Best Tent Camping near Benton, KY
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area offers numerous tent camping options near Benton, Kentucky, with both established and dispersed sites for tent campers. Sugar Bay Campground and Smith Bay Campground provide waterfront tent campsites with basic amenities, while Forest Service Road 343 and LBL FS154 offer more primitive backcountry tent camping experiences. These areas are situated between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, creating numerous shoreline camping opportunities for tent campers seeking water access.
Sites throughout the area typically feature gravel or grass tent pads with minimal grading, and most include fire rings and picnic tables at established campgrounds. Dispersed tent camping requires a special permit available at visitor centers or online before arrival. According to one visitor, "This site is quite remote feeling, but for a dispersed site, it is absolutely the BEST." Many backcountry tent sites lack potable water, requiring campers to either filter lake water or bring their own supply. Vault toilets are available at established campgrounds like Cravens Bay and Smith Bay, but dispersed tent camping areas have no sanitation facilities, requiring proper backcountry waste disposal techniques.
Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for kayaking, swimming, and hiking the North-South Trail that runs through Land Between the Lakes. The shoreline tent sites offer direct water access, with some featuring small pebble beaches ideal for launching kayaks or swimming. A camper noted that "We visited Smith Bay for 4 days last week and plan on returning with our adult children next week." Weekdays typically provide more solitude at tent campgrounds, while summer weekends see higher occupancy rates. Most tent-only areas feature ample shade from the surrounding forest, providing relief during hot Kentucky summers. Fall brings cooler temperatures and fewer crowds to backcountry tent sites. Wildlife sightings are common, with raccoons and coyotes frequently visiting tent camping areas after dark, requiring proper food storage.