M
Michael 
Traveler
TravelerHurricane Creek
Good Site
This site was a challenge to pull into but once in, we enjoyed the site and booked an additional night.
Best Campgrounds near Cadiz, KY
The Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area encompasses much of the camping terrain near Cadiz, Kentucky, with prominent facilities including Lake Barkley State Resort Park and Energy Lake Campground. This region includes a mix of developed campgrounds with RV hookups, primitive tent sites, and cabin rental options. Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley form natural boundaries for the recreation area, creating numerous waterfront camping opportunities within 15 miles of Cadiz. Several campgrounds in the area feature full amenities including electric hookups, water access, and shower facilities, while more remote sites provide a more primitive experience.
Seasonal operations affect campground availability throughout the area, with many facilities operating from March or April through October or November. Energy Lake Campground maintains a season from March through November, while Lake Barkley State Resort Park typically operates from April through October. Camping permits are required for dispersed camping areas, with annual permits available for $30. Most developed campgrounds accept reservations, which are strongly recommended during summer months when waterfront sites fill quickly. A visitor noted, "Hurricane Creek is a great location because it's quiet, waterfront and has great amenities (fire ring with grill, electricity, water, dump station, trash dumpster, dry firewood for purchase)."
Waterfront access represents the primary attraction for many campers visiting the Cadiz area, with Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley providing extensive shoreline camping options. Several campgrounds include boat ramps and docks, allowing campers to anchor watercraft near their sites. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound in the region, particularly at designated areas like the Elk and Bison Prairie. One camper mentioned that "Energy Lake is ideal for nature viewing, hiking, swimming and hanging out by the camp fire," noting that "motorized water craft are not permitted" on some lakes, "which makes for great swimming, and my favorite lake to kayak through." The mixed-use nature of the recreation area supports various activities beyond camping, including hiking trails, biking paths, fishing, and horseback riding at Wranglers Campground.
Best Camping Sites Near Cadiz, Kentucky (131)
1. Lake Barkley State Resort Park
19 ReviewsCadiz, KY7 milesWebsite+1 (270) 924-1131$17 - $25 / night
"Although this is a remote campground, it is situated in a State RESORT park, so it is more like glamping."
"the staff was helpful and friendly. the park had a great beach area. make sure you have extension cords and hoses as the utilities are positioned in between two sites. i only gave it 4 stars because of"
2. Hurricane Creek
20 ReviewsCadiz, KY11 milesWebsite+1 (270) 522-8821$16 - $32 / night
"This was a great location b/c it was quiet, waterfront and has great amenities (fire ring with grill, electricity, water, dump station, trash dumpster, dry firewood for purchase)."
"Hurricane Creek is off of Rt 274 in Kentucky on the east side of Land Between The Lakes."
3. Energy Lake Campground
19 ReviewsLand Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, KY13 milesWebsite+1 (270) 924-2270"Energy Lake is in Land Between the Lakes (LBL) and is ideal for nature viewing, hiking, swimming and hanging out by the camp fire."
"We have two small kids and were with family (in adjacent D4) so we really hoped for a site with flat space for the kids to play in, but there was absolutely no grassy area."
4. KOA Campground Kentucky Lakes Prizer Point
14 ReviewsCadiz, KY12 milesWebsite+1 (270) 522-3762"You can't beat having a lake next to you while you are camping. This is something my family and I always look for when we are camping. Water is always a great place to entertain the kids and family."
"Most sites have great views of Lake Barkley! Large camp store with a restaurant that serves sandwiches, pizza, beer and sodas... Golf cart rentals and the marina has boat rentals."
5. Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park
19 ReviewsDawson Springs, KY16 milesWebsite+1 (270) 797-3421$12 - $40 / night
"Pennyrile Forest State Park off Ky69 outside Dawson Springs, Ky. A newer trail Pennyrile Nature Trail is 13.5 mile long hiking trail, from Dawson Springs to the park."
"We were on the very corner and even though it was close to the road it was beautiful and not super traffic heavy. There was however a streetlight at the corner and it was extremely bright."
6. Hillman Ferry Campground
38 ReviewsGrand Rivers, KY23 milesWebsite+1 (270) 924-2000"Hillman Ferry is the northernmost full service campground in the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area and is an excellent base camp for exploring the LBL and other recreation opportunities in"
"This campsite is located in beautiful Land Between the Lakes. Many sites are by reservation, but many more are first come first serve. Sites are big and open and some provide views of Kentucky Lake."
7. Prizer Point Marina & Resort
9 ReviewsCadiz, KY12 milesWebsite"Prizer Point KOA and Marina is your basic camp away from home with all those modern conveniences. Water all around (peninsula) so water sports of course."
