Quick review of the campgrounds we stayed at while traveling

[loislane]

On the way down to Disney, we stayed at Santee Lakes Campground in Summerton, S.C. We arrived after the office closed, and as promised, they left a map showing our site on the office door for us. There were no major issues here, but the place had a very desolate and deserted feel to it. My kids said it was creepy. Most sites were empty and the ones that had rigs on them were more permanently set up. Our site was nowhere close to level, so we had to go up on blocks - always fun in the dark. An employee checked on us as we were setting up to see if we wanted to pay then (at 9:30 p.m. while setting up our popup in the dark - was not well-lit there) or in the morning. We opted for the morning. The bathrooms were serviceable and not the dirtiest ones I've ever seen, but they weren't clean either. We were hooked up and ready to leave when the office was supposed to open the next morning, but had to wait about 15 minutes for an employee to actually show up and open the office. Not sure why, but she knocked $5 off the price we were quoted, so we camped there for $30.

On the way home, after our long and adventurous day, we stayed at Rvacation in Selma, N.C. Again, it was late and our site map was on the door. We pulled into a blessedly level site and got set up quickly. It was dark, but we could see that our site faced out onto a pretty pond. In fact, if you drive by there, you can see it because the campground is right off of 95. I was worried the traffic sounds would be bad, but I guess after all those nights sleeping through the late night and early morning Disney buses, I was used to it. There were, however, several trains that came through nearby that woke me up briefly. The bathrooms there were clean and nice and our kids loved the pond with all of its resident ducks. The office was open right on time in the morning when we left and with our Good Sam discount, we paid $24 to camp there for the night.

 

[2goofycampers]

This review will come in handy for the 95ers.

 

[Disney Fan Katt]

Thanks for posting the reviews. We are always looking for places to stay overnight on our drives.

 

[sandieb]

What a good idea, thanks! I'll add 2 more:
1. Colleton State Park, Walterboro, SC - Right off I-95 - This was a quiet park on the Edisto River. There were canoes nearby to rent. The sites were pull through (hooray) and level. There was water and electric available. The bathhouses were clean. The employees were very welcoming. A great overnight campground.
2. Anastasia State Park, St Augustine, Florida - A bit of a detour off I-95. We stayed here 3 nights and never unhooked. The park is clean, sites have privacy, and there were electric and water hookups. Bathhouses were so-so. It was an easy walk to the beach - an absolutely stunning beach. There was a gift shop and snack bar. We had a great time swimming and enjoying this lovely beach before our trip to Disney.

 

[sbnewhampshire1]

Did you have to make reservations at the state parks first or could you just pull in and get one!

 

[KristinU]

Thanks for teh reviews!

What a good idea, thanks! I'll add 2 more:
1. Colleton State Park, Walterboro, SC - Right off I-95 - This was a quiet park on the Edisto River. There were canoes nearby to rent. The sites were pull through (hooray) and level. There was water and electric available. The bathhouses were clean. The employees were very welcoming. A great overnight campground.

Just make sure you get to Colleton before it closes. They have a gate that gets closed in the evening and you can't get in. At least this was the case about 4-5 years ago. Extreme luck and very sweet southern hospitality got us in via a very kind regular there that happened to be returning to his site when we were at the gate (there is a residence there but they weren't answering.) This was probably 7:30 -8:00 pm, so not middle of the night or anything. Anyway, he even escorted us to our site, such a nice guy. Very pretty little park and nice clean bathhouses. It was nice to wake up under that canopy of spanish moss in the trees...but without being guaranteed that we can get in if it is late, we won't stay there for an overnight again.

We now just mostly stay at KOAs when en route anywhere - pretty much know what we're getting and know we can get in after the office closes. Not always cheap, though.

But I do have one non-KOA to add for 95-ers: RV Resort at Carolina Crossroads. A fairly new little park with new and very clean facilities. They have an overnight pull-in rate (no reservations), with some sites designated for that purpose. I think it was cash only for this rate, just put your payment in a little envelope Nice and level sites and just far enough off of 95 to avoid noise. http://033b649.netsolhost.com/

 

[jbrostek]

I have to agree with you on Santee Lake Campground. We stayed there a few times heading north and getting level was always a chore, even more for a larger rig.

Last year we decided for an overnight (and as long as we can make it that far) its just as easy and cheap to stay at the South of the Boarder campground. It was 25 bucks for us full hookup, far enough away from the highway that you did not hear 95, and the sites where level and pull through. It cut another hour or so off our drive the next day to VA so we felt it was worth it.

