Developed campgrounds near Clermont, Kentucky provide diverse camping experiences for both tent and RV campers within Kentucky's scenic landscape. Louisville South KOA, approximately 25 miles south of downtown Louisville in Shepherdsville, offers full hookup sites for RVs, cabin rentals, and tent camping areas. White Acres Campground in Bardstown maintains year-round operations with both RV and tent sites. Several state park options exist within driving distance, including My Old Kentucky Home State Park Campground and Taylorsville Lake State Park Campground, which operate seasonally from spring through fall.
Most established campgrounds in the region require reservations, particularly during peak season from April through October when weather conditions are most favorable for outdoor activities. "The staff are super helpful. Full hookups, dog park, lots of places to walk, even trails," notes one visitor about Louisville South KOA. Facilities range from basic tent sites with water access to premium RV sites with full hookups including 50-amp electrical service. Cell phone reception is generally reliable at developed campgrounds, though may be spotty in more remote areas. While many campgrounds operate year-round, state park facilities typically close during winter months, with Taylorsville Lake operating from April through mid-December.
Campers report mixed experiences regarding site spacing and amenities at various locations. The tent sites at Louisville South KOA received specific feedback from visitors, with one noting, "Tent sites: steep hill with rodents living there. Gravel driveway leading to tent sites: a trench sure to rip the exhaust off your car." However, others appreciated the walking trails and fishing opportunities at the same location. Several campgrounds in the area feature recreational amenities such as swimming pools, playgrounds, and hiking trails. Jefferson Memorial Forest Campground offers more primitive camping experiences with drinking water and toilets but no electrical hookups, appealing to those seeking a more natural setting. Noise from nearby highways or flight paths may affect some locations, particularly those closer to Louisville.
"Will absolutely come back again especially with the proximity to the city but having peace and quiet to the south. The walking trail was much longer than expected and really nice."
"There was corn hole, ladder ball, pool, walking trails, access to the river, cat fish pond, small dog park, and washers & dryers."
$30 - $55 / night
"Located very close to Bardstown and a lot of distilleries on the bourbon trail, the campground is great, very small fills up fast."
"My Old Kentucky Home State Park Campground is a small campground, clean, and friendly staff. There is a golf course on site. Plenty to see, including My Old Kentucky Home, the tour was amazing."
$15 - $30 / night
"Having lived 62 years in Kentucky, less than twenty minutes from the Jeff. Forest, leaving to explore USA, then returning to my home state allows me a unique point of view."
"Tent sites have so many trees surrounding them. If you're looking for more privacy anything off of the loop will do just fine."
"Bardstown Kentucky"
"Well I really have nothing bad to say, it’s a country setting on the outskirts of Bardstown, KY. It’s just a few miles away from the scenic parts of town."
"it was a very nice place to just pull in off the interstate and stay the nice. had a laundromat so you could to your laundry. the owner was very nice person. they have a dog walk also so you can walk your"
"The bathrooms and laundry room are always clean, if something breaks they make it right and it's close to almost everything!"
$55 - $60 / night
"What a nice RV campground near all Louisville and the surrounding areas have to offer visitors. It is nicely landscaped with fairy lights at night. The Manager Annie is awesome."
"Nice sized sites, reasonable priced comparied to the KOA, all good full hookups, nicely kept, and most importantly it is in a safe country setting surrounded by large trees and on a dead end road."
$20 - $45 / night
"We had a pretty decent time at Taylorsville Lake. The spots were spacious, and very nice picnic tables. We did a trail which was nice and went down to a boat ramp to see the lake."
"Better if you have a boat ( or rent one at the marina across the lake) good access to the lake, gets busy in the summer. Stores in decent proximity off property. Can get loud at times."
$12 - $22 / night
"Very popular campsite for the surrounding area. Otter Creek runs through the Outdoor recreation area. Lots of hiking, biking and horse trails. Great opportunities for fishing also abound."
"Beautiful trails for hiking, great creek for swimming, close to Louisville."
$5 - $19 / night
"Newer facilities on Fort Knox, Kentucky. Very clean and pleasant stay.
Quiet and peaceful.
Located conveniently near Louisville, Fort Knox, and central Kentucky area."
"It is close to Ft Knox military base (commissary, etc). The bathrooms are clean and the washer/dryers are well maintained (cost is $1 for washer and dryer)."
