National Park · South Carolina, United States
Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park is a national park in South Carolina, United States, covering 26,693 acres (10,802 ha), established in 2003; it recorded 287,833 visits in 2025.
National Park · South Carolina, United States
No freely licensed photograph of this park is in our library yet — rather than borrow a picture of somewhere else, this profile leads with its verified facts.
Park facts
| Park type | National Park |
|---|---|
| Location | South Carolina, United States |
| Area | 26,693 acres (10,802 ha) |
| Established | 2003 |
| Annual visits (2025) | 287,833 |
| Coordinates | 33.7800° N, 80.7800° W |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
About Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park is a 26,692.6-acre (41.7 sq mi; 108.0 km2) national park of the United States in central South Carolina, 18 miles southeast of the state capital, Columbia. The park preserves the largest tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States. The lush trees growing in its floodplain forest are some of the tallest in the eastern United States, forming one of the highest temperate deciduous forest canopies remaining in the world. The Congaree River flows through the park. About 15,000 acres (23.4 sq mi; 60.7 km2) are designated as a wilderness area.
Description from the park's Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA), linked in the sources below.
Planning your visit
Best time to visit
October to April — cooler, drier months with fewer mosquitoes; summers are hot and humid
What to do
Getting there
| Nearest town | Columbia, South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Columbia Metropolitan Airport |
Where to stay
| Campgrounds | Limited |
|---|
Famous trails
- Boardwalk Loop Trail — 2.4 miles (3.9 km) — Easy
Like Congaree National Park? Visit Congaree National Park’s official park page for hours and current conditions before you travel.
Airports near this park
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Charleston International Airport (CHS) · Charleston, United States · 74.6 miles away
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) · Charlotte, United States · 99.5 miles away
- Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) · Myrtle Beach, United States · 106.6 miles away
Parks nearby
More parks in South Carolina
Frequently asked questions
Where is Congaree National Park?
Congaree National Park is in South Carolina, United States (33.7800° N, 80.7800° W).
When was Congaree National Park established?
Congaree National Park was established in 2003, per the source listed at the foot of this page.
How big is Congaree National Park?
Congaree National Park covers 26,693 acres (10,802 ha).
How many people visit Congaree National Park each year?
It recorded 287,833 recreation visits in 2025, the latest published figure.
When is the best time to visit Congaree National Park?
October to April — cooler, drier months with fewer mosquitoes; summers are hot and humid.
Does Congaree National Park have campgrounds?
Yes, but campgrounds at Congaree National Park are limited.
How do I get to Congaree National Park?
The nearest town is Columbia, South Carolina. The nearest airport is Columbia Metropolitan Airport.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_United_States_National_Park_System_official_units — Wikipedia list of National Park System official units — unit name, state, official designation.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_areas_in_the_United_States_National_Park_System — Wikipedia list of National Park System areas — year established and gross area.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_parks_of_the_United_States — Wikipedia list of US national parks — coordinates, established date, area, recreation visitors (2025), description.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congaree_National_Park — Wikipedia article — description (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.nps.gov/cong/ — Official park page.