Brick House Campground Breakdown - Whitmire, SC
Brick House Campground is a classic low amenity campground in the woods of South Carolina. It is located in Sumpter National Forest about an hour northwest of Columbia, SC off I-26, near Whitmire, SC.
The campground is a nice plot of land with ample trees providing shade and plenty of space between sites. We loved that there were no crowds, which is tough to find on the east coast.
It’s relation to trails and recreation are a bonus, but there were no ‘stand out’ factors to the campground itself. Overall, a solid place to camp.
Quick Glance
Price: $5/Night
Type: Campground
Accessibility: Easy
Campsites: 23
Camping Type: Tent, Van, RV, Trailers, Horse
Amenities: Fire Ring, Grill, Picnic Table, Pit Toilets
Reservations: First-Come, First-Serve
Popularity: Low (Increased Popularity During Hunting Season)
Best Time to Go: Spring/Fall
Getting There
Longitude/Latitude: 34.44802, -81.7069
From I-26, take exit 60 (SC 66), drive east for 3.5 miles. Turn right onto Forest Service Road 358 and drive .3 miles. You will first pass the Buncombe Trailhead parking area on left and Brick House campground will be past it on the right.
Pros:
There were plenty of sites open in late May when we visited, even though we arrived as the sun was setting. There were only four other groups in the whole campground.
Sites are large and spread out with plenty of tree cover.
They had toilets! Even though they were just pit toilets, it’s better than a hole in the ground in our opinion.
It’s cheap! Typically we look for free boon-docking sites, but $5 is a small fee to pay, especially out east. Plus it goes to the upkeep of the campground and US Forest Service.
Nearby trails are always something we enjoy. While we didn’t get to experience the trails our selves this round, we heard wonderful things from our fellow campers at Brick House.
Great for hunters as it is in close proximity to some of the best hunting land in the region.
Cons:
Buggy. It’s expected to be buggy and hot in South Carolina during summer, but it definitely has an effect on the overall experience. We turned in early because the mosquitoes and moths were rather swarmy.
Muggy. When we went to sleep, we were hot and had out MaxxFan on full blast, but it did cool off during the night and we had a peaceful, and dare I say, cool morning.
Our Experience
Brick House Campground was the perfect stopover, and our very first night spent in our Wander Tear camper.
We had originally planned on camping closer to Asheville, NC, but a late start and traffic called for a change of itinerary. I found the campground while we were on the road through The Dyrt (an amazing app for finding campsites in a pinch), and we decided to give it a shot.
It was easy to navigate to, inexpensive, and practically empty. Three things we love! Plus Nola could explore without much worry.
It’s a simple campground, but our experience was overall a positive one. Plus we met an amazing couple who turned out to be one of the reasons we ended up continuing our maiden voyage all the way to the wild west.
Campground Notables
Eight sites at Brick House Campground have been designated for extended-stay during big game season: 9, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23. All other sites have a 14-day stay limit. Both pull-through and back-in sites are available.
For extended stay sites, the fee is $50 per calendar month during September through December, and the month of April. For full seasonal use from September to December, the fee is $150.
Horses are allowed in designated areas highlined behind white-banded trees around the perimeter of the campground.
NEARBY RECREATION
The surrounding forest offers some of the most desirable hunting areas in upstate SC. Don’t forget your blaze orange for safety while in the woods! For permit information, visit the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources here.
Wildlife and plant observation, horse riding, mountain biking, hiking, and photography are all available nearby via the 31.5 miles of the Buncombe trail network. Visit old cemeteries, wagon roads, and plantation sites while winding through forested hill and valley terrain. All skill levels are welcome with various trail connectors enabling you to lengthen or shorten your ride or hike. To find out more about these trails click here.
FIND OUT MORE
Click here to check for updates and the status of Brick House Campground.
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