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Best Campgrounds near Brownsville, KY

549 Reviews

Campgrounds in the Brownsville, Kentucky area provide access to Mammoth Cave National Park with several developed camping options. Houchin Ferry Campground, located directly in Brownsville, offers primitive tent camping along the Green River with sites featuring fire rings, picnic tables, and lantern posts. The broader region includes Nolin Lake State Park Campground approximately 10 miles northeast of Brownsville, which accommodates RVs and tents with water and electric hookups. The camping landscape also extends to dispersed backcountry options at First Creek in Mammoth Cave National Park and private establishments like Mammoth Cave Horse Camp for equestrian visitors.

Many campgrounds maintain seasonal operating schedules with limited availability during winter months. Nolin Lake State Park operates from April through October, while some Mammoth Cave sites remain open year-round with varying levels of service. A visitor noted that "it gets DARK here! You should have some beautiful star gazing opportunities and some wildlife interactions." Cell service is limited throughout the region, particularly at Houchin Ferry where reviews mention "no signal" or "maybe 1 bar." The Green River creates natural boundaries in the area, with some campgrounds offering direct water access when conditions permit. Portable toilets or basic restroom facilities are standard at most primitive sites, while larger established campgrounds offer shower houses and additional amenities.

Waterfront camping represents a significant draw for visitors to the region. At Nolin Lake State Park, campers frequently mention the scenic water views and fishing opportunities as highlights of their experience. According to one camper, "We loved being close to the water as well. The trail system in the park was great and we put in over 14 miles of hiking there." Sites near the water tend to book quickly, especially during summer months. Houchin Ferry Campground provides a more secluded experience with its riverside location and smaller footprint of approximately ten sites. While camping areas near Brownsville offer proximity to Mammoth Cave National Park's famous cave tours, reviews suggest that some campgrounds like Houchin Ferry feel more remote and may require additional driving time to reach the main park entrance and cave tour departure points.

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Best Camping Sites Near Brownsville, Kentucky (64)

    1. Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

    137 Reviews
    Mammoth Cave, KY
    10 miles
    +1 (270) 758-2424

    $25 - $50 / night

    "There is a restroom in the campground and a shower house, laundry room, post office and store adjacent. The dump station is next to that facility right outside the front “gate”."

    "This campground is a walking distance to the visitors center. It's a well established campground and geared towards folks visiting mammoth caves."

    2. Nolin Lake State Park Campground

    40 Reviews
    Sweeden, KY
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 286-4240

    $25 - $40 / night

    "Near Brownsville, Ky and a little off the beaten path. But definitely worth a visit or two."

    "This lakeside getaway is one that will keep us coming back!! If you've never been to Kentucky...this will keep you coming back to the Bluegrass to camp for years to come!"

    3. Moutardier

    23 Reviews
    Sweeden, KY
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 286-4230

    $18 - $50 / night

    "**

    Campground Review: Coming from Western Kentucky Parkway W or KY I65 either way you drive in to **Moutardier Campground you will"

    "It is located on Nolin River Lake. Our site was lakeside which was beautiful (Site D6). This campsite offered electric/water hookup, fire pit, picnic table, filet table, bathrooms, and showers. "

    4. Maple Springs Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

    12 Reviews
    Mammoth Cave, KY
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 758-2424

    $50 / night

    "Nice large camping areas, secluded and quiet, easy access to the trails. Well maintained full hookup for RVs and plenty of room for your horse too."

    "Horses are allowed in the campground and you will see a lot of people taking their horses for a few runs around the road through the campsite as a warm up in the early mornings."

    5. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Mammoth Cave

    34 Reviews
    Park City, KY
    18 miles
    Website

    "Close proximity to Mammoth Cave. Don’t miss the Amish bakery/cafe nearby!"

    "The older sites are more established with shade but most are gravel and not as easy to access while walking or biking. Karst beach is so nice with the wibit (extra cost but worth it)."

    6. Singing Hills RV Park And Campground

    19 Reviews
    Park City, KY
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 773-3789

    "This campground is located near the entrance of Mammoth Cave National Park. It is a great place for a day or two of relaxation before getting back on the highway."

    "Our site was right next to the catch and release pond. We had a little bridge that crossed the creek from our main site to an additional space where our fire ring was."

    7. Houchin Ferry Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

    9 Reviews
    Brownsville, KY
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 758-2180

    "Lost of space to run around with the kids. Pretty view of the river. Sites 1-6 were pretty close together. I would have picked site 8 if I had to go again."

    "The drive to the campground was a bit out of the way, but scenic. The sites are near a river and there is an option of taking the ferry to the campground."

    8. Dog Creek Campground

    14 Reviews
    Mammoth Cave, KY
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 524-5454

    $18 - $50 / night

    "Dog Creek Campground is located on Nolin River Lake in the Kentucky countryside."

