Best Glamping near Clay City, KY

The Red River Gorge area houses several glamping destinations including HomeGrown HideAways and Red River Adventure, offering unique accommodation options like yurts and elevated canvas structures. Both locations provide electricity and modern comforts while maintaining a connection to nature through thoughtful amenities and scenic settings. HomeGrown HideAways features 10 sites with access to drinking water, electric hookups, picnic tables, and heated shower facilities. One guest shared, "We love this campground! Had a great time here, the staff was friendly and helpful and kind and it felt extremely remote and secluded and private too!" The safari-style accommodations at these glamping resorts blend outdoor adventure with comfortable sleeping arrangements, proper bathroom facilities, and communal gathering spaces.

Outpost Campground & RV Park near Salt Lick maintains premium yurt accommodations year-round with full hookups and modern conveniences just minutes from Cave Run Lake. Guests enjoy private fire rings and picnic tables at each glamping site while having access to hot showers, flush toilets, and a camp store for essentials. The proximity to Red River Gorge's renowned hiking trails and rock climbing destinations makes these unique glamping experiences particularly attractive to outdoor enthusiasts seeking comfort after adventure. A recent visitor noted, "This place is gorgeous. Friendly staff and campers. They have a small fishing pond, swimming pool, basketball court, and a playground." Seasonal considerations include limited winter amenities at some locations, though several glamping options maintain full services throughout the year with heating systems for cold-weather comfort.

Best Glamping Sites Near Clay City, Kentucky (16)

    1. Lago Linda Hideaway

    23 Reviews
    Beattyville, KY
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (606) 464-2876

    $12 - $86 / night

    "The huge field is available for tent campers, but these are primitive sites with no water/electricity. The improved sites with water/electricity are closer to The Pavilion and Shake Out Lounge."

    "There are limited 30 amp sites and several sites with electric. Lazy Oaks and Piney are in the trees, Cardinal which is good for larger RVs is in the field , no shade."

    2. Zilpo Campground

    49 Reviews
    Salt Lick, KY
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (606) 768-2722

    $28 - $94 / night

    "We brought our small a-frame, kayaks, ez-up, kitchen set up and one of our dogs, Butters, with us for this trip."

    "The second room has four single bunk beds. The grounds around the cabin are nice with gravel area for setting up an outdoor kitchen or tent or lounge chairs."

    3. Twin Knobs Recreation Area

    43 Reviews
    Salt Lick, KY
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (606) 780-7818

    $31 - $128 / night

    "We love how the outer loop sites have such quick access to the water. Both sites are shaded very well and the sites themselves are huge."

    "Twin Knobs Campground We stayed in the F loop on site F22 primitive camping. It had a short path to the lake, easy access for shore swimming or fishing. Great for kids and adults."

    4. 4 Guys RV Park at Red River Gorge

    4 Reviews
    Slade, KY
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (606) 481-1611

    $50 / night

    "The park is super clean, tons of showers in the bath house, nice little pool, lots of amenities at the camp store, fire pits and picnic tables at every site, a little creek access to wade in, and everyone"

    "Friendly staff and campers. They have a small fishing pond, swimming pool, basketball court, and a playground. They are very close to Natural Bridge/Red River Gorge area"

    5. Red River Gorge Adventures

    8 Reviews
    Slade, KY
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (606) 663-1012

    $8 - $20 / night

    "They do not have any water or electric hookups and no cell service, which is all a plus in my opinion."

    "All the sites had a fire pit and I believe tables at the sites. They close the gates at night and don’t open the gates till 8 am was the only drawback."

    6. Red River Adventure

    2 Reviews
    Slade, KY
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (606) 663-1012

    $80 / night

    "Had a great time here, the staff was friendly and helpful and kind and it felt extremely remote and secluded and private too!"

    7. HomeGrown HideAways

    3 Reviews
    Bighill, KY
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (859) 986-3478

    $15 - $75 / night

    "Nestled in a narrow valley between high ridges of The Knobs, this campground gives the feel of secluded country living with your own trails and creeks to explore."

