Located within a hilly region of central Kentucky, the countryside surrounding Burgin offers a unique camping landscape due to its position between the Bluegrass and Knobs regions. Elevations range from 800-1000 feet, with valleys carved by tributaries of the Kentucky River creating protected camping areas. Summer temperatures average 85-90°F during day and 65-70°F at night, making it suitable for open-air accommodations.
What to do
Waterfront activities: Cummins Ferry RV Park offers excellent river access for water enthusiasts with multiple options. "If you love water and nature this is the place for you! Beautiful river front campground that is peaceful. There is a boat ramp (perfect for my kayak), docks to go fishing off of, lots of nature and trails," notes Jenn N. in her review of Cummins Ferry RV Park.
Hiking trails: Green River Lake State Park features several trail systems accessible from the campground. "The hiking trails. It's a short drive or walk thru the woods to trail head. Fishers bend has over 5 miles of trails," explains Kenny P. from his experience at Holmes Bend.
Swimming beaches: Several campgrounds offer designated swimming areas. "The lake is really pretty, the showers were pretty decent. Other campers were well behaved and it was fairly peaceful. 1/2 the park has good shade, the other half has no shade," mentions Carol about Green River Lake State Park.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Campers appreciate having room to spread out at campgrounds near Burgin. "We had a great time. This was one of the quietest campgrounds we have ever been to. I would say 85% of the sites are full timers. The site we received was awesome and spacious," writes Kristen H. about her stay at Camp Nelson RV Park.
Wildlife viewing: The natural setting offers opportunities to observe local fauna. "Walking around you will find wildlife. Lots of deer and turtles and birds. The beach is great and right next to the marina," reports Thomas R. about Holmes Bend.
Weekend entertainment: Some campgrounds provide additional activities. "Live music and food trucks every Saturday are a nice touch!" mentions Whistle P. about their stay at Cummins Ferry RV Park.
What you should know
Site conditions: Be prepared for varying terrain when glamping near Burgin. "The sites here are not level. We used our normal 2x green blocks for the Jack, but needed all 10 of our leveling blocks, plus 8 paving stones to get the appropriate height," warns Whistle P. about Cummins Ferry RV Park.
Seasonal operations: Many campgrounds operate on limited schedules. "If you go in peak season, the campsites are very close together with few trees, so you may feel a bit crowded," notes Joey about Green River Lake State Park Campground.
Cell service: Connectivity varies significantly by location. "Practically no cell service with Verizon or AT&T Service" reports Todd C. about Smith Ridge, while Ron B. notes that at Holmes Bend you can get "cell service Verizon & AT&T Service 3 bars depending above or below hill in camping area."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Look for campgrounds with dedicated play areas. "We spent 2 nights at Cummins Ferry with 2 other families! We absolutely LOVED it! The staff was friendly and the scenery was amazing! Our sites overlooked the river and we loved the walking trails along the river! We had kids that fished and played in the playground and sat by the fire every night!" shares Maison H.
Swimming options: Several locations offer designated swimming areas. "Campground is surrounded by lake. Has a beach for swimming and playgrounds for the kids," mentions Lee-Ann R. about Green River Lake State Park.
Family-friendly accommodations: Lake Shelby Campground provides different options for families. "We stayed one night here, and it was great! We had been traveling all day and decided to find a place to camp. We ended up with a beautiful, quiet place, right on the lake, and we set up camp as the sun was setting. It was beautiful! There was an awesome play area for the kids and the shower facilities were clean," reports Jenny O.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: RVers should carefully select sites based on their specific needs. "We enjoyed our stay at Camp Nelson RV Park. It's a smaller(ish) park with quite a few permanent sites. A bit tight for larger rigs (ours is a 40' DP). The owner is very friendly and has several younger folks working there that are very friendly and accommodating," advises Randy G.
Utility reliability: Electrical issues can occur at some locations. "We did have an issue with our electric pole showing a fault on both the 30 and 50 amp plug. We informed the attendants as soon as we plugged in and were told they didn't have anyone on call until the next morning," shares Beth H. about Holmes Bend.
Hookup options: Check available hookups when planning luxury glamping in Burgin area. "Only 10 RV spots, 9 have electric and water hook ups (which is what we had). It was awesome backing into the spot as there is ample asphalt in front of all the sites," reports Amber C. about Lake Shelby Campground.
