Longleaf Campground

Nice campground

Loved this site! It’s a little more set back from the path and is very spacious. There is no tent pad, but plenty of flat ground to set up and sleep comfortably. Easy to find, access to a restroom, and access to trash cans/recycling. They even had extra dog waste bags available.

Loved this site! It’s a little more set back from the path and is very spacious. There is no tent pad, but plenty of flat ground to set up and sleep comfortably. Easy to find, access to a restroom, and access to trash cans/recycling. They even had extra dog waste bags available.

Nice little primitive campground a short ~1 mi walk from the Congaree NP Visitor Center. There's no access to the campsites by car - vehicles are parked in the lot and equipment has to be carried to the sites. The sites are arranged such that this gets increasingly inconvenient as the site number goes up...but that's fine. Well wooded area, nice tent pad, fire ring, large table/bench. Lot's of fallen wood to burn in the fire. Two pit toilets that were cleaned and stocked...but infrequently emptied, I judge. The solar USB charging station was a pleasant surprise...but out of service. Come to think of it, two of the three water fountains at the Visitor Center were also out of service and several trails were overgrown/hard to follow. A bit short on maintenance resources, I conclude.

Nice little primitive campground a short ~1 mi walk from the Congaree NP Visitor Center. There's no access to the campsites by car - vehicles are parked in the lot and equipment has to be carried to the sites. The sites are arranged such that this gets increasingly inconvenient as the site number goes up...but that's fine. Well wooded area, nice tent pad, fire ring, large table/bench. Lot's of fallen wood to burn in the fire. Two pit toilets that were cleaned and stocked...but infrequently emptied, I judge. The solar USB charging station was a pleasant surprise...but out of service. Come to think of it, two of the three water fountains at the Visitor Center were also out of service and several trails were overgrown/hard to follow. A bit short on maintenance resources, I conclude.

Beautiful forest. Quiet night. HOT tent, but it was August.

Beautiful forest. Quiet night. HOT tent, but it was August.

It started to rain the night we were there so we only stayed the one night. Up until then it was great, any of the individual campsites after site 2 don't have a concrete slab in case of flooding. All in all it was a nice campsite, the walk isn't far from the parking lot. Definitely will camp here again but only in the first two sites in case of rain.

This is a basic, tent-only campground in a convenient location. The sites move away from the parking lot with site 1 being the closest.
Things we loved: Spectacular trees! Tent platform, easy walk to our site, quiet space, hiking trail to visitors center, space for a hammock. There was a nice camaraderie between campers, and everyone was very quiet and respectful. Visitors center is a mile away and has 24-hr access to a single flush toilet, drinking water tap, and Wi-Fi (from outdoors).
Downsides: Just be aware the campground does not have anyone on site, so you just need to be comfortable being independent. Campground toilets are basic and there are really no amenities within a roughly 20 minute drive.
Overall: We really enjoyed our stay! Congaree is beautiful and interesting. Campground is clean and suited our needs, and we would know what to expect next time!

It started to rain the night we were there so we only stayed the one night. Up until then it was great, any of the individual campsites after site 2 don't have a concrete slab in case of flooding. All in all it was a nice campsite, the walk isn't far from the parking lot. Definitely will camp here again but only in the first two sites in case of rain.