Santee

PARK NEWS

Campers, please be advised: If you have a camping reservation, you do not need to check-in at the office. You may go directly to your campsite. Our park rangers or campground host will come by during patrols and check you in at that time. Thanks for your assistance.

There is an electric vehicle charging station for use by visitors at the park.

Discover the ease of self-serve kayak rentals at Santee State Park brought to you by Whenever Watersports. Located right by the water at Lake Thurmond, a fully automated rental kiosk makes it simple for both locals and visitors to get out on the lake with just a few taps on your smartphone. Learn more here!

We Do Treats and More has partnered with Santee State Park to provide frozen treats to park visitors! Be on the lookout for them in the campground and Day-use areas on weekends!

HOURS

6 a.m. - dark, daily, year-round

OFFICE

8 a.m. - 5 p.m., daily (Hours may extend during peak season)

ADMISSION

$3 adults; $1.50 SC seniors; $1 children age 6-15; age 5 & younger free

All guests not staying overnight are required to pay admission. Visitors may pay admission at the park office, park store or any one of the three green iron ranger boxes located throughout the park.

PETS

Pets are allowed in cabins 11 and 12 and cabins 13-20 at Santee State Park. Pets are not allowed in any other cabins or the cabin areas. Pets are allowed in most other outdoor areas provided they are kept under physical restraint or on a leash not longer than six feet. Owners will be asked to remove noisy or dangerous pets or pets that threaten or harass wildlife.

Wifi Available

EV Charging Station

GET SOME GEAR!

Santee State Park

Midlands

Jason Robinett

Park Manager

Hello. My name is Jason Robinett, and I am the park manager at Santee State Park. There was no single moment that helped me decide I wanted to be a park ranger. It built slowly. Mornings in fog. Wind through pines. The quiet that sees you before you are ready. I stopped walking through the park and started listening. I did not want to just visit anymore. I wanted to protect it. I wanted others to feel what I felt, and that inspired me to pursue this career.

My favorite place at Santee State Park is a place by the lake that catches first light. No motors. No voices. Just still water and soft color through the trees. It is earned by showing up early. That view does not impress. It invites. It reminds me that the most sacred places ask nothing from you. They just wait.

As far as what a first-time visitor should experience at Santee State Park --slow down. This place was not built for checklists. Let your shoulders drop. Walk a trail without rushing. Sit by the lake even if nothing is happening. The quiet here is alive! If you wait long enough for your mind to settle the park will speak. And you will be glad you listened.

**Our Ultimate Outsider stamp is located just outside the Visitor Center to the left of the door.

Located in South Carolina’s well-known Santee Cooper Country, Santee State Park sits along Lake Marion. South Carolina locals know the lake for its abundant population of large catfish. Santee State Park camping is offered on the lake, but for guests who prefer to spend the night indoors, rondette cabins, 10 of which sit on piers over the lake, are available and have been attracting families for years.

Other amenities and activities found in the park include the Village Round, a community meeting building with a large, screened-in grilling facility, biking and hiking trails and pontoon boat tours of the flooded cypress forest on Lake Marion. South Carolina natives and out-of-towners alike can find something fun to do in Santee State Park-camping, fishing, boating and a whole lot more. Start planning your trip now!

Find more great opportunities to catch South Carolina catfish at Colleton State Park and find more state park cabin rental locations.

BY THE NUMBERS

2 campgrounds

1 Village Round that accommodates up to 75 people, perfect for family reunions, meetings and more

158 standard campsites for RV or tent camping, 48 of which have 50 amp service

2 boat ramps that provide access to 110,000-acre Lake Marion, the largest lake in South Carolina

1 awesome park store with a wi-fi lounge so you can be online and experience nature all at once

10+ miles of trails for hiking and biking

6 picnic shelters available for picnics and group gatherings

30 modern cabins- 10 located on a pier over Lake Marion and 20 on the lakeshore

2500 acres in the heart of Santee Cooper Country

Golf Cart Policy

Important Info

At Santee State Park

Big Daddy

Fishing Event

At Santee State Park

Pet Friendly

Lodging

At Santee State Park

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