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Best Campgrounds near Central City, KY

190 Reviews

The town of Central City in Kentucky sits close to several good camping areas. Mammoth Cave Campground in Santa Claus gives campers a base to check out the famous cave system at Mammoth Cave National Park. The sites are kept in good shape and have bathrooms and drinking water nearby, which works well if you're bringing kids along. Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park isn't far from Central City and has nice hiking trails and a quiet lake. You'll find electrical hookups and modern bathrooms at the campsites there. About 16 miles from Central City, Lake Malone State Park Campground has pretty views of the lake and basic stuff like picnic tables and fire rings. Keep your food stored properly since deer and birds are common in these parks. If you have an RV, Western Kentucky RV Park is just two miles from Central City with full hookups and plenty of room at each site. Remember that the weather changes a lot by season - summers get hot and sticky while winters can be cold. These campgrounds work for both tent and RV camping depending on what you prefer.

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Best Camping Sites Near Central City, Kentucky (40)

    1. Western Kentucky RV Park

    3 Reviews
    Central City, KY
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 757-0348

    $46 - $55 / night

    "Standard parking lot style rv park near highway, but we’ll kept, clean rr/shower/laundry, decent playground, grass strips on which you should NOT drive or park."

    2. Hopewell RV Park

    1 Review
    Central City, KY
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 725-0364

    $38 - $50 / night

    "Just 5 miles south of Western Kentucky Parkway on US highway 431. Also has several seasonal workers from Paradise Power Plant staying here during an outage. School bus picks kids op at the stop sign."

    3. Lake Malone State Park Campground

    5 Reviews
    Dunmor, KY
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 657-2111

    $20 - $25 / night

    "Nice lake, boat ramp very accessible, somewhat limited parking. Out of the way (as in not close to the interstate) , nice clean areas, picturesque:)"

    "While we haven't camped overnight yet, my husband and I frequent Lake Malone State Park to hike the trails."

    4. Livermore RV Park

    2 Reviews
    Mount Vernon, KY
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 278-2854

    "These sites are right off the green river, there is a boat ramp adjacent. Good people all around , and the monthly is amazingly low. You can opt to pay for 50 or 30 amp service."

    5. Gregory Lake RV Park and Campground

    Be the first to review!
    Central City, KY
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 476-9223

    6. Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park

    19 Reviews
    Dawson Springs, KY
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 797-3421

    $12 - $40 / night

    "Pennyrile Forest State Park off Ky69 outside Dawson Springs, Ky. A newer trail Pennyrile Nature Trail is 13.5 mile long hiking trail, from Dawson Springs to the park."

    "We were on the very corner and even though it was close to the road it was beautiful and not super traffic heavy. There was however a streetlight at the corner and it was extremely bright."

    7. Diamond Lake Resort Campground

    8 Reviews
    Mount Vernon, KY
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 229-4900

    $34 - $38 / night

    "This is a resort not a get away from it all camping. It is well maintained, friendly staff, lots to do for kids. Sites are close, as in any resort style campground."

    "It was also nice to ride the golf cart around the park to get around. We brought ours but you can also rent. The swimming pool stays pretty full but is nice."

    8. Ohio County Park And Campground

    2 Reviews
    Hartford, KY
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 298-4466

    9. Dam Good Campground

    Be the first to review!
    Hartford, KY
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 363-0490

    $60 - $125 / night

    10. RJourney Clarksville RV Resort

    25 Reviews
    Clarksville, TN
    46 miles
    Website
    +1 (931) 774-7901

    $49 - $75 / night

    "If only Clarksville wasn’t so close to the highway... great location, much shade, good distance between rigs, level gravel pads... great public areas, very hospitable staff.... just a bit noisy from the"

    "This campground is located real close to I24. You can see & hear it. Know that before you book. That aside, it’s a nice campground."

