Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park is located smack-dab in the middle of South Carolina. It was established in 2003 and is the only national park in the state. The park features the largest intact tract of old-growth river swamp hardwood forest remaining in the US. It is located in South Carolina and is one of the least-visited national parks in the country.
Congaree National Park is also an important cultural resource to the area, and it’s native people. It was once home to the Congaree, a Native American tribe. Today, the park provides opportunities for visitors to learn about the area’s cultural heritage through interpretive programs and special events.
VISIT Congaree National Park:
Park Details
Congaree National Park was established on October 18, 1976, and has a total area of 26,276 acres (41 square miles, or 106 square kilometers).
| Address | 100 National Park Road, Hopkins, SC, 29061 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 803-776-4396 |
| Hours | Open 24 hours a day year-round |
| Entrance Fee | Free |
| Learn More | Official Website |
When to Visit: Weather vs. Peak Visitation
Congaree National Park is the 187th most visited park in the country.
Congaree National Park is in a humid subtropical climate, and experiences hot summers and mild winters.
In the summer months of June through August, temperatures typically range from the mid-80s to low 90s Fahrenheit during the day, with high humidity levels. Summer is also the wettest season, with frequent thunderstorms and occasional hurricanes possible.
In the fall months of September through November, temperatures typically cool down to the mid-60s to low 70s Fahrenheit during the day, with lower humidity levels and less precipitation.
In the winter months of December through February, temperatures typically range from the mid-40s to mid-50s Fahrenheit during the day, with occasional cold snaps and light precipitation. This is a quiet and peaceful time in the park, with fewer visitors.
In the spring months of March through May, temperatures warm up again, typically ranging from the mid-60s to mid-70s Fahrenheit during the day, with increasing humidity levels and occasional showers. This is a popular time for visitors to witness the blooming of wildflowers and the return of migratory birds.
Using Historical Data to Predict
We crunched 30 years of historical weather and/or park service data to find the best months to visit Congaree National Park. We looked for the optimal temperatures, the least amount of snow and rain, and stayed away from peak visitation months if we could help it. All this data then helped us paint a picture as to what the absolute best time to visit Congaree National Park is.
Our data shows the best months to visit Congaree National Park are November, April, May & October.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park Visits | 14,159 | 14,064 | 22,219 | 20,036 | 24,978 | 18,298 | 16,936 | 12,334 | 17,309 | 19,682 | 17,860 | 17,306 |
| Precipitation | 86 | 84 | 87 | 57 | 56 | 64 | 71 | 75 | 62 | 58 | 55 | 73 |
| Avg Temp | 57 | 60 | 67 | 74 | 81 | 87 | 89 | 88 | 83 | 75 | 67 | 59 |
| Max Temp | 73 | 75 | 80 | 86 | 91 | 96 | 98 | 97 | 92 | 86 | 79 | 74 |
| Avg Temp | 39 | 41 | 46 | 52 | 61 | 68 | 72 | 71 | 65 | 56 | 47 | 41 |
| Min Temp | 24 | 26 | 29 | 35 | 47 | 58 | 65 | 62 | 52 | 38 | 30 | 27 |
Congaree National Park Road Trips
Many family vacations consist of stringing one or more national parks together during a week-long trip. Creating these types of trips is our specialty! Here are the road trips we've created where Congaree National Park is visited.
| Trip Name | Trip Miles | Trip Days |
|---|---|---|
| Congaree National Park & Hilton Head Beach | 291 | 7 |
Other Nearby National Park Sites
From national monuments, to historic sites to seashores and more, here are the other parks closest to Congaree National Park.
| Name | Distance |
|---|---|
| Ninety Six National Historic Site | 75 mi |
| Charles Pinckney National Historic Site | 85 mi |
| Fort Sumter National Monument | 88 mi |
| Reconstruction Era National Historical Park | 97 mi |
| Kings Mountain National Military Park | 100 mi |
| Cowpens National Battlefield | 110 mi |
| Fort Pulaski National Monument | 121 mi |
| Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site | 140 mi |
| Moores Creek National Battlefield | 160 mi |
| Guilford Courthouse National Military Park | 171 mi |
Nearby Campsites & RV Parks
If you are looking to pitch a tent or park an RV at a campsite near Congaree National Park, here is a list of the closest campsites in the surrounding area. They all have slightly different amenitites, so its best to check them all out instead of just chosing the first on the list.
| Name | Details | Miles Away |
|---|---|---|
| Poinsett State Park | Wedgefield, SC more | 14 miles |
| Weston Lake Military - Fort Jackson | Hopkins, SC more | 16 miles |
| Falcons Nest Military - Shaw AFB | SC more | 23 miles |
| Sesquicentennial State Park | Columbia, SC more | 23 miles |
| Santee State Park | Santee, SC more | 24 miles |
| Dreher Island State Rec Area | Prosperity, SC more | 41 miles |
| Wateree Military | Camden, SC more | 42 miles |
| Barnwell State Park | Blackville, SC more | 43 miles |
| Aiken State Park | Windsor, SC more | 44 miles |
| Lake Wateree State Rec Area | Winnsboro, SC more | 45 miles |
Nearest Ski Resorts
For those of you who are the diehard outdoors type, visiting a national park on a ski trip can be quite the adventure. Here are the ski resorts within 100 miles of Congaree National Park:
None Found.
Nearest Airports
When visiting a National park, many people are faced with either a very long drive across country, or a much shorter flight. For those of you looking to fly into Congaree National Park, we've listed the closest airports in the area.
Large Airports
A large airport has scheduled major airline service with millions of passengers per year. This type of airport always accepts international flights. Here are the closest large airports to Congaree National Park.
| Name | Code | City | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte Douglas International Airport | CLT | Charlotte, NC | 99 mi |
| Savannah Hilton Head International Airport | SAV | Savannah, GA | 117 mi |
| Raleigh-Durham International Airport | RDU | Raleigh/Durham, NC | 184 mi |
| Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport | ATL | Atlanta, GA | 210 mi |
| Jacksonville International Airport | JAX | Jacksonville, FL | 233 mi |
| Richmond International Airport | RIC | Richmond, VA | 322 mi |
| Orlando Sanford International Airport | SFB | Orlando, FL | 347 mi |
Medium Airports
A medium-sized airport has scheduled regional airline service. This type of airport may or may not accept international flights. Here are the closest medium-sized airports to Congaree National Park.
| Name | Code | City | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Metropolitan Airport | CAE | Columbia, SC | 22 mi |
| Florence Regional Airport | FLO | Florence, SC | 67 mi |
| Augusta Regional At Bush Field | AGS | Augusta, GA | 74 mi |
| Charleston International Airport | CHS | Charleston, SC | 75 mi |
| Myrtle Beach International Airport | MYR | Myrtle Beach, SC | 107 mi |
| Concord-Padgett Regional Airport | USA | Concord, NC | 111 mi |
| Greenville Spartanburg International Airport | GSP | Greer, SC | 112 mi |
Credits: Campground data provided by USCampgrounds.info. Map shapes from CartographyVectors. Weather data from NOAA. Airport data from OurAirports.com. Images from Unsplash, Flickr and Parks&Trips. All data has also been updated and augmented by Parks&Trips.