"The pools were (and usually are not) open when the women and I come to camp on our "week-end" (every September), and the lake was already at winter pool this year, but that makes it quite easy to launch"
8. Energy Lake Campground
7 ReviewsLand Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, KY13 milesWebsite+1 (270) 924-2270"Energy Lake campground is well planned, the staff are amazing, and with a little planning, the best option for affordable camping that puts you on a small natural preserve lake perfect for kayaking and"
"Peaceful setting on the lake home to many bald eagle. We paid $16 a night for a primitive site. I'll upload a map picture with the view pics."
9. Taylor Bay Campground
7 ReviewsLand Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, KY13 miles+1 (800) 525-7077$10 / night
"I often camped here when I wanted something mildly primitive but still somewhat accessible not completely away from all people."
"Off the beaten path in Land Between the Lakes (LBL), Taylor Bay is backcountry camping at its best."
10. Old Boy Scout Campground
5 ReviewsLand Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, KY12 miles"It’s a nice little finger of land that has water all around. There is space for several tents and you could find spots for hammocks in the nearby tree line. This place has no amenities."
"Right on the water and only one other spot near us. Very quit!!!"
Recent Camping Photos near Cadiz, KY
142 Photos of 131 Cadiz Campgrounds
Nichole M.
Lake Barkley State Resort Park
Jeremy K.
Hurricane Creek
Erin H.
Prizer Point Marina & Resort
Myron C.
KOA Campground Kentucky Lakes Prizer Point
Kelly P.
Nine Pines Retreats
Nichole M.
Energy Lake Campground
Staci R.
Energy Lake Campground
Kenda A.
Taylor Bay Campground
Andrea L.
LBL FS-326
Tessa C.
Wranglers Campground
Kristene B.
Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park
Adelle C.
Cravens Bay - LBL Lake Access
Recent Reviews near Cadiz, KY
621 Reviews of 131 Cadiz Campgrounds
- GGlen B.
GuideNeville Bay
Allusive eagle
Nice spot but a little crowded for my tastes.
- SSarah L.Traveler
Canal Campground- Lake Barkley COE
Lakeside sunrise
Busy but quiet campground. This spot is sitting on the lake. Perfect place to watch sunrise over the lake. This is a back-in, large site with a fairly level pad. It is relatively private site for this campground. Lots of families using golf carts to get around the campground. You can fish from this site and lots of good hammock trees. Nice firepit with grill grate. Site has electric and water.
Josh E.TravelerLand between The Lakes Bards Lake Tharp Road
Love this camp site. Perfect for tent camping
Good fishing, fire pit, gravel road in, peaceful
Gina-Lisa H.
ScoutWestern Kentucky RV Park
For a short stay.. Western KY RV Park is okay.
For a short stay I'd come back again. The RV Park is close to shopping , in case you forgot something or didn't get a chance to stick up. However, the park itself leaves much to be desired. Though there are showers( pressure low and get in early for hot water or sometimes late at night so the propane can heat more) they are relatively clean. It mentioned a dog park, which is more like a run. For noise, there really isn't much in the park, probably due to the long list of rules, but the Kentucky Park Way is rather noisy! The park has lights so you really can't enjoy the night sky especially with lights from the city .The park is maintained and has 24/7 surveillance. Each site has hook up for 30 and 50 along with water and waste hook ups. They do allow for RV's to pull in and empty for a small fee. They have electric as well for .22 a kw. The only other thing I can really say is the manager is super nice and will accommodate you the best she can. Has laundry room for 2.oo a load. Machines are mediocre. So if I had to, or was in a spot of having to stop for either a weekend or a day , it's fine. Most of the campers here are ppl. who are working out of town, so they stay here- which makes perfect sense, otherwise,if you're looking to kick back and enjoy amenities , or for completely no sound of the eternal rat race .. keep searching this ain't the place. Want to add there are no fires allowed on the ground. So no fire pits unless you have your own that is raised.
- DDe L.Traveler
Pisgah Bay - DFWR
Cool views
Bathroom is mid. Showers are 20 minutes away and $5.
Great for tent camping. Really quiet and nice views
Jacqueline G.GuideDemumber's Bay
Beautiful spot
Really great spot! Big rig friendly and pet friendly. There are lots of ticks and mosquitoes so make sure your furry friends are protected. You can park on the few paved spots on the top of the hill or the huge grassy area by the lake. Easy kayak launch for a day on the water! You do need a permit for parking and the ranger does stop by on weekends to check so just get one. It’s super cheap for what you get. Bathroom and dumpster on site too. There’s a bunch of attractions in Land Between the Lakes within a 10-20 minute drive. It’s a really cool place. Totally worth it to stay a few days.
