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Best Campgrounds near Bowling Green, KY

642 Reviews

Campgrounds near Bowling Green, Kentucky range from full-service commercial facilities to state park sites, with multiple options for accommodating different camping styles. Beech Bend Family Campground and Bowling Green KOA offer camping experiences close to city amenities, both providing tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals. Several campgrounds in the area feature amusement or water park access, particularly Beech Bend Park which combines camping with family entertainment facilities. The region includes both privately managed campgrounds and public recreation areas around Barren River Lake and Nolin Lake, approximately 20-30 miles from downtown.

Many campgrounds in the Bowling Green area operate seasonally, with several sites closing between late October and early April. Reservations are strongly recommended for weekend stays during peak summer months, particularly at popular locations like the KOA and Beech Bend. The region experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures frequently exceeding 90°F, while winters can bring occasional snow and freezing conditions. Most developed campgrounds provide water and electric hookups, though amenities vary significantly by location. Barren River Lake State Resort Park Campground operates from April 30 to November 19, reflecting the typical seasonal pattern for the region. According to one visitor, "Beech Bend Campground was a great place for a weekend stop. We had full hookups for $45 per night. The campground was paved and almost every spot had a small grass patch next to it."

Campers seeking family-oriented experiences will find numerous options with recreational amenities. Multiple reviews highlight the combination of camping with entertainment options at Beech Bend, where racing events and amusement facilities are major draws. The Bowling Green KOA receives generally positive reviews for its central location and facilities, though some visitors note highway noise from nearby Interstate 65. Amenities at various campgrounds include fishing ponds, mini-golf, swimming pools, and proximity to regional attractions like Mammoth Cave National Park and the National Corvette Museum. A review mentioned that the Bowling Green KOA has "many updates. A lot of activities for the family," reflecting the family-friendly focus of many camping areas in the region. Most campgrounds provide picnic tables, fire rings, and access to restroom facilities, with varying levels of site privacy.

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Best Camping Sites Near Bowling Green, Kentucky (81)

    1. Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

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

    $25 - $50 / night

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

    "green river, which was enjoyed by all, and we appreciated avoiding the main entrance besieged by spring break campers!"

    2. Bowling Green KOA

    19 Reviews
    Bowling Green, KY
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 843-1919

    "The Bowling Green KOA, Ky is located on the outskirts of Bowling Green near the I65 and Natcher interchange. You can actually see the back end of the campground from the ramp that connects the two."

    "Had higher expectations for KOA based on other experiences but should have researched to know how close the highway was.

    Convenient to stores and restaurants. Laundry open 24/7 ($2.50)."

    3. Baileys Point

    34 Reviews
    Lucas, KY
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 622-6959

    $22 - $50 / night

    "This campground is a favorite spot of ours that is close to home. it is only a 40 minute drive from Bowling Green. it has nice bathroom and shower facilities."

    "It's one of the few in the state where you can camp near the water and keep your kayaks or boat within a quick stroll."

    4. Beech Bend Family Campground

    4 Reviews
    Bowling Green, KY
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 781-7634

    "The campground was paved and almost every spot had a small grass patch next to it. There were several larger grass spots on the edges of the campground. "

    5. Nolin Lake State Park Campground

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

    $27 - $45 / 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!"

    6. Beech Bend Park

    4 Reviews
    Bowling Green, KY
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 781-7634

    7. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Mammoth Cave

    34 Reviews
    Park City, KY
    25 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)."

    8. Barren River Tailwater

    10 Reviews
    Lucas, KY
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 622-7732

    $30 - $50 / night

    "Enjoyed my time staying at Tailwater in Kentucky. It was about an 8hr drive from where I live, so we decided to stay here for a long weekend with friends."

    "Tailwater Campground below Barren River Lake Dam is picture perfect maintained. You would think you just missed the tractor mowing."

