Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park

SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

Boating, fishing, and watching barges work through the locks at Kentucky Dam are the main draws at this state park campground in Gilbertsville, Kentucky, open April through October at $28 to $43 per night. The campground sits separate from the resort hotel and convention facilities, which reviewers note makes it a quieter base for accessing the lake without the foot traffic of the main park complex. Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is a short drive away, adding hiking, biking, and wildlife viewing to the mix. Campers have reported spotting bison, elk, and wild turkey at the Elk/Bison Prairie within that area for a $5 entry fee.

Sites are a mix of shaded and open terrain, with large trees covering much of the loop. Tracy J. describes the layout as having "lots of room in between sites" and being "mostly shaded with big trees," though site numbering can be hard to read and no printed map is posted on-site. Reviewers consistently flag one practical issue: hookups at many sites are positioned well back from the pad, sometimes 75 feet or more away. Bringing extra water hose and extension cord is strongly recommended. Site 43 has been called out specifically as one of the few with both water and electric close to the pad. Sites at the far end of the campground pick up more road noise from State Route 641 and nearby I-24/69, as well as some train noise in the evening hours.

Three bathhouses serve the campground, and multiple reviewers note they are cleaned daily. Coin-operated laundry is available. The campground has a playground, a boat ramp nearby, and paved internal roads. RVs up to 36 feet are accommodated, though a 35-foot rig has been described as a tight fit at some sites. Full hookups with sewer are listed as available, though at least one reviewer found only electric and water during their stay. Reservations are accepted.

Lawrence P. notes that "hiking/biking/sightseeing and just relaxing can be had in this area," which reflects how most campers use this location: as a functional base rather than a destination in itself. Weekends bring more families and children, while the campground runs noticeably lighter on weekdays. The town of Paducah is worth the drive for those wanting restaurants or cultural stops. Campers looking for a different setup in the same corridor can consider Tween the Lakes RV Park & Campground to the north, or browse camping areas around Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park for additional comparisons.

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Warning 2 Alerts are In Effect

There are 2 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!

Burn Bans may be in effect. Please contact the Park for details on restrictions.

Due to weather, Kentucky State Parks cannot guarantee the availability of water or other resources at our campgrounds during inclement weather months when freezing temperatures are possible. Please contact the park directly for available resources if traveling during months that are conducive to freezing temperatures.

Map & DirectionsKentucky Dam Village State Resort Park is located in Kentucky near Gilbertsville

Detail location of campground
Public Campground

Directions

Exit 27 off 1-24 onto US 62 east, to 282 west. Campground will be about 1/2 mile on right.

Address

PO BOX 69
Gilbertsville, KY 42044

Coordinates

37.01282078 N
88.281719 W

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Connectivity

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Connectivity

Presented byT-MobileT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Good Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Good Coverage

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Market
  • Picnic Table
  • Reservable
  • Showers
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Sewer Hookups
  • Water Hookups
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • 30 Amp Hookups
  • 50 Amp Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

Drive Time


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Reviews13 Camper Reviews - Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park

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4.0

out of 5

13 Reviews

Many campers appreciated the spacious, well-spread sites and clean facilities, though hookups often require extension cords. Several guests reported noise from nearby highways and trains. The campground offers good family amenities but shows its age with ongoing renovations.

SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile
Reviewed Sep. 9, 2025

Cleanest Bathrooms

There is nothing special about the location. There is a boat ramp nearby. There were only people set up in the park today. They do have a playground.

Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Apr. 10, 2024

Campground near the dam.

We camped here with our pups to see the eclipse in Paducah. The area is not really pretty or scenic. You can walk to the dam from the campground but it's nothing super special to see. There is dead fish laying around everywhere and it also smells like it. The campsites are very confusing. There is no map anywhere, except online. Sometimes you can't even read the numbers on the piles. The bathhouse was pretty ok. It was cleaned daily and always stocked. The water pressure was very low. Our camp host was super awesome and nice. There are also no hiking trails close by. The town of Paducah was worth a visit, otherwise we would not camp there again.

Site29
Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park by Katrin M., April 10, 2024
  • Review photo of Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park by Katrin M., April 10, 2024
  • Review photo of Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park by Katrin M., April 10, 2024
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Jan. 25, 2022

Pretty good place to stay

Nothing special but good place to stay for a few days. Place is under renovation so just letting you know.. 

Sites on outer perimeter have water and electric, just bring enough hose and cords to hook up... they are on shared pedestals...

They have some pavement but mostly on grass.. not a whole lot to do in area except for going over to the Land between the Lake recreation Area to hike, bike or just site see... there is a Golf Course near by as well..

Month of VisitApril
Reviewed Oct. 26, 2021

Beautiful spot

Campground is beautiful with lots of room in between sites. Mostly shaded with big trees. Clean Bath House at the main entrance. Bath House #2 was locked for our stay. Picnic table and fire pit were clean. Site #53

Site54
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park by Tracy J., October 26, 2021
  • Review photo of Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park by Tracy J., October 26, 2021
Reviewed Oct. 21, 2021

Very spacious

We managed to snap up site #43 out of pure luck. Level, water and electric while most of the campground is electric only. No full hook ups available. All the lots are paved and our site is located under an enormous oak tree. The campground is just minutes to the state park and Lake Barkley. Only 2 hours from home this park is worth the drive several times a year.

Site43
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park by Wendy T., October 21, 2021
  • Review photo of Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park by Wendy T., October 21, 2021
  • Review photo of Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park by Wendy T., October 21, 2021
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Sep. 28, 2021

Old and small

The sites are very small but spread out. Our 35 ft class a barely fit. They do show length limits for sites and they definitely max limit. There is electric (30 amp) and water at the site but it was 75 ft from my sites. Extensions are needed. The staff is friendly and the roads are paved but there are signs directing where to go. Great bathrooms and plentiful. Also coin operated laundry. Fairly close to the freeway.

