Barnwell State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Free entryAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions6-ft leash
- Camping
- 17 campsitesAlso cabins
- Official site
- southcarolinaparks.com(803) 284-2212
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Alert Park NewsPARK ADVISORY Barnwell State Park is lowering the lake again in an effort to control water loss in the riser. Hopefully this will only take a couple… (more)
PARK ADVISORY Barnwell State Park is lowering the lake again in an effort to control water loss in the riser. Hopefully this will only take a couple of weeks, dependent upon rain amounts. Thank you for your understand and patience. Try self-led Barnwell State Park Bingo and win a prize at the park!
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
Covering about 309 acres, Barnwell State Park lies in Barnwell County, in Blackville.
Visitors come for historic sites, canoeing and kayaking, boating, swimming, and fishing. For overnight stays there are 17 campsites (RV sites and tent sites). Roofed lodging includes cabins.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | M-Su 9 a.m. to dark, year round | ||
| Office | Not stated | 11 a.m. – noon | — |
Official wording
M-Su 9 a.m. to dark, year round
11a.m.-noon & 4-5 p.m.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/New York).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Free admission | Free |
Official wording
Free admission
South Carolina park passes
- ALL Park Passport — $99 Details
From the South Carolina state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- SC State Parks reservation system (reserve.southcarolinaparks.com)
- Phone
- 1-866-345-PARK (7275)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed, with restrictions · leash up to 6 feet
Not allowed in or on: cabin 2 or the cabin area prior to january 1.
Beginning January 1, 2020, pets will be allowed in cabin 2. This cabin will be designated as pet friendly. Pets are allowed in most other outdoor areas provided they are kept under physical restraint or on a leash not longer than six feet. Owners will be asked to remove noisy or dangerous pets or pets that threaten or harass wildlife. Pets are not allowed in cabin 2 or the cabin area prior to January 1, 2020. Beginning January 1, 2020, pets will be allowed in cabin 2. This cabin will be designated as pet friendly. Pets are allowed in most other outdoor areas provided they are kept under physical restraint or on a leash not longer than six feet. Owners will be asked to remove noisy or dangerous pets or pets that threaten or harass wildlife. Pets are not allowed in cabin 2 or the cabin area prior to January 1, 2020.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Sites with Elec. & Water | 17 | Standard Sites with Elec. & WaterShowersRVs up to 36 | — |
Camping details from the park
Camping Information: Each site is packed gravel and includes individual water and electrical hookups. The campground is convenient to restrooms with hot showers. Four sites accommodate RVs up to 36 feet, others up to 28 feet. Campsites 18-25 have 50 amp electrical hookups and sewer hookups. A dump station is available for RVs. Camping clubs may reserve up to 20 sites. Standard Sites with Elec. & Water: 17 sites Full Hookup Sites with Elec, Water, Sewer: Campsites 18-25, have 50 amp electrical hookups and sewer hookups. 50 Amp Service Sites: Campsites 18-25, have 50 amp electrical hookups and sewer hookups. Primitive Group Area: The primitive group camping area is ideal for organized groups up to 50 people. (An organized group is defined as a group that holds regular meetings and has a lead officer or elected/appointed officials.) The area includes picnic tables, fire ring and a small restoom facility. Reservations are accepted. To make a primitive group camping reservation, contact the park directly. Minimum rate is $12-14.50 which allows up to ten campers. The rate increases by $5-6.50 increments for each additional five campers.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
- Cabins/Villas: 5 units
Lodging Information: Cabins are completely furnished, heated, air-conditioned, and supplied with linens, basic cooking and eating utensils, coffee maker, refrigerator, stove, microwave and satellite television. The cabins are located 100 yards from the upper lake and 300 yards from the lower lake. Pets are permitted in cabin 2. Pets are not permitted in any other cabin. Smoking is not permitted inside the cabins. One Bedroom Cabin/Villa: There is one one-bedroom cabin that accommodates two people. There is a maximum capacity of four people for this cabin. Two Bedroom Cabin/Villa: Each of the four two-bedroom cabins accommodate up to four people, and include a queen bed in each bedroom. There is a maximum capacity of six people for the two bedroom cabins. Cabins/Villas: 5
Things to do
FishingBoatingCanoeing and kayakingPicnickingBikingHikingCampingHistoric sites and toursSwimming
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dogwood Interpretive Trail | 1.5 mi | Easy | Length: 1.5 mile loopInterpretive Trail |
| Fern Hill Nature Trail | 1.5 mi | Easy | Length: 1.5 mile loopNature Trail |
Trail descriptions from the park
Dogwood Interpretive Trail Length: 1.5 mile loop Type: Interpretive Trail Difficulty: Easy Description: Though perhaps best known for its fine fishing and a popular community recreation center, Barnwell State Park also includes this easy 1.5-mile loop trail which encircles the southernmost of two lakes. Begin your hike behind the park office. Fern Hill Nature Trail Length: 1.5 mile loop Type: Nature Trail Difficulty: Easy Description: The Fernhill trail begins across from the lower pond dam to the left of the parking area for the dam access. The Beautiful Fern Hill Nature Trail is in the shape of a figure eight with maps located on the trail so that you may choose to make it a short hike or a longer hike. The Fernhill Nature Trail gets its name from the thousands of ferns located alongside many portions of the trail. Not only will you encounter ferns, but there are also many flowering plants along the trail such as yellow jessamine, partridgeberry, butterfly weed and Spanish moss. On this trail, you can see the troughs and elevation changes created by Barnwell State Park’s watershed leading back to the three lakes in the park. You will also experience the regrowth of a forest after the tornado that occurred here in January 2016. This trail has the perfect conditions for hiking, biking and birding.
Swimming
Swimming: There is a seasonal swimming area at the park. It is swim at your own risk with no lifeguards.
Boating and paddling
Boating and Boat Access: Private boats without gas-powered engines are allowed in the park lakes. There is no boat ramp at the park, and private boats must be small enough to carry from the parking area. Please contact the park with any questions before bringing your boat. Rental fishing boats are also available at the park.
Fishing
Fishing Information: Fishing for largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish may be enjoyed in any of our park lakes with a valid South Carolina fishing license. Fishing Pier: A small pier is located out from Shelter 1 at the park. Tackle Loaner Program: This park participates in the Tackle Loaner Program sponsored by the SC Dept. of Natural Resources. Rods and reels are available for loan at the park office. Fishing Boat Rentals: Non-motorized fishing boats are available to rent for $25/day.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic shelters
- Playground
- Wi-Fi
- Group facilities
Camping
- RV dump station
- Tent camping
- RV camping
Lodging
- Cabins
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Address
- 223 State Park RD
Blackville, SC 29817 - Nearest town
- Blackville
- Coordinates
- 33.3288, -81.3009 (from Wikidata)
- Phone
- (803) 284-2212
- barnwell@scprt.com
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- South Carolina State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- South Carolina State Parks Park Finder (JSON embedded in #park-finder-component data-parks)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology