National Park Service · South Carolina
Bluff Hike In Camping
National Park Service · South Carolina, United States · in Congaree National Park
- Sites
- 6
- Season
- Year-round
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- No
- Showers
- No
- Dump station
- No
- Laundry
- No
- Elevation
- 187 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 4
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · AT&T weak · Verizon weak (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Congaree National Park
- Nearest town
- Hopkins
- Address
- 100 National Park Road, Hopkins, SC, 29061
- Activities
- Backpacking, Birding, Camping, Canoeing, Hiking, Interpretive Programs, Kayaking, Star Gazing, Visitor Center, Wilderness
About
Overview
This is a hike-in campground that is located at the intersection of the Bluff and Firefly Trails, approximately 1 mile from both the Harry Hampton Visitor Center and the Longleaf Campground. It is surrounded by a mixed pine/hardwood upland forest. This campground is located at a higher elevation than the floodplain and is not subject to the flooding events that occur regularly in other parts of the park.
Recreation
Campers with reservations at the Bluff Campground have easy access to the park’s 27 miles of hiking trails. Campers can reach the Harry Hampton Visitor Center, boardwalk, and other hiking trails via either the Firefly or Bluff Trails. At the visitor center you find information on other trails to plan your trip into the old-growth forest of Congaree National Park. Those who would like to explore and experience Congaree via canoe or kayak can launch from one of the park's two landings, located between 5-10 minutes by car from the visitor center.
Facilities
• Camping at this campground is tent only.
• This is a hike-in only campground and cannot be accessed by vehicle. Campers must park at either the Longleaf Campground or Harry Hampton Visitor Center.
• All sites have a fire ring and picnic table.
• This campground does not provide electric/water/sewer hook-ups.
• This campground does not have restroom facilities. Restrooms can be found at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center, and two vault toilets are located at the Longleaf Campground.
• Running water is not available at this campground. Potable water is available at filling stations 24/7 at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center.
• This campground does not have trash or recycling receptacles. All campers must remember to pack out all trash and/or waste when leaving and can dispose of it at either the Harry Hampton Visitor Center or Longleaf Campground.
Natural Features
Campsites are located on the edges of an open, grassy clearing in the mixed pine/hardwood forest, and is adjacent to an area currently undergoing restoration to a longleaf pine grassland/savanna. Depending on the time of day, sites may be the sun during the morning or afternoon/evening hours. This location offers opportunities to observe wildlife such as birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (803) 647-3970.
Nearby Attractions
Congaree National Park is located near many attractions including state parks, forests and parks. The city of Columbia is a short drive from the park and offers access to many attractions including museums, city parks and shopping.
Fees
Walk-up Individual Sites - Tent Only: $10. 6 sites are available for reservation and can accommodate between 1 to 8 campers each and 3 tents. A picnic table and firepit is on each site.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 53° | 36° | 24° | 74° | 9 of 11 |
| February | 62° | 44° | 25° | 77° | 1 of 11 |
| March | 70° | 49° | 29° | 83° | 2 of 11 |
| April | 76° | 56° | 39° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| May | 83° | 66° | 51° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 87° | 72° | 60° | 99° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 90° | 75° | 69° | 99° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 89° | 75° | 67° | 100° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 85° | 71° | 59° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 75° | 55° | 41° | 85° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 64° | 47° | 30° | 78° | 1 of 10 |
| December | 56° | 41° | 24° | 77° | 3 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Longleaf Campground · National Park Service · 1 mi · 16 sites
- Poinsett State Park · South Carolina State Parks · 16 mi · 50 sites
- Sesquicentennial State Park · South Carolina State Parks · 18 mi · 78 sites
- Mill Creek Park Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 18 mi · 126 sites
- Santee State Park · South Carolina State Parks · 28 mi · 158 sites
All public campgrounds in South Carolina · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.