The National Park That Banned RVs For Good

RV camping offers the best of both worlds: You can be immersed in nature while also staying protected indoors when sleeping or relaxing. However, be prepared to ditch your vehicle when camping at the lesser-known Congaree National Park. The park, located near Kingville, South Carolina, has some pretty strict rules when it comes to RVs and trailers.

Specifically, Congaree National Park offers no RV campsites on its grounds, and all camping areas in the park only allow tents and hammocks — no vehicles permitted. You must park your RV in one of the designated parking lots and reach the campgrounds by foot. And if you thought you could cheat by snoozing in your parked RV, think again. Congaree forbids visitors from sleeping overnight in their vehicles.

These guidelines might be frustrating, especially if you're planning an RV trip and don't want to rough it in a tent. But know that they exist for good reason. Congaree National Park is located in a flood-prone area, and high waters can result in stuck vehicles and malfunctioning electricity hookups, among other dangers. Keeping vehicles out of the campsites eliminates these risks, even if it's an inconvenience for visitors.

If you're open to the idea of primitive camping, be sure to check the weather forecast and make sure Congaree National Park isn't flooded before setting up your tent. More importantly, don't forget to reserve your spot ahead of time. The park requires guests to make a reservation in advance for its frontcountry campgrounds, Longleaf Campground and Bluff Campground. For backcountry camping, you must have a valid permit. Permit applications should be submitted at least 72 hours before your planned stay. Note that there's a fee for the frontcountry campgrounds, which varies depending on the campground and type of site you book.

If you prefer to stay comfy in your RV, you can still visit Congaree National Park and head to another campground once you're ready to turn in. Sesquicentennial State Park, located 35 minutes from Congaree National Park, accommodates RVs and offers electricity, water, and sewer hookups, and a dump station. You can also stay at an RV park with incredible amenities. Big Rig Friendly RV Resort is one option (30 minutes away from Congaree) that boasts full hookups, a new pool, pickleball courts, a gym, and other features. The Barnyard RV Park (also 30 minutes away) is another site perfect for RV campers, with its full hookups, bathing and laundry facilities, playgrounds, and additional amenities.