Rayzor R.ScoutForest Service Rd 343
LBL Lakeside Backwoods — Great Site, Rough Road
TL;DR: Great large backwoods site at LBL with lake access, north-facing shoreline for Starlink, and workable cell service. The access road is rough rutted gravel with a steep final descent on loose gravel— serious terrain for tow vehicles, with a washout at the bottom and no easy bailout once you're committed. Have your dispersed camping pass ready for Rangers. The site has a broken glass and nail problem from careless users, and human waste is bad on the hillside above camp. Go prepared, and pack out your garbage/waste.
This is one of my go-to backwoods spots at LBL. It's a large site with lake access and surprisingly decent cell service, and the shoreline faces north making it a solid placement for a Starlink antenna. Turkey Bay OHV Area sits across the bay, but noise from over there is rarely an issue.
Getting in is another story. The road is rough rutted gravel the whole way, and the final hundred feet drops at a decent grade, and on loose gravel at that. Stop at the top of the ridge before you commit. You can see down into the site from there and tell whether it's occupied, and turning around at the top is far better than driving into someone's camp. Know your rig before you start down— if you're towing, that final pitch is a one-way commitment. You'll be turning around at the bottom on the shore. There's also a washout on the right side of the approach at the bottom, a good 18 inches deep in spots, so make sure you have the clearance before you cross it. Once down, you can continue straight to the shore and make a wide turn, or do a three-point turn at the base of the hill if the water is up or conditions are muddy.
Rangers patrol the area, so have your dispersed camping pass ready, and there is frequent traffic because it is a popular place. We have had people roll up on us at 2AM before which is disconcerting. Wildlife-wise, raccoons and coyotes are regulars. Keep your food secured.
A few things to know before you set up camp. There's a significant amount of broken glass scattered around the tent area, so watch your footing and check the ground carefully before pitching. On the banks near old fire rings, people have burned pallets and construction scraps, which means nails in the driveable areas— something to think about if you're towing or running tires you'd like to keep.
Finally, human waste is a real problem here. The surrounding forest gets used as an open latrine, paper and all. It's especially bad on and around the flat-topped rise up the hill— what looks like the remains of an old roadbed or possibly a home site. Last time I was there, nearly every tree around the perimeter had waste at the base of it. We use a chemical toilet and dump it at the dump station on the way out. Pack it out or bury it properly and be part of the solution.
It's a great spot that gets treated poorly by some users. Go in prepared and leave it better than you found it.
Dañiel F.TravelerLakeside Campground and Marina
Beautiful clean park with great amenities and helpful staff!
My husband and I stopped here for a couple nights on our way across the country. Super easy after hours check-in process with such wonderful staff! Everyone we came across was so kind and helpful. There's tons to do at this site and it seems like it would be wonderful for families. We ate dinner at their tex mex restaurant on the dock and had some margaritas, which was very welcome after a long drive. During the day we did some fishing and enjoyed the beautiful views. The wifi worked great and we ended up with a great amount of channels with their cable. Would definitely recommend this site to anyone passing through!
Guide to Cadiz
Camping near Cadiz, Kentucky offers accessible shoreline camping options along both Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake. The Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area sits at an average elevation of 400-500 feet above sea level with a humid subtropical climate that creates warm, wet summers and mild winters. Camping season typically runs March through November with most campgrounds closed during winter months.
What to do
Kayaking on Energy Lake: Energy Lake Campground offers non-motorized water activities on its small, protected lake. "Energy Lake is ideal for nature viewing, hiking, swimming and hanging out by the camp fire. Motorized water craft are not permitted which makes for great swimming, and my favorite lake to kayak through," notes a regular visitor to Energy Lake Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple access points for fishing exist throughout the area. A camper at Hurricane Creek mentioned, "We visit this campground every year. There are about 45 sites. Camper sites have electric and water. There are about 15 waterfront sites, a playground, beach, boat ramp, and small bath house." The fishing opportunities attract many repeat visitors to Hurricane Creek.
Wildlife viewing: The Elk and Bison Prairie offers vehicle access to view native wildlife. "I recommend visiting the nearby Elk & Bison Prairie for $5/vehicle. We didn't see elk that day but we saw a group of bison which was really cool," shares a visitor who used Hurricane Creek as a base camp for exploring.
