Top Free Dispersed Camping near Calvert City, KY

Want to go dispersed camping near Calvert City? The Dyrt can help you find the best dispersed campsites for your next trip. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campsite for your Kentucky excursion.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Calvert City, KY (10)


Recent Dispersed Reviews In Calvert City

50 Reviews of 10 Calvert City Campgrounds


  • Camper-submitted photo from Demumber's Bay
    August 26, 2024

    Demumber's Bay

    Extreme bug activity - late August

    Pulled in around dusk and there was a deserted camper there, about 4 pull in sites for rooftop campers. The bugs were insane and 40 must’ve flown into my car when i opened the door for a split second. Other than that, good stop for dispersed campers. Bathrooms were vault.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Jackson Falls
    May 8, 2024

    Jackson Falls

    Love this place!

    This is a spectacular place if you are looking for private and semi-private dispersed campgrounds that you can drive up to. Great hiking around the area. 

    The road to get into the primitive camp area is long, and just a little bumpy but we had no problem in a 4x4, also saw volvos and subarus do just fine.  Sprinter vans would be fine. Was pretty dry when we visited, could see the road getting a little sketch after big rain.  Definitely not gonna be fun for even small RV's. Tough turnarounds for large trailers or 5th wheels.

  • Camper-submitted photo from LBL FS-326
    April 7, 2024

    LBL FS-326

    Lovely, quiet spot!

    This was a fantastic dispersed camping spot! A few cars went by looking for whatever, but the road dead ends at Energy Lake. It was quiet most of the time. Occasionally heard some obnoxious people across the lake where I believe a campground is located. Also heard a sound during the night, possibly coyotes. Otherwise, I felt safe and had a great time here!! The ground was flat and there was a lot of room. We were just passing through and needed somewhere quiet to sleep after two days of driving. There is a lot to do in this area! I hope I got the location right… it wouldn’t let me add the exact coordinates I saved when I was there.

  • Camper-submitted photo from LBL FS154 - Dispersed
    March 28, 2024

    LBL FS154 - Dispersed

    Several Nice Spots

    I stayed at two difderent spots in March 2024. You might need 4wd; it had rained all day before I got here and there were some rough/sloppy patches in the road. The pit toilt at the entrance is about a 10-12 minute drive away. Both spots had fire pits

  • Camper-submitted photo from Demumber's Bay
    March 18, 2024

    Demumber's Bay

    Beautiful great signal peace and quiet

    Wonderful locations all as you head to this particular spot.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Demumber's Bay
    September 26, 2023

    Demumber's Bay

    Multiple Great Spots!

    This road is a paved Forest road that leads to a boat ramp. There are multiple dispersed camping spots available along the way (closer to the bay mostly). There are a couple on the water and some in the woods close by. They have fire rings made by stones from previous campers. Just make sure you get a permit for the few that have the requirement. They have a sign once you get to that area by the boat ramp.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Lake Glendale Recreation Area
    July 5, 2023

    Lake Glendale Recreation Area

    Peaceful spot

    We almost had the entire campground to ourselves because it was February. We stayed here one night while coming back from MO. It had a huge campsite, unfortunately the bathrooms and showers were locked. Also part of the campground road was blocked off. We pulled up and didn't think we were going to be able to stay. We did a self registration and put a check in a slot and didn't otherwise speak to anyone in charge. We were able to walk a small trail by the campground along the lake but it started to rain so only got in about a mile. We packed up and headed out after that.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Jackson Falls
    January 15, 2023

    Jackson Falls

    No Signal, No Problem

    Went here in early May of 2022 with two friends. This area is massive; there are a handful of hammock friendly tent sites near the Vault toilet and parking lot, and there are plenty of sites available further up the road. When we went, it was rainy and fairly cool, so there were few bugs. My only complaint was that I had no cell service. I was too busy enjoying being there.

