I must come back here. My camping trip to the Sesquicentennial State Park was part of a volunteer group weekend campout. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to explore all this park has to offer. Sesquicentennial State Park is located in the midlands of South Carolina, on the East side of Columbia. This park is an oasis in an urban setting and offers a great retreat from city life back to nature. With over 1,400 acres, this park offers a variety of things to do. Home to a beautiful 30-acre lake, you can fish, kayak, and pedal boat. There are miles of trails for hiking or biking winding through the park’s forests. While I camped the weekend in a Group primitive site, there are both RV and tent sites with essential amenities. Our group planned to use Sesquicentennial State Park on my weekend at this park as a base camp. We planned to drive up Friday evening, visiting the SC State House and the nearby Riverbank Zoo on Saturday, then return home Sunday.
We arrive on Friday night just as rain storms pass through the area. We wait out the rain in our vehicles. It doesn’t take too long before the rain passes and we can get camp set up quickly. The group campsite we are staying in has drained and dried out surprisingly quickly. As we are the only ones using any of the primitive sites this weekend, we have the whole area to ourselves. Most of the younger campers in our group are excited and stay up late talking.
Saturday morning we are up with the sun, getting our breakfast done, and sack lunches made, and on the road for our outings by about 8:30. We arrive a little at the zoo early so we are in line for tickets just before the 9:00 opening. It’s been years since I’ve been to this zoo and it has grown a lot. We spend the morning walking the East Campus which is the zoo or where all the animals and zoo exhibits are. The West Campus is a newer botanical gardens section I haven’t been to before, and it’s not on today’s agenda. I may need to come back for a visit at a later time.
We complete our walk about the zoo around noon and break for lunch. The zoo has plenty of opportunities to spend lots of money on food and drink within the park. Packing a lunch is a great way to not spend a bunch of money yet for some of the younger, the elephant ears and dipping dots are too much to resist. Years ago there was a short trail along the banks of the Saluda River and picnic tables where you could lunch along and watch kayakers. All of that is gone with the zoo’s expansion now. We find a shady spot and a few benches outside the front gates to eat our sandwich lunch. We had adjusted our schedule to be in the capital building (air-conditioned) during the afternoon heat. Once everyone finishes lunch we load up and head from the zoo over to the capital.
The South Carolina State House building is over a hundred years old and still serves as the capitol seat of our state government. Once we are all inside, we join a tour group in progress. Park Rangers provide guided tours of the State House and provide an insight into the building’s long and impressive history. After our tour, we return to camp to relax and enjoy the afternoon at Sesquicentennial State Park.
For me, Sesquicentennial State Park was a pleasant surprise. With its forested natural beauty and family-friendly atmosphere, there are plenty of scenic picnic areas for family gatherings and outdoor meals, playgrounds, and even a splash pad. There is something for everyone to enjoy. It’s a great must-visit destination for anyone looking to unwind and connect with nature in the heart of South Carolina. Sunday morning we pack up and head home. I plan on keeping Sesquicentennial State Park on my list of places to return.
Favorite Time of year: I will have to go for the late Spring and early Fall.
Camping: Camping is available at Sesquicentennial State Park (reservations required).
Pet friendly: Must be kept under physical restraint or on a leash not longer than six feet. This park also offers a large dog park but a permit is required.
Getting There: Sesquicentennial State Park is just East of Downtown Columbia, off the I-77 beltway, then Two Notch Road. Check the State Park directions link. It’s about a 2-hour drive from the Charleston area.