Last Updated on March 5, 2026 by PorchLightReading
Edisto Beach State Park Camping. Family travel guide including the different campgrounds, amenities, walking trails, things to do, and so much more you’ll want to know before you go!
Anyone who loves camping and outdoor adventure has their favorite go to camping locations. For us it was this one lake with crystal clear water and sunsets like you wouldn’t believe. But since then we’ve moved and I’m happy to say we have a new favorite weekend destination, camping at Edisto Beach State Park!
Like any good camper, I’m reluctant to share all the details in hopes to keep our favorite spot a secret, but truth be told it isn’t much of a secret. Months in advance we are searching the website in hopes to find an open site, and most the time coming up short.
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- Table of contents: Edisto Beach State Park Camping
- Quick overview
- Beach Campground vs. Live Oak Campground
- Best campsites at Edisto Beach State Park
- Best times to visit and seasonal tips
- Things to do in the area
- FAQ’s
So I might as well tell you everything you’ll want to know before you go. Including the Beachfront campground vs. Live Oak campground, the best campsites, things to do in the area, and other helpful information. It’s a sleepy little spot that has a ton of hidden gems, if only you know where to look.
Edisto Beach State Park Camping
There’s something about camping at Edisto Beach State Park that is a bit different then some of our other trips. It’s quieter than I expected. Slower. Less commercial and more laid back.
So if you’re planning a family camping trip down to Edisto Island, SC, then this guide is for you. We’ll walk you through what to expect, the differences between the campgrounds, tips for booking, and whether this beach location is right for you and your family.
Quick Overview
Edisto Beach State Park is located at 8377 State Cabin Rd. Edisto Island, South Carolina 29438. It’s only an hour drive from downtown Charleston and a very different drive than the normal rush hour traffic and highways that slow to a crawl and put you on edge.
This drive is curvy, peaceful. The road twists under the canopy of Live Oak tress covered in Spanish moss, shading the way with streaks of sunlight. Once you make it over the tall bridge, you’re basically there. So roll down the windows and enjoy the rest of the drive, because your vacation has just begun. -Reserve your spot on their website-
- One hour from Charleston, SC
- Two camping areas (Beach and Live Oak Campground)
- 117 RV campsites (water and electric) plus 5 tent sites (water)
- 4 miles of walking trails
- Small camp store with firewood
- Restrooms with clean showers
- Dump station with 3 spots!
Beach Front Campground & Live Oak Campground
There are two very different camping locations within the state park. One is the Beachfront campground and the other is the Live Oak Campground. Both come with their own set of pros and cons, and we’ll go over that a little further, but with either campground you can’t go wrong.
Beachfront Campground
The Beachfront Campground is made up of 67 campsites with water and electric hookups. It’s incredibly close to the beach, being just a sand dune away. It’s a bit further down the road from the state park beach parking, allowing you to have a tad more privacy on the beach itself.
With that being said you can’t see the beach from most of the campsites but a lot of them have a great view of the marsh. The way that the sites are angled (from 36-74, on the left) gives you your own little section of the marsh and sunset.
- Beachfront Campground
- Pros
- 67 RV campsites with water and electric hookups
- Walking distance to the beach
- Fire pits
- Clean restrooms and showers
- Most with views of the marsh
- Cons
- Closer together
- Not a lot of shade cover
Live Oak Campground
The Live Oak Campground is made up of 50 RV campsites with water and electric, and 5 walk-in tent sites with water. It’s further from the beach but a quick 3 minutes drive to the beach parking lot with ocean access. Here, campsites are more private with large trees and shrubs creating a barrier around each site.
Right outside your door you have access to 4 miles of walking trails and a couple of boardwalks. However, with the great privacy of the shrubs comes little breeze. Depending on the season you’re camping it can feel a little stifling, but it is well shaded.
- Live Oak Campground
- Pros
- 50 RV campsites with water and electric, 5 walk-in tent with water
- More private and well shaded
- Fire pits
- Clean restrooms and showers
- 4 miles of walking paths
- Cons
- Drive to the beach
- Not much of an ocean breeze
Best Campsites At Edisto Beach State Park
Staring at this white screen, I don’t even want to tell you. This is our favorite weekend destination and it’s already difficult to secure a campsite even 6 months ahead of time!
