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When I told people of my plans to visit a national park in South Carolina, people usually gave me a blank look in return. The nice lady at the front desk of my hotel in Columbia did not even know there was a national park just thirty minutes away! Enough other people had that reaction when I mentioned my trip to Congaree NP, it made me wonder, “Is Congaree National Park worth visiting?” Given that was also the primary search suggestion when I googled Congaree National Park as well, I am not the only one wondering.
So is Congaree worth visiting? In my opinion: yes! If you’re like me and have a goal to visit every national park site, whether something is worth visiting is kinda beside the point. I’m primarily interested in that checkmark or stamp in the passport. Even so, if you are not like me, Congaree national park is still worth visiting. Read on for five reasons why.
Five reasons Congaree is worth visiting
1. Fireflies
Congaree National Park is home to a synchronous firefly, called a sync snap, and is one of only two parks in the US where you can find this phenomenon. During their mating season in May and June, the fireflies blink in in unison, creating a spectacular sight. Or so I’ve been told. I don’t know, because even though I was in CNP during the firefly festival, I didn’t win a lottery pass to visit.
The Parks Department limits the number of vehicles that are allowed into the park every night to lessen the stress put on the the fireflies. The lottery fee is $25 and begins in April. Approximately 150 cars are allowed in each of the ten nights during the festival. This year, some 22000 applicants applied, so your chances of being selected are low. However, you should still apply because the trails and park is closed during mating season otherwise, so this is your chance to see the fireflies.
My friend had a suggestion that we hitch hike in, but we fell asleep before we were able to try it! The best place to watch the fireflies at Congaree is by the Visitor’s Center on the Firefly Trail. This phenomenon alone makes Congaree worth visiting – if you can win the lotttery!
2. Dog friendly
Congaree National Park is incredibly dog friendly – dogs are allowed on all of the trails within the park! Most national parks, like Rocky Mountain or Mt Rainier, don’t allow dogs on trails for pet and wildlife safety. Congaree does allow dogs, and even has a BARK Ranger program and mascot. I wrote in depth on how Congaree is dog friendly a few weeks ago. It’s worth reading for the cute doggo pictures alone.
3. Accessibility
Congaree is a very, very, very flat park. It is in a floodplain so there are only a few feet of elevation gain/loss on any trail. Additionally, the main Boardwalk Loop Trail is a flat, deck-like path that is wide enough for strollers or potentially a mobility device. CNP has a wide variety of trail lengths as well, and many intersect the Boardwalk Loop, so you can find the right length for your physical level. I was impressed at how easy it was to get around!
My sister, Hi Friends It’s Julia, was about six weeks out from breaking her foot, so while she could walk she couldn’t really “hike”. Congaree was terrific because we could take our time on the flat trails, and sit down on the benches around the Boardwalk Loop when we wanted a break. If you had mobility issues, have a stroller, or just prefer flatter trails, Congaree is worth a visit.
4. Easy day trip
Congaree is an easy day trip from many cities in the South. You could easily visit Congaree on a long day trip. Leave early in the morning to beat rush hour, and arrive at CNP at 9am when the visitor center opens. Walk the Boardwalk Loop Trail, and take a detour on the Weston Lake trail. Eat your packed lunch on a bench on the Boardwalk Loop, or at the picnic tables at the Visitor’s Center. If you head back through Columbia on your way home, stop at Railroad BBQ for some of the best barbecue I’ve ever had. A day trip makes this well worth visiting!
Atlanta: 3 hours
Charleston: 2 hours
Charlotte: 2 hours
Savannah: 2.5 hours
5. Great park to visit in the winter
Many of our national parks are located in mountain ranges, which make them stunningly beautiful and amazing to hike…during the summer. Congaree is the opposite – it is actually more miserable in the summer due to mosquitoes! The VC even has a skeeter meter sign to show how bad those pesky pests are.
Congaree was originally called ‘Congaree Swamp National Monument’, and while it isn’t technically a swamp, there is a bit of truth to the name. CNP is in a floodplain, and floods during the winter. While it is chillier, the floods mean you can kayak almost anywhere in the floodplain around Cedar Creek. Kayak tours, like from Carolina Outdoor Adventure ($80pp, 4 hour tour), kayak up the creek for a bit and then paddle around what is normally a trail or just trees! A benefit to the floods is that there are no mosquitoes.
Many times I’ve wanted to plan a national park trip in January, somewhere with no snow. Congaree would be terrific to visit in January or February, and definitely worth a visit.
I hope I’ve convinced you that Congaree National Park is worth visiting, whether it’s for the fireflies or the flooding. Send me an Instagram message if you found this information helpful.
Where to stay
- The Graduate Hotel, Columbia – from $200/nt, with $35 pet fee. Looks ADORABLE!
- The Cottage at Graymont, Columbia – from $248/nt, with $50 pet fee. A backyard, a hammock and more importantly a screened-in porch to keep those bugs out.
- Gypsy Camper, Congaree – from $100/nt. If glamping is your thing, this cute lil red trailer is an affordable way to stay near the park. Does not look like it has a pet fee. Does have washer/dryer available too!
- Courtyard Columbia-Cayce– I’m a Bonvoy gal myself. This Marriott is not pet-friendly but is the closest major hotel to Congaree. Several blogs I read while researching recommended this particular hotel.
More resources
- Congaree is incredibly dog friendly – I wish I could have brought Trusty Pup with me.
- My Columbia, SC and Congaree itinerary at a glance
- See ideas I saved on my Pinterest page. Save my pins to your boards too!
- If you’re traveling with a little one, pick up this Congaree Activity Book from Bookshop.org (af link)
