Hamilton Branch State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 6 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $3 per adultAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed6-ft leash
- Camping
- 184 campsites
- Official site
- southcarolinaparks.com(864) 333-2223
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Partial closure Park NewsCampsites 1-114 and 166-200 will be open as of this Friday, July 3rd. Our boat ramp and playground remain open. We do currently have Shelter 3 open… (more)
Campsites 1-114 and 166-200 will be open as of this Friday, July 3rd. Our boat ramp and playground remain open. We do currently have Shelter 3 open and available in our day-use area. The General Store (park office & retail) will be open 9am-5pm, daily. All other campsites, hiking trails and picnic shelters (Shelters 1 & 2) will remain closed while cleanup continues. Discover the ease of self-serve kayak rentals at Hamilton Branch State Park brought to you by Whenever Watersports. Located right by the water at Lake Thurmond, a fully automated rental kiosk makes it simple for both locals and visitors to get out on the lake with just a few taps on your smartphone. Learn more here!
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
In McCormick County, about 21 miles north of Grovetown, Hamilton Branch State Park covers about 735 acres.
The park supports historic sites, canoeing and kayaking, boating, swimming, and fishing. Water access includes a boat ramp. Camping is available: 184 campsites across 2 camping areas, including RV sites and tent sites.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 6 a.m. – sunset | — |
| Office | Not stated | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | — |
Official wording
6 a.m. - sunset, daily
9 a.m. - 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 |
|---|---|
| $3 adults; | $3 · adult |
| $1.50 SC seniors; | $1.50 · senior |
| $1 children age 6-15; age 5 & younger free | $1 · child |
Official wording
$3 adults; $1.50 SC seniors; $1 children age 6-15; age 5 & younger free
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 · leash up to 6 feet
Pets are allowed in most 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.
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 173 sites with water and electricity | 173 | Standard Sites with Elec. & WaterShowersRVs up to 40 | — |
| Designated Tent Sites 11 sites are available with water only. | 11 | ShowersRVs up to 40 | — |
Camping details from the park
Camping Information: Camping along the shores of Strom Thurmond Lake is available. Some sites accommodate RVs up to 40 feet, others up to 35 feet.
Eight comfort stations which include restroom facilities with hot showers are also located throughout the park.
Two dump stations are available for RVs.
Standard Sites with Elec. & Water: 173 sites with water and electricity
Designated Tent Sites: 11 sites are available with water only.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
FishingBoatingPicnickingBikingWildlife viewing and birdingHikingHistoric sites and toursCanoeing and kayakingCampingSwimming
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paleo Hiking Trail | 1.5 mi | Easy | Length: 1.5 milesHiking Trail |
Trail descriptions from the park
Paleo Hiking Trail
Length: 1.5 miles
Type: Hiking Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Description: Enjoy the scenic view of this short hiking trail. Following the trail markers on the trees (white signs with black arrows), you will wander up and down through a thick forest of pines and hardwoods. Take a second to stop and enjoy the beautiful landscape and ravines formed over time by heavy rainfall. All through this area you may encounter a variety of birds, snakes, and other wildlife such as white tail deer, raccoon and fox squirrels. You may also be lucky enough to sight a bald eagle that nests in this area as you make your way back to the Gift Shop.
Remember to wear insect repellent in warm weather. Pets are permitted only on leashes. Restrooms and other amenities are available at the Gift Shop.
Swimming
Swimming: Swimming is permitted in Strom Thurmond Lake. There is no designated swimming area and lifeguards are not provided. You may swim at your own risk.
Boating and paddling
Boating and Boat Access: Two boat ramps provide private boat access to Strom Thurmond Lake.
Canoe/Kayak Rentals: Discover the ease of self-serve kayak rentals at Hamilton Branch State Park brought to you by Whenever Watersports. Located right by the water at Lake Thurmond, a fully automated rental kiosk makes it simple for both locals and visitors to get out on the lake with just a few taps on your smartphone. Learn more here!
Fishing
Fishing Information: Enjoy fishing in Strom Thurmond Lake for bass, bream, crappie, striper, hybrid bass and catfish.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic shelters
- Playground
- Wi-Fi
- EV charging
- Group facilities
Water
- Boat ramp
Camping
- RV dump station
- Tent camping
- RV camping
✓ 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
- 111 Campground RD
Plum Branch, SC 29845 - Nearest town
- Grovetown — about 21 mi north (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 33.7540, -82.2179 (from Wikidata)
- Phone
- (864) 333-2223
- hamiltonbranch@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