Do I need a reservation for Congaree?

No. Congaree National Park does not require a timed-entry or vehicle reservation to enter in 2026. Congaree National Park charges no entrance fee.

Is there an entrance fee at Congaree?

No. Congaree does not charge an entrance fee. Other requirements on this page may still apply.

Congaree reservations & entry requirements, 2026

The 2026 season at Congaree

This is what applies across the published season. Use the date checker below for a specific day.

No reservation is required to enter Congaree National Park in 2026.

This park does not charge an entrance fee.

Park entrance
Not required
Congaree National Park does not charge an entrance fee.
- Congaree charges nothing to enter. Camping is the only park fee, and it is charged per site through Recreation.gov.
Timed entry
Not applicable
Congaree National Park has no timed-entry system.
Vehicle, road, or corridor
Not required
Nothing here is required in 2026.
- Flooding closes the boardwalk and backcountry trails several times a year. Flooding is episodic, not calendar-scheduled. Check the Cedar Creek gauge (flood stage ~8 feet) and the Congaree River gauge (flood stage ~15 feet) before visiting.
Shuttle
Not applicable
Congaree National Park has no shuttle system.
Your campground or lodging
Required all year
Frontcountry campground reservation applies on every date in 2026.
- Frontcountry campground reservation
  Dates
  Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
  Hours
  All day
  Fee
  $15
  Opens
  Rolling window
  Applies to Longleaf Campground and Bluff Campground
  - Longleaf: $15 per night for a regular tent site, $25 per night for a group site. Bluff: $10 per night. Senior and Access passholders get 50% off. Tents and hammocks only - no RVs or trailers.
  - Backcountry camping uses a separate free permit rather than a Recreation.gov reservation.
  - There is no entrance fee, so a campground reservation has no effect on entry. It only secures the site. You cannot pay at the park.
Book on recreation.gov(opens in a new tab)
Selected activity
Required all year
Backcountry camping permit applies on every date in 2026.
- Backcountry camping permit
  Dates
  Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
  Hours
  All day
  Fee
  None
  Opens
  No advance booking
  Applies to All park backcountry - everything outside the designated frontcountry strip along Cedar Creek between Bannister Bridge and Cedar Creek canoe accesses
  - Backcountry Camping: FREE.
  - Day visitors do not need any permit.
  - Requests made within 72 hours of the trip will not be considered.

Fees and passes

Congaree does not charge an entrance fee.

Congaree charges nothing to enter. Camping is the only park fee, and it is charged per site through Recreation.gov.

An America the Beautiful pass is accepted here. It covers the entrance fee only. It does not cover a timed-entry permit, a vehicle reservation, a parking tag, a shuttle ticket, or an activity permit.

There is no entrance fee for a pass to cover. Senior and Access passholders do get 50% off the campground fee. The park cannot reliably sell or issue interagency passes because it has no fee staff.

Fee-free days

Feb 16, 2026
May 25, 2026
Jun 14, 2026
Jul 3, 2026
Jul 4, 2026
Jul 5, 2026
Aug 25, 2026
Sep 17, 2026
Oct 27, 2026
Nov 11, 2026

From 2026 a fee-free day waives the entrance fee for U.S. residents. Other visitors still pay it. A fee-free day never waives a reservation, a permit, or a booking fee unless the park says so.

Rules that apply to one area only

These do not apply to the whole park. Where you go changes the answer.

Longleaf Campground and Bluff CampgroundFrontcountry campground reservation required in advance - no walk-up payment · Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
All park backcountry - everything outside the designated frontcountry strip along Cedar Creek between Bannister Bridge and Cedar Creek canoe accessesFree backcountry camping permit, requested by email at least 72 hours ahead · Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026

What a campground or lodging booking does and does not cover

Nothing at Congaree changes based on whether you have an in-park campground or lodging booking.

Quick answers

Do I need a reservation for Congaree?: No. Congaree National Park does not require a timed-entry or vehicle reservation to enter in 2026. Congaree National Park charges no entrance fee.
Is there an entrance fee at Congaree?: No. Congaree does not charge an entrance fee. Other requirements on this page may still apply.

Official links, coverage, and sources

When reservations are released

Frontcountry campground reservationReleased on a rolling window. Booked through Recreation.gov or 1-877-444-6777. NPS does not publish a booking-window length or a daily release time for these campgrounds.

Official booking and park information

Book Frontcountry campground reservationrecreation.gov(opens in a new tab)$15 booking fee
Official park alerts and conditionsnps.gov(opens in a new tab)Alerts override anything on this page.
Official fees and passesnps.gov(opens in a new tab)

What this does not cover

Road, weather, and fire closures that change day to day. Check the park’s alerts page.
Backcountry and wilderness permits beyond the headline permits listed above.
Commercial use authorizations, filming permits, and group-size rules.
Availability. We tell you what is required, not whether anything is left.
Individual campsite and lodge availability, which is handled by the booking system.

Effective dates and sources

Fees and passesNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Park entranceEntrance to Congaree National Park is free. There is no fee to enter the park.
Fees & Passes - Congaree National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to No entrance fee at CongareeAn entrance pass is not required to access Congaree National Park. ... Entrance to Congaree National Park is free. There is no fee to enter the park.
Camping - Congaree National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Frontcountry campground reservationAll campers are required to have a reservation to camp in either of the two frontcountry campgrounds (Longleaf Campground and Bluff Campground) or have a valid permit to camp in the backcountry. ... Can I pay in person at the park? No.
Camping - Congaree National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Backcountry camping permitCamping in the backcountry requires a free permit. ... requests must be submitted at least 72 hours in advance of a trip. Requests made within 72 hours will not be considered.
Current Conditions - Congaree National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Flooding closes the boardwalk and backcountry trailsCongaree National Park lies within the floodplain of the Congaree River. and is subject to periodic flooding which occurs approximately ten times each year. With almost 80% of the park lying within the floodplain, these floods make the backcountry trails and even parts of the boardwalk inaccessible.

Something wrong here?

Park rules change, sometimes at short notice. If a line on this page does not match what the park publishes, tell us and we will fix it and re-check the source.

corrections@nationalparkentry.com· Last factual change 2026-08-05 · Sources last reviewed 2026-07-26

Nearest other national parks

Chosen by distance from Congaree, not by editorial preference.

Congaree National Park entry requirements