ANYWHERE IN THE STATE & NATIONAL FORESTS? The short answer is "No." Camping rules in the southeast U.S. are very different from rules in the vast public lands of the western U.S., where you can camp almost anywhere (see notes below on dispersed camping).

Is dispersed camping allowed?

YES and NO. "Dispersed camping" is camping where there is no formal campground. Rules regarding dispersed camping vary, depending on the forest ranger disctict. It is important to research this before making plans. Of course, always pack-out what you pack-in, know the rules of the forest ranger district where you will be camping, do not camp without a permit (if required) or where not allowed, and definitely do not camp on private land. Bottom-line: Follow the rules and tread lightly!

It's worth noting that many of the public forests near the SCAR have private property mixed within them, and roads through the forests often border private property. A helpful resource for this is the OnX Offroad app, which displays land ownership info as part of its embedded dataset.

Purple Paint: In addition to erecting gates and fences, and posting traditional "Posted" and "No Trespassing" signs, private land owners often mark trees and posts with purple paint to serve the same purpose. Please respect these indicators!

Dispersed camping in specific forests/areas near the SCAR:

Francis Marion National Forest: Allowed in certain areas, permit required. CLICK HERE

Sumter National Forest, North of Lake Murray (Enoree Ranger District). Allowed, permit required. CLICK HERE

Sumter National Forest, Along Georgia Border (Andrew Pickens Ranger District). Allowed. CLICK HERE

Sumter National Forest, Near McCormick (Long Cane Ranger District). Allowed, permit required. CLICK HERE