Clarks Hill
J. Strom Thurmond Lake — lakeside, fishing
Location: CLARKS HILL, SC, SC
Price: From $50 per night
Price range: $50–$100 per night
Rating: 5 out of 5 (2 reviews)
Season: May through October
Clarks Hill is a popular park on J. Strom Thurmond Lake, just off Georgia State Highway 221 near the dam. The 70,000 acre lake and its 1,000+ miles of shoreline provide excellent boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing, hiking and picnicking opportunities.Thurmond Lake provides some of the best fishing, hunting, and water sports in the southeastern United States.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: AT&T.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Electric Hookups, Camp Host, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/clarks-hill to be notified when sites open up.
Clarks Hill offers excellent boating, fishing, and water sports on a 70,000-acre lake with 1,000+ miles of shoreline. Campers praise the beautiful setting, peaceful atmosphere, and abundant amenities including boat ramps, swimming areas, and fishing opportunities.
Wildlife alert: Great Blue Heron, Brown Booby, Northern Parula, Laughing Gull, Eastern Kingsnake, Red-bellied Snake, and Green Anole documented in the area.
Insider tips for Clarks Hill: Book early — this is a popular federal campground. Purchase a year-long parks pass if visiting frequently; otherwise $5 per vehicle parking fee applies. Dogs allowed on the first beach from the entrance.
Skip Clarks Hill if: You need RV hookups — most sites have no hookups available.. You plan to camp outside May through October — seasonal operations only.. You prefer larger campgrounds — only 10 tent sites total..
Best time to visit Clarks Hill: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only..
Nearby campgrounds: West Dam (APPLING, SC), Below Dam South Carolina (CLARKS HILL, GA), Lake Springs (APPLING , GA), Modoc (MODOC, GA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Clarks Hill
Cell signal at Clarks Hill (CLARKS HILL, SC): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: AT&T.
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Clarks Hill is a popular park on J. Strom Thurmond Lake, just off Georgia State Highway 221 near the dam. The 70,000 acre lake and its 1,000+ miles of shoreline provide excellent boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing, hiking and picnicking opportunities.Thurmond Lake provides some of the best fishing, hunting, and water sports in the southeastern United States.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a popular federal campground.
Purchase a year-long parks pass if visiting frequently; otherwise $5 per vehicle parking fee applies.
Dogs allowed on the first beach from the entrance.
Campground operates seasonally during these months only.
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: AT&T.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
Located off US 221, approximately 1 mile west of Clarks Hill, SC.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — J. Strom Thurmond Lake fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at J. Strom Thurmond Lake before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Clarks Hill cost per night?+
What season is Clarks Hill open?+
Does Clarks Hill have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Clarks Hill?+
How do I make reservations at Clarks Hill?+
What is the cell service like at Clarks Hill?+
What season is Clarks Hill open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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