What campers like
Lakefront access: Many campgrounds offer direct lake access for swimming and boating. At Prizer Point, "Most sites have great views of Lake Barkley! Large camp store with a restaurant that serves sandwiches, pizza, beer and sodas... Golf cart rentals and the marina has boat rentals," according to a visitor to KOA Campground Kentucky Lakes Prizer Point.
Quiet camping areas: Several campgrounds provide secluded options. At Taylor Bay Campground, a camper noted, "The sites are well spaced apart to still offer some privacy. Most of the sites are shaded, but a few in the center have zero shade. If you plan on using the boat ramp, be sure to check the lake levels...the ramp drops abruptly and during low pool, may not be usable."
Clean facilities: Maintained bathhouses rate highly with campers. "The bathrooms and showers were directly across the way and relatively clean. I like that they are set up as individual, lockable shower rooms, rather than one big shower room," comments a tent camper about Energy Lake Campground.
What you should know
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds have uneven terrain. "Pads are not level. Saw a class A that had front wheels 10" off the ground and a TT with the hitch on the ground. Many sites had drop offs on the door side of the pad so you could not use all the awning space," reports a visitor to Lake Barkley State Resort Park.
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds close during winter months. Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park operates from "April 1 to October 31" while Taylor Bay remains open year-round with limited services during winter.
Permit requirements: Backcountry camping requires permits. "Camping at Taylor Bay is considered back country camping and requires each person over 18 to have a permit, this year they are available at both Welcome Centers, any of the hosted campgrounds or online," explains a regular visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. At Hurricane Creek, a camper noted, "Our family has been camping here for 20 years now. We love it! Very peaceful and clean. Tent sites are right next to the beach so kids can go back and forth easily."
Beach swimming areas: Designated swimming beaches provide safer water access. One visitor to Old Boy Scout Campground advised, "This is a primitive site, and is considered back country camping, meaning you will have to obtain a back country pass from the Golden Pond Visitor Center. This place used to be used for Boy Scout Summer camps."
Educational opportunities: The Nature Station offers wildlife education programs. A visitor to Taylor Bay mentioned, "Taylor Bay is located near Hematite Lake (picnicking & hiking), and the Nature Station on the north side of LBL."
Tips from RVers
Utility hookup locations: Several campgrounds have unusual utility setups. "Make sure you have extension cords and hoses as the utilities are positioned in between two sites," advises a Lake Barkley State Resort Park visitor.
Water access points: Not all sites have direct water hookups. At Hillman Ferry Campground, a camper noted, "Some sites are full hookup to include sewer, ours was not. Some sites are also electric only. Call ahead to be sure your have what you need at your site."
Dump station logistics: Plan for possible wait times at dump stations. A Hurricane Creek visitor warned, "Only one dump site, and it's a one-sided, one port, pull-through lane, so if you go at checkout/1-2pm, expect a 2-3 RV wait to dump."
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best campgrounds near Cadiz, KY?
Where are the best campgrounds near Cadiz, KY?
The Cadiz area offers excellent camping options, particularly around the Land Between the Lakes region. Hurricane Creek stands out with its waterfront sites, shade trees, and amenities including electric hookups, water access, fire rings with grills, and a dedicated boat ramp. It's praised for its quiet atmosphere and spacious sites. Another top choice is Lake Barkley State Resort Park, which offers a more resort-like experience with maintained hiking trails and access to indoor amenities. Both provide beautiful water views and are well-maintained, making them ideal bases for exploring the region's recreational opportunities.
What RV camping options are available in Cadiz, Kentucky?
What RV camping options are available in Cadiz, Kentucky?
Cadiz offers several RV-friendly campgrounds with varying amenities. Bee Spring Lodge-Campground provides tree-shaded sites with lake views, convenient boat ramp access, ice vending, and shower facilities – perfect for RVers who want comfort while enjoying Kentucky Lake. Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park is another excellent option located just off I-24, offering full hookup sites. For RVers seeking a quiet setting with resort amenities nearby, Kenlake State Resort Park provides a peaceful campground with spacious sites, though be aware that some spots are occupied by seasonal campers.
Are there tent-only campsites available in Cadiz?
Are there tent-only campsites available in Cadiz?
Yes, the Cadiz area offers several options for tent camping. Sugar Bay Campground in Land Between the Lakes provides dispersed camping with cement picnic tables and fire rings nestled in wooded areas adjacent to a boat ramp, ideal for tent campers seeking a more primitive experience. Boswell Landing Campground offers quiet backcountry sites with gorgeous views of Kentucky Lake and basic restroom facilities but no electric hookups, making it perfect for tent camping. Both locations provide peaceful settings with water access, though amenities are limited compared to developed campgrounds in the region.
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