What Is the Largest Campground in South Carolina?

When you’re planning a family camping trip in South Carolina, size matters. Not just because you need room for tents, coolers, and kids running around, but because the biggest campgrounds often have the most amenities, the most space to breathe, and the most ways to keep everyone happy. So what’s the largest campground in the state? It’s not a secret, but it’s not always the one people assume.

Myrtle Beach State Park is the biggest

The largest campground in South Carolina is Myrtle Beach State Park. It’s not just big-it’s packed with over 200 campsites, and that’s just the standard ones. If you count the premium sites with full hookups, the group picnic areas, and the cabins, you’re looking at well over 300 total camping options. That’s more than double the size of most other state park campgrounds in the state.

What makes it stand out isn’t just the number of spots. It’s the layout. Sites are spaced out, with mature pine trees and natural sand dunes separating them. You won’t feel like you’re camping next to your neighbor’s dog barking all night. The park stretches across 1,150 acres, with a full mile of oceanfront beach right on one side and a saltwater lagoon on the other. That means you can fish, kayak, or just walk the shore without ever leaving the property.

Why size matters for families

A big campground isn’t just about having more space-it’s about having more options. At Myrtle Beach State Park, you’ll find sites for every kind of camper. Need a pull-through site for a 35-foot RV? Done. Want to pitch a tent under a canopy of live oaks? Plenty of those. Bringing a group of 12? There’s a dedicated group camping area with picnic tables, fire rings, and even a covered pavilion.

Most smaller campgrounds force you to choose: either you get a quiet, wooded site with no hookups, or you get a noisy, crowded spot near the bathhouse. This park gives you both. You can book a quiet, shaded site on the edge of the woods, or you can go for the full hookups and Wi-Fi if you’re working remotely while the kids play. The park even has ADA-accessible sites with ramps, wider spaces, and roll-in showers.

What you get beyond the site

Big doesn’t mean just more spots-it means more things to do. Myrtle Beach State Park has a full-service bathhouse with hot showers, flush toilets, and even laundry facilities. That’s rare in state parks. Most only have basic restrooms, but here, you can wash clothes, dry them, and even buy shampoo if you forgot yours.

The park also runs a daily ranger-led program. In summer, kids can join nature walks, shell hunts, or star-gazing nights. There’s a nature center with interactive exhibits about local wildlife-like how horseshoe crabs lay eggs on the beach or how sea turtles nest under the dunes. You don’t need to be an expert to enjoy it. The rangers make it fun, even for six-year-olds.

And then there’s the beach. At most campgrounds, the beach is a 10-minute drive away. Here, you step out of your tent or RV, cross the boardwalk, and you’re on the sand. The water is calm enough for young kids to splash in, and the tide pools at low tide are perfect for finding crabs and starfish. There’s even a fishing pier with no license needed if you’re just casting from the end.

What you won’t find here

It’s not perfect. And it’s not for everyone. You won’t find a pool here. No mini-golf. No arcade. No ice cream shop inside the park. If you’re looking for a resort-style campground with water slides and nightly entertainment, this isn’t it. This is a state park-focused on nature, not neon lights.

Some people expect a convenience store right at the entrance. There isn’t one. The nearest grocery is a 10-minute drive into Myrtle Beach. You’ll need to bring your own food, ice, and supplies. That’s part of the charm, though. You’re here to get away, not to shop.

Booking and pricing

Reservations open six months in advance on the South Carolina State Parks website. If you want a site with ocean views or a full hookup, book as soon as the calendar opens. The park fills up fast, especially in spring and early fall. Weekends in July and August are booked solid.

Site rates vary. A basic tent site runs $25 per night. A site with water and electric is $40. Full hookups (water, electric, sewer) are $50. Cabins start at $90 a night. There’s a $7 day-use fee if you just want to hike or beach-hop without camping. That fee is waived if you’re staying overnight.

Real tips from real campers

People who come back year after year have a few tricks:

• Ask for a site near the nature center. They’re quieter and have better tree cover.
• Bring a sand shovel. The dunes shift, and your tent stakes can get buried.
• Go on a Tuesday in September. You’ll have the beach to yourself and save 30% on rates.
• Don’t rely on cell service. Verizon works okay, but AT&T and T-Mobile drop out near the dunes.
• Use the park’s free bike rentals. The trails along the lagoon are flat and perfect for kids.

Who is this park best for?

This isn’t the place for solo backpackers or quiet retirees looking for solitude. It’s loud, busy, and full of life. But if you’ve got kids, grandparents, a dog, and a trailer full of gear? This is the spot. You’ll find enough space for everyone to spread out, enough activities to keep everyone busy, and enough natural beauty to make you forget you’re just 15 minutes from a city.

It’s the largest campground in South Carolina-not because it’s the fanciest, but because it’s the most balanced. It gives you the freedom of nature with the comfort of real amenities. And that’s why families keep coming back.