Visiting Congaree National Park
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Exploring Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park is one of the smaller national parks and is free to visit, which makes it the perfect vacation spot for an extended weekend if you love the outdoors. This park is a fantastic spot for birders and even reptile lovers as we saw plenty of gorgeous birds and snakes sunning themselves while we were on the trail. We even spotted an alligator! If you are visiting Congaree National Park, I highly recommend kayaking or canoeing for the best views.
Planning Your Visit to Congaree National Park
I would plan on spending 1-2 days if you want to just hike and 2-4 if you plan on kayaking to be able to hike most of the trails. Due to the mosquitoes and high humidity in the summer, I recommend visiting this park in the spring or fall. Keep in mind that spring is the most popular season for people to visit, so try to visit during the weekdays and/or early spring if possible.
Congaree is also a dog-friendly park so you can bring your furry friend along during this adventure. Don’t forget to bring your dog’s Pup Passport to make it easier to record your special memories during your trip!
For an even more unique experience, consider putting your name into their lottery for a chance to view synchronous firefly displays in early spring. This is one of the few spots in the United States where you can see this magically beautiful display for a couple of weeks each year.
Harry Hampton Visitor Center
The Harry Hampton Visitor Center is the only visitor center in the park. Outside the center is a counter where you can get park maps and your national park passport and/or your dog’s Pup Passport stamped. There will also typically be an employee or docent stationed here during the day to help you with any questions you may have and give you the latest information about the park trails.
This is also where you will find the bathrooms and a gift shop where you can buy souvenirs, water, and most importantly bug spray if you forgot to pack some. Inside the visitor center, there is also an exhibit area where you can learn more about the area and park. This area is currently closed due to Covid.
Just outside the bathrooms is a mosquito meter that will tell you how bad they are in the park that day. Around the outside of the visitor center is also a spigot where you can fill up your empty jugs with potable water if you are camping onsite or just need a refill.
Where to Stay at Congaree National Park
There are a few camping options available if you wish to stay inside the park. If camping isn’t quite your thing, the city of Columbia is nearby where you can find any number of hotels to stay at if you are looking for something closer to the comforts of home.
Campsites in Congaree National Park
There are several camping options available in Congaree National Park depending on what kind of experience you are looking for. All the campgrounds are pet friendly. If you are worried about taking your pup camping, take a look at our tips for camping with a dog. It’s a fun and budget-friendly way to bring your furry best friend with you when you go on vacation!
Backcountry Camping in Congaree National Park
You can go backcountry camping in this national park for free, but you will still need to get a permit by emailing cong_information@nps.gov. Campfires are not allowed in the backcountry and there are some restrictions as to where you can set up camp so make sure to clarify the rules before you head out. As always, be prepared to Leave No Trace which means everything you bring in, must also come back out with you.
Campgrounds in Congaree National Park
There are two official campgrounds available in the park and reservations are required for both of them. They do share a parking lot which is where you will find the vault toilets if you wish to use a toilet.
They are both more primitive than your typical campgrounds and will require you to carry your gear to your site. It is a longer hike to get to the Bluff Campground. Neither campground provides running water. All campsites will have a picnic table and fire ring available for use.
Longleaf Campground will cost is $10 per night per campsite. They do have group sites that cost $20 per night.
Bluff Campground costs $5 a night. The closest toilet to this campground is near the parking lot.
Hotels Near Congaree National Park
Find the perfect hotel for you using our link with Booking.com below! And if you are looking for help on staying at a hotel with your pup, we have you covered with that too.
Booking.comWhere to Eat Near Congaree National Park
Don’t forget to bring your own food because there is no restaurant in the park, though there are plenty available nearby in Columbia, SC. In a pinch, there are a few snacks available to purchase in the gift shop at the visitor center.
In Columbia, you will have your choice of all types of restaurants, and luckily many are also dog friendly! During our trip to Congaree, we spent the afternoon in the Five Points neighborhood of Columbia to avoid a rainstorm and the threat of hail.
I can highly recommend the restaurant Publico, which had fantastic drinks and a HUGE variety of tacos (including grasshopper for the more daring foodie).
Dogs are allowed in the back patio section where there is limited covered seating in the event of rain.
They also provide water bowls for your pups AND even have a doggy menu available so your dog can get a special meal out too!
We also stopped by Drip coffee which was just one street over for a much-needed afternoon pick-me-up. This coffee shop was great and allowed the dogs inside which made it another fantastic stop in the event of poor weather.
Jack’s was another nearby restaurant in the neighborhood that opens at 4 pm and hosts a Yappy Hour on Tuesdays & Thursdays. Basically, the patio turns into an off-leash dog park. To bring your pup here, you do need to register them online (make sure you have your vaccination and vet info available) and pay the $5 membership fee. In return, your pups will also get a bandana and Jack’s collar tag.
We opted not to go here because trying to sign up on our phones was more work than we were prepared to do for a quick dinner and we didn’t want to wait until 4 pm. However, this could be a great option if you are more prepared and less hungry than we were.
What to Do in Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park is one of the smaller national parks in the United States but there are still plenty of activities available. This area offers the opportunity to kayak, hike, or participate in one of their guided programs in the park.
