Camping near Campbellsville, Kentucky centers around Green River Lake, a 8,210-acre reservoir with 147 miles of shoreline. The region features rolling hills with elevations ranging from 600-900 feet, creating varied camping terrain throughout the area. Cell service can be spotty in more remote campgrounds, particularly at Smith Ridge where reviews note "practically no cell service with Verizon or AT&T."
What to do
Fishing access: Within walking distance of the marina at Smith Ridge, making it ideal for anglers. As one visitor noted, "I gave Smith Ridge 5 stars because it offers a lot of great fishing spots and beautiful views."
Hiking trails: Unmarked paths exist at Smith Ridge - Green River Lake, though a camper mentioned "there isn't but maybe one trail there, and it's unmarked." For more extensive hiking options, Holmes Bend offers "over 5 miles of trails" at the Fishers Bend trail system.
Horse trails: Equestrian options available at Green River Stables which provides "horse camping with covered stalls. Great trails on Green River Lake State Park for hiking, biking & horses," according to a visitor who appreciated the "Southern hospitality!"
Water activities: Swimming areas at several campgrounds including Holmes Bend, though one camper at Smith Ridge noted "if you want to swim you'll have to drive about a mile to the swimming area."
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Room to spread out at several campgrounds. A Smith Ridge camper reported, "I am currently here and I gotta say I am impressed. The bathrooms are clean, I am not close to my neighboring campers, the parking spots are huge."
Lake views: Waterfront access at many sites. According to one Green River Lake State Park visitor: "Easy check in and nice level sites close to the water. The newer section has very few trees for shade. The older section had plenty of shade and nice sites."
Wooded camping areas: Shade options vary by campground and section. At Holmes Bend, a camper mentioned "some sites are primitive sites but most have water. Bathroom, shower house and playground are available."
Wildlife watching: Animal encounters common throughout the region. Several campgrounds report deer sightings, and at Mammoth Cave Campground (within driving distance), "Fireflies are great at night. Frogs are singing in the evening. Tons of trees and shade."
What you should know
Electrical issues: Power limitations reported at some campgrounds. At Smith Ridge, a visitor warned: "They have a known power issue, 30amp service went out several times at the pole. Their solution was to use less appliances."
Bathroom conditions: Maintenance varies between facilities. One Smith Ridge review cautioned, "If you need to use the showers or bathroom, they never fix anything. One bathroom hasn't had electric in two years and another women's bathroom only has hot water in one shower."
Site selection: Research carefully when booking. At My Old Kentucky Home State Park, a camper advised: "Some sites have views of the golf course... Site 20 is one to avoid. It's at the corner of the loop, across from a dumpster, right next to the bathroom AND the dump station is practically in the site."
Seasonal variations: Campground hours differ substantially. While Green River Lake State Park operates April through December, most other campgrounds have shorter seasons from May to September.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Kids' activities available at several locations. At Holmes Bend, "They won't let you park in the grass so boats have to parked out front of campground. The best are the hiking trails."
Shallow swimming areas: Beach options at multiple sites. A Smith Ridge visitor noted, "There is a beach, and boat ramp available to those that wish to fish. There is also houseboats available at Smith Ridge as well."
Community activities: Scheduled events at some campgrounds. Heartland RV Park "has been having events for the children. Movie night, outdoor games, and a camp fire with smores," according to a recent visitor.
Educational opportunities: Historic sites nearby for day trips. One visitor to My Old Kentucky Home mentioned, "We toured the My Old KY Home historic house and gardens with our kids (13 & 5) and everyone enjoyed it."
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Uneven sites common at some campgrounds. At My Old Kentucky Home, a visitor advised to "make sure to have levelers to handle 7+ inches."
Hookup locations: Utility placement varies significantly. One My Old Kentucky Home camper noted "water and electric is about 40 feet away" from some sites.
Site lengths: Limited space for larger rigs at some campgrounds. A visitor recommended checking "the site description" as "many sites were not level and some sites were very short."
Dump station access: Location matters when selecting sites. Several campgrounds have dump stations, but as noted at My Old Kentucky Home, some sites sit "at a lower elevation than the dump station so imagine how nasty it could be on a rainy day."
