We’re just finishing up our Spring Break, where we had a chance to sneak down to Edisto Beach State Park for a few days with the camper! It was the A) longest trip we’ve taken the camper so far and B) the farthest away from home.
We camped at Edisto Beach State Park from Sat. – Tues., having made our reservations months in advance (RV camping in state parks is not always for the spontaneous because the spots fill up so fast!).
Edisto Beach State Park
8377 State Cabin Rd, Edisto Island, SC 29438
(843) 869-2156
Our spot had a 20/30/50 amp electrical hookup, as well as a water hookup. A dump station is located just off the park, about 50 feet away from the entrance. Almost all of the spots we saw were very flat and level (this is the Lowcountry, after all, which is fairly flat overall). The sites were well maintained, each with a picnic table and a fire pit/grill area.
There is one central bathhouse located near the entrance to the park. But since the park is fairly small, it’s a quick walk to the facilities. The park ranger station also sold firewood and ice, if you need it.
We contacted Edisto Essentials for bike rentals during our stay. We called the day we arrived, and within a couple of hours, they delivered four bikes (two adult and two kids, along with four helmets). They also picked up the bikes the day we left – super convenient! Because Edisto is such a safe place, you didn’t even need to lock up your bikes. Kids of all ages were zipping around the campsite, which was fun for our kids to join in. There are also miles of flat bike paths all over Edisto – you can leave from the park and bike to the beach, the restaurants, and through the nature areas.
Edisto is recovering from some significant damage from Hurricane Matthew – the beaches were busy with activity from bulldozers working on some beach renourishment. Plenty of beach houses had been leveled during the storm, and construction was abundant. But the island was alive and well, and definitely open for business.
**The beachside campground area was still closed when we went, with a projected re opening date later this year. We camped on the Live Oak (marsh side) of the campground, which is fully re opened.
This is a great beach location if you and your family are looking for some chill downtime. There’s not of a lot of activity happening at Edisto (there’s a reason it’s nicknamed “Edi-Slow”) – you’re really there to enjoy the beach and the nature areas, including the waterways where you can fish or kayak. If you’re looking for putt putt and arcades, you’re in the wrong place. 🙂
But in terms of state park quality, I’d give this a high rating. The bathhouse was always clean, or in the process of being cleaned. The rangers were helpful and attentive, and as usual, our camper neighbors were always willing to help us when we needed assistance (since we’re still learning the RV camping ropes!).
The beach area is wide and uncrowded. And there’s some incredible shell collecting – some because of the recent hurricane, and some just because this is a more protected area than other more crowded beaches. You can find all kind of unique starfish, oyster shells and more washed up on the sand.
We hope you enjoyed your spring break, and got some camper time logged! We’re already looking forward to summer when we take our biggest travel trailer trip to date to Washington D.C. and Colonial Williamsburg. Let the planning begin!
Edisto Beach State Park
Good for camping with kids: YES
Good for getting off the grid: YES
Easy to access: YES
Good amenities and outdoor activities: YES
Bathroom Conditions (scale of 1 – 10, with 1 being I would rather go in the woods and 10 being sparkling clean): 8
WiFi access: Some free WiFi availability near the park ranger station. It did not reach the camp site area.
Great tips! I love Edisto, but we’ve never camped there. We just took the camper to Washington DC. (will post on that soon). LONG drive, but great trip overall. Good luck with your planning.