Hey, AVL. 👋 We’ve got a road trip rec for you today – heading down to Congaree National Park to witness synchronous fireflies. ✨
You may not believe your eyes, but thousands of fireflies have been lighting up Congaree National Park (CNP). Not the baseball players in Columbia, mind you, but the actual lightning bugs.
Mid-May officially marked the beginning of synchronous firefly season (even Garden and Gun wrote about it), and CNP celebrates with their annual Fireflies Festival, which began May 10 and lasts through Monday, May 27. So there’s still a few days left to make the trip.
These fireflies are pretty special. In fact, only three out of 2,000 species of fireflies experience synchronous flashing. And we’re lucky enough to have one of them in our own backyard. Synchronous flashing is a part of the fireflies’ mating– and each individual firefly has a flash pattern that helps them find their mate.
Since CNP is one of only a half dozen places you can see these fireflies worldwide, the park is expecting a lot of visitors. We know you’re ready to hop in the car to see experience the ‘flies, but to help you make a game plan, here’s a list of everything you need to know before heading out to Congaree:
- The actual date they will be out is unknown, but it’s estimated to be between May 10-27. We recommend that you keep an eye on Congaree’s website as the dates get closer to know the exact time to go.
- The best time to see the flashing is between 9-10 p.m. and the best spots should be near the water.
- The park will have a new, one-way Fireflies Trail for visitors to access the best viewing areas. It’ll start at the picnic shelter + end at the visitor’s center.
- Parking will be limited, so carpool if you can. If you want to skip the hassle, The COMET is shuttling people to the park from the S.C. State Fairgrounds 7:30-10:30 p.m. May 24-27– for $2 each way or $4 for rides throughout the whole day.
Viewing etiquette is also important because the park wants to make sure the fireflies – as well as the people – have the best experience. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Use your inside voices.
- No catching the fireflies (or the other creatures you might see).
- Try to avoid using flashlights (without a red lens) + flash photography. Bright lights can make the fireflies’ blinks stop syncing. CNP provides red cellophane paper + rubber bands.
- Wear closed-toe, soft-soled shoes, long pants + a long-sleeved shirt.
- Put on bug spray before you enter the park, not after.
- Be sure to check Congaree’s list of prohibited items before you go.
#ProTip for next year: The synchronous fireflies can also be seen at Smoky Mountains National Park. The park organizes a lottery for vehicle passes to park at the Visitors Center + take buses to the beautiful viewing area. The lottery opens in April, so go ahead and make your calendar for next year.
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