Save Money on South Carolina State Parks!

South Carolina State Parks have a number of admission options. If you can’t afford the $99 annual All Park Passport, don’t panic. There are many ways that you can save money and still enjoy South Carolina State Parks all year long!

South Carolina State Parks Discounts

There are many ways that you can get discounts on your South Carolina State Parks Pass! Browse the options below to find the best deal that applies to you.

Palmetto Passport = 50% Discount

Certain South Carolina residents can purchase a discounted Park Passport! If you meet the criteria for the discounted passport program, you can save 50% off the purchase price. Instead of paying $99 per year, you’ll pay $45.50. That’s a great deal!

In order to be eligible for this deal, you must meet ONE of these requirements:

• You are a South Carolina resident who is at least 65 years old; OR
• You are a South Carolina resident who is legally blind; OR
• You are a South Carolina resident who is 100% disabled; OR
• You are an active member of the South Carolina National Guard.

If you meet those requirements, you can bring proof of your eligibility with you to purchase your discounted pass. These discounted passes can be purchased at any South Carolina State Park or at the State House Gift Shop in Columbia.

Because the Parks Passport is a hangtag, it covers all of the people in your vehicle. However, you have to be present in order for people to use your discounted pass. Park employees can request the ID of the passholder!

Remember, this is an annual pass. It does not appear that there is an option for a SC State Park Lifetime Pass at this time.

35% Discount on Amenities

Residents who meet the requirements for a discounted Park Passport, then you can also save an additional 35% on special amenities.

Some of the amenities that can be discounted include:

• Camping
• Picnic and Day Use shelters
• Golf
• Fishing pier admission

This program definitely has limits. There are no special discounts for lodging or equipment rentals. You cannot get a discount on leased facilities or meeting facilities, either.

Discounts for Out-of-State Guests

If you are visiting from out of state, you may be able to get a 35% discount on amenities at certain parks.

In order to be eligible for this discounted rate, you must visit a participating park and meet eligibility requirements. Currently, that means that you must be a United States Resident who is at least 65 years old, or blind, or 100% disabled.

This discount is only available at the following parks:

• Baker Creek
• Calhoun Falls
• Hamilton Branch
• Hickory Knob
• Lake Hartwell
• Sadlers Creek

Please note that you cannot get the Palmetto Pass unless you are a South Carolina resident.

Temporary Deals

The South Carolina State Parks website is regularly updated with seasonal and temporary deals. At the time of this writing, there are discounts on weekday cabin rentals or 30-day winter campsites.

These deals clearly change periodically, so it’s important to always check for the latest discounts on the parks website. However, at the time of this writing, it appears that all the discounts are limited to special amenities at certain parks.

Other Ways to Save

There are other ways that you can save money on your next South Carolina State Parks adventure as well!

Choose a Daily Pass Instead

If you don’t visit the parks regularly, you may be able to save a lot of money by paying the daily rate. On the SC Park Store, it appears that some parks charge admission ranging from $1-$4 per person.

If you don’t have many people in your vehicle or you don’t visit often, a daily pass could be much more affordable than the All Parks Passport.

Choose a One-Week Pass Instead

If you can’t afford an annual pass, you may be able to go on a weeklong adventure with a Seven-Day Passport instead! This pass is $65 and includes unlimited entry to all 47 parks for seven days.

It’s important to note that this pass has to be used within seven days of purchase. It’s only valid for seven consecutive days, not seven days of your choice.

Choose a SELECT Passport Instead

In 2020, South Carolina retired their Inland Park Passport and created the SELECT Park Passport instead. This park pass only covers admission to 35 of the state’s 47 parks.

The parks you cannot visit with a SELECT Passport include:

• Hunting Island
• Huntington Beach
• Myrtle Beach
• Edisto Beach
• Charles Towne Landing
• Devils Fork
• Table Rock
• Sesquicentennial
• Paris Mountain
• Givhans Ferry
• Jones Gap
• Landsford Canal

The SELECT Parks Passport is $24 cheaper than the All Parks Passport.

About South Carolina State Parks

Anyone can get admission to the parks by purchasing an All Park Passport. This pass has a regular price of $99 per year and provides free admission for one complete year from the purchase date. The Passport is a hangtag, so it can be moved between vehicles.

In addition to park entry, the All Park Passport also provides free admission to certain features that typically charge extra. These include the historic homes at Redcliffe, Rose Hill and Hampton Plantations. You can also get free admission to the historic lighthouse at Hunting Island State Park or the historic Atalaya Castle at Huntington Beach State Park.

There are currently 47 South Carolina State Parks.

Summary

There are many ways that you can save money on your next South Carolina State Parks adventure! From discounts to free admission programs, this article reviews many different ways that you can enjoy all that the state has to offer on a budget. You may also be able to get discounts on a National Parks Pass or free admission to state parks in other states as well!