  • Camper-submitted photo from LBL FS154 - Dispersed
    September 19, 2022

    LBL FS154 - Dispersed

    5 Star Dispersed? Planning ahead will make the difference

    This site is quite remote feeling, but for a dispersed site, it is absolutely the BEST, which is why it is sometimes difficult to secure it, being it is first come first served. Be sure to have your dispersed camping permit before coming out! They are available online, and at any of the Visitor's centers. The roads coming out to this site are graded graveled roads, and do not require 4WD, however some of the roads are still blocked by trees felled (probably during December 2021 tornados), so you won't want to be dragging a trailer behind you when you turn a curve to see a fallen oak.  I traveled in on FS-154 and turned left onto the road that runs next to the site. When leaving, I attempted to continue traveling down the unnumbered road toward FS-134, but both directions in the fork were blocked by trees. This campsite is very popular, even though there are ZERO AMENITIES, which means you need to know and understand sanitation ("cat holes") as there are no port-a-johns or vault toilets, there is also NO POTABLE water, so you either pack it in or bring your filter and drink lake water. 

    The campsite itself is on a small peninsula, just big enough for a large two room tent, a makeshift fire ring, and a vehicle. I was there during the lake's winter pool, so the water was very low, leaving a lot of easy walkable entry areas into the bay or inlet area.  Forrest service checks in with dispersed campers often, so staying longer than the time allowed is usually not an option, but there are also other really nice dispersed areas near by to move to,

  • Camper-submitted photo from Jackson Falls
    September 4, 2022

    Jackson Falls

    Great campground

    Off the beaten path and wasn’t sure what to expect but once there it was nice…just a parking lot with a vault lock toilet and a few campsites you see right away… also a few down the path if you want a little remote. The bathroom was stocked with tp but you will want to bring hand sanatizer or water. None available there. Cool views of the Bluffs 1/4 mile down the path and a bridge that would go over a waterfall if it wasn’t so dried up…would probably real pretty to see in the spring. Drove my Hyundai Elantra thru just fine, but it is a rough road and your car will get dirty.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Demumber's Bay
    September 2, 2022

    Demumber's Bay

    Basic Campground - Pack in all you need (except toilet!)

    Denumbers is considered a back country campground in Land Between the Lakes. The road going back into the campground is paved, and the roads in the campground are compacted gravel. This is a well maintained campground whose only amenity is a vault toilet, and trash dumpster. The views of the lake are amazing, and this is a quiet area that allows for easy kayaking or other small water craft. There is a boat ramp, and zero entry areas into the water for launching. 

    A Dispersed Camping (Basic Camping) permit is required to camp here and you must purchase these at any of the three Visitor's Centers PRIOR to coming out! I've been told (by LBL LEO) that if you arrive after the centers are closed, but go get the permit first thing in the morning when they open, you will be good...

  • Camper-submitted photo from Lake Glendale Recreation Area
    August 21, 2022

    Lake Glendale Recreation Area

    Amazing place

    We stayed there 1 night after the other place we stayed was a disaster. Very nice park. Very well maintained and taken care of. Lake was nice with large clean and well kept sand beach for $5 a person. They had paddle boats, kayaks for rent as well. $22 for electric sites, a little pricey at $12 for nonelectric primitive sites. They have firewood available for $4 a bundle and ice at $5 a bag. VERY VERY clean and well taken care of bathroom/shower house. Flush toilets and hot water showers. Was very impressed with them, honestly cleaner than most gas station bathrooms! Nicely located with lots of other parks and activities within driving range, like cave-in-rock and the Ohio river. Paducah Kentucky is only about a 30 minute drive where you can get anything you’d need from shopping to eating. The only bad is they only had 1 very small playground located centrally in the campground. We will definitely be staying there more often when we head down to Shawnee National Forrest.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Jackson Falls
    July 11, 2022

    Jackson Falls

    Too Cool!

    This was our first trust disperse camping and I adored it. FREE is just that FREE. It’s a first come first served basis. Be prepared for random bugs dropping onto you as you’re doing things. If you’re terrified of wildlife this is not the place for you. It’s an interesting thing to hear what nature does when people aren’t around. The sounds in the night, the random howls in the distance …..

    Try it out. You may just love it.

    OH! By the way, the only negative things are the gravel road on the way down is pothole riddled and you have to hike to your spot. Don’t worry there are close spots .

