4.2167 reviewsPrice
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
30 campsites
Season
Open all year.
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Price
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
30 campsites
Season
Open all year.
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
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Elmwood Recreation Area, Francis Marion National Forest, SC
Spring wildlife watchers and photographers get the best of this place: wisteria, wild azaleas, and jasmine peak in April and May, deer and turkey move through regularly, and weekday visits mean the 30 sites are nearly empty. RVs up to 40 feet fit fine, and it's completely free.
Tick pressure is genuinely bad here year-round, and tall grass between maintenance visits hides ant hills and snakes. Campers who want defined sites, cell coverage beyond AT&T, or any hookups will find the fire-pit-only layout frustrating.
Reference information about Elmwood Recreation Area sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p>Primitive campsite.</p><p>This recreation area is located in the northeastern portion of the Francis Marion National Forest. It’s a popular camp during deer and turkey hunts on the Waterhorn Hunt Unit. The area also serves as a <a href="http://www.dnr.sc.gov/hunting.html">South Carolina Department of Natural Resources </a>game check station during big-game hunting season.</p><p><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3826912.pdf">Click here</a> for a printable guide.</p>
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Spring offers the best conditions and the signature floral displays. Daytime highs run mid-60s to low-80s°F, with cool nights in the 50s. Azaleas, wisteria, and jasmine peak in April and May. Insect activity stays lower early in the season. Summer brings Southern heat and humidity, with heavy mosquito and tick pressure that makes bug spray essential. Fall returns to comfortable temperatures. Weekdays provide more solitude; weekends fill faster during spring. Hunting season (primarily fall) draws crowds to the official game check station.
Spring is the standout season: wisteria, azaleas and jasmine peak in April–May; reviewers cite spring as best.
Elmwood Recreation Area is a primitive campsite located in the northeastern portion of the Francis Marion National Forest. It is a popular camping spot during deer and turkey hunting seasons and serves as a South Carolina Department of Natural Resources game check station during big-game hunting season. The campground offers basic amenities, including a water spigot for potable water and picnic tables. However, it lacks restrooms as per the authoritative content. "Beautiful place to camp RV or tent there are about 30 spots," mentions one user, but reviews note the absence of real set sites, with fire pits marking designated areas.
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