    9. Barren River Lake State Resort Park Campground

    18 Reviews
    Lucas, KY
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 646-2151

    $33 - $46 / night

    "right next to barren river state park lodge and marina. convenient to several stores and the towns of glasgow , scottsville, and bowling green, ky with excellent fishing and boating and viewing of wildlife"

    "Being able to park your boat within walking distance of your camper, load up and go when you please, we loved that!
    The park was clean and the neighborhood of the campground was very friendly!"

    10. The Narrows

    12 Reviews
    Lucas, KY
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 646-3094

    $34 - $50 / night

    "The Narrows

    The Narrows at Barren River Resort Park , Kentucky is a nice, well maintained campground. If you are a fisher person this is a campground for you."

    "Two loops, B loop has access to the shoreline so you can park your boat and walk to your site. Loop A has an overlook ( also called a cliff)."

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Recent Camping Photos near Bowling Green, KY

169 Photos of 81 Bowling Green Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Bowling Green, KY

642 Reviews of 81 Bowling Green Campgrounds

  • 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 O.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 O.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.

  • R
    Jul. 14, 2025

    Cedar Creek (TN)

    Close to Nashville

    Nice campground consisting of heavily wooded multiple wagon wheel style areas. Sites 1 thru 6 full sun, remainder of sites have partial to full shade. Tight fit for my 43’ motorhome, especially maneuvering dump station. Campground host take their job very seriously.

  • Randi P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 7, 2025

    Grand Ole RV Resort & Market

    Peaceful, Well-Run RV Park with Great Location

    We really enjoyed our stay at The Grand O RV Resort! The staff was super friendly and helpful from the moment we arrived. A man even led us to our site in a golf cart and helped my fiancé back in and park our trailer, which was a huge help.

    The campground had a small store with supplies, a restaurant with a menu available (though we cooked our own food), and live music each night while we were there during the summer — a nice touch! There’s a train that passes by on the nearby track a couple of times a day, but it was never super early or late and didn’t bother us at all.

    We stayed in the center of the park, which didn’t have much shade, but the outer edge sites seemed more wooded. The roads and campsites are made of small pebbles, which made it easy to drive and back in. It was overall very quiet, and the location is great — just off the interstate, about 10 miles north of Nashville, and roughly 45 minutes from Bowling Green. We visited the National Corvette Museum and Lost River Cave while we were there.

    Our site had full hookups (water, sewer, and electric). The bathhouse was clean, air-conditioned, and accessed with a key code — two toilet stalls and three showers for women, all very well maintained. We didn’t use the laundry facility (if there was one), but the Wi-Fi was decent, and T-Mobile cell service worked well, even for using our hotspot. It’s a pet-friendly park (though we didn’t bring pets), and while there’s no pool or playground, there were some nice wooden swings to enjoy.

    They also have firewood for sale and a propane filling station on site. Overall, we had a great stay and would definitely recommend The Grand O to anyone looking for a quiet, clean, and well-located RV park near Nashville!

  • Overland O.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 Bowling Green

Camping near Bowling Green, Kentucky, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

  • Explore Mammoth Cave National Park: Just a short drive from the Mammoth Cave Campground, this park is famous for its extensive cave system. One reviewer mentioned, "The caves themselves are spectacular and not to be missed."
  • Hiking and Canoeing: At Nolin Lake State Park Campground, you can enjoy hiking trails and rent canoes or kayaks. A visitor noted, "We loved that hiking in Mammoth Cave National Park was only 15 min away!"
  • Family Activities: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Mammoth Cave offers tons of activities for kids. One family said, "There is so much to do, that 5 days doesn’t seem long at all."

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the restrooms and showers. A review for Nolin Lake State Park Campground stated, "The bathrooms were cleaned regularly. The showers were hot and free!"
  • Friendly Staff: Many visitors mention the helpfulness of campground staff. At Cedars of Lebanon State Park Campground, one camper said, "The staff were helpful and very friendly."
  • Scenic Views: Campgrounds like Moutardier offer beautiful waterfront views. A happy camper remarked, "Very clean with the cleanest bathrooms and showers I have ever encountered in any campground."

