Campgrounds near Crestwood, Kentucky range from state parks to privately-owned facilities, with options for tent camping, RV sites, and cabin rentals. The area includes Taylorsville Lake State Park Campground, located approximately 25 miles southeast of Crestwood, which provides electric hookups and water access. Lake Shelby Campground offers similar amenities within 20 miles of Crestwood. Several facilities in the region accommodate various camping styles with Jefferson Memorial Forest Campground providing tent sites and glamping options for those seeking more rustic experiences.
Most campgrounds in the Crestwood area remain open seasonally, with many operating from April through December. Taylorsville Lake State Park specifically operates from April 1 to December 15, while other facilities like Louisville South KOA maintain year-round accessibility. Travelers should note that some Kentucky state parks have utilities positioned at considerable distances from campsites, requiring extension cords and longer water hoses. Cell service varies by carrier and location, with Verizon typically providing the most reliable coverage throughout the region. As one visitor noted, "Like most Kentucky state parks, be prepared for required extensions to your power and water hoses because with exception of a couple of sites everything is at least 30 to 36 feet away from your hook up."
Waterfront camping represents a significant draw in the region, with several developed campgrounds situated along lakes and rivers. Campers particularly appreciate sites along Elkhorn Creek and the Kentucky River where fishing and water recreation opportunities abound. The proximity to Louisville and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail makes these campgrounds popular bases for regional exploration. Bathroom and shower facilities receive mixed reviews across campgrounds, with cleanliness varying considerably. According to one camper, "Surrounded by rivers and open green fields. Very nicely maintained. Lots of campers even this early in the season! Looks like kids and fishing folk would be in heaven." Visitors should be aware that playground noise can carry throughout smaller campgrounds, potentially affecting the tranquility of nearby campsites.
$33 - $40 / night
"The spots were decently spaced out, the bathrooms are clean, and there are some hiking trails from the campground."
"There is always a bathhouse close by and they are usually very clean. Staff is always super nice."
$20 - $30 / night
"Lots of mud still around the camp sites. A nice parking lot in front of sites to back your rig up. Pads are small in length so be aware of that when it mentions it on the website."
"RV sites and tent sites lakeside. Fishing, ducks. $5 swimming pool nearby. $20/night tents. Showers and restrooms. Nice parks nearby for equestrian, playground, disk golf course."
$20 - $45 / night
"We had a pretty decent time at Taylorsville Lake. The spots were spacious, and very nice picnic tables. We did a trail which was nice and went down to a boat ramp to see the lake."
"Better if you have a boat ( or rent one at the marina across the lake) good access to the lake, gets busy in the summer. Stores in decent proximity off property. Can get loud at times."
$26 - $64 / night
"Great sites close to the lake"
"There are horse trails, a beach, and great water for swimming/kayaking/canoeing. It is pet friendly as well. The bath house in our area was older but fairly clean."
$20 - $35 / night
"Most of the sites border wooded areas, so they are in the open. Great access to the hiking trails, and the nice lodge for those who may want to check-in to a room or enjoy the indoor pool."
"If you live outside of Indiana you have to pay a $9 entrance fee on top of the campground reservation fee, which makes for a pricey weekend trip for those on a budget."
$40 - $45 / night
"If you are looking to be close to downtown Louisville, this is the campground for you. The staff was super nice and the location is very convenient for getting downtown."
$15 - $30 / night
"Having lived 62 years in Kentucky, less than twenty minutes from the Jeff. Forest, leaving to explore USA, then returning to my home state allows me a unique point of view."
"Tent sites have so many trees surrounding them. If you're looking for more privacy anything off of the loop will do just fine."
"Close to shopping and restaurants. We will stay here again when back in the Louisville area."
$25 - $200 / night
"Offering beautiful scenery, this is a great place to get away from it all."
"Great location. Very very friendly staff with special giveaways lol. Will return if in the area."
"Will absolutely come back again especially with the proximity to the city but having peace and quiet to the south. The walking trail was much longer than expected and really nice."
"There was corn hole, ladder ball, pool, walking trails, access to the river, cat fish pond, small dog park, and washers & dryers."
LegendGreat Location for Buffalo Trace, Woodford, Whiskey Thief, Wild Turkey, and castle key. Price is a bit stiff for amenities offered, but nice level concrete sites with stable electric
GuideThe area is clean and lots of shaded areas. The sites are level and lots of room. There is electric, water and sewer at each site. There are a few pass through sites for bigger RVs. It is close to Ft Knox military base (commissary, etc). The bathrooms are clean and the washer/dryers are well maintained (cost is $1 for washer and dryer). It was very quite this time of year and only hand few of RVs onsite. There is no cell or WiFi, I used Starlink and it worked great. They are adding fiber to each site and I asked one of the workers and he said it should be a few months to finish. The staff was friendly and easy check in.
