When I road tripped down the United States’ east coast, I couldn’t help but add Congaree National Park to my itinerary. It just fit in so seamlessly. But as I started researching, I noticed something. There’s fewer things to do at Congaree National Park than at other national parks across the United States. That’s not bad, but it was different. So instead of a full day packed full of all sorts of activities (and even then feeling like there was still more to see), I spent a half day here and left feeling satisfied with my visit.
About Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park sits in South Carolina in the southeastern United States. It became a national park in 2003 and since then, it’s protected biodiversity in the area across its 20,000 acres. The park feels delightfully uncrowded and its visitor numbers support this. In 2021, Congaree National Park received just two hundred thousand visitors. Compare that to nearby Shenandoah National Park in Virginia at 1.5 million visitors or Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee/North Carolina at over 14 million visitors. It really is a huge difference.
Why Should You Visit Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park contains the largest expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest in the United States. If you’re like me and aren’t really sure what “old growth bottom hardwood forest” means, don’t worry. According to the EPA, it’s a river swamp. So, yes, a visit to Congaree National Park is a visit to a swamp.
On the surface, this may not sound very exciting. However, walking through this park was kind of cool. Specifically, it’s cool to look at the bald cypress trees. These trees are everywhere and what’s interesting is these trees produce “knees” that stick out of the ground like little spikes. If you’re like me and have never seen them before, they are kind of cool to see in person.
Beyond the cypress trees, you’ll also find numerous other trees, including massive loblolly pines.
Things to Do at Congaree National Park
Some national parks have a massive list of things to do. There will be several hikes, various viewpoints, and other unique experiences. This park is different. It’s a smaller park and therefore, there’s fewer things to do at Congaree National Park. But that doesn’t mean you’ll be bored. There’s still a few things to do at Congaree National Park.
Hiking
I may be biased since I only did one hike at Congaree National Park, but I recommend the Weston Loop Lake Trail. This trail starts on the boardwalk before bringing you out to a more traditional trail. You’ll walk along the trail through the spiky roots and trees for a very unique experience. We did the whole loop and logged 5.1 miles and 16 feet of elevation change (no that is not a typo, it really is that flat).
The loop took us just under two hours, including a few stops for photos. Normally, we could have hiked faster, but I was still recovering from my Rocky Mountain hiking disaster. Given that, for most people, if you give yourself two hours, you should have plenty of time.
When we hiked this trail, we passed people on the boardwalk. However, once we got off the boardwalk and onto what felt more like a trail, we didn’t pass any other hikers until the very end. It felt like we were all alone out here and that was pretty cool.
Canoeing and Kayaking
You can rent a canoe or kayak to get an even better experience in the park. But my mom and I did not do this, citing lack of time and our previous canoeing disaster. I’d like to think that we’d be better canoers now, but we also had limited time. We were very anxious to get to our final destination of Charleston.
If you do choose to canoe or kayak, there are several local companies that offer canoe rentals. The NPS website has more details about which companies are able to drop off and pick up your canoe rental directly in the park. Once you have your canoe or kayak, there’s a marked 15 mile canoe trail that goes through Cedar Creek to the Congaree River. The NPS has several options for different trips you can take and each look nice.
How Long Do You Need at Congaree National Park
If you just want to do a little hiking and see some basics of the park, a half day is plenty. If you want to do more, such as renting a canoe, plan for a full day.
When I visited in 2021, my mom and I used Congaree National Park to break up the drive between Asheville, North Carolina and Charleston, South Carolina. It was almost at our halfway point between the two cities, so we made a quick stop and spent about two and a half hours here. We only hiked during our visit.
When to Visit
Summers are hot and sticky and mosquitos can be unbearable. During winter, temperatures can be mild, but flooding is more likely. Spring and fall are the best seasons to visit.
I visited in the first week of October and while it was a touch warm, it was still pleasant. Going a little later in the month would have given better fall colors though.
Entrance Fees
There is no fee to visit Congaree National Park.
Getting to Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park is located kind of the middle of nowhere, but that’s probably why it has such low visitor numbers.
The visitor center is located only a half hour drive outside of Columbia, but you’ll be on some rural highways. The Harry Hampton Visitor Center is located at 100 National Park Road in Hampton, SC.
Final Thoughts
Congaree National Park is not my favorite national park. However, if you are in the area and passing through, it’s definitely worth a visit.
Unlike so many other national parks, I don’t think Congaree National Park is a destination all on its own. I wouldn’t fly out just to see it, like I would for parks like Rocky Mountain National Park or Zion National Park. But if you’re in the area, it’s absolutely worth a short visit. Plus, with the low visitor numbers, it’s a delight to explore.
Continue Your Adventure
South Carolina: For more in South Carolina, the historic city of Charleston is only a two hour drive from Congaree National Park.
North Carolina: We visited Congaree National Park while driving from Asheville, NC to Charleston, SC. If you’re in Asheville, make sure to check out the Biltmore Estate.
Georgia: While a bit further away, the city of Savannah isn’t too far out of the way and makes a great way to spend a day.
Itineraries: Congaree National Park was just one stop on my road trip from Washington, DC to Savannah, GA.
I think we’d do better canoeing or kayaking now! 😀 The hike we did was great!