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Barnwell State Park

Barnwell State Park is a state park in Blackville, Barnwell County, in South Carolina's Midlands. Admission is free. It is open 9 a.m.–dark daily. Facts read from the official page on October 25, 2026.

  • Hours9 a.m.–darkofficial hours below
  • AdmissionFree entry
  • WhereBlackvilleBarnwell County, Midlands
  • DogsLeashed, 6 ftrules below
Park notice, read October 25, 2026: Barnwell State Park is lowering the lake again in an effort to control water loss in the riser. Hopefully this will only take a couple of weeks, dependent upon rain amounts. (shortened; the full notice is on the park page) Read it on the official page.

About Barnwell State Park

Barnwell is one of 16 South Carolina state parks built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and its three small lakes are stocked with crappie, bream, bass and catfish. Cabins and a campground sit a short walk from the water, with two 1.5-mile nature trails.

Plan It in Three Lines

  1. Getting In

    Free to enter.

    9 a.m.–dark

  2. Bring The Dog?

    Beginning January 1, 2020, pets will be allowed in cabin 2. This cabin will be designated as pet friendly.

    Full rules below

  3. Make It a Day

    Aiken State Park is about 18 miles away (straight line).

    2 places within 30 miles

Barnwell State Park Hours

Hours at a Glance

Hours in a day

  • ParkEvery day9 a.m.–dark

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.

  • M-Su 9 a.m. to dark, year round
  • Park office: 11a.m.-noon & 4-5 p.m.

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

Dogs and Strollers

  • Beginning January 1, 2020, pets will be allowed in cabin 2. This cabin will be designated as pet friendly. Pets are allowed in most other 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. Pets are not allowed in cabin 2 or the cabin area prior to January 1, 2020.

Not confirmed: stroller rules. The official page we read does not mention strollers; boardwalks and paved paths may suit them, but call ahead.

Near Barnwell State Park

Around Barnwell State Park within 30 miles
10 mi20 mi30 miNSEW12
  1. 1Aiken State ParkState Parkabout 18 mi
  2. 2Battle of Rivers Bridge State Historic SiteState Historic Siteabout 23 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 Barnwell State Park

12 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 Barnwell State Park?

Admission is free.

Are dogs allowed at Barnwell State Park?

Beginning January 1, 2020, pets will be allowed in cabin 2. This cabin will be designated as pet friendly. Pets are allowed in most other 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. Pets are not allowed in cabin 2 or the cabin area prior to January 1, 2020.

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 Barnwell State Park?

M-Su 9 a.m. to dark, year round.

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

  1. Barnwell State Park official page (read 2026-10-25)
  2. South Carolina State Parks: Park Passports (Read 2026-10-25)
  3. 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, “Barnwell State Park”, itssouthcarolina.com/places/barnwell-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.