TravelerFishing lake. Quite a few locals throughout the day. Big field, camp anywhere. Porta potty, trash can, no other services. No fires. Nice lake, sunset, sunrise, wildlife. Felt very safe. Warden, police drove through each day. We'll maintained. Clean.
TravelerIt’s a nice campground. There’s room for about eight or nine RVs and lock the tent camping. The trees are all small so you’re out in the kind of a area with a lot of sun. I can’t speak to the Wi-Fi here because I’m using Starlink. The only caution is if we get heavy, heavy rains in the spring, some bits of this campground blood so be careful picking a site avoid the fourth from the road.
TravelerI really enjoyed my stay here! It's quiet but not too quiet if ya know what I mean. The bathrooms and laundry room are always clean, if something breaks they make it right and it's close to almost everything! Very understanding people with the exception of 1 (which I felt like he didn't like me from the jump) but it's ok. Gina (my fav) and Darlene made up for it. Tim was nice, just quiet! Great bunch of people! So go check it out and tell them Tina said hi 😉
ScoutI stayed here from May 11-16, 2026. I was backed up to the creek (I will say, the first few sites that back up, you can’t actually see the creek from your spot because of bushes). The first 4 nights I could see the creek and it was lovely. Each spot has a fire pit and picnic table which was very nice. They direct you to your spot and help you back in and the bathrooms are cleaned daily. I thought it was extremely affordable and I would definitely stay there again.
ScoutThe managers, James and Kate, are extremely unprofessional. They kicked out my family because they preferred another family better. My son was sexually abused TWICE at this campground. When I mentioned contacting corporate, James got irrate and said they will only send you back to me so go ahead and try. James falsely accused my children of making messes in the bathrooms and I quote,"Smearing sh** on the walls." He also told me that no one wanted us at the park even though we have never been informed of breaking any rules. These people are sorry excuses of management and should be replaced with more competent employees
GuideI’ve been coming here since I was a kid, the trees are beautiful, you can camp here and it feels like forest camping, most lots have spots for hammocks, electric but no water hook up, the bath house is ok, clean but concrete showers with a curtain and takes a while to get hot water. Lots of trails and a cute nature center. They only have two playgrounds, but a big pool for summer fun. I love it here, it’s usually not crowded and super peaceful. We prefer most lots on the outer edge of the campground. A lot of the picnic tables are old and require covers.
ScoutGood place to fish and you can camp 2 days free motor free lake so it's a quiet place to relax and simmer down
TravelerThey are currently closed for renovation. We showed up needing some rest and the owner found us a place to park for the night. Will definitely come back when they reopen. It's a beautiful area.
GuideThe campground here has been very nice. Coming into the campground there are two areas of road that have been torn out and need repaired, but nothing you couldn't get over, just slow down. Otherwise, nice campsites, plenty of space, well maintained, water and showers already on at comfort station. Tons of kids with large play park. We liked that the park had small walk trails within the campground with direct routes to the comfort station, and lights at the start of the path to identify it. All around, great experience, will be back again.
Camping sites near Clermont, Kentucky offer a mix of primitive and full-hookup experiences within Kentucky's rolling hills and hardwood forests. Located in the central part of the state where average summer temperatures reach the upper 80s with moderate humidity, most campgrounds operate between April and October. Winter camping remains available at select year-round facilities with temperatures typically ranging from 25-45°F during the coldest months.
Hiking trails: Jefferson Memorial Forest offers multiple trail options ranging from 1.5 to 13 miles through mixed hardwood forest. "Lots of hiking, biking and horse trails. Great opportunities for fishing also abound," notes a camper at Otter Creek Park Campground.
Bourbon distillery tours: Many camping facilities provide convenient access to Kentucky's famous distilleries. "Being minutes away from all the Bardstown brewery's this is a MUST SEE PLACE," remarks a visitor at White Acres Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer lake access for anglers. "There is a lake on-site but requires a medium sized hike downhill and through undergrowth," mentions a camper about White Acres Campground, while another notes Taylorsville Lake provides "good access to the lake, gets busy in the summer."
Peaceful settings: Despite proximity to Louisville, many campsites maintain a quiet atmosphere. "This is a hidden little gem in the bustle of Louisville. We visited in the off season and during COVID. But the staff were friendly, grounds were clean," shares a visitor at Louisville South KOA.
