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Best Tent Camping near Campbellsville, KY

644 Reviews

Several established tent camping options can be found surrounding Campbellsville, Kentucky, particularly along the waterways and forested areas of the region. Pulaski County Park offers tent camping with lake access, hiking trails, and mountain biking opportunities approximately 35 miles southeast of Campbellsville. Houchin Ferry Campground at Mammoth Cave National Park provides secluded tent sites along the Green River about 45 miles northwest, serving as a good base for exploring the cave system and surrounding natural areas.

Most tent sites in the area feature basic amenities with varying levels of development. At Pulaski County Park, campers find designated tent areas with access to drinking water, showers, and toilets, though reviews indicate the bathhouse facilities can be outdated during peak season. Houchin Ferry Campground provides more primitive accommodations with porta-potties, picnic tables, and fire rings, but no showers or running water. A review noted, "Great primitive sites. Very secluded. Water, dumpster toilet, table and fire ring. What else could you need." Many tent camping areas operate seasonally, with Pulaski County Park typically open April through October, while Houchin Ferry remains accessible year-round.

Tent sites throughout the region offer varied experiences based on proximity to water and recreational opportunities. Areas near lakes and rivers provide fishing access and water activities, particularly at Pulaski County Park where tent campers can enjoy lake views and beach access. Campsites at Houchin Ferry are positioned along the Green River, creating opportunities for kayaking trips. One camper described seeing "hundreds of lightning bugs" during summer camping at Houchin Ferry, adding a memorable natural element to the experience. Most tent areas offer some shade from the Kentucky sun, though site spacing varies considerably between locations, with Houchin Ferry providing more seclusion than the sometimes crowded Pulaski County Park during summer weekends. Hidden Ridge Camping offers dedicated tent sites on 53 acres of wooded land for those seeking more private tent camping experiences.

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Best Tent Sites Near Campbellsville, Kentucky (9)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Campbellsville, KY

8 Photos of 9 Campbellsville Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Campbellsville, KY

644 Reviews of 9 Campbellsville Campgrounds

  • Shea M.
    Apr. 3, 2020

    Houchin Ferry Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

    Cave Camping

    We really enjoyed this place! It's located on the green river and has very spacious campsites. Plenty of room for the kids or dogs to run around. Very secluded. There is a concrete picnic table, pole and fire pit at each spot. Across the road to the ferry is a large pavillion with several more picnic tables for bigger gatherings. There are a few porta potties and no water or hookups. Primitive camping only. We tent camped here in July and saw hundreds of lightning bugs (see video)! It was magical, that really made the experience so much better for us!

    Highly recommend a cave tour as well at Mammoth Cave National Park. You will not be disappointed!! Can't wait to go back!

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 20, 2018

    Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

    Base Station

    Mammoth Cave Campground is in the country but centrally located between several nice size cities and right off I65.

    No signal once you get in the park except if your lucky at the lodge. We tuned in to WIFI whenever we passed through the Visitors Center/lodge restaurant in the morning.

    The campground is primitive, no electric with parking pads, picnic tables and fire rings. There is a restroom in the campground and a shower house, laundry room, post office and store adjacent. The dump station is next to that facility right outside the front “gate”.

    There is enough space between camp sites to have some privacy and the trees provide natural noise block and shade. There be critters in the woods so protect your food! You may see deer and turkey, you won’t see the little shit raccoon that runs off with dog toys and any food left out ;)

    There are several trail access points directly from the campground. Including two easy trails to the visitors center.

    Aside from the obvious, cave tours, there are several other options on how to spend your day and nights.

    If your coming for the cave specifically make sure you reserve your preferred cave tour way ahead of time!

    If you are coming for the trails, enjoy! There are multiple options. I run the trail near the visitor center year round. It is technical and hilly, not stroller friendly.

    The trails on the far side of the Green River ferry have dispersed camping sites and plenty of natural features to discover.

    The float down the Green River is enjoyable. If you bring your own water craft several of the companies will drive you to the put in from the ferry parking area for a nominal fee.

    Also across the Green River is the Maple Springs group and horse campground, I’m not a horse person but I see plenty of them in the area and they seem to be enjoying the trails and campground.

    There is also zip lines in the area, a winery and golfing.

    Fast food and Wally World in Brownsville, other touristy attractions one exit up at Cave City. (Ky Down Under and Dinosaur World, plus a Yogi Bear Campground)

    We spent the weekend hiking in the rain and avoided Green River, it’s a muddy mess right now.

