Clearfield, Kentucky offers various camping options within Daniel Boone National Forest at elevations ranging from 600-1200 feet. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F with higher humidity, while spring and fall camping seasons typically have 50-70°F temperatures. Cave Run Lake borders several campgrounds, providing water recreation opportunities throughout the camping season.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Twin Knobs Recreation Area provides lake access for anglers seeking multiple fish species. "The campground is located on a lake," notes a camper, highlighting the convenient water proximity.
Cave exploration: Carter Caves State Resort Park Campground offers guided underground tours and natural formations. "The park is amazing and I have no idea how it took me 39yrs to find it so close to home. The caves are absolutely amazing and the park has some of the best natural bridges I have ever seen," reports one visitor.
Water recreation: At Oasis Point RV Resort, campers enjoy swimming and paddling options. "They have a large pond that has a nice beach, a huge slide and a zip line. They have kayaks, paddle boards and floats first come first serve," according to one review.
River activities: Kayaking the Licking River offers a relaxing 2-hour float trip from the dam to The Ole Cornfield campground. Families appreciate that "The grandkids love to play in the river, which is about 1 to 2 feet deep at this location. Great for wading and catching minnows, crawdads, and such."
What campers like
Quiet, spacious sites: Campers consistently mention privacy and separation between sites at Zilpo Campground. "Great campground with a lot of privacy!" notes one reviewer. Another adds, "Nicer spot then twin knobs in my opinion. Plently of nice spots to choose from and you can look through and find one to your preference and reserve."
Amenities for extended stays: Family-friendly facilities make longer visits comfortable. At 4 Guys RV Park, campers appreciate the "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."
Clean facilities: Maintenance standards receive consistent praise across campgrounds. At Outpost Campground & RV Park, one camper reported, "Laundry was inexpensive and accessible all hours," while another mentioned, "The campground was clean, the play ground needed a little attention when we first arrived but they filled in the holes and it made it so much more enjoyable."
Helpful staff: Personal service stands out for many visitors. A camper at The Ole Cornfield shared, "When you arrive the host (Justin), brings you wood and a picnic table. Helps if you need anything. The campground is always extremely clean as are the bathrooms."
What you should know
Seasonal closures: Several rv campgrounds near Clearfield, Kentucky operate on limited schedules. Zilpo and Twin Knobs Recreation Area both operate from late April through early November, making fall color viewing possible but winter camping unavailable.
Site spacing: Campground density varies significantly across the region. At Carter Caves, "The campground is a bit tight, especially when lots of cars are in visiting the campers," while 4 Guys RV Park is described as a "Commercial campground, so sites are close without trees to separate."
Utility connection logistics: Many campgrounds require additional equipment. At Carter Caves, "You will need extra water hose and extension cords to get hooked up in a lot of the sites," and "some of the sites were around 50 ft from the electric hook up."
Weather considerations: The region experiences significant seasonal variation. Camping during rainy periods can affect site conditions, though some campgrounds handle precipitation better than others. One Twin Knobs camper noted, "The weather was wet and cold, but it couldn't take away from the experience."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly water features: 4 Guys RV Park offers multiple recreation options for children. "They have a small fishing pond, swimming pool, basketball court, and a playground. They are very close to Natural Bridge/Red River Gorge area," shares one camper.
Nature exploration: Shallow water areas provide safe places for children to discover aquatic life. At The Ole Cornfield, kids can enjoy "playing in the river catching crawdads and tadpoles. Perfect for wading."
Playground access: Several campgrounds maintain play equipment for younger campers. Outpost Campground has "a great, centrally located playground where the kids were able to run around after being in the truck for eight hours."
Organized activities: Some rv campgrounds around Clearfield coordinate seasonal events. Carter Caves hosts Halloween festivities in October with decorations and activities, though one camper notes it can get "very crowded the weekend we were there."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: RV campers should verify specific utility connections when booking. While some campgrounds offer full hookups, others like The Ole Cornfield provide "10 RV sites with electric and water hookups" but require using the dump station for waste.
Site leveling: Ground preparation varies between campgrounds. At Twin Knobs, "You camp on rock sites so it drains great if it rains," while at Outpost Campground "The pull through sites were all flat and oriented well. We were fully set up in 15 mins."
Big rig considerations: Larger motorhomes need to select appropriate sites. Sheltowee RV Park offers spacious pull-through sites that can accommodate larger rigs, though one camper noted the sites are "a little tight but overall very nice and kept up to date."
Service availability: Internet and cell connections fluctuate throughout the region. At Oasis Point RV Resort, "There was free WiFi access," which can be important for RVers needing to stay connected during their stay.
