Congaree National Park covers 26,693 acres in South Carolina. It became a national park on November 10, 2003, the 57th of today’s 64 parks to get that title. It recorded 287,833 recreation visits in 2025, the 49th most of the 63 parks with a 2025 count.
Today at Congaree
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Alerts: National Park Service, checked hourly. Forecast: National Weather Service, for Harry Hampton Visitor Center. Always confirm on the official park site before you set out.
In the park service’s words
Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. Waters from the Congaree and Wateree Rivers sweep through the floodplain, carrying nutrients and sediments that nourish and rejuvenate this ecosystem and support the growth of national and state champion trees.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Entrance fee and passes
No entrance fee is listed for this park in National Park Service data. You do not need a pass to enter. Parking, ferry, boat or other transport fees can still apply.
Best time to visit
- Best time to visit Congaree: February, April, October and November. The weather is at its most comfortable then, and crowds are lighter than at the peak.
- Busiest month: May, with about 31,100 visits in a typical recent year. That is 2.6 times as many as August.
- Quietest month: August (12,041 visits).
Bar height: visitors that month, compared with the busiest month. Temperatures: average daily high and low (°F); rain and snow: monthly averages. Best marks the months we suggest.
More detail: the best time to visit Congaree, month by month.
Plan your visit
- Best time to visit: crowds and weather month by month
- Camping, RVs and lodging: 2 campgrounds
- Getting there: Nearest gas to Harry Hampton Visitor Center: G-Mart, 4.6 miles away. Closest airport Columbia Metropolitan Airport (24 mi)
- Know before you go: safety, what to pack and what to leave at home
Weather, in the park service’s words
The park service says:
Check the forecast before getting on the road. Conditions can change rapidly within the park. Flooding can happen with little or no warning, so make sure to check water levels for Cedar Creek and the Congaree River.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Nearby national parks by road
- Great Smoky Mountains (North Carolina and Tennessee): about 4 h 40 min by car (223 miles)
- New River Gorge (West Virginia): about 6 h 20 min by car (318 miles)
- Shenandoah (Virginia): about 8 h 45 min by car (433 miles)
- Mammoth Cave (Kentucky): about 9 h 35 min by car (482 miles)
Drive times run between the closest visitor centers of each pair, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads. Link several parks with the road trip planner.
Sources
Last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter Congaree National Park?
No entrance fee is listed for this park in National Park Service data.
What state is Congaree National Park in?
South Carolina.
When did Congaree become a national park?
November 10, 2003.
How many people visit Congaree?
287,833 recreation visits were counted in 2025.
When is the best time to visit Congaree?
February, April, October and November. May is the busiest month and August the quietest while the park is fully open.
Nearby parks
North Carolina and TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National Park
North Carolina and Tennessee. 11,527,939 visits in 2025. No entrance fee.
West VirginiaNew River Gorge National Park & Preserve
West Virginia. 1,958,440 visits in 2025. No entrance fee.
VirginiaShenandoah National Park
Virginia. 1,682,152 visits in 2025. $30 per vehicle.