  • Peg D.
    May. 1, 2019

    Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

    Best weekend ever

    Loved staying at the mammoth cave state park last weekend. April 26th-28th 2019.

    No reservations are needed until May 1st. It was Walk up First come first serve from March through May. The last weekend of April was perfect and was not over crowded but had a good amount of visitors. We had perfect weather as well. The camp grounds are clean and nice looking , bathrooms also very clean and have normal toilets, laundry room had new washers and dryers and very roomy & clean with attached bathrooms & showers for men & women. The camp store was nicely set up and had plenty of foods and stuff Incase you forgot anything. However they do not sell real fire wood. They do sell compressed fire bricks. That Looks-like compressed sawdust bricks. So if you want real fire wood you have to go off trail and find it. Recommend and saw to cut it up but there was plenty of dead branches to be found through out the park and you are allowed to pick it up and burn it. The cave tours are fun and educational however if you lack fitness some of them will test your limits. So know your limits before booking. Highly recommend buying your tickets before you arrive as they fill up super fast and they offer more tours during the peak season than they do in spring.

    The lodge is nice has 2 restaurants one is sit down one is fast food snacks like setting. There are 5 gift shops in all between the camp store has 1 the lodge has 2 and the visitors center has 2. It’s worth the trip if your in to caving and hiking. Unfortunately there is lack of access to the river unless you go backwoods hiking/camping But all in all it’s a fun time!

  • Kristin H.
    Nov. 5, 2021

    Nolin Lake State Park Campground

    Tent Camping Paradise

    We camped at site P27, which is in the RV section of the campground, but off to the side and pretty private. Great little spot and had our own piece of shoreline. No electricity or water here but equipped with a picnic table, fire ring, and lantern post. Had to back truck up as best we could and walk a little trail to the site and unload. Had to park by basketball court when done unloading, so keep in mind your vehicle won't be within site. There is a group site off in the distance and they were pretty loud but still a good distance off so it was tolerable. Daughter caught her first fish here. Loved waking up to the fog over the lake. Bath house wasn't as clean as I recall from previous trips but it wasn't anything to get worked up about. Lots of places are short staffed these days so I can't fault them too badly. Nolin is on of our favorite campgrounds!

  • Lisa D.
    May. 23, 2023

    Kendall Campground

    Only tent site

    I had the only tent site. It was adequate but many stares up and down. No water no electricity. Bathrooms were clean, campground was clean and quite. There is a snack shack outside the gate and they have bait. Good fishing lake and river.

  • Rachelle W.
    Aug. 5, 2018

    My Old Kentucky Home State Park Campground

    Primitive tent camping at My Old Kentucky Home

    The primitive tent camping is located in a grove of beautiful, mature trees. Fire rings & picnic tables are dotted throughout the trees. There is a highway right beside the campsite so you will best cars, but it is not a high traffic area.

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 31, 2018

    Camp on the Kentucky

    Seasonal Campground With Great Pricing

    Something that sets this place apart from others in the area is long term tent camping!! Yes you read that right, LONG TERM TENT CAMPING! For most of those who travel you know they often offer long term services for those in RVs which provides a discount for staying more than a night or two, but at this campground you as a tent camper can find a location that suits your Kentucky home needs on the road for a day, a week or even a month!

    But what does that entail exactly?

    This site is really nice, with level sites for RVs or tents, padded grass which is well maintained, nice gravel roads around camp and a river frontage with views which will make you just want to stop and take in the scenery.

    When I visited I noticed a lot of people staying here near the weekend were visiting to launch their boats and troll the river fishing for what looked like some pretty large fish. It was pretty cool to see some of the people setting up their campground fish fry, and they were even friendly enough to invite me to join, though I don't eat fish so it didn't really work out that way.

    The tent sites were shaded and had several different options, you could choose primitive which is only $17 or for a few dollars more you could have electricity. All sites come with a picnic table and fire ring and a pull in to keep you and your things closely together.

    There was a playground and volleyball, but I didn't see anyone using these when I was there. A small camp store has a lot of the essentials in case your forgot something or just needed to pick up a snack. There was also firewood available, a big plus!!

    This place is a bit older looking in appearance but it is charming and the owner is very cool. I didn't meet a single person there that wasn't just enjoying life.

