Oconee State Park Camping: What You Need to Know
Our camper at Oconee State Park
If you’re looking for a quiet campground with excellent amenities, you can’t go wrong by planning an Oconee State Park camping trip.
This large and well maintained state park is located in Upstate South Carolina about an hour north of Greenville, South Carolina.
It’s one of my family’s favorite places to go, and, even after several visits, we still haven’t done everything!
From hiking trails to RV parking, here’s everything you need to know about Oconee State Park camping.
This post contains affiliates. If you purchase through the links below, I will receive a commission at no charge to you.
Oconee State Park Campground Review
If you’re staying at Oconee State Park, you’re mostly likely planning to bring a tent, camper, or RV.
In that case, you’ve got plenty of choices here as the park has over 100 sites available.
Oconee State Park Tent Camping
If you’re tent camping, there are dedicated spaces with water.
However, if you wanted electrical hookups as well, you could always rent one of the smaller camper spots instead.
CAMPING KIDDOS TIP: If you’re looking for a family tent, get one of these pop-up 2 room tents. It’s been our go-to for car camping for years, and we still take it along on RV trips as an extra outdoor space. It’s super easy to set up and take down, has a privacy curtain in it, and has a ton of room.
Our favorite spots in the Oconee State Park campground are sites 4-14.
These are all pull through lots that back up to a section of the Palmetto Trail, so there’s a sense of privacy that doesn’t come with all of the other spots.
Our kids loved being able to run along the trail while we were preparing meals.
If you’d prefer a lake view, spots 16 and 36 are the best as they’re level.
NOTE: this campground is hilly, so you’ll want to check each site to see if the slope is level, slight, moderate, or severe.
Stay organized with our printable camping packing list and our list of the most forgotten camping items!
Oconee State Park RV Camping
PIN ME!
If you’re towing a travel trailer or driving an RV, the road from Walhalla, SC, to the entrance of the campground is a winding 2-lane road.
The road isn’t particularly steep other than one climb just after the Last Chance Saloon on Highlands Highway; however, there are several parts of this road where you’ll have steep inclines off the shoulder.
Smaller travel trailers, Class B’s and Class C’s shouldn’t have any issues, but larger vehicles will want to go slowly for safety.
Once you’re in the park, the roads are well maintained if a bit skinny.
The check-in area has a limited number of places to pull into while you go see the park staff, but it’s workable for all but the busiest of times (usually Saturday mornings on holiday weekends!).
The campground is divided into 3 large loops:
Sites 1-51,
Sites 52-98
Sites 100-136
If you’re counting properly, there is no site 99 for whatever reason.
Sites 1-51 are closest to Campground Lake, sites 52-98 feel the most remote, and sites 100-136 are closest to the playground and main office.
Of the three loops, we prefer the Campground Lake sites (1-51). Specifically, we love sites 1-14 as these are close to the bathhouse, the sites are level, they are pull-through sites, and they directly back up to the Foothills Trail.
Carefully review each of the description and photos on the Oconee State Park website for drive length and grade. There are some really unlevel sites throughout the park.
For more tips on RV routes, download the RV Life app.
We swear by this app when hauling our travel trailer as it helps me plan my routes, notifies me when my chosen road isn’t RV worthy (low bridges, dirt roads, etc.), and tracks when my vehicle needs a refuel.
The interactive maps let me see where my favorite gas stations are—hello, Buc-ees and Flying J!—and map out my route accordingly. Best $59 I’ve spent on RV planning!
Interested in camping but don’t know what trailer will work for you? Check out these posts!
Oconee State Park Cabins
Cabin 9 is on the quietest loop of the park.
Before we got our current trailer, we did 2 different trips to Oconee State Park for the purpose of checking out the cabins.
We’re happy to report that they are clean and comfortable, and perfect for a mountain getaway!
Each cabin comes with a wood burning fireplace, a kitchen, bathroom, and small screened-in porch.
Most of the cabins have 1 bedroom plus a sofa bed, but some have 2 bedrooms and a sofa bed.
The cabins are located in 3 different places in the park.
Cabins C1-C6 are closest to the front of the park with lake views.
Cabins C7-C11 are the deepest into the park and the most isolated.
Cabins C14-C20 also have lake views and are located nearest to the campground.
I prefer the cabins on the C7-C11 loop as this area of the park is incredibly quiet with no through traffic.
Kids can ride their bikes along the road here, and this area is convenient to 2 of the hiking trails within the park.
End the day with a campfire in the fire pit, some songs, and a few s’mores!
We think that Oconee State Park is one of the highlights in South Carolina camping! Check out our full list of the best state parks in South Carolina for camping here.