Site198
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Sep. 11, 2021

Pretty good place to stay!

Well, what can I say? We have been here for just about two weeks and it's not all that bad. Yeah, it needs some love and care(and they're working on it as I write) but overall is a good place to stay. Spoke with many of the travelers and most are from neighboring states and love coming here. They mentioned about how the flood a couple of years back has taken it's toll on the electrical and water fixtures but they see improvements coming and still love staying here. It's not in the quietest spot but well located to do and see things in the area. There is boating, fishing, swimming and more on Lake Kentucky nearby. You can visit the Dam and watch barges/ships go thru the Locks as well. There's even a hiking/biking path if you want to walk it. Also nearby Land between the Lakes Recreation area is just a short drive away. Lot's of hiking/biking/sightseeing and just relaxing can be had in this area. We even saw Bison, Elk and Wild Turkey in the "Elk/Bison Prairie" near the middle of the park. For$5 it was well worth the drive. It has some train noise in the evening(6pm to 8am) and traffic from the nearby Interstate 24/69 but over look that and you'll have a fun time. Of course the weekend timeframe is the busiest, kids all abound, riding their bikes, shooting hoops in the basketball net or just being kids having fun enjoying the outdoors! Good for the parents!! The farther sites to the right and back are a bit more level than the ones near the very front on the left(they are doable but take some doings to get it right). The 3 bath houses are cleaned daily by a dedicated older gentleman. He loves what he does and does a great job. Thank You Sir! As mentioned by others, bring some extra cord for electric and hoses for water as fixtures are shared and placed in the back of most sites, kinda hard to reach if you know what I mean.(They are correcting this, slowly, in order to make it more user friendly as time goes on. So just be patient it will happen.) Have a great day!

Site049
Month of VisitApril
Reviewed Aug. 15, 2021

Overall nice place, but nothing special.

Just spent one night here as we used it as a stopover location for a longer trip. It was an older well maintained park and very functional. There was plenty of room to walk our dogs inside the rv park itself and the bath houses were clean and well kept. There was only one dump station operational when we visited, but it was not an issue since the park was sparsely occupied. There were not a lot of amenities in the rv portion of the overall park, so if you are interested in doing anything besides hanging out in your rv or campsite, you will find this location lacking. For us, it was nice enough though just to serve as a good overnight stop, but no more than that.

Site53
Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Jul. 30, 2021

Hike in - great trip !

Occasionally I enjoy a “hike in” to my camp site. This was one of the best sites I’ve been to for that. I love that it’s near water too! I’ll definitely be back soon!

Reviewed Jul. 4, 2018

Family Favorite!

We have camped here many times and it always is such a pleasant trip. We never feel like it’s crowded and the bathrooms are clean. There are plenty of activities to do if you want to get off of the campsite. There is swimming, horseback riding, kayaking, or shopping in the cute little towns close by.

Reviewed Aug. 26, 2017

Convenient but not wonderful

Set just a few miles off of I-24 in Kentucky, just two miles down the road from the Kentucky dam Village Resort Park, this is a great effort at trying to accommodate campers and RVs who don't want to stay in the busyness of the Resort Park portion with all the busyness of conventions and the atmosphere of the hotel. This is an older Sim what ran down Campground, where some improvements have been great like in the kids play area, but other things need dramatic Improvement like in the far restroom. Be water and electrical hookups are so far away from the camping site pads they will let you drop your RV camper or whatever any place in the grass so it's more convenient than going and having to buy hose and electrical extensions. I stayed out at the far end of the campground and heard a lot of road traffic noise from State Route 641. Maybe the road traffic noise isn't so bad if you stay up closer to the entrance

Site39
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park by Staci R., August 26, 2017
  • Review photo of Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park by Staci R., August 26, 2017
  • Review photo of Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park by Staci R., August 26, 2017
  • (12) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the reviews like for Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park Campground?

Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park Campground receives consistently positive feedback, with many visitors giving it 4 or 5 star ratings. Campers appreciate the well-maintained grounds, clean bathrooms, and spacious sites that provide privacy despite some being small for larger RVs. The park is noted for its pleasant atmosphere that doesn't feel crowded. While the campground is currently undergoing some renovations, visitors still find it a good place to stay. The proximity to water activities and nearby towns is considered a plus, though some mention the area isn't particularly scenic and note occasional issues with fish odor near the dam.

What facilities and amenities are available at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park Campground?

The campground offers electric sites throughout, with water hookups available at some perimeter sites (though long hoses may be needed as hookups are on shared pedestals). Sites are paved but often surrounded by grass, and each includes a picnic table and fire pit. The park features clean bath houses, though availability may vary seasonally. There's a playground for children and a boat ramp nearby. No full hookup sites are available, but a dump station is on-site (though sometimes only one station may be operational). The campground is located just minutes from Lake Barkley and provides convenient access to swimming, horseback riding, and kayaking opportunities.

What lodging options are available at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park?

Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park offers diverse camping accommodations. The main campground provides electric sites with some water hookups along the perimeter. Sites accommodate various camping styles, from tent camping to RVs, though larger RVs (35+ feet) may find some sites challenging. For those seeking alternatives to traditional camping, the resort portion of the park offers additional lodging options separate from the campground area. The park's layout intentionally separates the quieter camping areas from the busier resort section that hosts conventions and other activities, giving visitors flexibility in choosing their preferred lodging experience.