Congaree

Snapshot

Planning Your Visit

When we visited the park
We visited this park in the summer, at the beginning of July.  It was hot and humid, but not unbearable.  I would imagine that spring and fall would be a great time to visit this park if you plan to do more hiking here.  There were a good number of people walking the boardwalk with their dogs, so pets were very welcome here.  

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Things to Consider
1. The first thing to know is, the hiking conditions change fast here.  The ground holds a lot of water, so a little rain can make a big difference.  I would bring good hiking shoes or boots that can get dirty if you plan to hike off the boardwalks.  
2. Check in with the rangers before you do too much hiking or backcountry hiking.  They have great information to share about the park and conditions.  
​3. Plan for bugs here!  
4. Walk the Boardwalk Loop Trail.  Make sure to go slow, there is wildlife everywhere if you take the time to look. 
5. We didn't plan for it with little kids, but getting a kayak tour in Cedar Creek or even Congaree River will allow you to take in this unique undergrowth forest habitat in a unique perspective. 

​How to Get There
From Charleston - Take Interstate 26, Exit 145B. Take U.S. Highway 601 North to SC 48 (Bluff Road). Follow SC 48 (Bluff Road) West. Turn left on South Cedar Creek Road then right on Old Bluff Road to the park entrance.
From Charlotte - Take Interstate 77 South towards Columbia for approximately 95 miles to Exit 5, Bluff Road. Follow directions below from Interstate 77,Exit 5. (Approximate travel time: 2 hours)
From Interstate 77, Exit 5
At Exit 5 turn onto SC Hwy 48 East/Bluff Road. Drive approximately 8 miles and then take a slight right onto Old Bluff Road. Follow Old Bluff Road for 4.5 miles to the park entrance sign, which will be on the right. Proceed one mile to the Harry Hampton Visitor Center. Parking lots will be on the right.
​More Maps provided by Park
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Where to Stay
Longleaf Campground
There is only one campground in this small park, and no lodging facilities.  You can book a tent only site here up to six months ahead of time.  It costs $15 a night to reserve one of the 10 individual sites and $25 a night to reserve one of the 4 group sites.  There is a backcountry campground as well.  

What We Did
​We visited this park one afternoon on a stopping point on a longer drive day to the coast.  We stopped here in the afternoon to explore the area around the visitor center.  We planned on hiking the Boardwalk Loop Trail and some of the Weston Lake Loop Trail.  This is exactly what we did.  Of course, we began by stopping at the visitor center and checking in with the rangers.  They got us our Junior Ranger books, helped us start the activities, and gave us good advice on what to do with our short time in the park.  They also gave us the kids' junior ranger badges ahead of time because they close at 4pm.  So when the kids completed their required activities, we could still give them their badges.  I love it when the rangers understand and support families with this.  The kids absolutely love being able to collect these badges, and the rangers made sure it happened for them!  
The boardwalk trail begins right off the visitor center entrance.  It is a beautifully built elevated boardwalk through the undergrowth forest.  This is such a unique habitat with a wide range of wildlife.  We would never have been able to explore here with young kids if this wasn't constructed.  While we were on the trail, we saw dragonflies, snapping turtles, at least 3 other species of turtles, frogs, wild hogs, gar, and an abundance of birds.  My husband was in his element here!  The only thing we didn't get to see was an alligator, but we had come from Florida, so we could live with that.  
To finish our time in the park, we had a picnic dinner at one of the tables in front of the visitor center.  This area had tree cover and plenty of options for sitting down.  It was a nice way to enjoy a meal and prepare to head back on the road for some more driving to our hotel.  

Future Visit
Firefly Viewing
This is a lottery ticketed event for a couple weeks during late May or early June.  There are 19 species of fireflies and they synchronize their flashing patterns in the Southern Appalachians.  

Where this fit in our Road Trip
​This was the first thing we did after leaving Florida.  We had spent a week in the crowds and chaos that Walt Disney World offers, and couldn't wait to ground ourselves back in nature.  This small and quiet park took us into a habitat that is harder to see.  We were so thankful we had the chance to reset her and walk among the old growth wetlands.  After this, we continued on to the ocean in Virginia.  

Southeast US Road Trip Itinerary

NPS App and All Trails Maps
I highly recommend using the National Park Service (NPS) App, as well as the All Trails App for hiking.  There is limited service in the park, so planning ahead is helpful.  These two apps allow you to download sights, maps, and trails so that you can access information anywhere.  The NPS app also links to the full National Parks Website, with a plethora of information. 

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