Oconee State Park Amenities
For a public campground, Oconee State Park has some great amenities.
You’ll find all of the amenities towards the front of the park, and they’re easily accessible from the campground and cabins.
In fact, there’s so much to explore at Oconee State Park, that we thinks it’s one of the best things to do in Walhalla, SC!
Kid Friendly Amenities at Oconee State Park
First, poke around in the main building, which houses the registration desk and a small gift shop. You’ll find sweatshirts, coffee cups, snacks, stickers, hats, and more here.
Then, you can rock on one of the rocking chairs scattered along the front porch of this building. This is heavenly on a cool evening as the sun goes down over the lake.
In the field next to the main building are 2 kid-friendly activities.
The playground has basic equipment, but will still be well received by restless kids after a long drive to the park.
There’s also a small mini-golf course available to visitors.
To get a club, go to the registration desk in the main building. From there, it’s self-paced.
The best amenities revolve around the lake at the heart of the park.
Fun at the Lake
The youngest Camping Kiddo enjoys the lake at Oconee State Park
Visitors are welcome to swim in the on-site lake during open hours.
During the late spring, summer, and early fall, the lake is open from mid-morning to late afternoon.
Check with the registration desk for exact daily hours.
I’d recommend water shoes for those who are uncomfortable with the feeling of squishy mud underfoot!
Our favorites are aqua socks like these which are protective yet lightweight for safe swimming.
Strong swimmers can make their way to the diving board about 30 feet off the shore.
There are 2 boards at differing heights so you can choose your own adventure.
Lifeguards are on hand to ensure that guests take turns safely on the boards.
Bring your own camping chairs if you’d like to relax in the shaded, grassy area by the shore.
We love our GCI Outdoor Freestyle rockers, which go everywhere with us!
Another great activity at Oconee State Park is the boat shed. You can rent canoes and paddleboards to take a loop around the lake.
The lake isn’t large, so a family could easily see most of the lake in under an hour. We’ve done this on our last few trips, and it is so much fun!
Hiking in Oconee State Park
The South Carolina upstate is a great place to introduce your kids to hiking!
The rolling hills make for a bit of a challenge without overwhelming young and beginner hikers.
Our kids have enjoyed multiple hikes in and around Oconee State Park.
Lake Trail
The Lake Trail is an easy introduction to the area as it takes hikers around the park’s picturesque center.
Hiking on the Old Waterwheel Trail in Oconee State Park
As you make your way along the 1.2 mile loop, you’ll be able to look for local birds and native trees.
Old Waterwheel Trail
Our other favorite kid-friendly trail in Oconee State Park is the Old Waterwheel Trail.
This trail is almost a loop as the beginning and ending points are less than a 1/4 of a mile away from each other on the park road between the campground and the C7-C11 cabin loop.
Start at either end and work your way slowly down the well defined trail.
At the lowest point, you’ll find the historic waterwheel building ruins next to a pretty stream.
After that, you’ll begin to climb back up towards the park road.
The trail is just over a mile (1.2 miles), and slopes up and down gently enough that even small kids will be able to navigate the path without trouble.
Family Friendly Activities near Oconee State Park
Located several miles above Walhalla, South Carolina, Oconee State Park is fairly remote, but there’s still plenty to do within a 15 minute drive.
Head south on Highway 28 for 3 fantastic options.
The Camping Kiddos on the Yellow Branch Falls Trail
Yellow Branch Falls Trail is a beautiful 3 mile out-and-back trail that winds over small streams, past massive trees, and down to a tiered waterfall.
Our kids at 5 and 8 were tired but able to complete this trail within 2 hours.
>> Read my complete guide to the Yellow Branch Falls hike here. <<
Isaqueena Falls has a great picnic area, covered bridge, and dramatic views of a 100 foot waterfall.
To the main viewing platform is about 0.3 miles, though there’s a strenuous hike all the way to the bottom of the waterfall, too.
I’d avoid the full hike unless you have older kids who can make their way on and around fallen logs and large stones.
Stumphouse Tunnel is an incomplete train tunnel that was started in the final days of the Civil War.
For many years, it was used as storage for nearby Clemson University’s stock of bleu cheese.
Today, guests can make their way into the darkness to explore this man made marvel.
Bring a flashlight and sturdy shoes as the uneven stone path is often partially covered by water.
Riley Moore Falls in Westminster is a bit further away, but it is well worth the trouble of getting there!
We loved the easy hike and the swimming hole at the end was the highlight of our trip according to my kids.
Check out all of the details of hiking at Riley Moore Falls here.
Get even more outdoor ideas for Upstate South Carolina with the best hikes near Greenville SC!
Have you tried camping at Oconee State Park in Walhalla, South Carolina?
