Camping in South Carolina: Best Months, Booking and Fire Rules
Across South Carolina's 3 NOAA reference stations, camping weather is mild from March to May and from September to November, with average highs of 66 to 85 F and lows of 43 to 65 F. Nights at or below freezing show up from November to March, most often in January, when they average 13.1 a month. State park sites are booked through South Carolina State Parks reservations, up to thirteen months ahead.
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The best months for camping in South Carolina
By NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals, camping weather in South Carolina is mild March to May and September to November. Pick the station nearest your campground below; high ground runs colder than any station.
- Jan57° / 35°Freezing nights
- Feb61° / 38°Freezing nights
- Mar67° / 44°Freezing nights
- Apr76° / 52°Mild
- May83° / 61°Mild
- Jun89° / 68°Hot
- Jul91° / 72°Hot
- Aug90° / 71°Hot
- Sep85° / 65°Mild
- Oct76° / 54°Mild
- Nov66° / 43°Freezing nights
- Dec59° / 38°Freezing nights
Each month shows the average high and low across the state’s reference stations, in F. Mild means an average high of 60 to 85 F with lows of 40 F or more. Freezing nights means the stations average one or more nights a month at or below 32 F.
Charlestonelevation 40 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 60 F | 39 F | 9.1 |
| February (mild) | 64 F | 42 F | 4.4 |
| March (mild) | 70 F | 47 F | 1.6 |
| April (mild) | 77 F | 55 F | 0 |
| May (mild) | 84 F | 63 F | 0 |
| June | 89 F | 70 F | 0 |
| July | 91 F | 74 F | 0 |
| August | 90 F | 73 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 85 F | 68 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 78 F | 58 F | 0 |
| November (mild) | 69 F | 47 F | 1.3 |
| December (mild) | 63 F | 42 F | 6 |
Columbiaelevation 231 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 57 F | 35 F | 13.9 |
| February | 61 F | 37 F | 9.3 |
| March (mild) | 68 F | 44 F | 4.4 |
| April (mild) | 77 F | 52 F | 0.5 |
| May (mild) | 84 F | 61 F | 0 |
| June | 90 F | 69 F | 0 |
| July | 93 F | 72 F | 0 |
| August | 91 F | 71 F | 0 |
| September | 86 F | 65 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 77 F | 53 F | 0.5 |
| November (mild) | 66 F | 42 F | 6 |
| December | 59 F | 37 F | 11.9 |
Greenvilleelevation 940 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 53 F | 32 F | 16.3 |
| February | 57 F | 35 F | 11.5 |
| March (mild) | 64 F | 41 F | 6 |
| April (mild) | 73 F | 49 F | 0.6 |
| May (mild) | 80 F | 58 F | 0 |
| June | 87 F | 66 F | 0 |
| July | 90 F | 69 F | 0 |
| August | 89 F | 68 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 83 F | 62 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 73 F | 50 F | 0.5 |
| November (mild) | 63 F | 40 F | 5.9 |
| December | 55 F | 35 F | 13.6 |
How to book a state park campsite in South Carolina
South Carolina State Parks (Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism) takes reservations through South Carolina State Parks reservations. The longest advance booking its page states is thirteen months.
How far ahead you can book
Reservations may be made up to 13 months in advance.South Carolina State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Quoted from South Carolina State Parks (Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism) pages read October 18, 2026. Windows and fees change, so confirm on the booking site.
Camping outside a campground in South Carolina
Visitors who wish to camp outside these areas (dispersed camping) may obtain a free permit from the local district offices on the Long Cane, Enoree and Francis Marion districts. No permit is required on the Andrew Pickens district for dispersed camping.USFS, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Campfires when you camp in South Carolina
Campfires in state parks and forests
All fires must be confined to designated grills or areas.South Carolina State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Whether you need a permit
Campfire permits are not required. However, please check with the local district office about fire conditions.USFS, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
What the quote says: no permit is required.
Campfires on national forest and BLM land
Campfire permits are not required. However, please check with the local district office about fire conditions.USFS, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Where fire restrictions are posted
Campfire permits are not required. However, please check with the local district office about fire conditions.USFS, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Current restrictions: South Carolina Forestry Commission.
South Carolina camping questions
Camping in other states
Where this page’s facts come from
- State park, forestry and federal land pages (read October 18, 2026). Booking windows, reservation systems, campfire rules, fire restriction sources and rules for camping outside a campground, each quoted word for word with a link to the page it came from.
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020 (read October 18, 2026). Average monthly high, low and nights at or below 32 F at 150 reference stations, the same stations the heat season and heating season pages use.
- National Weather Service alerts (live, read in your browser when the page loads). Red Flag Warnings, Fire Weather Watches, Fire Warnings, Freeze Warnings and High Wind Warnings, read live from api.weather.gov.
- National Weather Service 7 day forecast (live, read in your browser when the page loads). The weekend forecast for the ZIP code a visitor enters, read live from api.weather.gov.
Climate figures are NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals at 3 reference stations in South Carolina. Rules are quoted from agency pages and can change.