The RV Campground at Hickory Knob State Resort Park, SC

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The RV campground usually is the first thing I mention during CarolinaConsidered State Parks visits. Hickory Knob, though, turned out to be special. There’s so much to see and do here that the order of presentation got jumbled.

The atmosphere or environment of the campground at Hickory Knob is much like that of the Beaver Run Trail. Carefully maintained nature. This is no antiseptic, clean-swept sort of place, so typical of commercial campgrounds. As you can see in the photo above, RV campers here will have a sense of being out in the woods.

Each campsite has water and electricity. Best of all, many of them are wide and spacious. Plenty of room even for one of those huge Class A motorhomes. Leaves blanket each of the sites. No intensive electric blower program here. But. looking around, I didn’t see a single piece of trash. Camp Host Bruce Duffield sees to that, as well as maintaining all of the other campground equipment. Be sure to stop to say Hello to Bruce when you visit.

There were only a few other campers when I visited Hickory Knob. So only one bath house was open. It had been carefully winterized, and was well heated. The facilities all were spotless. A pleasure to take a shower here, even early on a chilly morning.

That portion of the campground with the most lake view campsites, described on the map as the “Main Loop,” was closed for the winter when I arrived. But I walked in to have a look around anyway. A few of those Main Loop campsites look as if they would be a challenge for anyone with a large motorhome.

But most are like the site you see in the photo above. Many of the sites in this loop include easy access to the lake shore for fishing and boating, and have great views of the lake. I may try one of them on my next visit.

So, there you have it. The RV campground at Hickory Knob State Resort Park. A great experience for those of us who like to get out in the woods. Not to be confused with the more sterile environments found at many commercial campgrounds. No paved sites; no big rubber jumping cushions; no cotton candy stands. Just a great opportunity to enjoy the forest environment of this part of South Carolina.

Now, if this genuinely natural environment isn’t quite your cup of tea, or if your party includes one or more Campophobes, then give the Hickory Knob Resort Lodge a try. There you’ll find all of the amenities, and at a surprisingly low price. Hickory Knob really has something for everyone. I’m headed back as soon as I can.