SC · Southeast
Congaree National Park
The largest intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the southeastern US. Champion trees that tower over the flooded forest. Synchronous fireflies every May. Paddling through flooded cathedral forest. Completely free and wildly undervisited.
- Free entry: $5 camping, $0 day use
- Completely undervisited, one of the quietest national parks in the US
- Old-growth trees that have been standing since before the Civil War
- Synchronized firefly event rivaling the Smokies with a fraction of the crowd
- Canoe and kayak rentals make the flooded forest accessible to anyone
Camping
National Park (backcountry permit camping)
No free camping right here: campsites run about $5 a night. Want to sleep free? The apps below show free spots on public land, though the nearest may be a drive away.
Explore the area on Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Find more free spots
Get an app like iOverlander to find places to camp on public land for free in the states. Other campers post what's there, how rough the road is and whether a ranger moved them on.
- iOverlander (opens in a new tab)Free. Campsites reported by other travelers, with recent notes on access, signal and rangers.
- Campendium (opens in a new tab)Free to browse. A map of free campsites across the US, much of it on public land, with reviews.
Spots change. Read the newest reports and any posted rules before you set up, and pack out everything you bring in.
When to go
- January
- February
- March: best month
- April: best month
- May: best month
- June: month to skip
- July: month to skip
- August: month to skip
- September
- October: best month
- November: best month
- December
WanderRank Scores
Daily Cost
$10 to $35
per day (food + transit)
Campsites: $5/night
Plus gas for the drive
Recommended Stay
1 to 3
days · easy difficulty
Drive time from your airport
Avoid if
- You dislike humidity and insects. Summer conditions are genuinely brutal
- You want dramatic scenery. This is subtle, cathedral-quiet beauty, not grand vistas