Lake Cumberland provides the backdrop for multiple camping sites near Burnside, Kentucky, located at an elevation of around 723 feet. The area's humid subtropical climate creates warm summers and mild winters, with camping season typically running from April through October. Water levels in Lake Cumberland can fluctuate significantly throughout the season, affecting shoreline camping conditions and boat launch accessibility.
What to do
Hiking trails: 0.8 miles from Cumberland Falls. At Ridgeline Campground, campers can access Cumberland Falls via a short trail. "The trail from the campground to the falls viewing area seems like it has zero trail maintenance," notes one camper, highlighting the need for proper footwear. Beyond the falls, nearby attractions offer more hiking options: "After a short drive, we hiked Natural Arch and Yahoo Falls."
Golf: 18-hole course on site. General Burnside Island State Park Campground features a golf course that attracts many visitors. "I stayed here because I wanted to play the on-site golf course, which was also well taken care of," writes one reviewer. Another camper adds, "The golf course is apparently well known and quite pretty, but we spent the weekend hiking in nearby Daniel Boone Park while the guys golfed."
Mountain biking: 10+ miles of trails. At Pulaski County Park, mountain bike trails offer varying difficulty levels. "The trails are varied and pretty cool. They twist and turn and cross creeks and hill tops," notes one visitor. Another camper mentions that "the disc golf will take you on quite a hike and to another parking lot and trailhead totally outside the park."
What campers like
Beachfront swimming: designated areas. Pulaski County Park provides beach access for swimming during summer months. As one camper notes, "There's many places for kids to play, a basketball court, volleyball court, disk golf, and a small beach area." Another visitor simply states, "Great beach access. Quite and very clean."
Fishing from shore: multiple species. At Fishing Creek - Lake Cumberland, anglers enjoy shoreline fishing options. "Nice lake views. Family friendly," says one camper. The area offers opportunities to catch various fish species, though reviewers recommend bringing appropriate gear for bank fishing.
Spacious sites: large wooded areas. Holly Bay campground receives high marks for its site layout. "The sites are spaced out, large and completely shaded," reports one visitor. Another camper elaborates: "Large, secluded, full-shade sites! This is a fantastic campground. Literally the only thing it lacks is sewer hookups but the dump station is convenient."
What you should know
Variable site layouts: challenging terrain. Many campgrounds around Burnside feature uneven terrain. At General Burnside Island State Park, "Sites are big but not level. We put one side of the RV on the pad and the other in the gravel just to be level. Sites are also awkwardly diagonal in places so the back ends get pretty close."
Seasonal closures: limited winter access. Most facilities close during winter months, with primary camping season running April through October. Facilities at Holly Bay operate "early apr-mid oct" according to their season information.
Noise considerations: racetrack nearby. Some campgrounds experience noise from Lake Cumberland Raceway. "There's a racetrack across the highway (Lake Cumberland Raceway) and it is LOUD. The race continued from 6pm-1am. Highly recommend you check their schedule before booking here," warns a camper at General Burnside Island.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: multiple facilities. Family campers appreciate the recreational areas at Waitsboro Campground. "There's a short nature trail and a playground, plus the whole area has a lot to do," mentions one visitor. At Pulaski County Park, "There are several play ground areas close by for the kids to play."
Water safety: steep shorelines. Many Lake Cumberland camping areas feature challenging water access. One Waitsboro visitor notes, "This campground is built between a steep hillside and the Cumberland River. Sites 1-4 are closest to the water, but do not have easy access to the river."
Evening activities: ranger-led programs. Some campgrounds offer organized evening activities. A Cumberland Falls visitor mentions, "Staff was great - lots of activities for the kids to do through the State Park - Archery (free), Swimming Pool (free), and more free activities, horseback riding ($20pp). Camp host led scavenger hunts, lazer tag, capture the flag, etc in the campground in the evenings."
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: 25 feet or less in some areas. Larger RVs have limited options in certain campgrounds. For Ridgeline Campground, one RVer advises: "Don't expect to bring your 30' RV here, I can't imagine something bigger than 20' would fit. We squeezed our 15-footer into a spot though."
Hook-up positioning: bring extensions. At several campgrounds, hook-ups may be poorly positioned. One Ridgeline camper warns, "Also, the water and electric hookup for this site is very far away from the actual site - we had to use a regular 110 extension cord to get the hookup to our van and we couldn't use the water at all because we only had a standard length hose."
Dump station access: challenging at some locations. RVers should note dump station challenges at certain facilities. At Fishing Creek, one camper reports: "The biggest drawback would be the dump station. The switchback turn at the top of the hill to get to it was too daunting for me to try. We started to try and backup the hill, but the shoulders were drop offs and narrow road. I didn't chance it. Brought it home to dump."
