Elmwood Recreation Area
Primitive campsite. This recreation area is located in the northeastern portion of the Francis Marion National Forest. It’s a popular camp during deer and turkey hunts on the Waterhorn Hunt Unit. The area also serves as a South Carolina Department of Natural Resources game check station during big-game hunting season.
More like this: first-come in South Carolina · free in South Carolina · tent only in South Carolina
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | Free of charge |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | All year |
| Forest | Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests |
| Fees | Free of charge |
| Rules | Stay is limited to 14 days. |
Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests recreation page ↗
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 33.1990° N, 79.4701° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedC-15 Longleaf Fm Rx
22 mi from the campground · 50 acres
- PrescribedC-18 Longleaf Fm Rx
25 mi from the campground · 59 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | REI ↗ | 33.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | Camping World ↗ | 37.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Free Camping Francis Marion National Forest | Elmwood Recreation Area
Trails nearby
- 0.6 miWambaw Creek Canoe Trail ↗8 mi trail
- 0.6 miChicken Creek Canoe Trail ↗9.5 mi trail
- 4.4 miEchaw Creek Canoe Trail ↗4.6 mi trail
- 4.9 miBattery Warren0.4 mi trail
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests.
- inFrancis Marion and Sumter National Forests ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,381,168 acres
- 1.4 miWambaw Creek Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 1,832 acres
- 7.8 miCape Romain National Wildlife Refuge ↗National Wildlife Refuge · Fish and Wildlife Service · 62,093 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
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Guidebooks for South Carolina
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to camp at Elmwood Recreation Area?
Nothing. Elmwood Recreation Area is listed as free. Free of charge
Source: Forest Service
Is Elmwood Recreation Area open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season All year.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Elmwood Recreation Area?
Elmwood Recreation Area is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Elmwood Recreation Area is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Honey Hill Recreation Area (5.6 mi, first-come) and Buck Hall Recreation Area (12.4 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby