Facilities
• Camping at this campground is tent only.
• Camp sites do not accommodate vehicles. All vehicles must be parked in the designated parking lot, and campers must walk a short distance to reach their reserved site.
• This campground does not permit RV/car camping.
• All sites have fire rings and picnic tables.
• This campground does not provide electric/water/sewer hook-ups.
• This campground has two vault toilets located next to the parking area.
• Running water is not available at this campground. Potable water is available at filling stations 24/7 at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center.
• Receptacles for trash and/or recycling are available near the campground parking lot.
Natural Features
Located in a mixed pine/hardwood upland forest, campsites are surrounded by pines and other trees. Campsites are generally in shade for large parts of the day. An open field in the middle of the campground is available for use by campers throughout the day, and this location offers campers excellent opportunities for observing wildlife such as birds, butterflies, and the occasional southern fox squirrel.
Recreation
Campers with reservations at the Longleaf Campground have easy access to the park’s 27 miles of hiking trails. Campers can reach the Harry Hampton Visitor Center by car or by hiking on the Longleaf Trail. At the visitor center you can access the Boardwalk and 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 campground.
Recreation Sites
- Walk To
- Group Walk To
- Overnight
Activities
- Birding
- Camping
- Backpacking
- Hiking
- Interpretive Programs
- Visitor Center
- Wilderness
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Star Gazing
Amenities
- Accessible Vault Toilets
- Campfire Rings
- Lantern Posts
- Parking Area
- Pets Allowed
- Picnic Tables
- Recycling
- Shade
- Trailheads
- Vault Toilets
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.
Getting Here
This campground is located just off the park entrance road, approximately ½ mile before the Harry Hampton Visitor Center.
Need to Know
Reservations
• All campsites are available for reservation on a first-come, first-serve basis and must be reserved prior to setting up camp.
• Check-in time is 12:00 p.m. on the day of arrival.
• Check-out time is 11:00 a.m. on the day of departure.
• Site must be occupied by the individual listed on the reservation.
• Campers may register for no more than 14 consecutive days, and no more than 28 days within a 6-month period.
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Campsite Occupation and Use
• Individual sites (e.g., IS01) may have up to 8 campers and can have no more than 3 tents and/or structures (e.g., pop-up canopy or awning) per site.
• Group sites (e.g., GS01) must have a minimum of 9 campers to reserve, and may have no more than 24 campers and 12 tents and/or structures per site.
• Camping at Congaree National Park is tent only. Campers with reservations must be set up on and physically occupy a designated camp site.
• Use of hammocks is permitted and they do not count against a sites tent/structure limit. Hammocks may only be put up using straps and cannot be put up using nails, screws, etc.
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Vehicles in Campground
• Vehicles may not be driven directly to a camp site and must remain in designated parking lots during your stay. Campsite access to set up camp requires a short walk from the parking lot.
• Staying overnight in a vehicle (i.e., car, trailer/RV, camper van, etc.) is not permitted.
• Please remember to lock your vehicle and take all valuables with you to your site if possible. If an item must be left in a vehicle, please remember to place it in a location where it is not visible.
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Camp Fires
• Fires may only be made within established fire rings and must be fully extinguished (cool to the touch) when leaving your campsite or checking out at the end of your stay.
• Campers may only gather and use any dead or downed branches on the ground for building a fire.
• The only outside firewood that can be brought into the park is that which has been purchased locally and/or has been certified as being pest free, and must have the receipt/proof of purchase and/or wrapper with pest free certification to present if requested.
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Food Storage and Disposing of Trash
• Remember to properly store all food within sealed containers to prevent access by wild animals such as racoons.
• Please properly dispose of all uneaten food and trash in the proper waste bins located next to the campground parking lot.
• Please do not burn trash or uneaten food in fire rings, as this can attract wildlife and leave a mess for other campers.