    "Instead of sleeping in it, which would have been perfectly comfortable, we actually used it as more of an extra shelter and we pitched out tents in the field in front of the Yome."

    8. Outpost Campground & RV Park

    4 Reviews
    Salt Lick, KY
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (606) 683-2311

    $30 - $75 / night

    "We were fully set up in 15 mins. There is a great, centrally located playground where the kids were able to run around after being in the truck for eight hours."

    "Laundry was inexpensive and accessible all hours."

    9. Cave Run Lake

    3 Reviews
    Daniel Boone National Forest, KY
    28 miles

    "Great place for riding bike , hiking , walks. swimming, fishing. Staff are friendly, campground is clean. We love going there. Double sites have plenty of room."

    "Very clean and fun lake, close to campgrounds, boat rentals, marina, and hiking close."

    10. Cummins Ferry RV Park, Campground on the Kentucky River

    18 Reviews
    Wilmore, KY
    46 miles
    Website
    +1 (859) 865-2003

    $30 - $55 / night

    "It's situated high up on the Kentucky river bank which is nice but there's little access to the riverbank except from the floating dock and boat ramp."

    "Fairly close to shopping groceries etc. staff was friendly 30/50 amp service didn’t count the number of river view sites. But quite a few. Some sites have 20 X 12 elevated decks."

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Glamping Reviews near Clay City, KY

169 Reviews of 16 Clay City Campgrounds


  • Shannon G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 25, 2021

    Zilpo Campground

    A Week of Relaxation

    This was a week long trip for our 7th Anniversary. We brought our small a-frame, kayaks, ez-up, kitchen set up and one of our dogs, Butters, with us for this trip. We've never been to this campground before so we tried to do some research on reviews - the good, the bad the ugly. We found that the H loop seemed to be the way to go so we reserved H006. It had a very level pad for our camper - that was a plus and it included electric. There was a tent pad at the top where we would sit in the morning with coffee. When you follow the steps down, there was a very large camping area with the fire ring. We were able to set an RV mat with our ez-up and then set up our cooking kitchen across the way. The picnic table was huge (no gaps!) and provide plenty of seating for more than just the two of us. There were three lantern/food polls available to use, one at the top and two at the bottom. Across the street was extra parking and a path that led down to your own private beach. We didn't have to go to the beach (which was closed for the season) to enjoy the lake. We loved our site and although we had sites on either side - you weren't on top of each other. 

    There was a man-made path you could follow down to the lower road and take a short walk to the shower house. The shower house was ok - three toilets (one broken) and three showers (the handicap out of order). The toilets flushed "hard", in other words, be read to step out as you hit the flush button as it tends to splash more than it should. The showers had a door, a small bench for clothes and a very small stall. It was kept clean, but still covered in bugs/cobwebs/etc. There are two shower houses in H loop.

    We walked the H loop at least twice a day - almost a mile around. There are not very many electric sites on the loop. Some sites were single and some were double (much larger). We did get to walk/drive through the other loops - they were ok as well, but I would only go back knowing we'd be in H. 

    We drove out to do a couple of short hikes. No bears, but lots of nature - tons of mushrooms! We even drove through the Clear Creek campground - not a lot there, drop toilets and the water main was broken. Very low key if that's what you're looking for. We stopped by a small park and saw the old iron furnace, pretty cool and lot's of places to picnic. 

    We loved our site, the H loop and the variety of things we got to do while we were there.

  • Heather K.
    May. 16, 2019

    Lago Linda Hideaway

    A nice campground for families and rock climbers!