    TIPS:

    • If you are trying to check in the office has kind of strange hours. They are only open until 2 Sunday through Tuesday, not sure why but call in advance if you are running later than this time and want to check in.
    • Check their online event schedule! This campground host tailgating for UK so you can find a good tailgate party if you plan in advance, right at your campground!!
    • This is nearby the Bourbon Trail as well as so many other places where you will find activities. I was here to check out the Castle (I have attached a few photos) Can't miss this stop!!!
  • D
    May. 25, 2019

    My Old Kentucky Home State Park Campground

    Works in a pinch

    Has tent and RV camping. I tent camped this trip and stopped by for one night as I was passing through. Cost was about $16ish. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Tent sites are at the front of the property with the RVs to the back. Tent campsites are not defined - just an open area for all to share with picnic tables and grills scattered around. Kids playground next to it. Couldn't find the potable water for the tent area. The RVs had electric & water hookups. Showers and bathrooms available. Right next to a side road with a bit of traffic the night I stayed.

  • Ella L.
    Mar. 23, 2023

    Taylorsville Lake State Park Campground

    Stellar Staff, great amenities, good for kids and big groups!

    The shower/bath house is on a European level of well-equipped. Reasonably clean(a little bit of boot muck on the floors but you should be wearing shower shoes anyway in a public facility) Self flushing toilets, air dryers for your hands.

    Well thought out for handicap accessibility as far as the toilet and shower stalls. Hand sinks could be a bit lower for folks using a chair but they do have a low hand dryer and no threshold in the doorway to get over.

    There are windows that look into the bathroom and although they are up high, pervs and curious kids will find a way. Campground should def. frost them but if you have the stall door shut to the space you're using you can hide your shame. A+ on the restroom space. Seriously impressed.

    Very well heated on a cold morning and although I didn't use the shower there were plenty of places in the shower stall to keep your things up off of anything wet. Single use stall and there were several. Door shuts and there is also a shower curtain to keep moisture off of your things.

    Outlets by the sinks for hair dryer if you bring one.

    Campground has hit or miss tent spots depending on how much space you need. We had a 3 person tent, 2 hammocks and a dog and we reserved spot 8 on the primitive loop and had more than enough room. There was a fire ring(one at every site) and two picnic tables. This spot, as most of them appeared to have enough room for at least 2 very large tents and a dining fly if that's your thing.

    With the brush cover during May site P10, although small, seemed to be the most private. We were at P8 and couldn't see anything at P10 though the brush.

    If you are looking for privacy, although you are still going to see headlights of cars on the loop road and hear pretty much everyone else on the Primitive loop P10 probably has the most privacy as far as brush shielding you. I would say that everything on the outer part of the Primitive loop towards the back is going to be the furthest away from other people but you are still going to hear everyone else. P6, P7, P8, P10 look the best to me as far as just being chill sites with a bit more space away from others.

     All of the sites on the interior of the loop back into each other and those seemed to be more of the "party sites" the night that we stayed. A lot of competing blue tooth speaker music at very loud volumes well after the quite time of 11pm. Loud music started again at 7:58AM. It was Bollywood music, which was different and honestly kind of fun... we were already awake though.

    Our site itself was fairly even although there were a lot of tree roots. No problem finding a grassy place to set up our tent however. We picked up all the trash, aside from a weird sock, left by previous campers so that aspect was a little sad... campers leaving cigarette butts and plastic water bottle caps laying around. Tree cover would be more than adequate at this site during a hot summer day. Water spigot is next to the dumpster by the shower house btw.

    Bundles of wood were fairly small compared to some other campsites and unfortunately wrapped in plastic but the wood was good quality, dry, and didn't burn overly smoky. There is a nylon strap handle that will be stapled through the plastic wrap into one piece of the wood so if you want to burn that piece you'll need to pry the staples out/cut the strap off.

    The woman working the registration check point, we didn't catch her name, was amazing, pleasant, helpful and gave great directions. She drove by a few times in a golf cart checking on things and didn't hassle anyone. If you ask at the check point for a map you will get a packet of papers with rules and a few different slightly blurry print outs, it's a lot of info and we found it helpful exploring a few of the points of interest in the park that you can drive to. Overall it was a fun experience and although it was louder than I expected when people did quiet down it was VERY quiet and we heard owls all night and what sounded like coyote howling in the distance.

    Super good place for families!

