We know gas prices are at the top of everyone’s mind this year, so we’ve created a very short road trip that’s packed with just the sort of excitement needed when it’s hot outside. Come along with us to visit three waterfall South Carolina swimming holes in three days, with two nights spent in wonderful campgrounds where you can spend your evenings roasting marshmallows or toasting hot dogs by the campfire. And the best part? This weekend road trip adventure covers only 41 miles so you won’t empty your wallet buying gasoline!

The road trip begins on day one on the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Byway, where a roadside park has a hidden natural water slide and a smooth rock beach perfect for a day of fun.

Here's a link to a Google Map to guide your journey.
Google Maps [enhanced with map pins and text]
Day one is spent on the extra-long shoal at the appropriately named Long Shoals Roadside Park.
Long Shoals Road, Long Shoals Rd, North Carolina, USA
Google/Wayne Wood
The park features a natural water slide that is best experienced on top of a raft or tube, but some prefer to hit the slide without either. At the bottom is a shallow pool perfect for cooling down in the cold mountain waters of Little Eastatoe Creek.
The location is popular with the locals so plan to share the fun and possibly make new friends.
Google/Stacia Brown
The shoals and the smooth-rock beach at the park extend for approximately 700 feet so there is plenty of room to find a spot to call your own. (Of note: there are no trash receptacles here so please bring a trash bag in your gear so you can remove everything you bring in.) At the end of this day of fun, we'll head to an underrated state park for the night. The perfect first spot on our South Carolina road trip.
Keowee Toxaway State Park is located right on the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Byway.
Keowee Toxaway State Park, 108 Residence Dr, Sunset, SC 29685, USA
Google/Sam Feltus
Get online before your trip and make a camping reservation so you'll have a spot to hunker down for the night.
Google/Candace Moore
Before nightfall, check out the trails in the park. The views of Lake Keowee are breathtaking! Tomorrow morning, fold up camp early and let's hit the road for a hike to a waterfall beach found in the middle of the forest. You’ll want to see the rest of these swimming holes in South Carolina.

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Riley Moore Falls is found at the end of a one-mile hike through the forest. Some say it's easy, while others aren't too keen on the last hundred feet or so where the trail descends down to the beach area.
Riley Moore Falls, Riley Moore Falls Trail, Westminster, SC 29693, USA
Google/Mark Mefferd (TigerMark44)
The waterfall stretches the entire width of the Chauga River here and measures about 12 feet in height. One of the best South Carolina swimming holes!
At its base is a swimming lagoon with wading pools all around the edges.
TripAdvisor/Melissa O
Next to the lagoon is a sandy beach where you can hunker down for the day. Bring a picnic, plenty to drink, sunscreen — and don't forget an empty garbage bag. Again, there are no trash receptacles here.

Next, we'll head over to Westminster for the final leg of this three-day, 41-mile waterfall swimming hole road trip.
We spent the first night at Keowee Toxaway State Park, and the second night of the trip calls for camping at Chau Ram County Park.
Google/John Farrish
Check the park's website for making camping reservations in advance.
Known for the recreational opportunities on both the Chauga River and Ramsey Creek, Chau Ram County Park just may be the highlight of this road trip. At the center of the park is a 30-foot-tiered waterfall with a plunge pool at the base.
Google/Jennifer Thornton
And throughout the park, visitors find beach after beach and nice lazy spots along the river for cooling off and relaxing in the water.
Chau Ram County Park, 1220 Chau Ram Park Rd, Westminster, SC 29693, USA
Google/Paul Cuenin
The best end to your road trip in South Carolina!

How about it? Are you up for three days and two fun nights exploring three waterfall South Carolina swimming holes? With only 41 miles to travel among the three swimming holes, this road trip is ripe for saving tons of money on gas, that’s for sure!

Looking for more great places to swim? Check out our favorite South Carolina beaches!

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More to Explore

South Carolina Swimming Holes

Megan McDonald | May 05, 2023

Where are the best swimming holes in South Carolina?

The best swimming holes in South Carolina can be found all across the state. South Carolina is home to some of the most beautiful natural swimming holes in the country, and they are perfect for cooling off during the hot summer months. From the crystal-clear waters of Devil's Fork State Park to the stunning scenery of Rainbow Falls and King Creek Falls, there is no shortage of incredible destinations to choose from. Other must-visit spots include Matthews Creek Swimming Hole, Long Shoals Wayside Park, and Secret Falls, each of which offers its own unique blend of natural beauty and peaceful solitude.

Here are some of the best swimming holes in South Carolina that you need to visit:

 

Where can you swim in South Carolina?

Visitors to South Carolina can swim in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean at popular destinations like Myrtle Beach, Folly Beach, and Hilton Head Island, or take a dip in one of the state's many stunning lakes and rivers, such as Lake Marion or the Congaree River. 

For those looking to beat the heat and escape the crowds, South Carolina's natural swimming holes offer a refreshing alternative, with options like Devil's Fork State Park, Matthews Creek Swimming Hole, and Stumphouse Tunnel Park and Issaqueena Falls offering unparalleled scenery and peaceful solitude. 

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