
South Carolina Survival Preppers: The Best Campsites for Bugging Out and Self-Sufficiency
Living in South Carolina, as a survival prepper, means preparing for anything from hurricanes to social unrest. But one of the most overlooked aspects of prepping is finding the right camping spots—places where you can escape to, practice wilderness survival skills, or just retreat when the world gets a little too chaotic. For preppers like us, finding a campsite isn’t just about a relaxing weekend in nature; it’s about preparing for the worst-case scenario. Whether it’s practicing self-sufficiency, learning how to forage, or simply building a shelter, South Carolina offers an abundance of spots perfect for prepping.
Here are 30 of the best survival-ready camping sites in South Carolina that are perfect for preppers. These spots not only provide a great wilderness experience but also the opportunity to hone your skills, test your gear, and ensure that you’re ready for whatever comes your way.
1. Table Rock State Park
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Table Rock is one of the state’s most rugged and remote campsites. This spot is ideal for practicing long-term survival skills due to its challenging terrain. With its numerous trails, creeks, and a large lake, this place offers everything a prepper needs to stay connected to nature while testing your skills.
2. Lake Hartwell State Park
This large park offers plenty of land for exploration and shelter-building exercises. The nearby lake also provides opportunities for fishing and learning water survival techniques. There are remote camping sites where you can set up your base and practice different survival skills.
3. Francis Marion National Forest
A massive stretch of forest, this area provides an excellent location for preppers looking to practice navigation, hunting, and foraging. The remote campsites are perfect for testing your ability to live off the land for extended periods.
4. Congaree National Park
With its unique floodplain forest ecosystem, Congaree National Park is an excellent place for practicing waterborne survival skills. The swampy terrain also makes it a good place to simulate difficult survival situations. You’ll want to make sure you bring insect repellent though—this area is rich in mosquitoes!
5. Chester State Park
Located in the Piedmont region, Chester State Park provides an easily accessible, yet secluded, camping experience. It’s perfect for testing out your bug-out gear and practicing low-key survival techniques without going too far from civilization.
6. Huntington Beach State Park
Huntington Beach is ideal for coastal preppers. Not only can you practice skills related to saltwater fishing, but you can also test your ability to survive in a coastal environment. The campground is known for being quiet, giving you ample time for solo practice.
7. Sumter National Forest
Sumter National Forest spans over 370,000 acres, providing vast wilderness areas to explore. Whether you’re interested in primitive camping or practicing fire-starting techniques, this place offers plenty of space to learn and perfect essential survival skills.
8. Devils Fork State Park
For preppers who are comfortable with steep terrain and remote settings, Devils Fork is an excellent place to sharpen your survival instincts. The park also offers lakefront camping, ideal for testing water purification and fishing skills.
9. Edisto Beach State Park
Edisto Beach is another excellent spot for coastal survivalists. While it’s relatively easy to access, the beach’s wilderness area offers a great place to practice shelter-building, foraging, and water collection techniques.
10. Aiken State Park
This park is home to dense forests and a variety of wildlife. For preppers who enjoy hunting or tracking, this park is perfect for sharpening those skills. There’s also an area for primitive camping, allowing you to test your ability to survive without modern amenities.
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11. Oconee State Park
If you’re looking for rugged terrain and a place to build shelters in a forest environment, Oconee State Park is the perfect spot. The park’s remote feel provides a great opportunity to practice bug-out scenarios and create a long-term camp.
12. Lynch’s Woods County Park
A hidden gem in the Midlands, Lynch’s Woods offers excellent, isolated spots to practice bushcraft and survival skills. It’s a great place to disappear into nature for a while and learn how to live off the land.
13. Kings Mountain National Military Park
While known for its historical significance, Kings Mountain also offers great backwoods camping. If you’re into stealth camping or testing your ability to remain unseen in the wilderness, this park provides the perfect backdrop.
14. Myrtle Beach State Park
Don’t let the popularity of this park fool you. Myrtle Beach has plenty of secluded areas where you can practice coastal survival. Learn how to adapt to the beach environment and test your fishing skills.
15. Lake Murray State Park
Lake Murray is perfect for a long weekend of fishing, kayaking, and camping. For preppers who want to practice in a semi-remote setting but still want easy access to supplies, Lake Murray offers the best of both worlds.
16. Poinsett State Park
Poinsett is well-known for its rich history, but it’s also a great spot for primitive camping. The park’s unique topography makes it an ideal place to practice setting up shelters in various environments.
17. Santee State Park
This park, located along the shores of Lake Marion, is perfect for preppers who want to focus on water-based survival skills. It’s also an excellent location for practicing emergency water purification techniques and fishing.
18. Sand Hills State Forest
This spot is ideal for practicing survival techniques like fire-starting, foraging, and shelter-building. The area’s relatively untouched landscape is great for testing your wilderness endurance.
19. Barnwell State Park
Barnwell offers secluded camping and is perfect for preppers who want to practice bug-out drills in a forested environment. The peaceful surroundings make it an excellent place to disconnect and test your survival abilities.
20. Devil’s Backbone Nature Trail
If you’re looking for a trail that tests your ability to navigate, this 5.5-mile path is an excellent choice. Along with its hiking opportunities, it’s a great place to practice wilderness navigation and build temporary shelters.
21. Lake Jocassee
Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lake Jocassee is perfect for preppers who need to practice water survival. Kayaking, fishing, and foraging for food are just some of the activities you can focus on while honing your survival skills.
22. Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge
This wildlife refuge is a great place for preppers to practice tracking, hunting, and building shelters. The diverse habitats within the refuge will keep you on your toes and teach you to adapt to various environments.
23. Lake Wylie
For those looking to practice long-term survival in a water-rich environment, Lake Wylie is the spot. Its peaceful surroundings are perfect for honing skills like water collection and purification.
24. Givhans Ferry State Park
This park, located along the Edisto River, provides a perfect environment for practicing water purification, kayaking, and shelter-building. The remote nature of the park allows you to feel truly isolated.
25. Cherokee Foothills Scenic Byway
For preppers interested in a more off-grid experience, Cherokee Foothills offers beautiful, rugged terrain ideal for survivalists. The varied landscape provides everything from streams to woodlands to practice different survival techniques.
26. Lake Keowee
Known for its stunning beauty, Lake Keowee offers many camping sites along its shoreline. It’s an excellent spot for learning freshwater fishing techniques, and the surrounding forest makes it perfect for shelter-building.
27. Congaree Swamp
For more experienced preppers, the Congaree Swamp is ideal for testing your ability to survive in wetland environments. This challenging terrain provides plenty of opportunity for practicing foraging, building shelters, and finding food.
28. Hickory Knob State Resort Park
If you want to test your skills in a less populated area, Hickory Knob State Resort Park is the perfect place to go. With its secluded spots and wooded areas, it’s ideal for practicing a variety of skills like fire-starting, shelter-building, and water purification.
29. Sesquicentennial State Park
Located near Columbia, Sesquicentennial offers secluded spots for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. It’s a great place to practice tracking, shelter-building, and living off the land.
30. Rocky Bottom

For more experienced survivalists, Rocky Bottom is a remote, isolated spot perfect for long-term survival practice. It’s ideal for testing shelter-building techniques, water purification, and stealth camping.

