What you should know

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Baileys Point, may lack certain amenities. A visitor noted, "There is no firewood or ice for sale on site."
  • Noise Levels: If you're sensitive to noise, be aware that some campgrounds near highways, like Clarksville RV Resort, can be noisy. One camper mentioned, "Due to the valley the CG is located in, the interstate noise is magnified."
  • Reservations Recommended: Popular spots like Defeated Creek Campground can fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons. A reviewer advised, "Book your trip way in advance at 'Recreation.gov' to get a spot in the best campground in the state!"

Tips for camping with families

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and organized events. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, one parent said, "The events and activities scheduled throughout the day were great at keeping the kids busy."
  • Choose Spacious Sites: Opt for campgrounds with larger sites to give kids room to play. A family at Nolin Lake State Park Campground appreciated the "huge site with enough space for our RV, truck, dog fence, and fire area."
  • Plan for Meals: Some campgrounds have limited food options, so bring your own supplies. A camper at Cedars of Lebanon State Park Campground mentioned, "The store was convenient, and the staff were helpful."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Hookups: Make sure the campground has the right hookups for your RV. A reviewer at Mammoth Cave Campground pointed out, "There are no electric hookups."
  • Be Prepared for Tight Spaces: Some campgrounds may have cramped sites. A visitor at Cedars of Lebanon State Park Campground noted, "The sites were a bit cramped for our 31' rig."
  • Bring Extra Supplies: Campgrounds like Defeated Creek Campground may not have everything you need. One camper said, "Bring your own hand soap."

Camping around Bowling Green, Kentucky, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is tent camping available in Bowling Green, Kentucky?

Yes, tent camping is readily available in and around Bowling Green. Beech Bend Family Campground offers tent sites with grassy areas and paved surfaces. Each site typically includes a small grass patch, with larger grass spots available on the campground edges. Nolin Lake State Park Campground is another excellent option for tent campers, located near Brownsville and situated on Nolin River Lake. The park isn't huge but provides a peaceful setting with beautiful surroundings. Most campgrounds in the area welcome tent campers, though amenities and pricing vary by location. Expect to pay between $20-45 per night for tent sites depending on the campground and available amenities.

What is the Bowling Green KOA campground like?

Bowling Green KOA is conveniently located on the outskirts of the city near the I-65 and Natcher interchange. The campground offers a variety of camping options, though tent sites typically run around $40 per night. The facility is well-maintained with standard KOA amenities. Its strategic location makes it easily accessible for travelers passing through the area. While some campers find KOA pricing higher than public campgrounds, the convenience and reliable facilities make it a popular choice. The Narrows offers an alternative camping experience if you're looking for a more nature-focused stay with good fishing opportunities and shaded sites at potentially lower rates.

What are the best campgrounds near Bowling Green, KY?

The Bowling Green area offers several excellent camping options. Baileys Point is a local favorite about 40 minutes from Bowling Green, featuring shaded sites, lake access, and helpful campground hosts. Many sites are waterfront, making it perfect for kayaking and boating. Barren River Lake State Resort Park Campground provides convenient access to the marina and lodge, with excellent fishing opportunities. The park is also close to Glasgow and Scottsville. Other notable options include Beech Bend Family Campground, Nolin Lake State Park, and The Narrows, all offering unique amenities within reasonable driving distance of Bowling Green.

Are there cabin rentals at campgrounds in Bowling Green?

Yes, cabin rentals are available at select campgrounds near Bowling Green. Barren River Lake State Resort Park offers cabin accommodations in addition to its campground, providing a comfortable lodging option with convenient access to the park's amenities and recreational activities. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Mammoth Cave near Cave City (about 30 minutes from Bowling Green) also features cabin rentals for those seeking the camping experience with added comfort. These cabins typically include basic amenities like beds, electricity, and sometimes kitchenettes or bathrooms, though specific features vary by location. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak camping season.

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