Cape Romain Wilderness
For 22 miles, the Cape Romain Wilderness stretches wild and free along the coastline of South Carolina, protecting sanctuaries of open water, sandy beaches, saltwater marshes, and tens of thousands of water-loving birds. No other place on the Atlantic coast attracts as many oystercatchers during winter. Waiting patiently until an oyster opens up, these splendid black and white birds strike suddenly, using their long red beaks to rip at the oyster's muscle. In summer, you'll find thousands of terns and brown pelicans, and black skimmers flying with their black and red bills gaping to skim food from the surface of the ocean and estuaries.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| State | South Carolina |
| Size | 29,000 acres |
| Designated | 1975, by Congress |
| Center point | 33.02° N, 79.48° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 7) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 3 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedC-163 Fm Rx
11 mi from the center point · 222 acres
- WildfireHewitt Lane Fire
19 mi from the center point · 109 acres · 90% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 6.6 miSt. James Episcopal Church, Santee ↗National Historic Landmark
- under 0.1 miCape Romain Lighthouses ↗McClellanville, SC
- 4.3 miWedge, The ↗McClellanville, SC
- 5.1 miFairfield Plantation ↗McClellanville, SC
- 5.7 miOakland Plantation House ↗Mount Pleasant, SC
- 6.4 miOld Georgetown Road ↗McClellanville, SC
- 7.5 miFort Palmetto ↗Hamlin Sound, SC
- 9.4 miChrist Church ↗Mount Pleasant, SC
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for South Carolina
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Cape Romain Wilderness?
29,000 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Cape Romain Wilderness?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Cape Romain Wilderness in?
South Carolina.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Cape Romain Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1975.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Cape Romain Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Cape Romain Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 33.021° N, 79.479° W. Charles Pinckney National Historic Site is 10 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Cape Romain Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest C-163 Fm Rx at 11 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Cape Romain Wilderness?
Charles Pinckney National Historic Site (10 mi) and Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park (15 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Cape Romain Wilderness?
The National Register has 19 listings within 15 miles, including St. James Episcopal Church, Santee and Cape Romain Lighthouses.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.