Below Dam South Carolina
Campground · South Carolina · 7 bookable sites ·
Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers
J. Strom Thurmond Recreation Area (Recreation Area) · Open Access
- 7
- Bookable sites
- up to 50
- People per site
- 351 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Below Dam South Carolina Recreation Area is a popular park just below J. Strom Thurmond Lake Dam along the Savannah River. The park is located on Power Plant Road just off South Carolina State Highway 221 near the Visitor Center. The Savannah River offers excellent fishing and boating opportunities.Recreation
The 70,000 acre Thurmond Lake provides some of the best fishing, hunting, and water sports in the southeastern United States. Anglers fish for largemouth bass, bream, crappie, catfish and striped bass. The large lake offers endless boating, water skiing, jet skiing, canoeing and swimming opportunities.Facilities
Below Dam South Carolina Recreation Area is a wooded day-use area with several group picnic shelters. One shelter has electrical hookups.Other amenities include flush toilets, drinking water, a boat ramp, fishing pier, hiking trail and playground. There is no swimming at this park.
Natural Features
Hot, humid summers and mild, pleasant winters characterize this heavily wooded area on the shore of Thurmond Lake. A mixed pine and hardwood forest covers the site, providing summer shade and fall color. Elevation is 235' above sea level.Wildlife is abundant around the lake. Visitors regularly see southern bald eagles, osprey, migratory waterfowl, wild turkeys and whitetail deer.
Nearby Attractions
Numerous parks and recreation areas lie around Thurmond Lake, providing additional boating, swimming, hunting and hiking opportunities. Nearby cities house museums, art galleries, zoos, restaurants and shopping areas.The Augusta National Golf Club hosts the Masters Golf Tournament annually the first week of April.
The facts
- 7 bookable sites
- 7 sites for day use only
- Up to 50 people per site
- Loops: GROUP SITES
Site types
- 6 Group Shelter Nonelectric
- 1 Group Shelter Electric
Amenities
- Electric hookups
- Water hookups
- Shade
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: sewer hookups, campfires allowed, fire pits, picnic tables, grills.
7 campsites at Below Dam South Carolina
Check-in 8:00 AM · Check-out 8:30 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | GROUP SITES | Group Shelter Nonelectric | — | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 02 | GROUP SITES | Group Shelter Nonelectric | — | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 03 | GROUP SITES | Group Shelter Nonelectric | — | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 04 | GROUP SITES | Group Shelter Nonelectric | — | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 05 | GROUP SITES | Group Shelter Nonelectric | — | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 06 | GROUP SITES | Group Shelter Nonelectric | — | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 1 | GROUP SITES | Group Shelter Electric | — | Paved | — | 50 | 🐾 |
Getting there
The day use area is located just outside Clarks Hill, SC, west off US 221, just below the dam
33.65833, -82.20917 · 33°39'30.0"N 82°12'33.0"W
Typical weather
Typically 92°F in Jul, down to 55°F in Jan.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 55 | 59 | 67 | 76 | 83 | 89 | 92 | 91 | 86 | 76 | 66 | 58 |
| Low °F | 36 | 38 | 44 | 51 | 60 | 68 | 72 | 71 | 65 | 55 | 44 | 38 |
| Precip in | 4.0 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 4.2 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 1.2 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Below Dam South Carolina
- Can you reserve a site at Below Dam South Carolina?
- Yes, Below Dam South Carolina is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Below Dam South Carolina have?
- 7 sites.
- Are pets allowed at Below Dam South Carolina?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Below Dam South Carolina.
- Does Below Dam South Carolina have hookups?
- Electric, Water.
Camping near Below Dam South Carolina
- West Dam 0.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Lake Springs 1.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Clarks Hill 1.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Petersburg 3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Ridge Road 3.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Modoc 4.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Parksville 9.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Winfield 12.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Hawe Creek 14.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Amity Recreation Area 15.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Lick Fork Lake 10.8 mi · Facility
- Lick Fork Lake Recreation Area Day Use 11.1 mi · Activity pass
Contact
- Phone 800-533-3478
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
Comments