    This big campground is a hidden gem near Red River Gorge. The road getting to the campsite is mostly one lane so is you are in an RV, go slow. The area for RV's is a little tight in the trees and probably won't accommodate an extremely large vehicle. However, there is a huge open field on further into the camp that should be fairly easy to turn around in. The huge field is available for tent campers, but these are primitive sites with no water/electricity. The improved sites with water/electricity are closer to The Pavilion and Shake Out Lounge. The Pavilion is a great place to gather and talk with friends or enjoy the big campfire next to it. The Shake Out Lounge has a tv, free wifi and free books to borrow. There is a bathhouse with toilets and showers. There are 2 locations to obtain firewood on the campground. They also sell ice. There is not a store on site, but a short drive up the road there is a general & grocery store that also sells fresh made sandwiches. There are cabins to rent. The cabins are tucked in the trees and are very cozy. The cabin we stayed in on one of our visits, had a queen bed, kitchen area and bathroom with a shower. Plenty of trees to hang a hammock, as well. Some of the cabins overlook the beautiful lake. The lake is perfect for swimming in and has a dock and life jackets for campers use. The gravel/dirt road getting to the lake is steep, so I recommend walking down to the lake. Fishing is allowed with a permit in the lake. There are hiking trails and dogs are welcome at the campground. Overall, a great campground for individuals, friends and families.

  • D
    Aug. 4, 2022

    Zilpo Campground

    Great semi rustic

    Stayed at cabin D11. Nicely maintained.  A bit on the small side but good for a place to lay your head. This cabin is directly opposite the restrooms for this loop. Cabin is about 10 x 20. The front room has two chairs a bench and table and the air conditioner. The second room has four single bunk beds.

    The grounds around the cabin are nice with gravel area for setting up an outdoor kitchen or tent or lounge chairs.

  • Marissa G.
    May. 12, 2021

    Buckhorn Dam Campground

    Great Family Camground in the Mountains of E. KY

    This has ranked #1 for campgrounds for our family this season.

    Nestled in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, this campground has all the things your family could want to do in nature.

    Check in was super easy and the staff was great.

    The site was very easy to get to.

    We were on site 13 and it was nearly perfectly level from left to right. It had both 30 and 50 amp hookups and water (about 35psi on pressure). Each site has a charcoal grill, a fire pit with a grate for cooking and a large picnic table.

    Our site backed up to the creek and a nice little levee for fishing. You could also go up back the park and fish right at the spillway from Buckhorn Lake Dam. Really fun experience.

    Hands down the best playground for kids we have seen in a campground.

    They had a large bathhouse with super clean bathrooms. Unsure about showers as I use the one in my TT.

    There were horseshoe pits in two locations in the campsite. Several locations to dispose of trash. They also provided trash bags upon arrival.

    Laundry facilities onsite and firewood you could purchase.

    The dump station was clean and easily accessible with a hose for flushing.

    Erica and her husband are the hosts and were so friendly and helpful. We were there over Mother’s Day weekend and they provided coffee juice and doughnuts for Mother’s Day.

    A ton of kiddos for kids to play with and a great area for their bikes, etc.

    We 100% will be back to this campground this season.

  • Chris H.
    Oct. 27, 2020

    Twin Knobs Recreation Area

    Hidden Gem

    We've stayed at Twin Knobs twice now in our popup camper. First time was at F26, second was at F24. We love how the outer loop sites have such quick access to the water.

    Both sites are shaded very well and the sites themselves are huge. We could see other campers through the trees but we felt pretty well secluded.

    Each site has several tall poles with hooks for trash bags/food storage. as well each site has a large fire pit with flip-over grill for cooking.

    The firewood bundles are a bit pricey ($7) at the checkin shack, but I'm glad they are available. we purchased at least 7 bundles to have a pretty much constant fire through the day and night.

    The bathrooms are clean and easily accessible. There was a bit of an overflow issue our first day on site but it was resolved in less than an hour by the loop hosts.

    Pop's bbq was a hit both nights we were there. We ordered carryout (covid) and ate at camp on the provided picnic tables. The Dollar General is also adequately stocked.

    All in all a fantastic visit which we will repeat ASAP. it's too bad they close at the end of October. I bet winter camping there would be a treat.

    Cheers,

    Chris

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 20, 2019

    Lago Linda Hideaway

    Hideaway says it all

    First impression was not your typical campground. This is a climbers haven, so expect to see a lot of “down to earth”, modern “hippie” types in their converted/or not vans.

