Guess who’s back? Back again. Jenny’s back. Tell a friend =) That’s right. I’m back to to tell you about our visit to Andrew Jackson State Park, as a part of my South Carolina State Park series. We stopped by on our way back from Charlotte, and we were able to knock out three State Parks in one day! I don’t really recommend this unless you’re really ambitious about it. We also didn’t walk any of the trails, and the museum was closed when we visited, so that really helped with how fast we went through. However, if you want to spend more time exploring the park, then read on.

Know before you go

When is it Andrew Jackson State Park open?

State Park: 8am – 6pm November 1-March 31 & 9am – 9pm April 1-October 31
Museum hours: 1pm – 5pm Saturday – Sunday; by appointment Monday – Friday
Schoolhouse hours: Saturday 1pm – 5pm & Sunday 2pm-5pm mid March – November
Office hours: 11am-12pm Monday – Sunday

How much does it cost?

$3 for adults; $1.50 for SC seniors; $1 for kids 6-15; Free for 5 & under; Free with SC State Park Pass

Are pets allowed?

Allowed in some areas. Must be on leash under 6 ft long.

Exploring Andrew Jackson State Park

History

This is the homeplace aka where Andrew Jackson grew up (technically the Waxhaws region). If you’ve been sleeping under a rock, he’s the 7th President of the United States of America, and considered a war hero for his leadership during the American Revolutionary War. Another fun fact – he lost the Presidential race to John Quincy Adams in 1824, but ran again and won 4 years later. Now there’s a little lesson about never giving up.

Things to do

There’s actually quite a bit to do here. We did a quick run through of the park, and the museums were closed when we visited, so we didn’t get to experience everything. Here’s what the State Park offers:

Biking & Hiking – Biking on the paved road is allowed, and there are two 1 mile loop hikes – Crawford Trail and Garden of the Waxhaws Trail.

Birdwatching & Geocaching – South Carolina definitely has some cool birds to look at, but when you’re out in the woods, it’s definitely on another level. Geocaching is really cool too because you can find all sorts of treasures. Just make sure you follow the guidelines.

Boating – Gas motors are not allowed, and if you’re coming with your own boat, you have to hand carry it to the water. You can also rent non-motorized fishing boats. The website has it listed as $15/day or $3/hr.

Camping – From what I read, there are 25 campsites. There are both RV (with water and electrical hook-ups) and tent camping facilities.

Fishing – My son was not happy he did not get to do this. He is all about everything fishing. You can catch bass, bream, catfish and crappie in the 18 acre park. There’s also a fishing pier if that’s more your style.

Picnic Shelters & Meeting House – There are 2 picnic shelters and the Meeting House is for group gatherings.

Playground & Other Activities – This is located by Shelter 2. We didn’t stop to play but we’ll definitely stop next time. The State Park also has horseshoe pits, and if you check in at the front desk, you can request the volleyball net be set up, and they also have boardgames.

School House and Museum – has artifacts from Andrew Jackson’s life and from the Revolutionary War

The Boy of Waxhaws statue – created by Anna Hyatt Huntington (she was a very prominent sculpture back in the day)

Final thoughts on exploring Andrew Jackson State Park