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Below Dam South Carolina
USACEU.S. Army Corps of Engineers — CLARKS HILL · South Carolina · J. Strom Thurmond Lake
| Agency | USACEU.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
|---|---|
| Area | J. Strom Thurmond Lake |
| Location | CLARKS HILL · South Carolina · J. Strom Thurmond Lake · 33.65833, -82.20917 · Map |
| Sites | 7 public sites counted from the federal listing — 6 group shelter nonelectric; 1 group shelter electric |
| Getting a site | Reservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below. |
| Hookups | Electric at 1 of 7 sites (up to 15 amp where reported) Water hookups at 1 of 7 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 7 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 7 sites Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way. |
| Max RV length | Not reported in the federal data |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Not reported — the federal listing carries no fee description for this campground. |
| Check-in / out | In 8:00 AM · Out 8:30 PM (most common in the listing) |
| Pets | Allowed at 7 sites, as reported |
| Accessibility | N |
| Phone | 800-533-3478 |
Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →
This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-02-25.
From the official listing
Overview Below Dam South Carolina Recreation Area is a popular park just below J. Strom Thurmond Lake Dam along the Savannah River. The park is located on Power Plant Road just off South Carolina State Highway 221 near the Visitor Center. The Savannah River offers excellent fishing and boating opportunities. Recreation The 70,000 acre Thurmond Lake provides some of the best fishing, hunting, and water sports in the southeastern United States. Anglers fish for largemouth bass, bream, crappie, catfish and striped bass. The large lake offers endless boating, water skiing, jet skiing, canoeing and swimming opportunities. Facilities Below Dam South Carolina Recreation Area is a wooded day-use area with several group picnic shelters. One shelter has electrical hookups.
Other amenities include flush toilets, drinking water, a boat ramp, fishing pier, hiking trail and playground. There is no swimming at this park. Natural Features Hot, humid summers and mild, pleasant winters characterize this heavily wooded area on the shore of Thurmond Lake. A mixed pine and hardwood forest covers the site, providing summer shade and fall color. Elevation is 235' above sea level.
Wildlife is abundant around the lake. Visitors regularly see southern bald eagles, osprey, migratory waterfowl, wild turkeys and whitetail deer. Nearby Attractions Numerous parks and recreation areas lie around Thurmond Lake, providing additional boating, swimming, hunting and hiking opportunities. Nearby cities house museums, art galleries, zoos, restaurants and shopping areas.
The Augusta National Golf Club hosts the Masters Golf Tournament annually the first week of April.
Directions, from the listing
The day use area is located just outside Clarks Hill, SC, west off US 221, just below the dam
Nearest federal campgrounds
2 mi straight-line · CLARKS HILL South CarolinaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersModoc
4 mi straight-line · MODOC South CarolinaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersParksville
10 mi straight-line · PLUM BRANCH South CarolinaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersHawe Creek
14 mi straight-line · MCCORMICK South CarolinaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersGill Point
30 mi straight-line · CLARKS HILL South Carolina
Trip Card — Below Dam South Carolina
CLARKS HILL · South Carolina · J. Strom Thurmond Lake
| Agency | USACE · U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
|---|---|
| Location | CLARKS HILL · South Carolina · J. Strom Thurmond Lake |
| Fees | Not reported in the federal data |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | Electric at 1 |
| Max RV | Not reported |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 7 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234562 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.