Camping at Hunting Island State Park, South Carolina
One of the most visited state parks in South Carolina, the semi-tropical Hunting Island State Park offers a relaxing camping experience with white sandy beaches, spectacular marsh views, and a historic lighthouse. If that's not enough, only a short 17-mile drive from Hunting Island State Park, you can explore the charming southern city of Beaufort and the variety of nearby attractions.
Hunting Island State Park Campground
Confirming our earlier prediction that the South Carolina State Parks run a tight ship, Hunting Island State Park is truly a wonder of cleanliness, efficiency, and courtesy. Hunting Island itself is a 5,000-acre barrier island featuring five miles of undeveloped pristine beachfront with thousands of acres of salt marsh and maritime forests to explore.

Easy check-in with super friendly staff, this quiet 100-campsite facility is well maintained and frequently patrolled by the park rangers. The ocean is just a short walk away from the campground - with tidal pools, very few people, sand dollars, numerous olive shells, and sea urchins. A family favorite ocean activity was watching the very entertaining hermit crabs exchange their shells on a quest to locate the perfect home - until an even better one came along.
Hunting Island State Park Campground Things to Know:
- Advance reservations needed - Hunting Island State Park is the single most visited state park in South Carolina.
- All reservations have a two day minimum - $55/night
- No laundry facilities
Hunting Island State Park Nature Center Scenic Trail

Nature Center Scenic Trail is a 1.5 mile round trip hike to the newly formed Little Hunting Island – one of the very few positives of 2016's Hurricane Matthew which otherwise destroyed a huge swath of the eastern seaboard. On the north end of the beach are recovering oyster beds while the south end has the “Boneyard Beach." Both locations have the look and feel of a Hollywood deserted island movie set, are fun to explore, and could easily be made into a full day excursion. No drinking water or facilities are on Little Hunting Island, but there are exposed pipes and hurricane-produced debris among the fallen trees – so shoes are a must.
The Hunting Island State Park Nature Center itself has live animal exhibits – including a variety of native turtles including the threatened Diamond-backed terrapin, plus box turtles, corn snakes, king snakes, alligators, toads, and various other reptiles and amphibians. Our family reptile expert reports that all the critters looked exceptionally well taken care of and that the displays were well done. Another feather in the cap of the SCDNR.
Hunting Island State Park Nature Center & Trail Things to Know:
- Nature Center Hours: 9am-5pm daily; live animal exhibits
- Fishing Tackle Loaner Program: borrow rod and reel at Nature Center for use on the pier.
- No drinking water or facilities on Little Hunting Island
Hunting Island State Park Lighthouse
If climbing every lighthouse on the Atlantic is on your bucket list, the Hunting Island Lighthouse needs to be on it. The only lighthouse that can be climbed in South Carolina is in Hunting Island State Park. It is a great specimen and value at a reasonable $2/person to climb the 167 stairs to the top where breathtaking views of the surrounding coastline await.

Built in 1859, the Hunting Island Lighthouse was later moved one mile to its present location to avoid the encroaching tide. The beam, a second order Fresnel light, was powered by fifty pounds of rendered pig fat which had to be carried up the 167 wrought iron stairs every day by the lighthouse keepers. A technical wonder of its day, the light from the lens was visible for 17 miles.
Several outbuildings and knowledgeable park volunteers help visitors understand the very lonely and secluded lives of the immigrant families who tended the lighthouse until is was decommissioned in 1933.
Hunting Island State Park Lighthouse Things to Know:
- Hours: 10am-4:45pm
- $2/person – maximum six people in a group
- 44" minimum height requirement.
Hunting Island State Park Marshwalk Boardwalk Trail

On one of our more memorable outings while camping at Hunting Island State Park, we took the the 1/2 mile round trip Marshwalk Boardwalk Trail to watch a glorious sunset with panoramic views over the thousands of acres of salt marsh. The large deck with plenty of comfortable seating also provides an excellent location for crabbing. Bring warm clothes in the off-season and plan for mosquitoes during the warmer months. And of course, leave plenty of space on your camera to capture your own gorgeous low country sunset.