News Release

Congaree National Park Increasing Nightly Campground Fees

Date: December 1, 2022
Contact: Jon Manchester, 803-647-3964

HOPKINS, SC – Congaree National Park will be increasing the fee for nightly campsite reservations in the park’s designated frontcountry campgrounds. New nightly reservation rates will be as follows:

 - The nightly fee for reserving a campsite at the Bluff Campground will be raised from $5 per night to $10 per night.
 - The nightly fee for reserving a standard campsite at the Longleaf Campground will be raised from $10 per night to $15 per night.
 - The nightly fee for reserving a group campsite at the Longleaf Campground will be raised from $20 per night to $25 per night.

New reservation rates will go into effect on January 1, 2023.

The purpose of increasing reservation fee rates is to enable the park to cover the cost of Congaree National Park’s use of the national reservation service contract that is hosted at www.recreation.gov. Recreation.gov charges contractor line item (CLIN) costs, ranging from $6-8 per reservation made through either the online reservation system or call center. Currently the park assumes these costs, which are deducted from the fees collected for campsite reservations. By recovering these CLIN costs, the park will be able to reinvest these funds into enhancing visitor services and improving facilities at Congaree.

Expanded amenity fees charged to visitors for the use of facilities like the park campgrounds provide funding that can be directly invested into the improvement and maintenance of those same facilities. Over the past several years funds generated by campground reservation fees have been used to:

 - Purchase and install new fire rings at the Bluff and Longleaf Campgrounds
 - Build and install new picnic tables in the Bluff and Longleaf Campgrounds
 - Purchase and install new lantern hooks at all campsites in the Longleaf Campground
 - Mitigate ponding issues on certain campsites in the Longleaf Campground

Funds generated by expanded amenity fees have also helped with other park projects such as the design, building, and installation of a new desk in the Harry Hampton Visitor Center and the clearing of encroaching vegetation from around the picnic shelter. 100% of all funds generated through expanded amenity fees stays within the park and can be used by Congaree National Park to continue providing the best experience possible for visitors.