    "Seems all sites have a lake view. Less than half full sun-Tuesday. Stayed at a006. Very close to beach, but that means you hear everything at the beach. Very humid and virtually no shade at our site."

    9. Wax - Nolin River Lake

    15 Reviews
    Sweeden, KY
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 242-7578

    $18 - $50 / night

    "Wax Campground is located on Nolin River Lake, which is managed by the Army Corp of Engineers. Translated; well maintained, picturesque and organized."

    "The area surrounds Lake Nolan, which is an added bonus. The water was warm and calm. It is off the beaten path and you are about 30 min from a grocery store, so make sure you stock up before you go."

    10. Thousand Trails Diamond Caverns RV & Golf Resort

    14 Reviews
    Park City, KY
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "This park is located on the entrance road to Mammoth Caves NP, and it is a spectacular way to stay and enjoy the hiking in the caves!"

    "This is a small campground right near the entrance of Mammoth Cave NP. It was nice being so close with plenty of hiking options. Bathrooms were clean, laundry was fine."

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Recent Camping Photos near Brownsville, KY

148 Photos of 64 Brownsville Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Brownsville, KY

549 Reviews of 64 Brownsville Campgrounds

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Rock Cabin Camping

    Friendly, easygoing, simple camping

    Absolutely love staying here. Quiet, pretty, easy, and the owners and staff are delightful.

  • SkywaystoHighways.com Y.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Glendale Campground

    Simply serene

    Great overnight stop on our drive from Tennessee to Indiana. The hosts Valette and Greg were absolutely wonderful. The campground was well tended with a playground for the little ones. We don’t have little ones, but I couldn’t resist a ride on the merry-go-round! The facilities were pristine with piping hot showers that had great water pressure. Perfect TMobile signal and ***free WiFi *** which allowed us to get some work done. Conveniently located near 65 without too much traffic noise. Would definitely return here. Pick site 14 for the best view beside the lake.

  • Michele R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Morning View Farms

    Weekend getaway

    I could not say enough enough wonderful things about our stay. Our host was amazing, the nature was peaceful, serene, and everything we needed for a relaxing time away from home.

  • dereck R.
    Aug. 29, 2025

    Tree Tops RV Park

    Nice quiet place

    Nice quiet place. Very level. He takes very good care of the lot with gravel. The owner also runs an RV repair so you can get on-site repairs. Very useful. The shower house and bathroom are for emergency use only. Laundry room has a four-digit security code to get in. Most of the people staying here are long-term or semi-long-term. Lots of pipeline inspectors currently. Everyone has really nice rigs. Rate discount rates for 6 months or longer. Everything included except electric. Meters red monthly. Accepts mail delivery and package delivery.

  • Overland 1.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Houchin Ferry Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

    Very nice remote campground

    This is a very nice and clean campground with about 10 sites. It is part of Mammoth Cave National park. That means I could use my lifetime pass and it only cost $10 per night. Ranger came by twice a day. Very clean port a pottys that are maintained well. Dumpster for trash and each site has a fire ring. Road in is paved and not bad, but has a few hills and is narrow. These sites are listed as "Tent Only" but I got my Dodge van in no problem. In my 3 days here I saw many tents, a small pop up camper, and 2 vans. Anything larger would be a problem I think. Reservation only and pay online. Not much cell signal here, maybe 1 bar on Visible. (Verizon) Decent signal on Starlink mini at site 1. Sites are right along the side of the Green River and the temperature here was a consistent 3 degrees F lower than in town. Lot of shade, not good for solar.

  • Beth B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 2, 2025

    Singing Hills RV Park And Campground

    Super nice staff, great location

    Staff is very nice and informative.

    Close to Mammoth National Park…we were lucky to book a tour and it was really good, our teenagers liked it. We also rode Alpine slide across the street near the RV park.

    Campground had small catch and release pond. Lots of nibbles, one catch…sunfish. No laundry here…laundry mat 10 mins away, Wash n Fold? Super clean but expensive with nice machines. No bathroom there! Connected to car wash if you need. Bath house at Campground has everything you need but dated.

    Our site had issues, no fire ring,,,other sites had one, we didn’t ask about getting one…it probably wouldn’t have been a big deal to grab one from another site. Our parking area was level with gravel. Our water hookup was weird…it ended up under our back bumper were we had to crawl under to connect. And we had issue with 50 amp…the plug needs attention…it turned off at 0430 and we switched to 30amp. No big deal with any of it, but all together we will pick a different site next time.

  • Overland 1.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 1, 2025

    The Narrows

    Very clean campground.

    This is a very nice, clean campground. Bathrooms are clean as well. Very nice view of Barren River lake too. I did not use it but there is a nice sand beach for swimming. Camphost is very nice.

  • hThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 21, 2025

    Jellystone Park at Mamoth Cave

    Well maintained, easy access sites

    Kid friendly park, no mature trees in new section but concrete pad with grill and fire pit. Pool with splash pad, pools, pillow pads, multiple playgrounds, dog parks and kennels are available. Also, lots of golf carts to rent.