Heading south we always seem to stay at Point South KOA. Not the greatest, not the worst. Lots of trees, but the staff are more then willing to help guide you to and into your site. And at just over 6 hours to disney and about 10 hours south of our starting point, it seems like a good stopping point for the night.

 

[Disneefun]

We really like Inland Harbor in Darien, GA. No amenities like a pool if you have kids, but clean, paved, fairly level sites. $30/night, and they only take cash, no credit cards. The owners are nice people, too.

 

[CDNCruiser]

Heading south we always seem to stay at Point South KOA. Not the greatest, not the worst. Lots of trees, but the staff are more then willing to help guide you to and into your site. And at just over 6 hours to disney and about 10 hours south of our starting point, it seems like a good stopping point for the night.

We tried Point South KOA several times, then we discovered New Green Acres only 20 miles north at exit 53. A great campground with long pull-through sites under tall pine trees. It's just off I-95, easy in and out with plenty of restaurants in the area.

We'll never stay at Point South again!

 

[jbrostek]

We stayed there once because Point South was out of sites that could handle all of our rigs (mainly me due to the 18' trailer loaded with 2 golf carts.) We got there and the staff was friendly, we asked who delivered and the option was dominos pizza. We called them and they told us delivery in an hour, it was already 8pm. Otherwise, we would have to disconnect and drive down to get food. Something we where not interested in doing after being on the road since 8am.

At least a point south they have pizza, and while not the greatest was at least better then dominos. And by the time the 3 families got into spots, and setup for the night the food was delivered. So for us it a point of convienience for an overnight stop on our main driving day.

 

[North of Mouse]

On the way down to Disney, we stayed at Santee Lakes Campground in Summerton, S.C. We arrived after the office closed, and as promised, they left a map showing our site on the office door for us. There were no major issues here, but the place had a very desolate and deserted feel to it. My kids said it was creepy. Most sites were empty and the ones that had rigs on them were more permanently set up. Our site was nowhere close to level, so we had to go up on blocks - always fun in the dark. An employee checked on us as we were setting up to see if we wanted to pay then (at 9:30 p.m. while setting up our popup in the dark - was not well-lit there) or in the morning. We opted for the morning. The bathrooms were serviceable and not the dirtiest ones I've ever seen, but they weren't clean either. We were hooked up and ready to leave when the office was supposed to open the next morning, but had to wait about 15 minutes for an employee to actually show up and open the office. Not sure why, but she knocked $5 off the price we were quoted, so we camped there for $30.

On the way home, after our long and adventurous day, we stayed at Rvacation in Selma, N.C. Again, it was late and our site map was on the door. We pulled into a blessedly level site and got set up quickly. It was dark, but we could see that our site faced out onto a pretty pond. In fact, if you drive by there, you can see it because the campground is right off of 95. I was worried the traffic sounds would be bad, but I guess after all those nights sleeping through the late night and early morning Disney buses, I was used to it. There were, however, several trains that came through nearby that woke me up briefly. The bathrooms there were clean and nice and our kids loved the pond with all of its resident ducks. The office was open right on time in the morning when we left and with our Good Sam discount, we paid $24 to camp there for the night.

Santee Lake State Park campground is a 'dump' - there I've said it! It is nothing more than a local's fishing camp

We've stayed there a few times when we were desperate, but the sites (as you noted) are dirt and not level at all and the road (if you can call it that in the cc) is full of pot holes with mud (if it rains). They charge an arm and leg for it also - told my hubby never again - I, too, find it creepy!

 

[loislane]

Santee Lake State Park campground is a 'dump' - there I've said it! It is nothing more than a local's fishing camp

We've stayed there a few times when we were desperate, but the sites (as you noted) are dirt and not level at all and the road (if you can call it that in the cc) is full of pot holes with mud (if it rains). They charge an arm and leg for it also - told my hubby never again - I, too, find it creepy!

We've already said we wouldn't stay there again. It was also very buggy - LOTS of mosquitoes and ants!

 

[jbrostek]

My recommendation is if you can handle another hour on the road heading southbound the next best stop is New Green Acres at exit 53. I think getting down to exit 33 for Point South KOA would be a streach for you if Santee was as far as you could make it.

 

[Ds4angels]

Thanks for the reviews.Especially the one for South of the Border. That's our 1/2 way mark, so dh was thinking that would be a good place to stop, but wasn't sure how the campground was.

 

[jbrostek]

We stopped there Jan 2013 heading northbound instead of Santee Lake. It was worth the extra travel time, but we almost missed the office. What we liked was it was gated access, and again cheap and perfect for an overnight stop.