4 campgrounds with availability this weekend
The Mammoth Cave Horse Camp is located within Mammoth Cave National Park with direct access to equestrian trails. This horse-friendly campground offers electric hookups, drinking water, and water hookups for campers with horses. The sites accommodate both tents and RVs, with ample space for horse trailers. Wildlife sightings are common throughout the campground and surrounding trails. The campground provides basic amenities including picnic tables, fire rings where fires are permitted, and access to trash disposal. Shower facilities are available on-site, along with toilets and a sanitary dump station for RVs.
Trail riders can access multiple hiking and horse trails directly from the campground, connecting to the extensive trail network within Mammoth Cave National Park. The Green River runs through portions of the park, offering natural water access points for horses at designated areas. Double J Stables and Campground serves as another horse-friendly option near Cave City, providing electric hookups and accommodations for both horses and riders. The surrounding terrain features rolling hills and forested areas, creating varied riding experiences throughout the seasons. During peak periods, reservations are strongly recommended as equestrian campsites fill quickly, especially during the warmer months when trail conditions are optimal for riding.
"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”."
"Our sites backed up to hundreds of acres of uninhabited forest, while also being within short walking distance of the camp store and visitor center."
Available this weekend
from $25 - $50 / night
"Near Brownsville, Ky and a little off the beaten path. But definitely worth a visit or two."
"This lakeside getaway is one that will keep us coming back!! If you've never been to Kentucky...this will keep you coming back to the Bluegrass to camp for years to come!"
Available this weekend
from $25 - $40 / night
"These sites looked super nice, but many are reserved for group camping and equestrian camping it seemed."
"Nice large camping areas, secluded and quiet, easy access to the trails. Well maintained full hookup for RVs and plenty of room for your horse too."
Available this weekend
from $50 / night
"The horse barn is the first building you will see on your left."
from $15 - $25 / night
"Tucked away on the backside of Mammoth Cave NF, Ky, you want to find this Horse Camp."
from $25 / night
"There is a short trail near the boat ramp, more for fisher folk then a good hike. It ends at a small inlet. You have a strip of grass to your uphill side to use, otherwise not much privacy."
"Campground is surrounded by lake. Has a beach for swimming and playgrounds for the kids."
"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."
from $20 - $38 / night
"While visiting family in Scottsville we were in need of a close by RV park for our 40’ rig. This was the perfect spot for us."
"A lot of people pull in for the night since it's right off the highway and behind a Pilot/Flying J, but it was still quiet."
from $30 - $45 / night
"Beautiful country farm setting old dairy farm located near Cecilia. There are several mowed areas one is near a fishing pond. Firewood purchasable from the host!"
from $20 - $50 / night
"There are about 4 lakeside sites available all with good lake views"
"Cove Creek at Dale Hollow lake in TN is a primitive campsite with lakeside camping. There are water faucets for drinking water and a pit toilet available."
Available this weekend
from $15 / night
GuideI came here an early November, and it has been very quiet. There is very little signal for AT&T, and my Starlink is not very helpful because many of the trees still have leaves on, and it makes for a dense canopy. Site C 079 is fine for my 23’ sprinter van, though I had to put two levels of blocks under the front to get close to level.
RangerThe sites are smaller than the photos show. Some are very uneven. Yes you can walk to the visitors center, depending where you are camped its almost a mile one way. (For those who have difficulty walking) The showers are not wheelchair accessible. Coin showers, but definitely hot. I had NO Verizon service at campsite.
GuideIf you want to be near the cave entrances and popular trails this is a great spot. Stayed in loop A and the bathroom was super clean. Can get noisy due to the road right next to the campsite.
TravelerPrioritize money over safety of guests, period. Focus on seasonal money over long-term gas period management has literally said, we don't like these people, we realize you don't like these people, but we need their money, so get along with them. This is what they tell their permanent people to deal with during the summer when there are drunks. Literally had golf carts with unsupervised kids going past the house, over 300 notifications. Normal traffic is about 100, just on the weekend. Drunks on boats. Management is two-faced. They are so focused on making it a bougie place since they took over four and a half, five years ago, that they no longer care about making sure that they have a community that cares about each other. They have three communities. They have permanent communities who care about the park and get together and look out for each other. Then they have seasonal people who are drunk, don't care, don't follow the rules. And then they have work groups who they prioritize over residents and people who have picked up, cleaned the park, cared about the park, and don't want to see toddlers get run over by kids on golf carts like last summer. Every summer, it is nuts. There's no quiet anytime anymore, even in the dead of winter. This place is nuts. Overpriced. If you get anything in permission, like I did, get it in writing or management will use it to throw you out. I had permission for what I was doing. I'd done it for three years, and they prioritized a group of project workers that will be gone in a few months over a long-term resident who is disabled, not available to meet, not arguing with a neighbor who's a child, and lied three times in the middle of our own private conversation and ran to management with lies.
ScoutEverything is so clean and beautiful here. Tons to do and enjoy. Facilities are well kept!
GuideA beautiful well maintained state park. Would have got 5 stars but no electricity at sites due to flooding and the warnings online made it sound like it was just a few sites affected but we had a generator so it all worked out definitely worth a visit
TravelerGood place to camp while visiting Mammoth Caves. Walkable to showers which are located right outside the campground. Ok, but not super clean. Campsite was a good size and shaded. Pull through driveway was level enough. Staff friendly/helpful.