  • Overland 1.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 1, 2025

    Barren River Tailwater

    Very nice campground

    I have camped here many time over the 2 years I have been on the road full time in my van. I mostly stayed here in the winter. No power or water, except for a comnunity spigot. But cheap, like $8 with the lifetime pass. Staying here in July of 2025, there is electric and water at each site. My cost is $15.

Guide to Brownsville

Camping near Brownsville, Kentucky, offers a mix of beautiful nature and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, this area has something for you.

What to do:

  • Explore Mammoth Cave National Park: This park is a must-visit for its stunning caves and hiking trails. One camper mentioned, "We really enjoyed the four days we spent at the Mammoth Cave Campground, right in the national park."
  • Fishing and boating: Many campgrounds, like Nolin Lake State Park Campground, offer access to lakes for fishing and boating. A reviewer noted, "Great level gravel site. We are on the lake, not lake access but great peaceful relaxing views of the water."
  • Visit local attractions: Check out nearby attractions like the Corvette Museum and the Flight Museum. One visitor said, "Be sure to check out the Flight Museum across the street, the Corvette Museum, and the friendly people in the area" while staying at the Bowling Green KOA.

What campers like:

  • Clean facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A review for Kentucky Nolin Lake State Park stated, "The bathrooms were cleaned regularly. The showers were hot and free!"
  • Friendly staff: Many campers mention the helpfulness of campground staff. One camper at Singing Hills Campground said, "Eldon checked us in and gave us recommendations for restaurants which were outstanding."
  • Scenic views: Campgrounds like Moutardier offer beautiful waterfront views. A happy camper shared, "Camped in D Section right on the point with water on 3 sides of me."

What you should know:

  • Road noise: Some campgrounds, like Barren River Lake State Resort Park, are near busy roads, which can be noisy. One camper warned, "If you are a tent camper, find another place to stay. Seriously!"
  • Limited amenities: Not all campgrounds have full amenities. A visitor at Baileys Point mentioned, "There is no firewood or ice for sale on site."
  • Reservations recommended: Many campgrounds fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons. A camper at Kentucky My Old Kentucky Home State Park noted, "Like most Kentucky state parks be prepared for required extensions to your power and water hoses."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose family-friendly campgrounds: Look for places with playgrounds and activities for kids. A reviewer at Nolin Lake State Park Campground said, "Toddlers enjoyed the playground, able to walk along lake shore."
  • Plan for meals: Bring easy-to-cook meals or check if the campground has a market. One camper at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park mentioned, "The facility was very clean and staff very respectful."
  • Pack outdoor games: Bring along games for downtime. A family at Singing Hills Campground enjoyed the "huge selection of DVDs and some fishing poles you can use for free."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check site sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at Kentucky Moutardier noted, "The site we chose, #59 didn't have sewer, but made up for it in sheer beauty."
  • Be prepared for leveling: Some sites can be uneven. A visitor at Barren River Lake State Resort Park mentioned, "The pull-through sites are hills. So, be prepared for that."
  • Bring extra hoses: Many campgrounds have hookups that are far from the sites. A camper at My Old Kentucky Home State Park advised, "Bring plenty of BLOCKS!"

Camping in Brownsville, KY, has its quirks, but with the right preparation, you can have a great time enjoying the outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best camping places near Brownsville?

The Brownsville area offers several excellent camping options. Nolin Lake State Park Campground is a local favorite, situated on Nolin River Lake with beautiful scenery and plenty of outdoor activities. Houchin Ferry Campground in Mammoth Cave National Park provides a more isolated feel for campers seeking a secluded experience. The campground is located behind the local high school in Brownsville and offers a peaceful setting despite being popular with locals. Both locations provide distinctive camping experiences within easy reach of Brownsville.

When is the best time of year to go camping in Brownsville?

Late spring through early fall offers the best camping conditions in Brownsville. Wax Campground on Nolin River Lake is particularly pleasant during summer months when the Kentucky countryside is lush and green. The Narrows at Barren River Resort Park provides well-maintained sites with good shade, making it comfortable even during warmer summer days. Summer allows for full enjoyment of water activities on the lakes, while spring brings beautiful blooming landscapes. Fall offers cooler temperatures and colorful foliage. Winter camping is possible but less popular due to colder temperatures and reduced services at some campgrounds.

What camping amenities are available at Brownsville campgrounds?

Campgrounds around Brownsville offer various amenities to enhance your stay. Mammoth Cave Campground provides clean facilities within walking distance to the visitors center, with ample space for family gatherings and easy access to activities. Dog Creek Campground on Nolin River Lake is well-maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers, offering organized sites with amenities suitable for comfortable camping experiences. Many campgrounds in the area feature picnic tables, fire rings, access to water, and clean restroom facilities. RV campers can find accommodations at several locations, with some offering electric hookups and dump stations.

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