Historic attractions: The region offers numerous historical sites close to camping facilities. "My Old Kentucky Home State Park Campground is a small campground, clean, and friendly staff... Plenty to see, including My Old Kentucky Home, the tour was amazing," notes a camper at My Old Kentucky Home State Park Campground.
Site spacing: Many campgrounds feature well-spaced sites with mature trees. "Smaller campground that has huge beautiful trees. sites are spaced out which has been really nice. Feels more like camping. Very shaded," writes a visitor about My Old Kentucky Home State Park Campground.
Noise factors: Some campgrounds experience noise from transportation routes. "Tent sites: very small campground. This spot is really just a place to come back to a night. Nothing to do at the campground," notes a camper at Little Patch of Heaven Campground.
Site leveling: Prepare for uneven terrain at several locations. "Make sure to have levelers to handle 7+ inches," advises a camper about My Old Kentucky Home State Park Campground, while another mentions, "Most sites were not level and some sites were very short so make sure you review the site description."
Seasonal staffing: Staff availability varies significantly by season and time of day. "The biggest overall issue is the lack of staffing. I'm not sure if it's the usual or if there is a lack of staff in general but we got in shortly after 7PM and there was no ranger or staff to be found to get firewood," reports a camper at Taylorsville Lake State Park.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. "There is a pool(no hot tub-filled in with stones), play/game area, bounce pillow, and 2 miles of hiking trails around the campground," shares a camper about Louisville South KOA.
Halloween activities: Fall camping offers special events at some locations. "We go every fall with our entire family to enjoy the Halloween activities. The campers all go all out and let the kids trick or treat. There is even a group who does a haunted house and it is so fun!" mentions a visitor at Otter Creek Park Campground.
Group site considerations: For family gatherings, some campgrounds offer designated group areas. "If you are looking for a place to take your children for a week or weekend of fun, My Old Kentucky Home State Park is your place. We stayed in spot 22 which is large and spacious. Seven of us camped (two families) with three tents, three hammocks and two cars."
Site selection guidance: Research individual sites before booking. "Very small campground and narrow roads. Many sites were not level and some sites were very short so make sure you review the site description. Also some had sewer hook ups and others did not," advises an RVer at My Old Kentucky Home State Park Campground.
Safety considerations: Some RV parks offer more secure environments than others. "This is a hard to find gem in Louisville, KY! I highly recommend this park. Nice sized sites, reasonably priced compared to the KOA, all good full hookups, nicely kept, and most importantly it is in a safe country setting," notes a camper at Brooks RV Park.
Hookup variations: Electric and water connections differ significantly between campgrounds. "The sites were close to each other but provided plenty of space for the average sized rig. Many were longer than other KOAs, which enabled the tow vehicle and TT to be parked. Full hook-ups and 30/50 amp services at the sites, some leveling required," shares a visitor about Louisville South KOA.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best camping spots near Clermont, KY?
My Old Kentucky Home State Park Campground is a top choice with its proximity to Bardstown and the bourbon trail. Though small and fills up quickly, it offers clean facilities, friendly staff, and access to a golf course. For military families, Camp Carlson Army RV Park provides newer, clean facilities in a quiet setting on Fort Knox with Otter Creek and a stocked lake for fishing nearby. Both campgrounds are conveniently located for exploring the central Kentucky area, including Clermont's distilleries and attractions.
What outdoor activities can I do while camping in Clermont, Kentucky?
The Clermont area offers diverse outdoor activities for campers. At Taylorsville Lake State Park Campground, you can enjoy hiking trails, boat rentals, and lake access via boat ramps. For water enthusiasts, Otter Creek Park Campground provides excellent fishing opportunities along with hiking, biking, and horse trails throughout the recreation area. The region also features numerous distillery tours along the Bourbon Trail, scenic drives, wildlife viewing, and photography opportunities. Many campgrounds in the area have fishing access, with some offering boat rentals or ramps for launching your own watercraft.
When is the best time of year to camp in Clermont, KY?
The ideal camping season in Clermont runs from mid-spring (April-May) through early fall (September-October). Spring offers comfortable temperatures and blooming landscapes, though occasional rain showers occur. Summer (June-August) provides the fullest access to water activities at places like Cummins Ferry RV Park on the Kentucky River, but can be hot and humid with occasional thunderstorms. Fall is particularly spectacular with moderate temperatures and colorful foliage, making it perfect for visiting Dog Creek Campground and enjoying the Kentucky countryside. Winter camping is available at some locations but facilities may be limited and weather unpredictable.
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