TravelerBeautiful campground, green, quiet, clean. Walking distance to visitor center and cave tours.
GuideCampground is peaceful despite sites being pretty close to each other. No water or electric at sites, but there are bathrooms and a (coin-operated) shower house nearby. For $25/night, it’s a solid deal.
Equestrian camping near Cave City, Kentucky offers direct access to numerous trail networks within Mammoth Cave National Park. The area features mixed hardwood forests with elevations ranging from 500 to 800 feet above sea level. Most horse-friendly campgrounds remain open year-round with spring and fall providing optimal trail conditions due to moderate temperatures and reduced insect activity.
Trail riding in Mammoth Cave National Park: Access multiple trail networks directly from campgrounds like Maple Springs Campground. "There are some good technical single track trails that take you into the 'woods' AND there are free dispersed camping sites! Just check in with the main camp office first. Many, many interesting things to see," explains one camper.
Kayaking on Green River: Launch from access points near the campgrounds for day trips. "The Green River runs through portions of the park, offering natural water access points" with rentals available in nearby Greensburg. As one visitor notes, "The river itself was wonderful to explore via kayak, and we ended up barely hiking."
Hiking on mixed-use trails: Explore the extensive trail network spanning through rolling terrain. "I put in over 14 miles of hiking there. The trail system in the park was great," reports a visitor at Nolin Lake State Park.
Fishing at nearby lakes: Both Nolin Lake and Barren River Lake offer fishing opportunities a short drive from Cave City. "Lots of boating options. Bring your own or rent. The lake is huge and busy with a marina," notes a camper who visited Barren River Lake Resort Lodge & Cottages.
Direct trail access: Horse-friendly campgrounds provide immediate entry to trail systems. "The campground is well spaced out, horse trailer and horse friendly, pretty good shade. I am not a horse person so I can't speak from that expertise. Plenty of room for groups," reports one visitor about Maple Springs Campground.
Wildlife encounters: The natural forest setting attracts diverse wildlife. "People here were kind and trustworthy... Fireflies are great at night. Frogs are singing in the evening. Tons of trees and shade," describes a visitor at Mammoth Cave Campground.
Water proximity: Several campgrounds feature waterfront sites. "Very nice camping areas, secluded and quiet, easy access to the trails. Well maintained full hookup for RVs and plenty of room for your horse too," notes a camper at Maple Springs.
Varied terrain: The combination of open meadows and forested trails creates diverse riding experiences. "Like most, we were here to visit Mammoth Cave National Park. We stayed on the Maple Springs side of the Green River to be closer to the mountain bike trails and are glad we did. The trails were great for both of us and we could ride straight from the campground."
Ferry crossing required: Some campgrounds require crossing the Green River by ferry. "If you are in a RV note that you can't go across the ferry with your rig!!! You have to go around the park to access this campground. We are so glad we realized that ahead of time and didn't have to back track."
Tick activity: Prepare for insects, especially during warmer months. "The only downside to the entire trip is that the park is infested with seed ticks and deer ticks. I was pulling ticks off of every inch of me even though I was coated in several layers of hardcore bug spray and my gear had been treated with permethrin," warns a visitor to Maple Springs Campground.
Limited facilities: Some equestrian camping areas have basic amenities only. "Pit toilets…though they are clean and well maintained," notes one camper about Maple Springs. At Double J Stables and Campground, "The electrical sites did not have standard 110/120v outlets. The picnic table was shared between sites."
Reservation requirements: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak seasons. "This campground books 6 months out. Very hard to get a spot, but so worth it!" advises a camper about Nolin Lake State Park.
Horse trail packages: For families without horses, guided rides offer park access. At Mammoth Cave Horse Camp, "Spend your day riding and then kick back at your site and relax. There is an area in the 'back' to park your rig and set up your glamping area."
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. At Double J Stables and Campground, "There is a playground for younger kids to play on. While we were there the owners were fundraising so they could improve it further."
Swimming options: Look for campgrounds with water access for cooling off. "The campground is surrounded by lake. Has a beach for swimming and playgrounds for the kids," says one visitor about Green River Lake State Park.
Varied accommodations: Options range from tent sites to cabins. "Highly recommend this trip and staying in the Mammoth Cave Lodge cottages! Close to the cave tours, Green River, and lots of hiking trails in the area!"
Site layout considerations: Choose sites based on your equipment size. "The sites accommodate both tents and RVs, with ample space for horse trailers." At Nolin Lake, "The campground had two tent camping locations and a rv area... I like the back in sites with shade and a small patio to set up on. They have small asphalt pads so you will get your backing skills tested."
Hookup availability: Verify utility connections before booking. "The sites are not shaded but the entire property is surrounded by trees of Mammoth Cave National Park. All the improved sites have a light post with electric, water, picnic table and fire ring."
Dump station locations: Plan for waste disposal when selecting a campground. "Shower facilities are available on-site, along with toilets and a sanitary dump station for RVs" at several area campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Cave City, KY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Cave City, KY is Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 146 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Cave City, KY?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Cave City, KY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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