So I’m not going to spell out which spot is our favorite for a few reasons. 1- You might be looking for different things. 2- The size of your RV will dictate where you can be comfortably. 3- We already have a hard time getting the spot we like.
Best campsites (in our opinion) for Beachfront Campground- The pull-through sites and secluded spots that you see on the campground map, are for smaller RV’s at 15 feet max. But if you happen to have a smaller set up then take a look at site number 10 and 13. -Edisto Beach State Park Campground Map-
For those with larger RVs then we really like the sites that overlook the marsh on the left side of the road. They are a bit further apart and although they are not shaded, the sun sets on that side and you get a small breeze over the waterway. You have your own small view of the marsh and are at an angle for a little privacy. Look at campsites 36-74 on the left side of the road.
Best campsites (in our opinion) at Live Oak Campground- Live Oak Campground offers more privacy and a lot more shade. A fair amount of the campsites are surrounded by shrubs which can be a pro and a con. The shrubs give more privacy but you get a lot less of an ocean breeze.
In our opinion the outside loop offers the best campsites and the ones right on the marsh are prime spots. The marsh sites are 112-125 on the righthand side. It can be a bit tight with the trees and backing in, so be sure to take caution and book according to your rigs size!
Best Time To Visit and Seasonal Tips
The weather down in South Carolina begins to get nice as early as March. Although I might not want to swim in March, it does offer perfect weather to stroll the beach without crowds and enjoy the 4 miles of walking trails without the heat and humidity.
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The weather stays nice right until June but once you hit the mid summer months, you better get ready to sweat. However, there are ways around that. Since you are camping at the beach you have the opportunity to visit the ocean during off hours. Go early in the morning or later in the day to get out of the camper and enjoy the ocean air.
In the hot afternoon you can catch lunch at an air conditioned restaurant or hibernate in the AC inside your camper. (fancy I know)
- Best times to camp at Edisto Beach State Park
- Late March-June offer mild weather and nice breezes.
- July-September can be incredibly hot and humid so be sure to adjust your schedule to enjoy the beach earlier in the morning or later in the evenings. Grab lunch downtown in a restaurant with AC. Can be busier on the weekends with other beach goers enjoying the hot summer days.
- October-November offers cooler days with less crowds. Walk the beach, explore the 4 miles of trails, and enjoy dinner at the local restaurants.
Things To Do In The Area
We love enjoying our campsite and sitting around the fire, but after a while we need to get out and explore! One good outing to get us out of the house and enjoying something new.
Whether that be a walk nearby, museum, farmers market, or an afternoon at the beach. If you’re looking for a complete list of things to do in the area then I highly recommend my article Top 15 Family Things To Do, Edisto Island, South Carolina.
But if you’re just looking for a brief overlook for now, let’s get to it.
Beaches On Edisto Island
If you’re already camping at the Beachfront Campground, then you are in luck! You’ll have several beach access points that the public doesn’t have, and they are further from the rest of the parking lot. Keeping this area less busy and more private.
If you’re camping at the Live Oak Campground, then you’ll need to take the 3 minute drive down to the state park and park in the lot there. They also have a ton of public beach access areas along the island, so really you have no short of beach locations.
*Note- No lifeguard on duty. Swim at own risk.
- Access to your own beach walkways if you’re camping at Beachfront Campground
- Beach access at the state park with large parking lot.
- Lots of free public beach access points along the island.
Walking Trails Nearby
The state park offers 4 miles of walking trails that are perfect for little hikers. The trails are all connected together allowing you to customize your walk to different lengths.
If you’re camping at the Live Oak Campground, then you have access to all of the trails right from your site. However, if you’re camping at the Beachfront Campground then it’s best to drive over to the Live Oak Campground and park in the lot there. I know that the map shows the Edisto Bike Trail as part of the walking paths, but really it’s next to a busy road and not great for little kids.
- Walking trails in the area -State Park Map-
- Spanish Mount Trail 1.7 miles
- Scott Creek Trail 0.7 miles (boardwalk, great for kids!)
