Green River Lake stretches across 8,200 acres with 40 miles of shoreline near Campbellsville, Kentucky. The lake's average depth runs 25 feet with a maximum depth of 76 feet, creating diverse fishing opportunities. Summer water temperatures typically range from 78-85°F, making it comfortable for swimming from May through September.
What to do
Fishing at Smith Ridge: Cast for largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish along Green River Lake's shoreline. "I gave Smith Ridge 5 stars because it offers a lot of great fishing spots and beautiful views," notes Jessica C. about Smith Ridge - Green River Lake.
Hiking trails: Explore the 5+ miles of trails at Fishers Bend near Holmes Bend Campground. "The best are the hiking trails. It's a short drive or walk thru the woods to trail head. Fishers bend has over 5 miles of trails," explains Kenny P. from Holmes Bend.
Visit Mammoth Cave National Park: Take a day trip 45 miles northwest to explore the world's longest known cave system. "Do the twilight tour! It is also a dry county, so the only alcohol are some $5 beers near the visitor center," advises Michael K. about visiting from Mammoth Cave Campground.
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Many campgrounds offer sites with room to spread out. "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, and it's a great area to walk around," shares Maze M. about their glamping experience near Campbellsville at Smith Ridge.
Lake access: Direct water access ranks high on campers' priority lists. "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," reports Doug and Terri C. about their stay at Green River Lake State Park Campground.
Wildlife viewing: Campgrounds around Campbellsville provide opportunities to observe deer, turkeys, and various bird species. "Walking around you will find wildlife. Lots of deer and turtles and birds. The beach is great and right next to the marina," notes Thomas R. during his glamping adventure at Holmes Bend.
What you should know
Limited cell service: Coverage varies widely around Green River Lake. "Practically no cell service with Verizon or AT&T," warns Todd C. about his stay at Smith Ridge Green River Lake.
Seasonal facilities: Many campgrounds have limited operation seasons. Pikes Ridge runs from May 10 to September 22, while Green River Lake State Park operates from April 1 to December 31.
Bathroom conditions vary: Quality and cleanliness of facilities differs between locations and times of year. "This campground has two stumps there were hard to work around when backing up the camper in the dark. If you need to use the showers or bathroom, they never fix anything. One bathroom hasn't had electric in two years," cautions Christina S. about her recent experience at Pikes Ridge - Green River Lake.
Tips for camping with families
Beach access: Look for sites with swimming areas for children. "Campground is surrounded by lake. Has a beach for swimming and playgrounds for the kids," recommends Lee-Ann R. about her family's visit to Green River Lake State Park Campground.
Playground options: Several campgrounds offer play equipment. "There are many picnic tables and grills scattered around the park. The play ground is huge. There is mini golf, vollyball, and basketball," explains Carolynn K. about Diamond Caverns RV Resort and Golf.
Kid-friendly trails: Woodland Trail provides an easy hiking experience for families with children. "I had Site 31 right beside the Woodland Trail entrance but you're pretty close to the lake (the boat ramp is about a 1/2 mile as the crow flies) and you're close to town (about 3 1/2 miles roughly) if you need to resupply," shares Estus H. about his glamping experience at Smith Ridge.
Tips from RVers
Electrical considerations: Some campgrounds experience power fluctuations. "Their solution was to use less appliances. There are other campgrounds on the lake that I would choose instead of this one for that reason," advises Lindsey M. regarding electrical issues at Smith Ridge.
Dump station access: Plan your approach carefully at some locations. "Our main issue was the dump station, horrible layout. What takes us maybe 10 minutes took over 25. Plan ahead or decide to dump elsewhere," warns Bethany W. about her experience at Horse Cave KOA.
Site selection tips: Check for shade and levelness when booking. "Tidy enough, pretty lake, be careful, some tent spots are on hills. Check in was easy and friendly, a fair number of open sites, the lake is really pretty, the showers were pretty decent. 1/2 the park has good shade, the other half has no shade," advises Carol about Green River Lake State Park.
