Closest airports
| Airport | City | Drive to the park | Straight-line miles | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) | Columbia, SC | 49 min (26 mi) | 24 | Regional |
| Florence Regional Airport (FLO) | Florence, SC | 2 h 10 min (89 mi) | 65 | Regional |
| Charleston International Airport (CHS) | Charleston, SC | 2 h 15 min (103 mi) | 74 | Large hub |
Drive times run from the airport to Harry Hampton Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.
Regional airports have fewer flights, so compare fares with the larger hub.
Directions from the park service
From Interstate 77, Exit 5 At Exit 5 turn onto SC Hwy 48 East/Bluff Road. Following the brown and white "Congaree National Park" directional signs, travel approximately 8 miles on and then take a slight right onto Old Bluff Road. Follow Old Bluff Road for 4.5 miles to the park entrance sign, which will be on the right. Proceed one mile to the Harry Hampton Visitor Center. Parking lots will be on the right.
Hours
Open 24 hours, every day. Congaree National Park is generally open 24 hours a day year-round. For visitor and staff safety, park operations and/or weather conditions may occasionally result in short term, temporary closures. Please review the park webpage and social media platforms for more information. The Harry Hampton Visitor Center is open 9-5, daily. It is closed New Year's Day, President's Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. Please check alerts prior to your visit.
Visitor centers
- Harry Hampton Visitor Center: Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM. The Harry Hampton Visitor Center is open daily with the exception of New Year's Day, President's Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. PLEASE NOTE: The park and visitor center may close due to hazardous weather or for resource management work. Always check the park Alerts page prior to your visit.
Last gas, groceries and EV charging
Places mapped in OpenStreetMap within 5 miles (straight line) of Harry Hampton Visitor Center. Fill up before you head deep into the park: most parks have little or no fuel inside.
Gas stations (1 within reach)
| Place | Where | Miles | Fuel extras and hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-Mart | See map | 4.6 |
Grocery stores and supermarkets
None mapped within this distance. Stock up on food before you arrive; small camp stores may be the only option.
EV charging
None mapped within this distance. Charge fully before you arrive, and check PlugShare or your car’s app for chargers farther out.
Opening hours and fuel types are what local mappers have recorded, so call ahead in winter or off season. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License.
Getting around
Most parks are best seen by car. Fill up before you enter, since gas inside parks is limited or absent. Parking at popular trailheads fills early in summer.
Sources
- National Park Service Data API: directions, hours and visitor centers (public domain)
- OurAirports: airport list and locations (public domain)
- OSRM drive-time estimates on OpenStreetMap road data (ODbL)
- OpenStreetMap: gas stations, grocery stores and EV chargers (ODbL)
Last checked 1 November 2026.