Woods Bay State Park is a state park in Olanta, Sumter County, in South Carolina's Pee Dee. Admission is free. It is open 9 a.m.–sunset daily. Facts read from the official page on October 25, 2026.
- Hours9 a.m.–sunsetofficial hours below
- AdmissionFree entry
- WhereOlantaSumter County, Pee Dee
- DogsLeashed, 6 ftrules below
About Woods Bay State Park
Woods Bay protects one of the last large Carolina bays on the coastal plain, 1,590 acres of marsh, sandhills, forest and shrub bog. A 1,150-foot boardwalk goes into the cypress-tupelo swamp, where alligators are often seen.
Plan It In Three Lines
Getting In
Free to enter.
9 a.m.–sunsetBring The Dog?
Pets are allowed in most outdoor areas provided they are kept under physical restraint or on a leash not longer than six feet.
Full rules belowMake It A Day
Lee State Park is about 22 miles away (straight line).
2 places within 30 miles
Woods Bay State Park Hours
Hours in a day
- ParkEvery day9 a.m.–sunset
Bars that fade start at sunrise or end at sunset or dark, which move with the season. The full hours, word for word, are in the list below.
- 9 a.m. – Sunset, daily
- Park office: The office at Woods Bay is temporarily closed due to construction. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Admission And Passes
- Free admission
Passes: the All Park Passport is $99 and gives unlimited entry to every South Carolina state park for everyone in the pass holder’s vehicle for one year; a seven-day passport is $65 (sold at the parks, not online). Half-price passports exist for SC seniors 65 and older and some other residents. Source: southcarolinaparks.com Park Passports, read October 25, 2026. Compare every park on our State Parks Passport page.
Directions And Contact
- Address: 11020 Woods Bay Rd Olanta, SC 29114
- Phone: 843.659.4445
- Map point: 33.94599,-79.99285, from OpenStreetMap, checked against the U.S. Census geocode of the street address. Directions in Google Maps
- Official page: southcarolinaparks.com/woods-bay
Dogs And Strollers
- Pets are allowed in most outdoor areas provided they are kept under physical restraint or on a leash not longer than six feet. Owners will be asked to remove noisy or dangerous pets or pets that threaten or harass wildlife.
Not confirmed: stroller rules. The official page we read does not mention strollers; boardwalks and paved paths may suit them, but call ahead.
Near Woods Bay State Park
- 1Lee State ParkState Parkabout 22 mi
- 2Black River State ParkState Parkabout 28 mi
Straight-line distances between map points, not driving miles. Dots sit in their true compass direction; distance is stretched near the middle so close neighbors stay readable.
Coming Up Near Woods Bay State Park
- Oct 29Haunted Hotel Invades the Center (free trick-or-treat, Florence Center)Florence · about 20 mi
- Nov 6–14One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Florence Little Theatre)Florence · about 20 mi
- Nov 6–7Partzilla ArenacrossFlorence · about 20 mi
- Nov 7SC Pecan Music and Food Festival (22nd annual)Florence · about 20 mi
- Nov 9Florence Symphony Orchestra: Lyric & FireFlorence · about 20 mi
- Nov 12Gaelic Storm at FMU Performing Arts CenterFlorence · about 20 mi
32 more on the full events calendar.
Events within 40 miles, measured in a straight line to the centre of the event's town. Dates come from our checked events list; confirm with the organizer.
FAQ
How much does it cost to visit Woods Bay State Park?
Admission is free.
Are dogs allowed at Woods Bay State Park?
Pets are allowed in most outdoor areas provided they are kept under physical restraint or on a leash not longer than six feet. Owners will be asked to remove noisy or dangerous pets or pets that threaten or harass wildlife.
Does the All Park Passport cover this park?
Day admission here is free, so you do not need a passport for entry; it still covers the parks that charge.
What are the hours at Woods Bay State Park?
9 a.m. – Sunset, daily.
What We Could Not Verify
- Holiday and storm closures change at short notice; check the official page the day you go.
- Stroller rules are not stated on the official page.
Sources
- Woods Bay State Park official page (read 2026-10-25)
- South Carolina State Parks: Park Passports (read 2026-10-25)
- OpenStreetMap (map point)
Last checked October 25, 2026 by the It’s South Carolina editor. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Cite this page: It's South Carolina, “Woods Bay State Park”, itssouthcarolina.com/places/woods-bay-state-park/ (updated ). By the It's South Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.