    There are limited 30 amp sites and several sites with electric. Lazy Oaks and Piney are in the trees, Cardinal which is good for larger RVs is in the field , no shade. Then there are two wide open fields where you can set up wherever you please and a new area under construction as of Fall 2019. They are also constructing a new showerhouse. I spoke with the office ladies and they are pretty flexible with accommodating campers. The trails on site are being cleared. And there is breakfast for guests on certain mornings and a “shack” and pavilion for all to use. I stayed in the red roof cabin which was small but pretty awesome. Full kitchen, bathroom, gas fireplace heater and loft w/three beds. Then there’s the porch overlooking the little lake. There are several cabins of varying size to rent, one with a HOT TUB! Definitely worth a visit. Natural Bridge State Park is nearby as well as several adventure based businesses.

  • Amanda S.
    May. 11, 2021

    Cummins Ferry RV Park, Campground on the Kentucky River

    Cute but small

    We decided to go down for a weekend to see how we'd like it. It's situated high up on the Kentucky river bank which is nice but there's little access to the riverbank except from the floating dock and boat ramp. When we arrived there was left overs from the previous flood which made it very muddy. It's definitely dog friendly but with no trails to really walk them on. We found a game trail that took us down to the riverbank at the end of the campground and found a goat hanging in a tree from the previous flooding. Perfect campground for partiers who don't respect quiet hours and those who stay at their camper the whole time.

  • Big Tank F.
    Oct. 25, 2021

    Zilpo Campground

    Amazing experience !

    Took my son on a 3 day trip and stayed on site G17. It was on a high place with great drainage (it rained quite a few times). Well kept and the tent pad was gravel. The bath house had good hot water for showers, and for its age, very well kept. We took our jon boat out on the lake and had a blast! The scenery was breathtaking, from the drive up the mountain to the park, all the way down to the lake. Great fall trip to say the least. Very much recommended

  • David C.
    Jul. 20, 2020

    Zilpo Campground

    Zilpo Campground

    The website to reserve campsites needs a lot of work but otherwise it was a great weekend of camping. E-12 was close enough to the bathrooms that it wasn’t a bad walk but we didn’t have to smell anything. Water pump was across from the campsite. Plenty of space for four tents. Sturdy pic-nic table. Fire pit with a grill connected. Two poles to with four hooks each to hang lanterns or bags. We tied a line across it and hung our towels and wet clothes. The camp ground sits next to Cave Run Lake. There is a place to launch a boat and a nice beach area for swimming. They have a store next to the beach but we didn’t go in. “Billy” did chase away from the beach after hours though. The check in station sells ice and fire wood. We saw plenty of rabbits, a wild turkey, and a deer got about 20 feet from out camp site.


Guide to Clay City

Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Clay City sits at an elevation of approximately 640 feet within the Red River watershed area. The region experiences four distinct seasons, with summer highs averaging in the mid-80s°F and winter lows dipping into the 20s°F. Fall brings vibrant foliage that transforms the surrounding forests into a mosaic of red, orange, and gold from late September through mid-November.

What to do

Hiking at Daniel Boone National Forest: The extensive trail system offers varying difficulty levels within 30 minutes of Clay City. Lago Linda Hideaway provides easy access to forest trails. As one visitor noted, "The trail around the lake was very nice, short but hilly so a good morning walk. It rained the first evening which led to some pretty little waterfalls the next day."

Kayaking on Red River: Paddling opportunities abound with several access points along the Red River. The water level varies seasonally, with spring offering faster currents. Red River Gorge Adventures offers kayak rentals and shuttles. "This is my all time favorite campground... The entire campground runs alongside the river bank, so you can put in your own kayak/canoe or rent one from them," shares one camper.

Rock climbing in Red River Gorge: With over 2,000 established routes, climbers of all levels find challenges in the sandstone cliffs. Most climbing areas require a short hike from parking areas. "This is a climbers haven, so expect to see a lot of 'down to earth', modern 'hippie' types in their converted/or not vans," mentions a visitor to Lago Linda.

