You know that old saying “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all?” That will explain why this review of Poinsett State Park is shorter than most reviews.
The good things? It has some really lovely hiking trails. The camping sites are large and well-maintained. And it’s the closest state park to Congaree National Park, which was why we were here.
The bad things? Gnats, spiders, bugs, and more gnats. Honestly, I wore a KN95 masks when I was out walking just to keep the bugs out of my mouth. Yes, I’m serious. Also, there were almost constant overflights by F16 fighter jets from nearby Shaw AFB. I’m all for jet-spotting but having them flyovers from 8:30AM till 6PM every weekday was a little too much F16 goodness. Oh, and last half mile of the road into the campground is so narrow that two cars can’t even pass each other, let alone two RVs. And last bit of THAT is dirt with deep ruts. Ugh.
I did catch one break during my four-night stay: a cold snap that knocked out the gnats till afternoon. My morning hikes were blissfully gnat-free although the soundtrack was still F16 engines.
If you ever wondered who would place a campground between a swamp and an electronic target range, the answer is South Carolina State Parks. Take my advice, stay at Santee State Park if you want to visit Congaree National Park (and that place, coming in another post soon, is amazing so do visit it!).
POINSETT STATE PARK (SOUTH CAROLINA STATE PARKS)
- One loop has hookups, the other is tents only, so look carefully if you decide to book here. Reserve at South Carolina State Parks.
- Services: electric/water with dump station at exit of campground. Bath houses with showers. Recycling and trash just before dump station.
- Good T-Mobile, some Verizon, fair ATT.
- Groceries: Didn’t shop here but there’s a Dollar General not too far away if you really need something.
- Gas: Solo station about 8 miles north.
- Trails is the state park: https://dc.statelibrary.sc.gov/handle/10827/27687
In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful.
Alice Walker
(Take a closer look at the trees in this post’s images and the quotation will make more sense!)
Poinsett is actually a park favorite of mine….unless it is springtime b/c the gnats are unbearable!!! They stick to your chapstick. Ugh. I suggest fall and winter. The cabins are no frills rustic….built by the CCC in the 30’s. The trails feel like the mountains only they are in the low country. My understanding is that the landscape s the result of flooding. It was a rice plantation in the 1700’s (I think). Anyhow, go to Poinsett in the winter or fall but not the spring!
I love reading your campground reviews. We actually have reservations for Poinsett in November. We reserved a site there for the same reason you did. We are going to Congaree! We chose November for the lack of mosquitoes That same trip also includes Edisto Beach (we stay in Live Oak because those marsh side sites are so beautiful) and Blythe Island. Maybe someday we will see you out there in camping land. I sure would recognize your rig!
November is a very smart choice for Poinsett 🙂 Sounds like a great trip you planned between Congaree and Edisto! Don’t know Blythe Island, so report in when you go, OK?
Thanks, I’ll make a note to not go here.
Oh you are so generous to give credit to the park for the trails. I think they belong to the South Carolina State Forest system. Oh well, Congaree was so wonderful.