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Recent Camping Photos near Central City, KY

51 Photos of 40 Central City Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Central City, KY

190 Reviews of 40 Central City Campgrounds

  • Overland O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Houchin Ferry Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

    Very nice remote campground

    This is a very nice and clean campground with about 10 sites. It is part of Mammoth Cave National park. That means I could use my lifetime pass and it only cost $10 per night. Ranger came by twice a day. Very clean port a pottys that are maintained well. Dumpster for trash and each site has a fire ring. Road in is paved and not bad, but has a few hills and is narrow. 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. Reservation only and pay online. Not much cell signal here, maybe 1 bar on Visible. (Verizon) Decent signal on Starlink mini at site 1. Sites are right along the side of the Green River and the temperature here was a consistent 3 degrees F lower than in town. Lot of shade, not good for solar.

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 23, 2025

    RJourney Clarksville RV Resort

    Booking fee

    They charge a $20.00 booking fee! Which was 50% the cost of my site! Are you kidding me! The thing is I never booked it, I walked in on a Tuesday when it wasn't busy. So the price was $68.00 for water and electric for one night not $40. It was also very noisey across the street from some rock/cement quarry.

  • Richy R.
    Apr. 2, 2025

    Lake Mauzy East

    Harris-Dickerson WMA (Free) – A Hidden Gem on the Lake!

    This is an amazing spot for free camping! The tent pads are right by the water, offering stunning lake views. Each site comes equipped with a fire ring, picnic table, and access to toilets—everything you need for a comfortable stay. Despite its remote feel, Walmart is just a 12-minute drive away for any last-minute supplies. We would have loved to stay longer, but incoming storms cut our trip short. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a peaceful and scenic getaway! No electricity or showers!

  • Amanda F.
    Feb. 8, 2025

    Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park

    Nice park due for an upgrade

    I stayed here on a whim on my way to a funeral. I just needed a place to rest for the night. This was a peaceful place and clean. Just needs to be updated.

  • Hopewell RV Park
    Jan. 23, 2025

    Hopewell RV Park

    Great little campground

    Great for quick, hassle free stop while traveling. Just 5 miles south of Western Kentucky Parkway on US highway 431. Also has several seasonal workers from Paradise Power Plant staying here during an outage. School bus picks kids op at the stop sign. Really nice family hosts. Full hookups at each site and new picnic tables. Beautiful country and Dollar General just down the road.

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 4, 2024

    Bowling Green KOA

    Nice KOA

    This KOA was easy to find by following our GPS. We checked in about 45 minutes prior to their 1:00 PM check in time and they didn’t even mention us being early. We decided we didn’t need an escort to our site as it was near the office. We proceeded to deluxe-patio pull-through site H-4 with FHUs. The utilities were nicely placed in the middle of the pad. Water pressure was good at about 50 psi. This site has plenty of shade as does most sites in the campground (CG) due to mature trees, so we did not put out Starlink. We got 4 bars LTE on Verizon and used our MiFi versus Starlink. Site H-4 has a utility box on the yard side, so we had extra space between the adjacent site. They have a decent sized dog park with an agility set up. This KOA has a lot of amenities and lives up to a Holiday KOA rating. The dog park is a nice size. They have a decent laundry room behind the office with 4 washers and 8 dryers. It’s$2.50 to wash and$1.50 to dry. They have 2 fishing ponds. The large one you can keep 2 fish for$20 and the small one is catch and release. There’s some traffic noise from I-65 and surrounding roads. Our main reason to visit the area was to visit the National Corvette Museum. We enjoyed our two night stay.

  • Erich H.
    Jul. 24, 2024

    Bowling Green KOA

    A must stay to enjoy that KOA feeling

    After completing the warranty work at Camping World, we enjoyed this fabulous campground for two months. 

    The vibe is great, the campground is clean, and the office staff is fabulous. We enjoyed playing putt-putt golf and fishing in the catch-and-release and paid ponds. 