GuideThis is strickly a place to hookup when you're passing through. It was convenient for us because of the time of year and most places aren't open. Their website say's it "will" have landscaping and security. There wasn't any when we were there. It has a locking front gate, but the sides and back of the campground/lot are open to businesses and a trailer park. It definitely feels more like an industrial park. I personally wouldn't stay there again, however I will say it was a bad time of year, it was early Spring and wet/muddy.
TravelerDecided to stay another weekend here at Deam to test out some new equipment. Found the E section of camp to be quiet and secluded from the F section. My only complaint is that all of the spots on E definitely require some balancing acts. Overall great weekend.
TravelerStayed for the weekend as a first trip for the season to ensure we were setup for the season.
Self check-in was quick and easy. Vault toilets were open, and clean. Someone was even nice enough to have Mr. Buddy heaters in there along with fresh propane (very kind and thoughtful). Entering the park there was a sign for winter water spigot (brought my own so didn't check).
LegendWe received an information email the day before prior to arrival with general info and wifi password plus how to pre check in. The morning of arrival, we received another email with specific instructions to not trust GPS and follow their instructions. Our Trip Wizard and Waze GPS instructions actually brought us right to the campground (CG). Since we had pre checked in, we were instructed in the directions email to go directly to deluxe pull-through site 78, where our welcome package would be in the electrical box. The site was plenty long enough for our 40’ toy hauler and F450. Not sure why this is a deluxe site as its gravel with a picnic table and portable fire pit? The utilities were more towards the front of the pad with no issues reaching the connections. It was a nice touch to see a small cement circle pad on the sewer connection. This is a new CG, so amenities like the laundry and gift shop were not opened yet. Water pressure was good. We got 4 bars on Verizon and 3 bars 5G on T-Mobile. We used our T-Mobile Internet versus Starlink. It would not have been an issue to use satellite as there are no mature trees in the campground. They have one large(about 1/4 acre) fenced dog area. The dog park slopes down a hill and connects with a fence that goes around the property. Do not throw small balls down the hill as they can go through the fence and there’s no way to recover the ball due to no openings/gates near by to get to the back of the dog park. There’s also a smaller fenced dog area near the front of the CG. Great customer service before and during our stay.
TravelerI had a great experience it's for gay people who loves the outdoors and keep it safe for all
ScoutSmall campground. Good for transient campers. A lot of full timers and campers that are older than 10 years. Office and women’s bathroom smelled like cat pee otherwise women’s bathroom was clean.
TravelerNice park with electric sites, primitive sites and cabins. There’s a beach in the summer in a very clean lake. Trolling motors only on boats. Kayaking permitted. Also for hikers, there’s a loop trail, also it connects to the 58 mile knobstone trail. Check website for park rules and rates.
Camping near Crestwood, Kentucky spans elevations from 440 to 900 feet in the Ohio Valley region, with moderate temperatures ranging from 25-40°F in winter to 75-90°F in summer. The area receives approximately 45 inches of precipitation annually, creating lush forest environments with mixed hardwoods dominating the terrain. Spring and fall typically offer the most comfortable camping conditions with fewer crowds than summer months.
Hiking historic trails: At Charlestown State Park Campground, located 30 minutes from Crestwood, campers can explore Rose Island, a former amusement park with fascinating history. "Rose Island is very cool- Haunting but sublime. The paved trail to see Rose Island is about 1/2 mile long hill that is very steep in parts," notes Greg S. The park also features multiple waterfalls accessible via trail.
Fishing opportunities: Deam Lake State Recreation Area Campground offers a no-wake lake perfect for beginners. "The lake doesn't allow non electric motors so waters were calm. Caught some bluegills," reports John G., who appreciated the peaceful fishing environment. The lake is stocked regularly and permits are required.
Water recreation: Paddleboats and canoes are available for rental at many area campgrounds for $5-15 per hour. "Perfect lake to kayak for a beginner bc no wake zone," mentions Brandy A. about Deam Lake, noting its calm waters make it ideal for first-time paddlers. Life jackets are typically provided with rentals.
Spacious sites: Many campers praise the site layout at Taylorsville Lake State Park Campground, located 25 miles southeast of Crestwood. "Plenty of room for camper and car, big grass area and nice bathhouse," according to Joe B., who stayed for five days. Sites typically include picnic tables and fire rings.