What campers like

Private lake access: Several campgrounds feature private lakes for swimming and fishing during warmer months. At Twin Knobs Recreation Area, "The campground is in a wooded area and each campsite is separate by woods from the nearby sites. There are shower and toilet facilities close by. The campground is located on a lake."

Year-round yurt camping options: Yurt camping in Clay City, Kentucky and surrounding areas has grown increasingly popular. Outpost Campground & RV Park maintains premium yurt accommodations throughout all seasons, with full amenities just minutes from Cave Run Lake. "We stayed 5 nights at the Outpost and the owner was extremely nice! Brought me some fresh tomatoes and watermelon for my birthday!"

Secluded camping spots: Many campers appreciate the private, wooded sites available in the region. A visitor to Lago Linda commented, "Our site was spacious and pretty, with plenty of room for our two tents and a hammock. I will say we found a few lone star ticks (dead thanks to her prevention) on our dog. Just as a heads up to campers."

What you should know

Limited cell service: Many campgrounds in the region have minimal or no cell coverage. "We looked for photos, I just have one from our trip and It was after we packed up. See below. Happy Camping my friends!" noted one visitor to Red River Gorge Adventures, who mentioned there was no cell service at the campground.

Tick prevention: Ticks are common from April through October. Bring repellent and check daily. "We found a few lone star ticks (dead thanks to her prevention) on our dog. Just as a heads up to campers. Always do your tick checks!" advises a Lago Linda camper.

Winter camping considerations: While some campgrounds close during winter, others remain open with limited amenities. HomeGrown HideAways offers yurt accommodations year-round, though amenities may be restricted. "HomeGrown HideAways is open year-round, but some amenities are limited during winter months."

Tips for camping with families

Look for kid-friendly amenities: Many campgrounds offer playgrounds, swimming areas, and hiking trails suitable for children. "This time of year (October) this campground is walk up only. We got there as quick as we could and are glad we did as we were able to grab an awesome site. There are tent sites and RV sites here and the campground is gorgeous," notes a visitor to Twin Knobs Recreation Area.

Plan for varying weather: Pack layers as temperatures can fluctuate significantly, especially in spring and fall. "We pulled into the Outpost late evening, and easily found our reservations, clearly detailed map, and access codes. The pull through sites were all flat and oriented well. We were fully set up in 15 mins. There is a great, centrally located playground where the kids were able to run around after being in the truck for eight hours," shares a visitor at Outpost Campground.

Check campground rules: Some locations have quiet hours, pet policies, and firewood restrictions. "This is a primitive campground which is not a problem for us, but it had a neglected feeling to it. Fortunately, the vault toilets had recently been serviced and were not too bad," explains a camper who visited Red River Adventure.

Tips from RVers

Reserve level sites in advance: Many campgrounds have limited level spots suitable for larger RVs. "The sites here are not level. We used our normal 2x green blocks for the Jack, but needed all 10 of our leveling blocks, plus 8 paving stones to get the appropriate height," notes a camper at Cummins Ferry RV Park.

Check road access: Some campgrounds have narrow access roads that can be challenging for larger rigs. "The road getting to the campsite is mostly one lane so is you are in an RV, go slow. The area for RV's is a little tight in the trees and probably won't accommodate an extremely large vehicle," advises a visitor to Lago Linda Hideaway.

Confirm hookup availability: Water and electric hookups vary significantly between campgrounds. "There are limited 30 amp sites and several sites with electric. Lazy Oaks and Piney are in the trees, Cardinal which is good for larger RVs is in the field, no shade," explains one RVer who stayed at Lago Linda Hideaway.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Clay City, KY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Clay City, KY is Lago Linda Hideaway with a 4.4-star rating from 23 reviews.

What is the best site to find glamping camping near Clay City, KY?

TheDyrt.com has all 16 glamping camping locations near Clay City, KY, with real photos and reviews from campers.