Congaree National Park

How to Get to Congaree National Park:

Congaree National Park is located 20 miles southeast of Columbia, South Carolina. Take Exit 5 off I-77 and follow signs (15 miles).

Recommended Scenic Routes Near Congaree National Park:

If you are approaching Congaree National Park from from Charleston, I'd recommend that you spend some time driving the 11-mile Ashley River Road. Featuring Southern plantations and old churches, this national scenic byway captures the history of the American South and the culture of South Carolina's low-country, including a rich African-American culture. Points of interest include: Drayton Hall, the only pre-Revolutionary plantation house remaining on the historic Ashley River Road; Fort Bull, Confederate earthworks constructed in 1863; and the Old St. Andrew's Church and Middleton Place, both National Historic Landmarks.

Following the Ashley River along SC 61, byway begins at milepost 5.84 (Charleston County) in Church Creek, follows SC 61, and ends at milepost 15.75 (Dorchester County) near SC 165.

Park Size:

26,546 acres

Description:

Congaree Swamp preserves, in a wilderness state, the largest intact tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the United States as well as many other plant and animal species associated with an alluvial floodplain. It features some of the tallest trees in the East with one of the highest canopies in the world. Though not a true swamp, it is recognized as an International Biosphere Reserve and National Natural Landmark.

Things to Do at Congaree National Park:

Hiking, primitive camping, birdwatching, picnicking, canoeing & kayaking, Ranger guided interpretive walks and canoe tours, nature study, and environmental education programs.

Operating Hours:

Operating hours 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily except for Christmas Day.

History:

Authorized as a National Monument on October 18, 1976; wilderness designated on October 24, 1988. Designated a Biosphere Reserve in 1983. Designated a National Park on November 10, 2003.

Contact Information:

Congaree National Park
100 National Park Road
Hopkins, SC 29061
803-776-4396