Tent camping near Buckhorn Lake provides access to southeastern Kentucky's low mountains and dense forest ecosystems ranging from 700-1,200 feet elevation. The region experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and winter lows reaching 25-30°F. Several camping areas maintain primitive conditions requiring self-sufficiency, while others offer basic facilities during peak seasons from April through October.
What to do
Hiking to natural arches: Multiple tent campsites provide access to unique geological formations throughout Daniel Boone National Forest. At Red River Gorge Campground, campers can explore more than 100 natural sandstone arches. "Princess Arch offers 105ft of elevation and is a quick 0.6 mi hike from the parking loop," notes one visitor.
Fishing at stocked lakes: Several camping areas maintain small lakes with regular fish populations. Kingdom Come State Park Campground offers a fishing lake within walking distance from tent sites. A camper reported, "If you like fishing there is a small lake which is regularly stocked with Trout, Bass, Blue Gill, Sunfish, and a few others. It's just a short walk from the campsites."
Rock climbing: The region attracts climbers seeking quality rock formations. The Red River Gorge area contains numerous climbing routes on durable rock. As one visitor mentioned, "A fantastic place for primitive backpack camping! There are 100's of rock climbs on bullet proof rock!"
What campers like
Privacy and seclusion: Many tent sites offer separation from neighboring campers. At Red River Gorge Adventures, "It's very spacious, I've camped on holiday weekends and never had other campers within 100 ft of my site. I've also been on weekends where I was the only camper there."
Complimentary amenities: Some campgrounds provide unexpected perks beyond standard facilities. At Kingdom Come State Park, "Everyday a ranger will come by and keep you stocked with wood. It's included with the price of camping."
Water access: Tent camping locations with river or lake frontage are particularly popular. Grove Boat-In Campground allows kayakers to paddle directly to their camping spots: "I parked at the Grove marina and packed all I could on my kayak and headed to the sites. This was a pretty decent paddle away."
What you should know
Bear precautions: Black bears are active throughout the region, requiring proper food storage. Kingdom Come State Park provides "its own picnic table, fire ring, and pole for stashing your food away from bears."
Limited services: Many tent sites lack standard amenities found at developed campgrounds. At Red River Gorge, permits must be purchased before arrival: "Pick up your parking pass at the Shell gas station at 12187 Campton rd, Stanton, KY. A three days pass is $5."
Variable water access: Drinking water availability changes seasonally and between locations. HomeGrown HideAways offers drinking water, but other areas like Princess Arch require self-sufficiency: "This is a primitive camping area, so bring EVERYTHING you need."
Limited cell service: Most camping areas have poor or nonexistent mobile coverage. A camper at Kingdom Come noted "Great area, no service or wifi."
Tips for camping with families
Check site spacing: Some campgrounds cluster sites together, while others provide separation. At Kingdom Come, "The campground has 7 sites each with it's own picnic table, fire ring, and pole for stashing your food away from bears. Of the 7 sites 6 are close together. The 7th is of by itself and about 100 feet from the lake in a more secluded area."
Consider alternative structures: Beyond traditional tent sites, options exist for families seeking more protection. White Oak Boat-In Campground offers "great spacious sites, beautiful and wooded. It's a medium sized campground" with "potable water provided, pit toilets."
Plan for bathroom facilities: Restroom types vary significantly across camping areas. At HomeGrown HideAways, "The outhouse was perfectly clean, but there were flush toilets available if you took a little walk."
Tips from RVers
Access limitations: Many tent camping areas restrict vehicle types or require special access methods. White Oak Boat-In Campground "can't be accessed by car but you can bike in on a dirt service road. Most of the docks are quite small, so plan to visit by small boat or by canoe/kayak."
Challenging terrain: Road conditions limit larger vehicle access at several sites. Kingdom Come presents specific challenges: "The road in from Cumberland is STEEP! We made it in a mini van pulling a scamp, so you'll probably be fine."
Gate hours: Some campgrounds restrict entry and exit during certain times. Red River Adventures has specific policies: "They close the gates at night and don't open the gates till 8 am was the only drawback. The gate adds to the security of the campground I liked that they control coming and going at night times."
