Facilities
The picnic shelter offers picnic tables and two large barbeque grills, as well as trash and recycling cans.
Recreation.govSC
Congaree Picnic Shelter
Congaree National Park
Upcoming Availability
13 of 14 days currently show available sites.
Sun, Jul 26
None
available
Mon, Jul 27
2
sites
Tue, Jul 28
2
sites
Wed, Jul 29
2
sites
Thu, Jul 30
2
sites
Fri, Jul 31
2
sites
Sat, Aug 1
2
sites
Sun, Aug 2
2
sites
Mon, Aug 3
2
sites
Tue, Aug 4
2
sites
Wed, Aug 5
2
sites
Thu, Aug 6
2
sites
Fri, Aug 7
2
sites
Sat, Aug 8
2
sites
Campground guide
What to know before booking
The Congaree Picnic Shelter is located a short distance from the Harry Hampton Visitor Center and is adjacent to the park's primary parking area. The picnic shelter offers picnic tables and two large barbeque grills, as well as trash and recycling cans. The picnic shelter is located in an upland pine forest.
Official campground details, summarized
Concise planning notes based on the public Recreation.gov campground information.
Natural Features
The picnic shelter is located in an upland pine forest. The shelter is a short walk away from the Boardwalk Trail, which takes visitors into the old-growth floodplain forest that Congaree is most notable for, as well as access to other trails that take visitors into the park's backcountry where they can see champion-sized trees and wildlife. The shelter is also close to trails that take visitors through the upland pine forest where they can see how fire is a natural part of the ecosystem and is used to maintain and restore this fire-dependent habitat.
Recreation
Congaree National Park offers a wide range of opportunities to explore and experience the great outdoors. Many miles of hiking trails can be found in the park ranging from easy to moderately strenuous. Old growth forests, teeming with wildlife can be accessed by park trails or by exploring the many miles of waterways in a canoe or kayak. Interpretive programs including guided hikes, canoe tours and special ranger-led programs are offered throughout the year.
Nearby Attractions
Congaree National Park is located near many attractions including state parks, forests and parks. The city of Columbia is a short drive from the park and offers access to many attractions including museums, city parks and shopping.
Important notices
The Congaree Picnic Shelter is available to rent from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM daily. Note, if you would like to rent the picnic shelter for the entire day (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM), then you will need to make two reservations (one for each time slot). When not reserved, the picnic shelter may be used on a first-come-first-serve basis.
More at Congaree National Park
Other tracked campgrounds from the same park or area.
Active
Tracked page
16 sites open
Scanned 2h ago
Official link
Booking
Active
Tracked page
6 sites open
Scanned 2h ago
Official link
Booking
Surrounding campgrounds
Other tracked campgrounds within driving distance, nearest first.
Longleaf Campground
Congaree National Park
Bluff Hike In Camping
Congaree National Park
Rocky Branch Seasonal Campground (Sc)
Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests
Collins Creek Seasonal Campground (Sc)
Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests
Brick House Campground (Sc)
Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests
Woods Ferry Campground (Sc)
Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests
Common questions
Is Congaree Picnic Shelter available right now?
Kestrel's most recent scan found openings on 13 of the next 14 days, starting Mon, Jul 27. Availability changes constantly — check the calendar above, then confirm on Recreation.gov.
How do I book Congaree Picnic Shelter?
Reservations are handled by Recreation.gov, not by Kestrel. Use the official reservation link on this page to book. Kestrel only watches availability and tells you when a site frees up.
How quickly will I hear about a cancellation?
Kestrel rescans every two minutes, and every 30 seconds during the provider's daily release window. Alerts go out by email as soon as a matching site appears.