Longleaf Campground in Congaree National Park

CAMPING SEASON

The Longleaf Campground is open year-round. However, you would have to be insane to camp here from June through September, not only because of the heat, but also because of the mosquitoes. A Ranger told me that even 100% DEET won’t keep them away, that’s how bad they can get.

Mid-October through mid-November should be nice for camping, but December, January, and February are typically too cold. I camped in mid-October and the weather was perfect—high 40s at night and low 70s during the day. I do not recall seeing any mosquitoes at the campground. March through mid-May should also be a good time to camp, only then you have to worry about flooding.

From late winter through early spring, the Congaree River floods an average of ten times, and when it does, all the trails are going to be underwater, and paddling in the park will be extremely difficult due to there being no routes to follow (it’s just a big lake in the forest). My buddy unwittingly visited during a flood in February, and even the campground was swamped. Even if he could have camped, there was absolutely nothing to do other than walk the elevated section of the Boardwalk Trail. Before visiting during flood season, be sure to either call the park at (803) 776-4396 or check the National Park Service’s official Current Conditions web page. If you can’t hike and you can’t paddle, there is no reason to visit.

Other than bugs, heat, and no modern restrooms on site, the Longleaf Campground is a beautiful place to camp.

TYPE OF CAMPING

The Longleaf Campground is a walk-in, tents-only campground, meaning you must park in a common lot and walk to your campsite. Visitors are not allowed to camp in their vehicles. Now I’m not suggesting you break the rules, but my buddy who came with me on this trip—same guy who got flooded-out in February—slept in his van and nobody was the wiser. Once the Harry Hampton Visitor Center closes at 5 PM, there are not many people around, including Rangers. I never saw anyone come by at night to check on the place. My buddy did reserve a campsite, and he did have a tent just in case he was forced to tent camp. Again, I don’t suggest sleeping in your vehicle, but it can be done. Just be sure you actually paid for a campsite, otherwise you are breaking actual laws, not just campground rules.

NUMBER OF CAMPSITES

There are 12 individual campsites and 4 group campsites. Individual campsites can accommodate up to 8 people and 3 tents. Group campsites can accommodate up to 24 people, and you need a minimum of 9 to book a site.

A U-shaped dirt path with entrances at each end of the parking lot runs through the campground (it is blocked to vehicles). Access to the individual campsites is from the right side and the group sites from the left.

Path to the individual campsites at Congaree National Park’s Longleaf Campground

INDIVIDUAL CAMPSITES

All the individual campsites are on the right side of the path. Some are right along it, while others are farther back into the forest. The quality of each campsite is the same, so when picking one, choose based on how far the site is to the parking lot. I personally want as short a walk from my car to my campsite as possible.

Campsites 1 and 2 are the closest to the parking lot (50 yards) and are right along the path.

Campsite 1 at the Longleaf Campground in Congaree National Park

Campsite 2 at the Longleaf Campground in Congaree National Park

Campsite 3 is 75 yards away and is close to the path. It is also one of the smaller campsites.

Campsite 3 at the Longleaf Campground in Congaree National Park

Campsite 5 is 90 yards away and close to the path.

Campsite 5 at the Longleaf Campground in Congaree National Park

Campsite 4 is actually farther than 5 because it is back in the woods. It is 110 yards from the parking lot.

Campsite 4 at the Longleaf Campground in Congaree National Park

Campsites 6, 7, and 8 are grouped together back in the woods, though they are far enough away from each other to still have privacy. The turnoff comes 110 yards from the parking lot, and from there it is roughly another 50 yards to the campsites. Campsite 8 is the closest to the path. Campsites 6 and 7 are a little farther back and are across from each other. I camped at 7, and not being a fan of carrying my equipment since I have so much, this is about as far as I would want to go.

