Homeowners tend to get the best of both worlds in the state of South Carolina. The weather is often pleasant and comfortable year-round, the cuisine combines the best of barbecue and southern fried foods, and the parks are so beautiful that new homebuyers may never want to go on a vacation.
If you are an adventurer by trade or a hobbyist, South Carolina offers some of the best opportunities to live your best life outdoors. Home to many historical sites, state, and local parks, and one national park, South Carolina is a fantastic choice to build a home and raise a young family or retire. Many people move to South Carolina to live near walkable parks and abundant hiking, biking, fishing, and camping opportunities.
South Carolina State Parks
For those who want to learn more about the incredible recreation in South Carolina before relocating, here are the top 10 state parks in South Carolina. Take some time to read up on each park to find out which park your new home should be built closest to.
Huntington Beach State Park
- Google Rating: 4.8
- Resource: Official Website
Located just 18 miles from Myrtle Beach in Murrells Inlet, Huntington Beach State Park has it all. Families visit from near and far to camp, fish, surf, hike, bird watch, and soak up the sun rays beaming on the sandy beach. The snowy egret and the blue heron frequent the park, along with a range of varied animals and plant life.
A unique attraction of the park is perhaps a tour of the Atalaya Castle, a Moorish-style castle that was the seasonal home of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington. In September, be sure to make a trip for the annual Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival.
Myrtle Beach State Park
- Google Rating: 4.7
- Resource: Official Website
Nestled along the coast in Myrtle Beach, this state park is a prime destination for swimming, biking, hiking, camping, fishing, boating, and surfing. Many visitors flock to Myrtle Beach State Park for a relaxing weekend or family vacation away from the big city. Picnicking is popular in the warmer seasons and horseback riding is offered at least once per month for those brave enough to take a sunset ride.
Paris Mountain State Park
- Google Rating: 4.7
- Resource: Official Website
Located in the adorable and quaint city of Greenville, South Carolina, Paris Mountain State Park is a great place to hike, bike, and simply retreat from city distractions. Well-kept campsites are conveniently located near trailheads for day adventures.
In the summer, the swimming area is open to visitors. The 1,700 acres of forests are unparalleled and worth a visit any time of the year.
Sesquicentennial State Park
- Google Rating: 4.5
- Resource: Official Website
Situated just 19 miles from Lexington in Columbia, South Carolina, Sesquicentennial State Park is nestled in the sandhills region. Featuring a beautiful 30-acre lake surrounded by trails and picnic spots, this 1,419-acre park is perfect for a day trip or camping excursion at any time. Great camping grounds and clean facilities are a great fit for groups and families. The park also features a genuine two-story log house that can be traced back to the 1700s and is well worth a sightseeing trip.
Caesars Head State Park
- Google Rating: 4.8
- Resource: Official Website
Located 127 miles from Charlotte, Caesars Head State Park is the ideal vantage point for campers, hikers, and especially birdwatchers. Visitors enjoy fishing in the Middle Saluda River, Matthews and Julian creeks for brook, rainbow, and brown trout.
Limited hiking trail sites are available for reservation. Winding hiking and biking trails range from easy to challenging to meet every hiker level. Birdwatchers often make a trip to visit the park between September 1 and November 30 annually to view the famous fall hawk migration from the main overlook.
Spring songbird season is equally breathtaking with 167 species of birds that can be viewed in the park.
Edisto Beach State Park
- Google Rating: 4.7
- Resource: Official Website
Only 43 miles from Charleston, Edisto Beach State Park is one of South Carolina’s four beachfront parks.
With a 1.5-mile stretch of sandy beaches to enjoy the sunshine or surf, visitors can enjoy a day in the sun before retiring to a furnished cabin nestled in the lush maritime forest. The park is perfect for campers, hikers, and bikers alike.
The park is also rich in Native American history, which visitors can learn all about at the park’s environmental education center.
Dreher Island State Park
- Google Rating: 4.7
- Resource: Official Website
Located 30 miles from Columbia in Prosperity, South Carolina, Dreher Island State Park spans 348 acres spread out over three islands that extend out onto and provide access to 50,000-acre Lake Murray. The beachfront park has tent, RV, and villa camping sites.
Visitors are attracted to the many opportunities for recreational water activities and winding nature hikes. It’s also a popular spot for major national fishing tournaments to launch boats.
Table Rock State Park
- Google Rating: 4.8
- Resource: Official Website
Situated 125 miles from Charlotte in Pickens, South Carolina, Table Rock State Park gets its name from the towering Table Rock Mountain that provides a gorgeous backdrop in every photo taken at the park.
This section of the Blue Ridge Mountains offers an old-fashioned swimming hole and a worthwhile hike up Table Rock Mountain to take in the stunning views. Mountain streams and waterfalls along the various hiking trails contribute to the park’s incredible beauty and sanctuary feeling.
Santee State Park
- Google Rating: 4.5
- Resource: Official Website
Located 123 miles from Charlotte in the state’s well-known Santee Cooper Country, Santee State Park sits adjacent to Lake Marion. There are cabins and tent areas available for reservation. Trails for hiking, walking, and biking are abundant throughout the park.
The park is ideal for families with varied interests, such as when one family member wants to swim while another wants to go birdwatching or explore the lush green forest areas.
USS Yorktown State Park
- Google Rating: 4.8
- Resource: Official Website
Now located at Patriots Point Rd, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, the USS Yorktown is a museum ship.
Built during World War II for the United States Navy, the USS Yorktown has served the country well in many battles, acted as a recovery ship after the Apollo 8 mission, and is featured in several films.
Since being declared a National Historic Landmark in 1986, visitors to the park may take a tour of this time capsule to the past.
Congaree National Park
- Google Rating: 4.7
- Resource: Official Website
There is only one national park in South Carolina, known as Congaree National Park. It is known for being the largest intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States.
Home to incredible biodiversity and thriving ecosystems, the park is named for the gushing Congaree River which runs through the lush forest along with the Wateree River to bring a wealth of nutrients to the protected lands.
Visitors enjoy camping, kayaking, canoeing, wildlife watching, and trail exploring all year long.
The Palmetto State
Interested in moving to South Carolina? Learn more about the new home market in the state by checking out some of our other articles, including:
- The Best Cities to Live
- The Safest Cities in South Carolina
- What to Expect When Building a House in SC
And when you’re ready to learn how to build a house or purchase one from a builder, you can find new listings every day at NewHomeSource.com.
All parks have been ranked based on the criteria of popularity, distance from closest major cities, violent crime, property crime, google ratings, and the number of google reviews.
Melanie Theriault is a writer, counselor, and lifelong learner. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from Southwestern University, where she discovered her passion for fostering human connection through storytelling.
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