  • Camper-submitted photo from Jackson Falls
    March 26, 2022

    Jackson Falls

    Great place to camp

    Great place to backwoods camp. It can be busy on the weekends and can be difficult to find an open site at times. Alot of hiking and rock climbing to do at Jackson falls.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Jackson Falls
    January 12, 2022

    Jackson Falls

    Good adventure camping

    Campsites are up a poorly maintained dirt track from the parking area. A couple water crossings before the sites, the first one being the worst. Everything here accessible to a good 2WD with decent clearance. Only saw 3 vehicle sites and a couple tent sites before the third water crossing, which is as far as I looked.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Jackson Falls
    December 24, 2021

    Jackson Falls

    Not recommended for sedans..

    Had to cross two rather deep streams and the road has many ruts and is very uneven.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Lake Glendale Recreation Area
    September 27, 2021

    Lake Glendale Recreation Area

    Beautiful sites

    Most sites are great size. Lots of trees for shade. Decent price. Lots are first come first serve. My only complaint is that the shower house only had one shower and the door wouldn't shut. Also it is not a super quiet place during the day, lots of dogs barking and loud music.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Neville Bay
    July 30, 2021

    Neville Bay

    Nice quite primitive camping

    Mostly flat near the water and lots of sites to camp. We really enjoyed our spot in the shade on a hot summer weekend.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Jackson Falls
    July 15, 2021

    Jackson Falls

    4x4 and tents only

    We were hoping to stay there but upon arrival realized that was not to be. The east side of the road is where the camping sites would be but the road was completely washed out. It would be challenging for a jeep to make it back to some of those sites.

    On top of that the river feeding Jackson Falls was all but dried up this time of year. Nothing but a trickle going down the cliff.

    We headed to Glendale Lake nearby and had much better luck at Oak Point.



Guide to Calvert City

Camping near Calvert City, Kentucky, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the scenic trails at Giant City State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, "The shorter trails in the park were beautiful even in the winter," making it a great spot for year-round hiking.
  • Water Activities: Enjoy kayaking and swimming at Energy Lake Campground. A reviewer shared, "The lake itself is man-made, and motorized watercraft are not permitted, which makes for great swimming."
  • Wildlife Viewing: The area is perfect for nature lovers. One camper at Hillman Ferry Campground noted, "The grounds were beautiful and very well kept," highlighting the natural beauty and wildlife.

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A visitor at Shawnee Forest Campground said, "The bathrooms are very clean and well lit," which adds to the overall comfort of the stay.
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer roomy sites. One family at Piney Campground remarked, "The camping sites were absolutely beautiful and the general appearance was overall good," emphasizing the spaciousness.
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often mention the helpfulness of campground staff. A reviewer at Hurricane Creek noted, "Nice camphost. Bathhouses could use an upgrade, but were clean and did the job."

What you should know:

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs, do not have drinking water or electric hookups. A camper mentioned, "There is no potable water on site," so be sure to plan accordingly.
  • Busy Weekends: Popular spots can get crowded, especially on weekends. A visitor at Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground advised, "Recommend only visiting Monday thru Thursday," to avoid the crowds.
  • Road Conditions: Some campgrounds have rough access roads. A camper at Jackson Falls noted, "The road to get into the primitive camp area is long, and just a little bumpy," so be prepared for a bit of a drive.

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places like Hillman Ferry Campground, which has a playground and plenty of space for kids to run around. One parent said, "We spent a TON of time playing at the creek."
  • Plan Activities: Make sure to have a list of activities to keep everyone entertained. A family at Giant City State Park Campground enjoyed hiking and exploring, saying, "We really enjoyed our weekend here."
  • Pack Snacks and Drinks: Having food on hand can make a big difference. A camper at Energy Lake Campground mentioned, "Super easy check-in and check-out," which allows more time for family fun.

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park warned, "This place was laid out and built by someone who hates RVs," so do your research before booking.
  • Bring Leveling Blocks: Some sites may not be level. A camper at Hurricane Creek noted, "Some sites can be hard to back into," so be prepared for that.
  • Use Dump Stations Wisely: Be aware of the location of dump stations. A visitor at Shawnee Forest Campground mentioned, "No sanitary dump," so plan your trip accordingly.

Camping near Calvert City, Kentucky, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Calvert City, KY?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Calvert City, KY is Demumber's Bay with a 4.4-star rating from 5 reviews.

  • What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Calvert City, KY?

    TheDyrt.com has all 10 dispersed camping locations near Calvert City, KY, with real photos and reviews from campers.