Lakeside Serenity: Santee State Park Campground - A Perfect Two-Night Adventure

Location: Santee, South Carolina

Cost: $32 per night

Hookups: Water & Electric (Dump station at exit)

Amenities: Marina, Hiking/Biking Trails, Playground, Lake Access

Reservations: https://southcarolinaparks.com/santee/camping

Our Experience

As the second official stop on our 2025 "Travel Well, Live Well" East Coast RV adventure, Santee State Park Campground delivered two perfect nights of lakeside relaxation and outdoor activities. Located in Santee, South Carolina, this hidden gem sits several miles off the freeway, nestled along the shores of Lake Marion—South Carolina's largest lake.

The moment we pulled into our site #45, we were greeted by a stunning lake view framed by majestic shade trees. This perfect balance of shade and scenery exemplifies what we love most about state park camping—the authentic outdoor experience with just enough amenities for comfort.

The Site & Amenities

Our lakefront site offered water and electric hookups, with a convenient dump station located right at the park exit—perfect for our two-night stay. The spacious site provided plenty of room for our RV setup and allowed us to fully deploy our cats' tunnel system, much to the delight of Twix, Bandit, and Thumper!

While our Starlink struggled again due to the tree coverage (a recurring theme on this trip!), we prioritized the gorgeous lake views over connectivity. For those needing reliable satellite internet, the more central sites would likely offer clearer sky access.

The park itself is a boater's paradise with a boat ramp and small marina. We observed many visitors swimming, though we opted to admire Lake Marion from shore after learning it's considered the most "alligator-infested lake" in South Carolina!

Adventure Opportunities

What truly made Santee State Park exceptional was the abundance of activities right from our doorstep:

E-Biking: The park features approximately 8 miles of trails that permit e-bikes—perfect for an evening ride after the day cooled down. We simply unloaded our bikes and hit the trails directly from our campsite!

Wildlife Viewing: Just 30 minutes away, the Santee National Wildlife Refuge provided an excellent morning excursion. We arrived early to maximize wildlife sightings along the 7.5-mile Wildlife Drive.

Golf: To complete our stay, we enjoyed a convenient round at Santee National Golf Club, located right at the end of the park road—the perfect trifecta of our favorite activities!

Final Thoughts

Santee State Park Campground exemplifies what we seek in our RV adventures—natural beauty, recreational variety, and peaceful surroundings. While it might be a bit too far off the interstate for a simple overnight stop, it's an ideal destination for multi-day exploration.

The combination of lakeside tranquility and diverse activities made our two-night stay fly by. We found ourselves wishing we had planned for at least one more day to fully enjoy everything this park has to offer.

Ratings

Value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Location: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Amenities: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overall Experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cat-Friendly Factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Have you visited Santee State Park or explored South Carolina's lake country? Share your experience in the comments or tag us in your adventures! #TravelWellLive #RVLife #SanteeStatePark