    Be sure to check out the Flight Museum across the street, the Corvette Museum, and the friendly people in the area.

    The only downside is at night due to the road noise from the I-65/I-165 split.

  • joseph B.
    Jul. 10, 2024

    COE Rough River Lake Axtel Campground

    Depends on the spot

    Overall this campground is peaceful, but very crowded with a lot of spots in one area.  I was lucky enough to book a double spot that had some space between the other campsites with a good view of the lake.  Great amenities.

  • joseph B.
    Jul. 10, 2024

    Moutardier

    Decent

    This campground has tried to cram as many people into it at one time as possible.  Sites are very close to each other that you could hear your neighbor burp or fart at any time day or night.  Otherwise, the campground is clean with good amenities.  If you are lucky enough to get a lake side spot, the views are good, but again, you will have neighbors.

Guide to Central City

Camping near Central City, Kentucky, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled weekend, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Explore Mammoth Cave National Park: Just a short drive from the Mammoth Cave Campground, this park is famous for its stunning caves and hiking trails. One camper mentioned, "We really enjoyed the four days we spent at the Mammoth Caves Campground, right in the national park."
  • Visit Nolin Lake State Park: This park offers great opportunities for fishing, swimming, and hiking. A reviewer noted, "Our site was huge, with enough space for our RV, truck, dog fence and fire area."
  • Check out Lake Rudolph Campground: Located in Santa Claus, Indiana, this campground is perfect for families visiting Holiday World. One guest said, "Our family enjoyed the amenities and the easy 'special entrance' shuttle to Holiday World."

What campers like:

  • Clean facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A review from Kentucky Nolin Lake State Park stated, "The bath house was very clean and well maintained."
  • Spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer large, level sites. A camper at Mammoth Cave Campground mentioned, "It’s a beautiful, wooded campground with large and generally level sites."
  • Family-friendly atmosphere: Campgrounds like Lake Rudolph are noted for their friendly vibe. One reviewer said, "All of the staff is very friendly. The park is very clean."

What you should know:

  • Limited hookups: Some campgrounds, like Mammoth Cave Campground, do not have electric hookups at the sites. A camper pointed out, "There are no electric hookups. There is water available at spots throughout the campground, but not at the sites."
  • Road noise: Campgrounds near highways, such as Bowling Green KOA, can be noisy. One guest noted, "The only downside is at night due to the road noise from the I-65/I-165 split."
  • Reservations recommended: Many campgrounds fill up quickly, especially on weekends. A visitor at Kentucky Nolin Lake State Park mentioned, "We rolled in on the day of our stay with no reservations."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose family-friendly campgrounds: Look for places with playgrounds and activities for kids. A reviewer at Lake Lincoln Campground said, "The campground has a few playgrounds for the kids too."
  • Plan for shade: Some sites may not have much shade, so bring canopies or umbrellas. A camper at Kentucky Hurricane Creek noted, "Most have very little shade."
  • Pack games and activities: Keep kids entertained with outdoor games. One family at Lake Rudolph enjoyed playing putt-putt golf during their stay.

Tips from RVers:

  • Check site sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site before booking. A reviewer at Clarksville RV Resort mentioned, "Concrete level sites. Pond to fish in and huge dog run."
  • Be prepared for tight spots: Some campgrounds have narrow roads and tight turns. A camper at Kentucky Hurricane Creek warned, "Some sites can be hard to back into."
  • Utilize dump stations: Know where the dump stations are located for convenience. A visitor at Kentucky Nolin Lake State Park mentioned, "The dump station is at the entrance."

Camping near Central City, Kentucky, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. With beautiful parks and friendly campgrounds, you're sure to have a great time!

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Central City, KY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Central City, KY is Western Kentucky RV Park with a 2.7-star rating from 3 reviews.

What parks are near Central City, KY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 21 parks near Central City, KY that allow camping, notably Rough River Lake and Nolin River Lake.

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