Daniel Boone National Forest, KY is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Daniel Boone National Forest is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Find the best campgrounds near Daniel Boone National Forest, KY. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
$28 - $94 / night
"Zilpo Campground is nestled in the Daniel Boone National forest, so there's plenty of wildlife. Also the fishing is amazing ."
"This campground has it all:) I picked this campsite as it is further south in the Daniel Boone National Forest so it isn't near the chaos of the climbing that is found further North. "
$31 - $128 / night
"This portion of Daniel Boone National Forest is peak beauty in the summer, the beautiful mature trees and well maintained sites make camping so much more enjoyable."
"Stayed here for one night on a road trip to the Great Lakes. It’s basically in the middle of nowhere but nestled nicely on a lake with pretty water and nice scenery."
$24 - $36 / night
"We've some spent time now in Kentucky and Red River Gorge area is one of favorites in this state. The campground is good pretty simple."
"It is located just off Exit 11 on the Bert T Combs Parkway (the highway that runs through the area, which is a beautiful drive itself)."
$20 - $30 / night
"Natural Bridge State Park is within Daniel Boone National Forest and Middle Fork is the campground in the State Park."
"The bathroom (toilets, showers, sinks) was decently kept (facilities were in the front half of the campground so we had to walk over that hill to get to it)."
"We couldn't have asked for a better place to end this portion of our kentucky adventures This camp ground is pretty basic and lovely."
"We stayed in spot 17 which had its own access to a smaller creek. You can take a short walk up the small creek to get to Clear creek. Spots deep enough for swimming. Our dogs loved this place."
"The proximity to the river and kayaking is a big priority for me. They have kayaks for rent at the campground or you can bring your own. "
"We were able to put up a 20 x 10 canopy outside of our camper canopy with plenty of extra room. Lots of space for the kids to run."
$10 / night
"Getting away from the busy life and into backcountry is like stepping into God's country. Don't have to worry about nothing and every day is a new adventure."
"The Tarr Ridge parking area is located on highway 77 on Tarr ridge rd in the red river gorge."
"With about a dozen or so sites, some along the lakeshore, others closeby, lots of options exist to be alone or with a group. "
"This drive in campground is awesome for those who like to camp for free. Right off the highway! Located on Cave Run Lake. No fire pits, no restrooms, no water or electricity hookups."
$20 - $30 / night
"Located off I-64 in eastern Kentucky, RRG and Natural Bridge offer a wide variety of activities including hiking, camping, backcountry camping, kayak and canoe rentals, and the area has various local"
"Close to the Natural Bridge trail and multiple SUP Kentucky sites."
$14 / night
"For a few bucks per carload, Miguel’s camping spot is contains of a few open field areas situated between the Climbing Gear Shop and the famous pizza spot."
"There is only a community fire pit - you can't have fires next to your tent.
Here are some of the cool things at this campground.
Great breakfast, lunch, and dinner at their on-site restaurant."
TravelerThis campground is just as I'd hoped--small, clean, and peaceful. The sites are spacious and level. The surrounding hills and lake are gorgeous.
The campground has many full hookup sites. I checked out the bath house: it's the cleanest I've ever seen! Laundry facilities are available. There is a playground for children.
Lots of boating and fishing occurred.
Both the staff and the other campers were friendly and considerate. Quiet hours were observed.
We've already made reservations for next season!
TravelerVery friendly and helpful personal beautiful spot
ScoutThe staff was amazing, little games available like badminton, and very clean!
ScoutGreat fishing, kind people, and wonderful views ❤️
ScoutThe 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.
LegendWe camped here over the weekend with our dogs.
We had campsite 38, one out of 3 that are away from the rest of the sites.
The campground is not very big, but very well maintained.
The sites are very close together.
A big plus was definitely the little creek, perfect for the dogs to play in.
The bathhouse was very clean. One of the 2 showers had no bench, which makes it difficult to keep all your stuff dry while you shower.
There are 2 trails that you can hike from the campground. Both were dog friendly, the rest of the park is not.
Nearby is Miguel's Pizza, which is a pretty place to stop and ear breakfast, lunch, or dinner with outdoor seating
The whole area is absolutely gorgeous.
We hiked to Gray's Arch, which is about 15 min from the campground.
The skylift to the Natural Bridge is very close by.
TravelerWe just left and had a wonderful time! Campground is clean, seasonal campers are kind and the views are beautiful! We stayed in site 10 right on the river and the views were great. Lots of green area to play. Huge open field as well by playground. No activities yet this year as the season just started. Not sure if there is enough to do with kids for an entire week but we had fun for the weekend. We had a great hike at a trailhead directly across the street from the campground. Took us a little over 3 hours for the entire loop with a 4 year. He walked almost the entire way so it’s doable and the views are worth it. Overall wonderful campground, we will be back!
LegendWe were with a group that had reservations here but when we arrived mid-afternoon, the gate was locked, no one was there, and there was no cell service. A member of the group drove to where there was cell reception and called but no one answered the phone. Eventually, we spoke with the father of the outgoing owner who gave us the gate code and we set up camp. The manager showed up a few hours later but the owner did not arrive until early evening; it was then we learned new owners were taking over the next day!
This is a primitive campground which is not a problem for us, but it had a neglected feeling to it (due likely to pending ownership change). Fortunately, the vault toilets had recently been serviced and were not too bad. Toilet paper but no hand sanitizer. Outdoor non-private solar showers that do not guarantee hot water (and it was chilly when we were there, so no one tried to use them).
There was no place to put garbage that I saw and there was loose garbage where it should have been collected.
Most sites had a fire ring marked by rocks.
Some sites had gravel pads while others had grass. They were clearly marked but you had to watch out for the drainage ditch when backing into the site. There is no separation between sites, but we were the only ones there so not a problem for us.
The main draw for this campground is the kayak rentals and transportation to the put-in site. Kayaking was fun, despite obstacles in the river due to recent rains (and parts of the campground were also flooded). The price was reasonable -$10 per person. I am hopeful the new owners made some improvements, although this may raise the price!
ScoutReally nice, large sites, beautiful location, remote.
Camping near Daniel Boone National Forest, Kentucky, offers a fantastic escape into nature with plenty of options for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, this area has something for you.
Camping near Daniel Boone National Forest, Kentucky, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. With a variety of campgrounds to choose from, you can find the perfect spot for your next adventure!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Daniel Boone National Forest offers a wide range of camping options, with 80 campgrounds and RV parks near Daniel Boone National Forest and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Daniel Boone National Forest is Zilpo Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 49 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Daniel Boone National Forest.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 27 parks near Daniel Boone National Forest that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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