Traveler Overview

4.5 445 reviews

Excellent61%
Very good29%
Average8%
Poor1%
Terrible1%

Travelers talk about

“boardwalk trail”(54 reviews)

“visitor center”(79 reviews)

“old growth”(33 reviews)

About

One of the few remaining old growth floodplains in the country; home to otters, bobcats and wild boar.

Contact

100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC 29061-8320

Website

+1 803-776-4396

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Reviews (445)

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1 - 10 of 434 reviews

SoilDoctor

Clayton, North Carolina

38574

Reviewed 2 weeks ago

Unique

This a very different National Park that is diverse. They have boardwalk trails that are extensive and are easily traversed.

Date of experience: December 2018

Thank SoilDoctor

julie248

New York City, New York

443286

Reviewed December 13, 2018

Boardwalk trail

We visited after a ton of rain had fallen in the week before, in mid-November, and had planned on only doing the boardwalk trail loop. We were surprised to find out on arrival that half of the loop was closed due to flooding, and sure...More

Date of experience: November 2018

1 Thank julie248

Shari E

Mesa, Arizona

43

Reviewed December 11, 2018 via mobile

Nature walk

What a great place to visit & enjoy nature. Nice paths to walk, lots of wildlife & very educational.

Date of experience: December 2018

Thank Shari E

PaulBeve

Ridgeway, South Carolina

16239

Reviewed November 26, 2018

Enjoyable Visit

We went the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It was a cool overcast day and we were hoping to have the park to ourselves, WRONG. However, it was not that crowded and it was actually good to see people out there enjoying the park. Great time of...More

Date of experience: November 2018

1 Thank PaulBeve

LPLoveToTravel

Ocala, Florida

795198

Reviewed November 22, 2018

Unusual National Park

We stopped on the way home. I'm so glad we went in November because it wasn't buggy. I would never visit a swamp in the summer! It's the only National Park we've visited which allowed dogs on the trails...which was great since we had our...More

Date of experience: November 2018

2 Thank LPLoveToTravel

capitollover

Austin, Texas

1014552

Reviewed November 10, 2018

Interesting experience unlike any other U.S. National Park

Although the park is about 18 miles from Columbia, SC, the capital, it seems of another time. These swamps were part of the haunt of Francis Marion, aka "The Swamp Fox" of Revolutionary War fame. I can see why the British could not catch him....More

Date of experience: October 2018

3 Thank capitollover

LadyChal1973

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

6614

Reviewed November 7, 2018 via mobile

Beautiful Old Growth Forest

Beautiful old growth forest, lots of wildlife to view, even from the boardwalk. Also has canoe and kayak water trails for serious nature and water enthusiasts. Peaceful and tranquil. Elevated boardwalk is ADA accessible and takes you down to a nice water overlook. Other trails...More

Date of experience: March 2017

Thank LadyChal1973

CASEY T

COLORADO SPRINGS

5023

Reviewed November 3, 2018

Don’t let its tiny size fool you...

...Congaree is an experience not to be missed. Being from Colorado, I had virtually no swamp or southern old growth experiences. The boardwalk changed all that: loblolly pines, cypress trees including knees, tupelos. So interesting and an important part of the American experience. We brought...More

Date of experience: October 2018

Thank CASEY T

GreggeryPeccary

Bowling Green, Kentucky

236104

Reviewed October 27, 2018

Dogs don't belong on boardwalk trail

Gunshots nearby and dogs on Boardwalk trail doesn't exactly feel like wilderness. You can mostly see cypress and hardwoods along boardwalk w/ hardwood bottomland forest and big trees along Weston Lake trail. Plant community rather uniform w/ limited plant species diversity. At least no bugs...More

Date of experience: October 2018

Thank GreggeryPeccary

Carl S

Anchorage, United States

5014

Reviewed October 7, 2018

Fun boardwalk trail. Very muggy and buggy.

The boardwalk trail is a little over 2 miles, and when we were there, lots of falling leaves on the boardwalk and recent rain made the boardwalk slick so it took us about 1-1/2 hours to complete it. Heard lots of birds, but only spotted...More

Date of experience: October 2018

1 Thank Carl S

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Questions & Answers

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See all 23 questions

GypsyZora

What is the least crowded night of the week to see the fireflies in May/June?

April 2, 2018|

Answer

I would advise you to contact the park headquarters. There is a place on the website to contact the staff. They responded to my questions promptly and efficiently.

RadioJeff

Is it possible to rent canoes or kayaks in the park? If not, are there outfitters near by? How much time should we give ourselves for a trip on the water?

March 26, 2018|

AnswerShow all 4 answers

There are no rentals available in the park, but there are outfitters in Columbia where you can rent the type of watercraft you prefer. They can also offer advice on timing, best places to put in, etc... The full Cedar Creek... More

Cathy G

We are headed to the park today 3/16 and want to canoe Cedar creek to 601. We have heard there are Many portages. Is this true? Has the canoe path been cleared? Is it doable or is it too difficult?

March 16, 2018|

AnswerShow all 4 answers

Just a little more information - we just canoed this last weekend - so our info is up to date. We registered for backcountry the day before we canoed - so we could get on the river earlier - because the park visitor center... More

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Travel Forum Posts

truelw13mak

Hilton Head, South Carolina

Outdoors thing to do (canoeing) between Sav and Charlotte (1 Replies)

Going to Charlotte from Savannah...had the guided canoe tour at Congaree National Park schedule for Friday, but it's been cancelled due to the flooding...I was hoping to do some canoeing on my birthday weekend. Is Cheraw State Park worth the trip (a bit out of our way since Charlotte is where we are headed for the weekend)? I think there's canoeing at Black Mountain State Park near Charlotte, but I was hoping for cypress tress and scenery that's a bit "different".

October 14, 2015|

Response fromKristin S|

There are free places to put in along the Saluda River in Columbia. The water has almost gotten back to normal levels by now. Or if you need to rent Saluda Shoals Park offer rentals.

Places

Adirondack, New York

Congaree National Park (2 Replies)

My husband and I are planning to spend a day hiking in the park before continuing to Charleston in the morning. What lodging convenient to the park would you recommend? We are traveling mid-November. Prefer something quiet, away from crowds, highways, shopping malls, etc., Can be a nice and safe hotel, inn, cabin. No B&B ,please. Thanks, Places

October 23, 2009|

Response fromshanklemsw|

I have stayed (for 6 weeks)at Candlewood Suites near the intersection of I77 and Garner's Ferry Road. It's new, clean, quiet and friendly. If you want something closer to Charleston, there are places all along I26. I can recommend Hampton as a brand, but have not stayed in any on I26. Avoid anything near the intersection of I26 and I95.

Clare C

Copenhagen, Denmark

DC to Great Smokys to Congaree- Itinerary advice please! (4 Replies)

Hi there, At the last minute (unfortunately for planning purposes), an opportunity has come up for my husband and I to have another roadtrip in the States. The timing isn't the best, only three weeks from now and for the first two weeks of July (1st to 14th). We have to be in Miami on July 14th. We love visiting the US national parks, hiking and camping. We have had two wonderful October roadtrips seeing some of the National Parks over in the West States (Arizona, Utah, Colorado, NM)....More

June 10, 2016|

Response frombornwithwheels|

If you don't already have campground reservations for the Smokies you will probably not find anything inside the park. Look at Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Townsend and Wears Valley which are the surrounding areas to the north side of the park with campgrounds. Townsend & Wears Valley will be the more quieter areas. If you have never been to DC, its really great and you will wear yourself out just trying to see lots of things in just 2 days. I recommend the Museum of Natural history (they...More

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