A gravel road curving into a high mountain valley at first light, the peaks catching the sun.

Army Corps of Engineers group campground

Crescent

Army Corps of Engineers group campground in Hartwell Lake, Anderson County, South Carolina. 664 feet. 6.9 miles from Starr.

Managed by
Army Corps of Engineers Hartwell Lake
Elevation
664 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
4 4 group standard electric
Longest rig
40 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
Electric, Water
Reservations
Recreation.gov

Overview

MUST BE RESERVED A MINIMUM OF TWO DAYS IN ADVANCE OF ARRIVAL DATE. Crescent Group Campground is a 41 acre site located on a narrow peninsula with gentle slopes and a scattered tree cover of pine and mixed hardwoods. The campground is specifically designated for group camping, consisting of two separate reservable loops. The site presently offers 2 park attendant/volunteer host campsites, 10 campsites on Loop A and 22 campsites on Loop B with full water and electric hookups, 2 standard shelters with water and electric service (1 on each loop), 2 comfort stations (1 with showers), 1 dump station, 1 playground, and associated paved and gravel roads and parking areas throughout. No boat ramp or courtesy dock is available at this site.

Recreation

Fishing is one of the most popular activities at the lake. Sought-after species include largemouth bass, bream, crappie, catfish, striped bass and hybrid bass.

The lake appeals to boaters of all kinds, whether their specialty is canoeing, sailing or motor boating. Coves and areas of quiet water provide water skiers with excellent surfaces.

Swimmers will find sand beaches and designated swim areas along the shoreline.

Facilities

The site presently offers 10 campsites on Loop A and 22 campsites on Loop B with full water and electric hookups, 2 standard shelters with water and electric service (1 on each loop), 2 comfort stations (1 with showers), 1 dump station, 1 playground, and associated paved and gravel roads and parking areas throughout. No boat ramp or courtesy dock is available at this site.

Natural Features

Hartwell Lake is a man-made lake bordering Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah, Tugaloo and Seneca Rivers. The dam and lake area boasts 8 campgrounds and 11 day-use facilities that are operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Hartwell Project was originally authorized for hydro-power, flood control, and navigation. Later, recreation, water quality, water supply and fish and wildlife management were added. Surrounding vegetation allows for plenty of shade, and the 962 miles of shoreline provide numerous swimming beaches, picnic areas and boat ramps.

Nearby Attractions

The campground is a short drive away from Clemson, South Carolina and Clemson University, offering additional tourism opportunities, along with grocery stores, gas stations and restaurants.

The description, directions and fees are the Army Corps of Engineers’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • boating
  • camping
  • fishing
  • swimming
  • water access

The land around Crescent

The ringed pin is this group campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.