Barkley Lake, KY is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Barkley Lake, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
"One which will soon be all rental cabins."
"A friend and I and our 4 kids stayed in a camper cabin here in September. We normally tent camp but it was a weekend with record heat."
"Although this is a remote campground, it is situated in a State RESORT park, so it is more like glamping."
"Huge lake offers great fishing.
The campground is not huge but does offer water and sewer hookups. They have 2 shower houses located for a 5 min walk from any site."
"Being close to water is always nice, and our family always looks for this when we are traveling away from home to camp. Kentucky Lake is nearby, and we spent most of our day here."
"Clean, pet friendly. A lot of sites! Access to lakes. Saw a lot of wildlife for such a big campground with lots of people traffic."
$18 - $35 / night
"The camp ground is split away from the actual park by 68/80, a four lane highway, and there are zero direction signs telling you to turn toward Aurora instead of into the park."
"First be aware there are several seasonal campers who pretty much feel like they own the place, so their children's running around on golf carts, bicycles and walking through your camp to get to the "trail"
"Most sites have great views of Lake Barkley! Large camp store with a restaurant that serves sandwiches, pizza, beer and sodas... Golf cart rentals and the marina has boat rentals."
"RV sites have picnic tables and fire rings. Many sites have great view of the lake. I recommend renting a golf cart. This is a very large campground. They have free kayak and paddle boats."
$6 - $10 / night
"Was greeted by friendly staff, splurged on a cabin and it was clean and comfortable."
"I didn’t really know it was a thing to bring horses to camp and ride them on the trails! Loved it. Spots are pretty close together but fine for big rigs."
"Really nice spots have both non electric and electric. With America Beautiful Pass only 8 dollars a night non. Lots of trees with lake access. Quiet too."
"Restrooms and showers were clean. It was very active during one of the last weekends of the season."
"Another great Tn State Park! The campground layout is odd. Some sites are pointed the wrong direction on a one way road, so you just have to drive it backwards."
"Large park with marina, tennis, boat rental, beaches and more. My spot was spacious and shaded."
"Prizer Point KOA and Marina is your basic camp away from home with all those modern conveniences.
Water all around (peninsula) so water sports of course."
"We had a very quiet and relaxing stay on the banks of Lake Barkley. The cable TV had a pretty good selection of channels. We had a patio spot and the furniture and firepit were in great shape. "
GuideMost sites have great views of Lake Barkley! Large camp store with a restaurant that serves sandwiches, pizza, beer and sodas... Golf cart rentals and the marina has boat rentals. Full hookups on most sites including cable, and lakeside sites have the “honey wagon” that comes around to empty tanks. WiFi is pretty ok. Cell reception is good. Cabin rental and seasonal sites available.
RangerBeing close to water is always nice, and our family always looks for this when we are traveling away from home to camp. Kentucky Lake is nearby, and we spent most of our day here. We towed our small boat from home because we wanted to be able to enjoy being on the water (and my dad wanted to fish). There is running water and showers available on site, although I just jumped in the lake and shampooed my hair in their :) Very large campground, which was nice. Lots of room between campsites. Always a plus for us. The campground itself was really nice, we were actually very impressed. The campsites were well marked and had a picnic table, fire ring and a hanging rack which was super nice! We hung our wet suits from being in the lake all day. Great hiking nearby too. We would hike in the morning, and play in the water the rest of the day. The attendants/rangers were awesome, and directed us in the right place for hiking. You can see from my pictures attached that we hiked almost everyday. We would definitely stay here again next time we are in the area.
GuideBuchanan Resort is a well maintained resort with access to many amenities like a restaurant, pool, playground, pavilion, and store. The docks are easily accessible being close to the lots. The lots at the resort campground have water and electricity as well as a picnic table and a simple, stationary, charcoal grill. If you do not have an RV then they have cottages to be rented out. This resort is a great place to stay overall.
GuideThis site is completely RV/mobile camping! It’s easy to access and well taken care of in means of landscaping, our site was also right next to the front and the store!
Our site included a picnic table, water access, electrical outlets and a fire pit. The lake is nearby and there is an access near the entrance of the campgrounds.
The grounds are well taken care of as I had previously said and honestly very inviting, the people are very nice and have an entire area for kids!
I’d recommend Tanglewood!
LegendLarge camping area w/several loops. One which will soon be all rental cabins. Each loop has its own restroom/shower house and all are near the lake( some closer then others) canoe rental or bring your own, basketball court and playground as well as swimming area. There is direct access to one of the many trails in LBL and several within easy biking or driving distance. The staff was very helpful.
GuideA friend and I and our 4 kids stayed in a camper cabin here in September. We normally tent camp but it was a weekend with record heat. I love this campground as an alternative to Hillman Ferry, where we have often stayed. The cabins were clean and comfortable with cold AC, the hosts were friendly and the no-wake lake and canoe rentals were fun. I would advise checking with the hosts about canoe and kayak rentals upon check in, there is limited availability when camp is full and hot weather can also affect. This campground is also in a good location to explore all LBL has to offer when compared to Hillman, it's closer to the Elk and Bison Prairie and Wranglers Campground, as well as the Nature Station, which is great for us since we like to trail ride and hike. Downfall is the beach is muddy and rocky and the playground is old with just a metal slide and swings. We didn't want to swim here so maybe plan on doing that elsewhere at the lakes. Next time we will camp, likely on loop D, which had some nice lakeview sites. You can't see the water from the cabin loop. There is spotty cell service throughout the campground.
ScoutI love this park! Camping, cabins, hiking, horseback, swimming, and even mini golf. There are numerous trails, and a plethora of wildlife. We even saw a bald eagle within 15 minutes drive from the park.
ScoutFirst of all, the drive to Dawson Springs is GORGEOUS. Rolling hills, farmland, trees, really gets you in the mood! Upon arrival, the camp store worker was very friendly, gave us a campground map and hiking map and answered all of our questions. We stayed in the regular campground but they also have a campground for people with horses/horse trailers, as the park has horse trails to go on as well! We didn’t swim in the lake, but it did look beautiful and looked to be a nice place to swim and kayak and paddle boat (which they have for rental as well). The hiking trails are gorgeous and vary in length and intensity. The spot that we were at had plenty of room to spread out and relax. One side had the picnic table and fire pit, and the other side was a grassy area with trees where we hung our hammock. It was stunning! We will definitely be back!
TravelerQuiet, near shopping, family oriented, Pet friendly, boat launch, shore fishing, store, pull through sites, friendly helpful staff, tent sites, great place to camp.
Cabin camping near Barkley Lake, Kentucky offers a perfect blend of nature and comfort, making it an ideal getaway for families and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Barkley Lake is Energy Lake Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 19 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 27 cabin camping locations near Barkley Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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