Love the outdoors, but don't want to sleep alfresco? South Carolina State Parks offer a variety of accommodations - from historic cabins to contemporary villas - for those preferring four walls and a roof between them and Mother Nature.
Pick your paradise - beachfront, lakeside, near the mountains or in the woods. Whatever setting you choose, you'll find cozy quarters with all the essentials for a comfortable stay - heat and air conditioning, well-stocked kitchens and, most importantly, indoor plumbing.
Some go beyond the basics, offering the kinds of modern amenities you'd expect in a hotel, including microwave, coffeemaker, high-definition flat-screen TV and even wireless service.
Here are 14 state parks for tent-averse outdoor enthusiasts:
1. Barnwell State Park
Located in Blackville, Barnwell State Park offers two-bedroom cabins located just a short walk from the park's fishing lakes. Nightly rate is $50-$65.
2. Cheraw State Park
Visitors booking a one-bedroom cabin in peak season receive vouchers to play the park's 18-hole championship golf course. Nightly rate is $65-$133.
3. Devils Fork State Park
Located in Salem, Devils Fork State Park offers two- and three-bedroom contemporary villas overlooking the Upcountry's beautiful Lake Jocassee. Nightly rate is $100-$200 and includes access to a boat ramp reserved exclusively for villa guests.
4. Dreher Island State Park
Dreher Island State Park in Prosperity offers modern two- and three-bedroom villas on Lake Murray. Villas rent for $105-$206 per night.
5. Edisto Beach State Park
Newly renovated one- and three-bedroom cabins at Edisto Beach State Park overlook Scott Creek and the marsh. Guests have access to a dock for crabbing and fishing. Nightly rate is $80-$166.
6. Givhans Ferry State Park
Located in Ridgeville, Givhans Ferry State Park offers two-bedroom cabins located on a bluff overlooking the Edisto River. Nightly rate is $60-$75.
7. Hickory Knob State Resort Park
Pick from one-bedroom duplex cabins just steps from Lake Thurmond ($70-$105 per night), the two-bedroom restored historic French Huguenot Guillebeau House built circa 1770 ($87-$135) or a motel room next to the lake or lodge ($50-$82).
8. Hunting Island State Park
Book early to rent the park's only cabin. Nightly rate for the two-bedroom oceanfront unit is $210.
9. Keowee-Toxaway State Park
Keowee-Toxaway State Park in Sunset offers a three-bedroom cabin overlooking Lake Keowee and a private boat dock. Nightly rate is $93-$201.
10. Myrtle Beach State Park
Two-, three- and four-bedroom cabins are just 200 yards from the beach. Nightly rate is $65-$210.
11. Oconee State Park
Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the Great Depression, the park's rustic cabins have been updated with all the modern conveniences you'll need. Most of the cabins overlook mountain lakes. Nightly rate is $61-$125.
12. Poinsett State Park
Enjoy the "mountains in the Midlands" in one- or two-bedroom historic cabins built on a hilltop by the CCC. Nightly rate is $70-$120.
13. Santee State Park
Accommodations at Santee State Park include 30 two-bedroom cabins: 10 "rodette" cabins built on a pier overlooking Lake Marion and 20 on the lakeshore. Nightly rate is $80-$120.
14. Table Rock State Park
The historic CCC built one-, two- and three-bedroom cabins featuring classic "parkitecture" design with hand-hewn beams, heart of pine floors and chinking between the logs. Nightly rate is $80-$181.
