COE Rough River Lake Axtel Campground

Axtel Campground KY

Overall we enjoyed the campground. Lake really low, water warm - but able to kayak. The weekend was close to 100% occupancy, and although busy- the activity and noises were all happy sounds of kids playing.

The layout is a tad lacking. Generally sites are a lot closer than most COE we have been to- all over the country. Actually find this in AK, TN & KY.

Also, dump station could be better located. It’s down one of the two main (& narrow) roads, so as checkouts start happening there is a slow moving queue for the awkwardly designed dump stations.

Data Per Starlink webpage, this is an unsupported area. At site 116 we have the Dishy about 20/30 feet from RV, and no obstructions. Upload is not wonderful, but download is enough to stream on multiple devices simultaneously.

Verizon and ATT not so good here though

We changed from ‘the other side’ , site 17 near to campground entrance. Whilst there we streamed on Verizon, too many trees for Starlink.

The dump station and dumpsters are a lot closer to 116 - and although the site is nicer in most measures, the bloody flies are driving us nuts.

Did not use facilities, so cannot comment on them

We found out upon arrival that the check in gate is not manned/closed on Tuesdays so we took a picture of the campground(CG) map on the gate building info board to proceed to our site. Heading into the CG areas was a little confusing as the campsite signs only show the numbers of where you are and not what sites are ahead. However, it was pretty much a straight shot down to site E70 that’s an easy back-in with water& electric(50/30 AMP). The pad was just long enough for our 39’ 5th wheel and truck so when we disconnected we had to angle the truck to fit. The CG was pretty full even though it was mid week. We had a great view of the lake with easy lake access. However if it's wet, the ground is red muddy clay. We noticed that we were the last site along the lake with hookups so that was pretty cool since no one came in beside us the 2 days we were here. We explored the 100 area that’s to the right as you come in the gate. It's an interesting campsite layout that includes going up the hill above the lake. Shorter rigs, due to the site slopes, would be okay but ensure you know what you’re getting into if you decide to bring in anything over 35’ into sites 122-137. Not all sites have a steep slope(see our pics). There’s one formal walking trail we saw out the back of the 100 area. However, there’s plenty of room to walk your dogs as this is a large campground that winds around the lake. There’s also a huge swimming area which explained the draw for all the families with kids. Space between campsites varies a lot in this campground. In the 60s-70s area, the sites are nearby where other loops/areas are more spacious. For example, the hotspot map pic we provide shows decent space between sites 59 and 60, which was true so you can use that map as a guide. We got a solid two bars on Verizon and the CG WiFi was fairly good. There are WiFi coverage maps on the restroom/shower houses. We were on the outskirts of the shaded area but the WiFi still worked okay, though the signal occasionally dropped. This was the worse COE dump station we have seen to date. There are two dumps in this tight circular dump station. The first dump is on too much of an incline to effectively get all the stuff out. We moved to the second hole about a few yards away that gave us a better angle. We had to backup to depart so our rig would not go up over the curve. The dump station is also where the CG’s only dumpsters are located. There are no garbage cans/dumpsters located within the campground areas. We just didn’t“feel it” here so this CG was a one and done. Big rigs: do your research before booking a site here. There are plenty that will fit bigger rigs but there are slopes in the 100 area sites that you will not want to deal with. Dawg Haus out

Campground Review: I have stayed at and reviewed this campground before, however this time I am reviewing our experience at site I158 over Labor Day Weekend while using the Red Ledge Thunderlight jacket. Site I158 has no electric or water. It is a fairly small tent site that is very close to other sites. There is only enough room for 1 tent and 1 vehicle. The fire ring is nice and has a grill attached. There is a large picnic table and a prep table with a tall hook, which we hung our trash on. The site is gravel but I was able to put in my tent stakes with minimal effort. The site is completely wooded, so if you don't like tent camping near trees, this site is not for you. The upside is there are plenty of sticks for kindling. I did however get hit with a few falling acorns, and that did not feel good at all. The quiet time at this campground is respected and followed. The beach is great for hanging out and swimming in the lake. The beach had previously been damaged by flooding but was beautiful for Labor Day Weekend. 

Product Review: As a Ranger for The Dyrt www.thedyrt.com, I get products to test from time to time and today I am reviewing the Men& Women's Thunderlight Jacket from Red Ledge https://www.redledge.com/products/mens-and-womens-thunderlight-jacket?variant=7068462153788. I made a video folding the jacket into the carrying bag after I returned home from camping. 

1. What I liked about this product: The jacket fits great. Using the size guidelines on Red Ledge's website, I ordered the appropriate sized jacket and it fits perfectly. I like the sealed edges that kept any water from getting to my clothes underneath. This jacket is lightweight. It is a great jacket to use anywhere, but this would be great for back country camping. Because it's lightweight and breathable, I also used it for sun protection while sitting on Rough River Lake beach. The hood hangs over a little bit keeping the sun and rain out of your eyes. The cuffs and the bottom of the jacket are adjustable, which I love. Red Ledge offers this jacket in 13 different colors, but I chose Mercury(gray). The price of the jacket is a little higher than I expected, however, I believe this jacket will hold up over time and be completely worth it. As a tent camper, I have learned to spend a little more money on better quality products than to buy cheap stuff and have to keep replacing them. 

2. What I didn't like about this product: I didn't quite understand how the hood adjust worked and it took me a little bit of figuring it out. However, once I understood what I was doing, it worked great. 

Overall, I would recommend this jacket. My son has the youth version of The Thunderlight and he loves it. I think Red Ledge has made a good quality product that anyone can use and appreciate.

I suggest you make a reservation as this campground fills up quickly. Axtel is located on the shore of Rough River Lake and has over 150 camp sites. Almost every site has quick access and/or views of the lake. There is a designated swimming and beach area. There are several restrooms located throughout the campsite. They were clean and stocked with toilet paper and hand soap. There is an easily accessed dumpster area and dump station near the main entrance. WiFi is available however, there is a fee. There is a boat ramp, so you can bring your boat and/or other watercraft. Fishing is allowed as well. There are a lot of sites with electric and water, but some without either. There are sites for tent camping and RV's. Sites have fire pits and a post with a hook for hanging trash and/or lanterns. No alcohol is allowed. Dogs on a leash are allowed. While we were here, several of the sites along the lake were flooded (see pics). The beach had recently been closed due to flooding, but was open while we were there. If you dig down just a couple of inches on the beach, you'll find clay. My kids loved this and made a couple of clay pots (see pics). As with most campsites we visit, people here were friendly and courteous. There is not a market on site, however there was a Dollar General about 13 miles away. They had a lot of the groceries we needed. There were also several gas stations along the way there that had ice and firewood. This is a great place for families to enjoy a beach without leaving KY!

Axtel Recreation Area on Rough River Lake was probably the noisiest area we stopped at. I thought I had found an adequate spot in one of the rear loops which had campsites squeezed along the hill face, road and water way. However we were obviously on one of the main water thoroughfares because watercraft traffic did not let up and the noise just amplified against the hill. It was mostly shaded but the sites were only a little wider then the vehicle and then you had the drop to the water with no put in possible because it was too steep.

In the upper loop there was a somewhat quieter spot, I just don’t care for these type campgrounds. The showerhouse was a distance away but we did have a water point across the road from us.

The campground and boatramp were on opposite sides of the road. This is a large campground with a nice size sand beach for campers only. Unless you get a nearby site it is a bit of a walk to the beach.

Maverics Place restaurant is nearby and the intersection at Ky259/79 has fuel, food and a liquor store.