Campsite 6 at the Longleaf Campground in Congaree National Park

Campsite 7 at the Longleaf Campground in Congaree National Park

Campsite 8 at the Longleaf Campground in Congaree National Park

Campsite 9 is 170 yards from the parking lot. It is fairly close to the path.

Campsite 9 at the Longleaf Campground in Congaree National Park

Campsites 10 and 11 are grouped together back in the woods, though there is privacy between them. They are roughly 210 yards from the parking lot (a tenth of a mile).

Campsite 10 at the Longleaf Campground in Congaree National Park

Campsite 11 at the Longleaf Campground in Congaree National Park

Campsite 12 is the farthest walk at 250 yards. That’s over a tenth of a mile from the parking lot. It is also located off the main path, back in the woods.

Campsite 12 at the Longleaf Campground in Congaree National Park

GROUP CAMPSITES

The group campsites are all on the left side of the path through the campground. The closest to the parking lot is Campsite 1 and the farthest, Campsite 4. I didn’t measure the walk as I did with the individual sites, but Group Campsite 1 is about as close to the parking lot as individual Campsite 1, and Group Campsite 4 is about as far away as individual Campsite 12.

Campsites 1, 2, and 3 are very similar in size. Campsite 4 is much smaller.

Group Campsite 1 at the Longleaf Campground in Congaree National Park

Group Campsite 2 at the Longleaf Campground in Congaree National Park

Group Campsite 3 at the Longleaf Campground in Congaree National Park

Group Campsite 4 at the Longleaf Campground in Congaree National Park

CAMPGROUND TERRAIN

All of the individual campsites are in the forest and have plenty of shade. The ground is very level, so it is no problem pitching multiple tents. Some of the sites are close together, but for the most part, there is a decent amount of privacy.

The group campsites are completely separate from each other. As with the individual sites, there is plenty of level ground for pitching tents. Because the campsites cover a much bigger area, they are all on large fields surrounded by the forest. Campers should be able to pitch their tents in the shade in most cases, though a campsite with a dozen or more tents might have to utilize the open spaces.

AMENITIES

All individual campsites have a picnic table, a lantern post that holds two lanterns, and a grill / fire ring. Campsites 1 and 2 have a level tent pad, but in truth, the ground is pretty level everywhere, so they really aren’t needed.

The group campsites are much larger and have multiple picnic tables and a couple lantern posts, but they still only have a single grill / fire ring.

Group campsite at the Longleaf Campground in Congaree National Park

There is a fancy outhouse at the parking lot. This is what Jed Clampett would call a portable toilet in a permanent building. If you want a modern facility, the family restroom on the outside of the Visitor Center building is open at all times (at least that’s what a Ranger told me). There is a water fountain as well for refilling water bottles. The Visitor Center is a .6-mile walk from the campground on the Longleaf Trail, or you can drive your vehicle.

There are no showers, but there is a Love’s Truck Stop 13 miles away towards Columbia that has pay showers. This is where I went, and while it is expensive—$17 when I visited—it is deluxe. If you are a Love’s member, it is a little cheaper.

FEES AND RESERVATIONS

Reservations are required for camping at the Longleaf Campground and can be made up to six months in advance online at Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. There is no way to pay at the park. If you arrive without a reservation, use your cell phone to make one. I made and changed my reservations multiple times at the park, and I was able to get adequate cell service even at the campground. If you find this not to be the case, there is Wi-Fi service at the Visitor Center.

At the time of this writing, individual campsites are $15 / night and group campsites are $25 / night. The current fees are listed on Recreation.gov.

CAMPGROUND RULES

• Check-out time is 11 AM.
• Check-in time is 12 PM.
• Camping is limited to 14 consecutive days, and 26 days within a six-month period.
• Campers may gather dead wood for campfires. Outside firewood must be purchased locally and / or be certified as pest free. Rangers may ask for proof of purchase or the packaging to confirm this.
• The campsite must be occupied by the individual listed on the reservation.
• No sleeping in vehicles. Only tents and hammocks are allowed in the campground.

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