If you need a fun day trip to a little park on the shores of Lake Keowee, Mile Creek County Park is a great option. Kidding Around’s Kristina reviews it for us.
Sometimes the most fun day trip or entertainment with your family is a simple little park with a small beach and access to crystal clear water on a super hot day. That’s what Mile Creek County Park is like.
Perfect Location + Things to Do
I see parents asking for fun places to swim with their kids in the Upstate and this is a fantastic option. Located on the shores of Lake Keowee, a huge man-made lake that spans several small towns in the Upstate, it has lots of amenities that make it easy for families to spend a day out there.
The sandy beach is small and easily manageable with kids. The swimming area is warm and shallow. There’s a playground with slides and swings right next to the beach if your kids need something else to do besides play in the water.
There is a big shelter up the hill from the beach plus charcoal grills scattered around the park. Clean bathrooms are a short walk from the playground and thankfully have a spout outside to clean the sand off your shoes, feet, and water toys.
If you’ve got a boat, there are three boat ramps available at Mile Creek. And a volleyball sand court and basketball court are on site at the park also.
I have a couple inflatable kayaks we used the day we went and put in right at the beach. We paddled to the island directly across from Mile Creek park and down the small coves on either side of the park. It was awesome.
We saw plenty of people fishing from their boats as well if that’s something you enjoy doing with your kids. Be sure to have your South Carolina fishing license.
Camping & Cabins
If you love to camp, there are plenty of tent sites available. Camping near water is such a fun family activity in warmer weather since entertainment is right outside your tent. Of course, this can be a source of anxiety if your kids can’t swim yet so consider that before making reservations.
The website for the park states that kayak rentals are available for cabin and campground users but you’ll have to contact the park to make those arrangements.
There are also 10 lake front rental cabins with boat ramp access. There is a tiny beach on the lake by the cabins as well. And 69 campsites are at the park as well with both waterfront and non-waterfront locations.
Cabins can fit up to four people and at the time of this writing, are $115 per night. Campsites are between $15-$20 per night. See available campsites at Mile Creek Park at this link.
Fees + Tips
Seems like everyone wants to be outside nowadays and are taking to parks, lakes, and campsites to fulfill their outdoorsy dreams. This is great. However, it means that you can’t get to an awesome park at Noon or 1 pm on a weekend and expect to get in and find parking. Getting here early will ensure you are able to enter the park and spend a great day, or however long you want to enjoy it, there.
On my most recent trip, I got to Mile Creek park at 9 am on a Sunday and had the place to ourselves besides a few boaters getting in the water. By Noon, it looked like all the parking lots were full. I think there are at least three parking lots at Mile Creek but it’s not a huge place so it can fill quickly, especially on those brutally hot summer days.
There isn’t admission cost per se but there is a parking fee of $5 per car. The booth wasn’t manned the day we were there and thankfully I had $5 cash to put in the envelope and drop it in the box. Be prepared with exact change just in case.
I definitely recommend this fun park and being that it’s only an hour from Greenville, it makes for an easy and fun day trip. We brought lunch, blow-up tubes, water, towels, and our inflatable kayaks and spent all day there!
Have you been to Mile Creek County Park?
Mile Creek County Park
757 Keowee Baptist Church Road, Six Mile, SC