- Forest Loop Trail 0.5 miles
- Big Bay Trail 0.4 miles
- Bache Trail 0.2 miles (beautiful pier! Next to the Environmental Learning Center- Great for kids!)
- Botany Bay- Walking trails with driftwood beach
Family Friendly Activities
You know, it’s a little funny that the first time we visited we missed a couple of these must-see places. You won’t find giant neon signs out front with arrows pointing the way. No, here it’s a little more laid back and it’s easy to accidentally drive by or not know you’re allowed to stop in altogether.
Botany Bay and Driftwood Beach- Botany Bay on Edisto is amazing! It’s a bit off the beaten path and very easy to drive by without knowing it’s even there. Here you’ll find nature paths and a self guided driving tour that takes you along some beautiful scenic views.
Be sure to make your way to driftwood beach and walk the short path to the ocean. It’s looks like it’s from a different world and is a must see with every trip down to Edisto, SC.
- Walk to driftwood beach and enjoy the large oak tress standing tall, and dead, along the sand.
- Take the self guided driving tour around the property. (Personally, I would recommend a vehicle that can handle dirt roads, since the tour does get bumpy and uneven towards the end.)
- No pets allowed at driftwood beach.
- No swimming
Edisto Environmental Learning Center- This learning center is off the main road and tucked in among the trees. It’s easy to miss if you didn’t know it was there, but inside you’ll find a museum that is perfect for little kids and a giftshop to find some souvenirs.
- Fun museum for kids! (free to those staying at campground and those with state park passes)
- Gift shop
- Pier with perfect views of the marsh
- Walking trails
Edisto Island Serpentarium- Snakes, snakes, and alligators! Oh my. Kids of all ages will love exploring around the Edisto Island Serpentarium. Here they have daily educational programs and educational exhibits. It may give me the shivers, but kids love it.
The Presbyterian Church and the haunted tomb- Originally constructed in 1830, there is no way you can drive by this beautiful church without taking notice.
I always wanted to stop at this church but felt a little awkward at the idea of strolling around. However, it’s perfectly acceptable as long as you are being respectful.
Behind the church is an old cemetery and, as legend would have it, a haunted tomb. If you’d like to read more about that story head over to my article. -15 Family Things To Do, Edisto Island, SC-
Farmers Markets- You will not be disappointed in the wonderful farmers markets in the area! One of our favorites being King’s Farm Market. It’s family owned and has amazing fresh produce and other local finds.
- King’s Farm Market
- Family owned
- Fresh produce
- Local finds
- Seasonal flower picking
- Marsh Hen Mill
- Family owned
- Grits, rice, cornmeal and more!
- Salsas and jams
Beach Stores and Shopping
What’s funny about this small town is that if you blink you might just miss it. I mean that is the best possible way. It may be tiny but it has everything you need.
Right on the main drive you’ll find beach stores, boutiques, restaurants, and homemade ice cream.
- Downtown Shopping
- Beach stores
- Boutiques
- Restaurants
- Grocery store
- Ice cream shop
- Giant candy wall
- Island bikes and rentals
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! There is public beach access, but if you’re camping at the Beachfront campground then you have a nice path leading to the beach just a short walk from your campsite.
Yes, campfires are allowed in designated fire pits. You can find local firewood in the stores nearby, just be sure no fireban is in place due to dry weather.
Absolutely. Besides the obvious beach days, there is also the Environmental Learning Center, Edisto Island Serpentairum, exploring Botany Bay, and taking a stroll along one of the walking trails.
Yes, pets are allowed at the campgrounds and the beach on leash. However, there are certain time of year where the rules change a bit. Be sure to visit their website for more up to date information.
No, Edisto campground does not have full hookups but they do have water and electric. The dump station nearby offers three separate drive through areas, making for a fast and easy departure home. 
Camping at Edisto Beach State Park is an absolutely wonderful experience if you’re looking for a vibe that’s a little bit slower.
The marsh and creek trails are great to explore with kids and the beaches are a fun way to spend the afternoon building sandcastles and body boarding. There are a few great restaurants in the area to grab a bite to eat and a small grocery store to pick up any pantry staples you may have forgotten.
So book the trip! Pack the flip flops and sunscreen and get ready to make some beautiful memories with the family.
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