Congaree National Park

Year Established: 2003
Annual Visitors: 215,000
Size: 26,476 Acres
State: South Carolina

Best Time to Visit Congaree National Park

March-June, October-November

If you are planning to visit more national parks, check out our complete list of all US National Parks.

Best Experiences in Congaree National Park

  • The Boardwalk Trails
  • General Greene Tree

A Brief History

This federally protected wilderness is named after the native tribe that used to live there. It has the largest old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the United States. The dense, wild forest in the park is full of tall trees like bald cypress, American elm, cherry bark oak, and swamp chestnut, some of which reach more than 130 feet into the sky.

Yellow butterweed grows all over the ground, and gray Spanish moss droops down from the trees like a beard. Bobcats and wild pigs hunt for food in this often-creepy landscape. Red-tailed hawks, barred owls, and red-bellied woodpeckers live in the swamps, lakes, and creeks. Alligators, gar, catfish, and water snakes swim in the murky water.

Congaree RV Camping

If you are looking for nearby RV camping options for Congaree National Park or in South Carolina, consider checking out our other post:

Visitor Information

Fees

No entrance fees

America The Beautiful Annual Park Pass

You can also get an annual park pass to ALL National Parks in the United States for $80.
Keep in mind they have Senior, Military, and other discounts available!

Contacting Congaree National Park

Phone Number

(803) 776-4396

Visitor Centers

Harry Hampton Visitor Center

The ranger staff is great and willing to answer any questions you may have. They have the usual National Park Service maps as well as maps that are just for the trail system. There are bathrooms, and I would recommend using them because the only other bathrooms are in the campground area. The gift shop isn’t very big, but it has a few nice things.

Address

100 National Park Rd,
Hopkins, SC 29061

Hours of Operation

  • Sunday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
  • Monday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
  • Tuesday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
  • Wednesday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
  • Thursday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
  • Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
  • Saturday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM