Santee State Park

Santee State Park sits on about 2500 acres of land in the heart of Santee Cooper Country which is in the Sandhills of South Carolina on the western side of the 110,000-acre Lake Marion. To access the park, you can use two main roads including I-95. Take Exit 98 to Highway 6 and drive towards Elloree. The park is about one mile off Santee town. The other route you can use is from the city of Columbia using the I-26.

When you get to the park, you will find lots of attractive features including several sinkholes that are located in the park. The sinkholes were formed from the erosion of limestone rock that is found underneath the surface. Another strikingly significant feature in the park is a thriving cypress forest that can be found right in the middle of the enormous manmade lake.

If you visit the park, you can also enjoy lots of recreational activities including tennis, camping, bicycling, interpretive programs, fishing, boating, and hiking.

Some of the amenities that will facilitate these recreational activities include one Village Round (can accommodate about 75 people), two campgrounds, 158 standard campsites (48 of which have 50-amp electricity), six picnic shelters, 30 modern cabins, two boat ramps, over ten miles of hiking and biking trails, and a park store with a wi-fi lounge.

You can also bring your dog to the park for joint recreational activities. If you bring your dog, you should be aware of the standard state park rules. Some of the rules that you should adhere to include the following. You must keep your dog on a leash no longer than six feet long (or keep your dog in a secure enclosure). 

You must avoid areas outside park buildings and inside park buildings. You must keep your pooch well-behaved or avoid disturbing wildlife within the park or risk being kicked out of the park. That said, in most cases, you are allowed to explore most outdoor areas of the park.