Synchronous Fireflies at Congaree National Park
One of the most unique things you can do in Congaree involves luck, timing, and fireflies! Personally, I can’t believe I had never heard about this and now this experience is on my bucket list.
For about 2 weeks between Mid-May to Mid-June, Congaree National Park plays host to a special species of fireflies during their mating period. During this time the males put on a magical display of synchronous flashing ‘lights’ as they look for their mate. What makes this even more amazing is that there are only 3 species of fireflies that do this in North America.
To protect this critical firefly habitat, you must enter and win the lottery for the event. Start looking for the announcement at the beginning of March so you can enter as soon as it opens. They do change how the event is run each year to better manage the crowds for the safety of visitors and the park itself so definitely check the site for updates.
It currently costs $1 to enter the lottery and if you are one of the lucky people selected, you will pay an additional $19 to save your spot. This means $20 total. If you are selected, your ticket will be for a normal passenger vehicle so you will have no problem bringing your family or some friends along for the ride.
*This event is not dog-friendly so remember to make other arrangements for your pup if they are traveling with you*
The best time to see the firefly display is for about an hour after the sun goes down. Make sure to stay on top of any rules and restrictions for the event so they will continue letting people participate in this magical experience.
Kayak & Canoe in Congaree National Park
Many people say that the best way to see the park is actually by kayak or canoe. And after visiting the park, I can easily see why! We did not get the chance to kayak, but as we hiked, we could see how the waterways weave throughout the park. I agree that you would be able to see and experience much more of Congaree from a boat. To make kayaking or canoeing even more attractive, otters do live in the park, and I am certain our odds of seeing them would have been greatly improved if we would have kayaked.
You can bring your own kayak or canoe, or you can rent one from one of the four park-approved companies. These companies also provide guided tours through the park if you are not comfortable venturing out on your own.
The Congaree NP website does provide several trip ideas and gives recommendations depending on how many vehicles you will have at your disposal and how much time you’d like to spend on the water. Like most boating activities, it is important to stay up to speed with the current water levels as well as any weather changes before you head out on a boat.
Congaree National Park Ranger Led Programs
Congaree National Park provides several Ranger Led Programs for those who would like to learn more about different aspects of the park from a live person. Check the calendar of events to find out the “what, where, and when” these talks will take place. These programs cover everything from nature to historic battles that happened in the area. Most (if not all) of these programs are free though they do ask for you to register beforehand on the website.
Hiking in Congaree National Park
There are multiple hiking trails available in Congaree National Park with most starting near the visitor center. I highly suggest grabbing a trail map or taking a picture of one before you head out. The trails we were on were all nicely marked with numbers that correlate to the trails on your map.
The Boardwalk is by far the most popular trail and often the only trail some visitors will do. It is handicap accessible and has benches throughout for those who want to take a break. Before you head out, you can grab a self-guided boardwalk tour brochure from the visitor center that will go into detail about some of the things you will be able to see from the path.
There are two other trails that require you to leave the main section of the park to get to; Fork Swamp Trail and Bates Ferry Trail. We hiked the Bates Ferry Trail which was a nice easy trail that led to a nice open area at the river. The turn-off for this parking lot is right over the bridge and can be easy to miss the turn if you aren’t prepared.
The park map does a great job separating the trails into easy, moderate, and difficult categories as well as providing the distances. The “difficult” trails do come with a warning that they may require advanced navigation skills (being able to read a compass), because the paths may not be as easy to follow.
Remember that Congaree does have quite a bit of water running through it which can result in flooding, mosquitoes, and humidity. Wear shoes that you don’t mind getting wet and muddy and don’t forget your bug spray and water!
Bringing Your Dog to Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park is a dog-friendly park including all of its campsites. Due to the heat and humidity during the summer, I do recommend planning your trip with your pup any other time of year. You will also want to bring plenty of water for them to drink and watch out for dehydration.
Due to the environment, you will encounter mosquitoes and it is the perfect place for ticks and fleas, which means that it is super important for your pets to be on heartworm, flea & tick preventatives.
We saw a lot of snakes in the park including a few venomous ones and even an occasional alligator. Just keep an eye on your pup to make sure they don’t harass the wildlife, keep a safe distance from any animals you encounter, and they should be fine!
The most popular trail in the park is the Boardwalk which is largely made up of wooden planks that do have small gaps in them. For most larger dogs this won’t be an issue but if you have a tiny dog, or a very suspicious one (like Charlie), be prepared to carry them if they are too nervous to walk on it or to avoid their tiny paws getting stuck and injured in the gaps.
Nearby Attractions to Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park is just a short drive away from Columbia South Carolina where there is no shortage of things to do. Visit the Riverbanks Zoo, one of the museums, or a minor league baseball game. If you plan on doing more than one of these activities, look into getting either the Culture or Cool Pass to save money depending on which attractions interest you more.
Why You Should Visit Congaree National Park
If you are looking for a fun National Park experience and love water, put Congaree National Park on your travel bucket list. Don’t forget to try your luck in the Firefly Lottery for a truly magical experience in the spring! What makes this park even better is that it is so close to Columbia, which is full of restaurants, breweries, museums, shops, and more. This makes riding out any potential bad weather that might happen during your trip something to actually look forward to! With all the dog-friendly places nearby, this was one of the best places to bring our pups!
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