Guide to Campbellsville

Tent camping options around Campbellsville, Kentucky sit at elevations between 500-900 feet, creating diverse microclimates throughout the region. The area experiences hot summers with temperatures regularly reaching 90°F between June and September, while spring and fall offer milder conditions for outdoor recreation. Winter camping typically sees temperatures between 25-45°F with occasional snow.

What to do

Mountain biking trails: 10+ miles at Pulaski County Park provide varying difficulty levels for cyclists. One visitor noted, "There are hiking trails near the entrance of the camp. The trails are varied and pretty cool. They twist and turn and cross creeks and hill tops."

Fishing access: Year-round opportunities for anglers at various lake and river locations. A camper at Houchin Ferry Campground mentioned, "Sites are right along the side of the Green River" making it convenient for fishing enthusiasts.

Nature trail exploration: 1-mile loop at Narrows Boat Ramp offers accessible hiking with lake views. A visitor shared that the trail "has several benches along its route as well as scenic overlooks to the lake."

Cave tours: Multiple options for exploring Mammoth Cave National Park. One camper stated, "Highly recommend a cave tour as well at Mammoth Cave National Park. You will not be disappointed!"

What campers like

Secluded sites: Private camping spots provide peaceful experiences away from crowds. At Hidden Ridge Camping, visitors enjoy "53 acres of wooded land" with "spacious and secluded" tent sites that create "the perfect spot for your next family adventure."

Wildlife viewing: Evening experiences offer unique natural encounters. One camper at Houchin Ferry noted seeing "hundreds of lightning bugs" which created a "magical" experience that "really made the experience so much better for us!"

Lake views: Scenic water vistas enhance the camping atmosphere. A visitor to Narrows Boat Ramp appreciated the "scenic overlooks to the lake" along the nature trail.

Affordability: Budget-friendly options exist throughout the region. One camper at Pulaski County Park mentioned "the cost of camping there is very affordable" compared to similar facilities.

What you should know

Bathroom facilities: Vary widely between campgrounds in the area. A camper at Ryans Camp Ramp noted their campsites "are stacked up a hillside off the side of the road" with minimal amenities.

Cell service: Limited connectivity at most remote sites. A visitor to Houchin Ferry warned "no signal. Your phone will tease you with one bar and occasionally something might get through but it would be easier on your battery to just wait until you get into town."

Reservation requirements: Changed at some locations due to COVID-19 protocols. One camper noted that Houchin Ferry "usually is first come first serve, but during Covid is reservation only. It fills up fast on the weekends."

Distance between attractions: Longer drives than expected between some campgrounds and main attractions. A visitor to Houchin Ferry found it was "a lot further from the main area of the park than I thought" with "about a 20-minute drive over to the caves and main hiking trails."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Multiple play areas available for children at some locations. A camper at Mountain Top Retreat said it's "good for families" despite the higher price point.

Water activities: Swimming options available during summer months. A visitor to Pulaski County Park mentioned "a very large walking trail, and archery area. You can put a boat right in at their little dock as well. The lake view is gorgeous. There's many places for kids to play, a basketball court, volleyball court, disk golf, and a small beach area."

Site selection: Choose locations away from common party areas. One camper cautioned, "Despite the no alcohol rule, there's still a lot of partying at night. No one really enforces that. It can get loud."

Supply proximity: Stock up before arrival at remote campgrounds. The town of Somerset was described as "the 'big' city, for supplies & food" and is only "a 10 minute drive" from Pulaski County Park.

Tips from RVers

Site limitations: Restricted vehicle access at many tent-focused campgrounds. A visitor to Houchin Ferry noted, "These sites are listed as 'Tent Only' but I got my Dodge van in no problem. In my 3 days here I saw many tents, a small pop up camper, and 2 vans. Anything larger would be a problem I think."

RV storage: Available options for longer stays in the area. One visitor observed that at Ryans Camp Ramp there are "storage buildings opposite" the campsites, providing options for those with boats or additional equipment.

Site development: Ongoing improvements continue at many locations. A long-time visitor to Pulaski County Park shared, "I have camped at this campground for over 58 years. It has been improved over the years and still needs work. More RV sites have been added. More are needed."

Road conditions: Variable access quality depending on location. A camper at Down Yonder Campground warned about the "steep entry from road" that can be challenging for larger vehicles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Campbellsville, KY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Campbellsville, KY is Pulaski County Park with a 3.6-star rating from 11 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Campbellsville, KY?

TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Campbellsville, KY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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