153 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Lake Cumberland forms the backdrop for camping destinations around Burnside, Kentucky, with several established campgrounds nestled along its shoreline. General Burnside Island State Park Campground serves as a central option with full hookups, lake access, and a golf course on the grounds. Additional camping areas include Waitsboro Campground, Fishing Creek, and COE Lake Cumberland Fall Creek, all providing waterfront sites with varying levels of amenities. The region primarily accommodates tent and RV camping, with some locations also offering cabin rentals and glamping options. Most campgrounds maintain seasonal operations, typically open from April through October.
Camping availability in the Burnside area follows clear seasonal patterns, with most facilities closing during winter months. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer and holiday weekends when waterfront sites fill quickly. "This campground is built between a steep hillside and the Cumberland River. Most sites don't offer much privacy, but the views of the river are so nice," noted a visitor to Waitsboro Campground. The terrain throughout the area presents challenges at certain campsites, with some locations featuring steep access to the water or uneven ground. Most developed campgrounds provide water and electric hookups, while amenities like showers and dump stations vary by location. Cell service is generally available near established campgrounds, though signal may weaken in more remote areas.
Campers consistently rate waterfront sites highest among available options, with several reviews highlighting the peaceful atmosphere of falling asleep to "the sound of the gentle lapping of the water." Lake Cumberland's recreational opportunities form a central part of the camping experience, with boat ramps available at multiple campgrounds. Fishing for trout, catfish, and striped bass attracts many visitors to the area. While most campsites offer some shade, the level of tree cover varies significantly between locations. Several campgrounds feature clean, well-maintained bathhouses, though primitive areas may have limited facilities. Noise levels remain relatively low at most sites, though some campers note that the nearby Lake Cumberland Raceway can create significant sound disruption during race events.
"There are hiking trails near the entrance of the camp. There is several different types of camp areas ranging from primitive to cabins."
"The trails are varied and pretty cool. They twist and turn and cross creeks and hill tops."
"A nice quiet campground on Lake Cumberland in the Burnside area. Nice RV sites and tent sites"
"Nice place, close to amenities but still feels like you’re somewhere very far."
from $16 - $42 / night
Check Availability"Perfect area in Burnside close to Daniel Boone National Forest and Lake Cumberland. It also has a nice golf course on the grounds if you’re into that!"
"General Burnside SP campground is large and can accommodate most rigs. My site, 14 was smaller than most, but right across from the bathhouse."
from $22 - $36 / night
Check Availability"Sadly, there is a massive amount of trash at the bottom (as you can see in the pictures posted here) which takes away from the natural appearance of the falls."
"It’s has many (12) trails and many falls. Would definitely recommend shopping before camping, it’s several miles, and mountains, to get to stores."
from $26 - $35 / night
Check Availability"This Corp of Engineer campground is a small quiet lakeside getaway. Our site was $25 per night with water and electricity hookup. No full hookups here and several tent only sites."
"Access to the water is not so great. You have to go down steep inclines between campgrounds. "
from $22 - $36 / night
Check Availability"It's located on the Kentucky side of Big South Fork. The campsites have a picnic table and a firepit. Our campsite was very nice and private with a big grassy area."
"The sites are well maintained and old , probably CCC built with wood steps leading up or down to your site."
from $30 - $35 / night
Check Availability"Clean bathrooms with showers in walking distance. Helpful staff. Stunning views. Great hiking paths. Bring you boats, bikes, kayaks, fishing poles and bathing suits. The water is fantastic!"
"Swim next to show, bring your pets, tie up you're boat, be around friendly people or private, primitive to big pull thru, clean, great staff, prettiest lake in KY, best camp sites with poles, shady, level"
from $46 - $92 / night
Check Availability"It is quiet and away from towns. Some sites are close but not bad. The shower/bath house is fairly new and clean. Being on the hill, to get to the lake is a steep walk."
"I loved the views of the lake and the fact that the campground is very secluded. Great place for family fun!"
from $22 - $50 / night
Check Availability
TravelerThe lakes are way low, so our lakeside campsite was not really. With no flow, the lake stunk and had a slimey feel. Too many motors to paddle, too loud, no privacy. I’ll not visit this one again.
