Will SC State parks be open on Thanksgiving? Where to get outside in the Midlands
Want to get outside Thursday before or after the feast? You have plenty of options in the Midlands.
Two big things to know
- South Carolina State Parks are open on Thanksgiving Day. Some visitor’s centers and other facilities may be closed, and the parks won’t be offering tours on Thursday, but the parks will be open, the department confirmed on its social media.
- The next day, on Friday, Nov. 28, admission to all South Carolina State Parks will be free and so will historic house tours at several parks.
Get started planning your Thanksgiving hike by reading about a handful of the Midlands’ state parks.
State parks in the Midlands
Pine Island
A brand-new state park on the Lake Murray Pine Island that was once a private getaway site for SCE&G employees is finally open. It’s having a soft opening through Spring 2026 so it’s currently only open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
- Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Cost:
- Adults: $6
- 65+: $3.75
- Kids 6-15: $3.50
- Kids under 5: free
- Getting there
- Address: 150 Pine Island Rd. Columbia.
- Drive:
- From Southeast Columbia: about 35 minutes
- From Lexington: about 20 minutes
Dreher Island
Another former SCE&G property, Dreher Island sits on the other side of Lake Murray from the new Pine Island. Dreher Island State Park spans three islands with 12 miles of shoreline.
- Hours: dawn to dusk
- Cost:
- Adults: $3
- 65+: $1.50
- Kids 6-15: $1
- Kids under 5: free
- Getting there:
- Address: 3677 State Park Rd. Prosperity.
- Drive:
- From Southeast Columbia: about an hour.
- From Lexington: About 50 minutes.
Sesquicentennial
The 1,400 acre greenspace in the heart of the Sandhills area northeast of Columbia was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The land was first home to Indigenous tribes like the Congaree, Wateree, Catawba and Cherokee. It boasts a lake and 12 miles of hiking and biking trails.
- Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset
- Cost:
- Adults: $6
- 65+: $3.75
- Kids 6-15: $3.50
- Kids under five: free
- Getting There
- Address: 9564 Two Notch Dr., Columbia.
- Drive:
- From Southeast Columbia: About 30 minutes
- From Lexington: About 40 minutes
Poinsett
Among the “mountains of the Midlands,” where the Sandhills meets the coastal plain region, sits Poinsett State Park. Poinsett was also among the Civilian Conservation Corps-built parks. It offers almost 26 miles of trails for mountain biking and hiking, plus a 10-acre lake.
- Hours: 9 a.m. to dark
- Cost:
- Adults: $3
- 65+: $1.50
- Kids 6-15: $1
- Kids under five: free
- Getting There
- Address: 6660 Poinsett Park Rd., Wedgefield.
- Drive:
- From Southeast Columbia: About 1 hour
- From Lexington: About 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Explore more
Check out the Parks’ department’s Park Finder map tool to see more options.