Clean facilities: Shower houses receive particular attention from reviewers. "The bathhouse is four units, each with sink, toilet and shower," notes Pj F. at Lake Shelby Campground, adding that while facilities "could have been a lot cleaner," they "always had TP" during their five-day stay. Most campgrounds clean bathhouses daily.
Natural seclusion: Despite proximity to Louisville, many campsites offer unexpected privacy. "The camp sites were shaded by nice trees and were located right next to the lake," writes Heather K. about Lake Shelby. Sites along the outer loops of campgrounds typically provide more privacy than interior locations.
Seasonal operations: Many campgrounds in the region operate from April through October or December. "The guard house is only manned for a short period of time. We wanted to get ice and wood when we arrived, but it was closed," reports Joe B. about Taylorsville Lake State Park. Call ahead during shoulder seasons to confirm staffing hours.
Wildlife encounters: Expect raccoons, deer, and various small mammals at campgrounds. "We didn't see the coons but put food away every night as they visited our camp on a nightly basis," warns Pj F., emphasizing the importance of secure food storage at Lake Shelby Campground. Most sites include fire rings with cooking grates.
Airplane noise: Jefferson Memorial Forest Campground sits beneath Louisville International Airport flight paths. "This is a great little well-kept campground. Unfortunately it's in the departure path of Louisville's airport, so be prepared for once-a-minute takeoffs," cautions Derek P., noting that "UPS releases about 100 planes from around 3-5am." Consider bringing earplugs if sensitive to noise.
Playground access: Many campgrounds feature play areas for children. "Playground was close and perfect for everyone to go run and play," mentions Heather K. about her experience at Taylorsville Lake State Park. Most playgrounds are centrally located within a short walk from campsites.
Swimming areas: Several locations offer designated swimming zones with gradual entry points. "The beach looked very nice and there was a lot of activity on it," notes Justin S. at Taylorsville Lake. Beach access is typically included with camping fees; however, lifeguards are rarely present.
Wildlife viewing: Children often enjoy spotting local animals. "Great wildlife for a park within the city: herons, geese (except for poop), ducks, turtles, beavers," observes Pj F. about Lake Shelby. Morning and evening hours offer the best viewing opportunities.
Site dimensions: At Clifty Falls State Park Campground, approximately 45 minutes from Crestwood, RVers should note potential site limitations. "Site 22 was so sloped our red levelers barely made it work. Site needed gravel, it was mostly sticky dirt that got tracked into our travel trailer," warns Beverly J. Contact campgrounds directly for precise site measurements and leveling requirements.
Extension cords needed: Many electric hookups are positioned far from parking pads. "Sites are small in length so be aware of that when it mentions it on the website," advises Martin M. about Lake Shelby Campground. Bring at least 30 feet of electrical cord and water hose for most sites.
Dump station access: Not all campgrounds with hookups offer on-site dump stations. "To dump afterward was OK to get in but it is a tighter fit... It would be nice if you could pull through to dump but you have to back in," notes Amber C. about Louisville South KOA. Some locations charge additional fees for dump station use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the closest tent camping sites to Crestwood?
Several tent camping options are available near Crestwood. Taylorsville Lake State Park Campground offers spacious tent sites with picnic tables and access to hiking trails and boat rentals. The park is a short drive from Crestwood and provides a scenic lakeside camping experience. Another nearby option is Otter Creek Park Campground, which features tent sites alongside Otter Creek and includes fishing opportunities in a small stocked lake. Both parks provide basic amenities like bathrooms, though cleanliness may vary by season.
Where can I find camper van rentals in Crestwood?
While there aren't dedicated camper van rental services directly in Crestwood, you can find rentals in the greater Louisville area, approximately 20-30 minutes away. The Louisville South area near Louisville South KOA in Shepherdsville has RV rental options that sometimes include camper vans. Another option is to check near Two Rivers Campground, as this area by the Ohio and Kentucky Rivers attracts RV enthusiasts who may know of local rental services. Call ahead to confirm availability and arrange pick-up options closest to Crestwood.
What types of camper rentals are available in Crestwood?
In the Crestwood area, you can find various camper rental options including travel trailers, fifth wheels, and pop-up campers. Near My Old Kentucky Home State Park Campground in Bardstown, several rental services offer campers suitable for the park's sites, though you'll need extensions for power and water hookups. Another option is checking near Cummins Ferry RV Park, which accommodates different camper sizes along the Kentucky River. Most rentals require advance reservation, especially during bourbon trail season when demand increases around Bardstown distilleries.
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