ScoutMost of the camp sites on the Clifty side are small and right on top of each other, except one- T-49. T-49 is off by itself and its big and private. There is a trail head (12) right next to the site, which was great. Its about a 1.5 mile hike, moderately difficult. This site is also not too far from the bathrooms, which were very clean. You can fill up a water can in the bathroom. We have At&t and had no service at the camp site. Lastly, there is plenty of fire wood at the site if you're willing to process it. So long as it has not rained recently, no need to buy fire wood. 5 stars for sure!
RangerThe campgrounds around here are old and not updated. But with the high price of campgrounds around here, we don’t mind staying in an area that is older for a cheaper rate. Most campgrounds in the area are $50-$75, this place is $35. With water and electricity. So it doesn’t matter that the bathrooms were quite dated but clean. There are showers but only shower curtains. There is a code to get into the bathrooms.
TravelerPrioritize money over safety of guests, period. Focus on seasonal money over long-term gas period management has literally said, we don't like these people, we realize you don't like these people, but we need their money, so get along with them. This is what they tell their permanent people to deal with during the summer when there are drunks. Literally had golf carts with unsupervised kids going past the house, over 300 notifications. Normal traffic is about 100, just on the weekend. Drunks on boats. Management is two-faced. They are so focused on making it a bougie place since they took over four and a half, five years ago, that they no longer care about making sure that they have a community that cares about each other. They have three communities. They have permanent communities who care about the park and get together and look out for each other. Then they have seasonal people who are drunk, don't care, don't follow the rules. And then they have work groups who they prioritize over residents and people who have picked up, cleaned the park, cared about the park, and don't want to see toddlers get run over by kids on golf carts like last summer. Every summer, it is nuts. There's no quiet anytime anymore, even in the dead of winter. This place is nuts. Overpriced. If you get anything in permission, like I did, get it in writing or management will use it to throw you out. I had permission for what I was doing. I'd done it for three years, and they prioritized a group of project workers that will be gone in a few months over a long-term resident who is disabled, not available to meet, not arguing with a neighbor who's a child, and lied three times in the middle of our own private conversation and ran to management with lies.
ScoutWe stopped here for an overnight traveling to Charleston, South Carolina. The sites were very nice. Staff very friendly. Very clean. Would recommend
GuideThis is somewhat of a RV parking lot with level gravel sites with electric, sewer, and water. Some lots have trees. Ours did not. Park has pool, clean bathrooms and showers, laundry. People are friendly. The shop has multiple convenience items. They offer propane and have a kerosene tank too. It’s about 30 mins to Lexington. We have a 35’ travel trailer
GuideThe bathrooms are very clean well lit.
GuideThe place is full of activities for all of the family. A nice list of amenities including fishing kayaking playgrounds and disc golf.
GuideA beautiful well maintained state park. Would have got 5 stars but no electricity at sites due to flooding and the warnings online made it sound like it was just a few sites affected but we had a generator so it all worked out definitely worth a visit
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.
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."
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."
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.
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."
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."
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Burnside Island Campground located?
General Burnside Island State Park Campground is located on an island in Lake Cumberland in the Burnside area of Kentucky. The campground is situated close to Daniel Boone National Forest and serves as a great base for exploring Lake Cumberland. The park features a golf course on its grounds and is conveniently positioned for those wanting to enjoy water activities on the lake.
What amenities are available at Burnside Island Campground?
General Burnside Island State Park Campground offers large, paved sites with full hookups, gravel side lots, and fire rings. The campground features meticulously maintained bathhouses that are cleaned daily. Some sites provide more shade than others. The state park also includes a golf course for recreation. Nearby, Waitsboro Campground - Lake Cumberland provides both RV and tent sites for those seeking alternative accommodations in the area.
Do I need reservations for Burnside Island Campground?
Reservations are recommended for General Burnside Island State Park Campground, especially during peak seasons. The campground is large and can accommodate most rig sizes, but securing your spot in advance ensures you get an appropriate site for your needs. If Burnside is fully booked, consider alternatives like Cumberland Point Campground near Nancy, which is also reservable and offers water and toilet facilities.
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