FREE Sumter National Forest Long Cane District, includes Saluda, Greenwood, Edgefield, Abbeville, McCormick counties. With a free permit available from the District HQ in Edgefield, you can camp for free for 2 weeks at a time anywhere in the forest. Most roads are rough but I've driven on them in a small family car just fine and the dead end roads have grassy cul-de-sacs at the end, perfect for pitching a tent or turning around. Just be careful of possible criminal activity, this land can range from being adjacent to towns, villages, and trailer parks, with a few stores and cell service to places that are isolated from everything but small service roads. Just remember: if you camp on the side of US 378, it won't be private, the deeper you go into the forest, and the more service roads you go down, the more private it will be. If you have a Jeep, you can go down the logging roads which are perfectly isolated. I strongly recommend bringing a 2-Way radio with you. This is USFS land, just pick a MVUM at the office so you know which land is public and which is private. But if you don't do that, then look out for the brown FSR shields or the yellow USFS signs. <br />Directions: From Columbia, take I-126 to I-20 (or just one of the I-20 exits). On I-20, drive to Exit 33 to SC 39. Merge with US 178 in Saluda, you'll want to pick up supplies here. At the intersection with US 378, take 378 west out of Saluda. Once you cross May Road, the National Forest will be on your right side. You'll have to venture down the County Highways to find the service roads and campgrounds. <br />From Charlotte, take I-77 south to Exit 16, take I-20 west. On I-20, drive to Exit 33 to SC 39. Merge with US 178 in Saluda, you'll want to pick up supplies here. At the intersection with US 378, take 378 west out of Saluda. Once you cross May Road, the National Forest will be on your right side. You'll have to venture down the County Highways to find the service roads and campgrounds. <br />From Charleston, take I-26 west to Exit 107, then take I-20 west.On I-20, drive to Exit 33 to SC 39. Merge with US 178 in Saluda, you'll want to pick up supplies here. At the intersection with US 378, take 378 west out of Saluda. Once you cross May Road, the National Forest will be on your right side. You'll have to venture down the County Highways to find the service roads and campgrounds. <br />From Atlanta, take I-20 east to South Carolina Exit 33 to SC 39. Merge with US 178 in Saluda, you'll want to pick up supplies here. At the intersection with US 378, take 378 west out of Saluda. Once you cross May Road, the National Forest will be on your right side. You'll have to venture down the County Highways to find the service roads and campgrounds.
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last modified 2019-07-14 09:44:00Z
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