129 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Dawson Springs, Kentucky include developed sites with varied accommodations at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park, which offers tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and glamping options. The park serves as a central recreational hub with access to hiking trails, waterfront activities, and equestrian facilities. Several nearby campgrounds including Lake Barkley State Resort Park and Hurricane Creek Campground provide additional options within 30 minutes of Dawson Springs, creating a network of mixed-use camping destinations that support diverse outdoor experiences.
Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from April through October, with limited winter availability. Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park campground features paved sites with electric and water hookups, though many visitors note significant terrain challenges. Site leveling presents common difficulties, with multiple reviews highlighting this concern. Advance reservations are recommended during summer months when the beach areas become crowded. The equestrian camping section tends to offer more level sites with full hookups compared to the main campground. A visitor noted, "This place was laid out and built by someone who hates RVs. Seriously steep compound slopes, tight 90 degree turns, and hookups 100' away on the wrong side of the site all make this place horrible for anything but a pop up."
Waterfront access represents a significant draw for campers in the Dawson Springs area, with Pennyrile Forest State Park's beach receiving consistently positive reviews. The white sand beach area provides swimming opportunities and equipment rentals including canoes, kayaks, and paddle boats. Campground facilities typically include bathhouses with showers, though maintenance quality varies across locations. Several visitors mention the peaceful, quiet atmosphere as a key benefit of camping in this region. While the developed sites offer amenities like electric hookups, showers, and sanitary dump stations, campers should be prepared for varied site conditions. One camper shared, "The hiking trails are gorgeous and vary in length and intensity. The spot that we were at had plenty of room to spread out and relax."
"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."
"First of all, the drive to Dawson Springs is GORGEOUS. Rolling hills, farmland, trees, really gets you in the mood!"
from $20 - $45 / night
Check Availability"Hurricane Creek is off of Rt 274 in Kentucky on the east side of Land Between The Lakes."
"**The nearby Land Between the Lakes park is amazing. This is a much more basic park and campground on the shore of the eastern lake."
from $16 - $32 / night
Check Availability"This place has a beautiful fishing pond, dog park and a nice walking trail. Perfect for anyone stopping through for the night or wanting to spend the week. Highly recommend!"
from $45 - $49 / night
Check Availability"the staff was helpful and friendly. the park had a great beach area. make sure you have extension cords and hoses as the utilities are positioned in between two sites. i only gave it 4 stars because of"
"Although this is a remote campground, it is situated in a State RESORT park, so it is more like glamping."
from $20 - $30 / night
Check Availability"You can't beat having a lake next to you while you are camping. This is something my family and I always look for when we are camping. Water is always a great place to entertain the kids and family."
"Most sites have great views of Lake Barkley! Large camp store with a restaurant that serves sandwiches, pizza, beer and sodas... Golf cart rentals and the marina has boat rentals."
"Hillman Ferry is the northernmost full service campground in the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area and is an excellent base camp for exploring the LBL and other recreation opportunities in"
"This campsite is located in beautiful Land Between the Lakes. Many sites are by reservation, but many more are first come first serve. Sites are big and open and some provide views of Kentucky Lake."
"We have two small kids and were with family (in adjacent D4) so we really hoped for a site with flat space for the kids to play in, but there was absolutely no grassy area."
"Each loop has its own restroom/shower house and all are near the lake( some closer then others) canoe rental or bring your own, basketball court and playground as well as swimming area."
"Canal campground is right on the canal that connects Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake at the north end of Land Between the Lakes."
"Grand Rivers KY Canal Campground at Barkley Lake COE Site 111 This is a great COE campground located between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, with views of the Barkley Dam."
from $20 - $256 / night
Check Availability"Clean campsites with a great view of the lake. Nice pool as well!"
"The site is on the lake with cabins as well. They have full hookups and they were in good condition. We were in and out. Will will be back through for sure to check the place out during the day. "
from $48 - $999 / night
Check Availability"The location is near a large KY dam and lakes recreation area. No surprise that the majority of sites are permanent residents with wooden decks, patio furniture and ferns."
"The campground(CG) was easy to find off I-24, but we did as the pre-check-in email stated and took exit 45, NOT exit 40 as the RV GPS wanted."
from $38 - $43 / night
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TravelerThe pricing policy is complicated for long term they require $25 each person for background checks. The sites in the back are pretty tight and mostly long term. They do have nice sites near the office. They are pull through.
GuidePristine campsites with steamy hot showers! What more could you want?! One bar with mint mobile but starlink works no problem! No sewer hook up at all sites but no matter! There’s a dump site! The lake is beautiful and quiet with a swimming area! Definitely a must stay!
TravelerStayed at Taylor Bay on a trip up to see the Elk & Bison Prairie (very close, perfect for going during their peak activity time). I usually prefer to camp at a site with a water spigot, so it was a change not having one. Pack in plenty of water for drinking and rinsing plates. Can't bring in any wood from outside Land Between Lakes, but you're able to use anything dead or downed around the area. I drove through a couple nearby campsites and picked up some dead wood off the side of the road and we were plenty set. Standard racoon business, they're there and they want your stuff. Drive-in sites were helpful for storing food in the car overnight, but I'd recommend a bear bag contraption of sorts to avoid racoons getting in your trash. Ticks were a bit present, but that's mostly the season and this particular year's high. One bathroom situated in the center of the site, no light inside so bring a flashlight! Lots of TP inside which was appreciated. For tent campers, I recommend staying back in the shadier campsites away from the lake. Most of the sunnier, lake-front sites were already claimed by RVs, but the back sites were more private for chatting/changing in a tent or staying up late without the sound insulation of RV walls. Great lake with a soft silt bottom (and lots of rocks to stand on if you hate that), friendly fellow campers. My friends had never camped before and had a fantastic time. I'd stay again-- just bring more water!
GuideGot down here. If you’re on a Harley, don’t do that. Besides that it’s super secluded and right on the water. Not too many bugs.
ScoutDuncan Lake is a small inland Lake located in the Kentucky portion of LBL. The campsite area is located at the end then up around the corner of the first of two access roads to the lake. There is a small boat ramp not far from the site. It is close enough to carry kayaks back and forth. The lake is small and shallow except near the outlet. Great for paddling around and doing some fishing. We have seen bald eagles both times we camped. There is also a beaver community on the lake, they might give you a tail slap on the water if you get to close.
There are enough level spots to accommodate 3 or 4 tents. There is a stone fire ring and that is abut it.
It is a popular bird watching area and both times we camped there were people that used the lake each time. The boat ramp is just far enough away from the camp site that it really didn't affect us at all. If there is a breeze it sounds really nice as it blows through the tall pines.
We generally bring our bikes and do a loop from the camp to the Nature centre and back.
The Lake is closed from Nov. 1 through March 15 to protect wintering waterfowl. no camping or access at all.
There is no cell service but there is a clear view for a starlink setup.
ScoutTook a road trip in are RV over the summer last year and stumbled across this place they had it all water hookup waste hook up and were very reasonable on price definitely recommend
ScoutAwesome campsite rented a cabin we brought are dogs so we had to find a location that excepted pets and they were the ones who were friendly and awsome definitely recommend if u want a place to go this is the place
LegendBefore arrival, we received a helpful confirmation email with clear directions for entering the campground, although the turn was easy with our 40-foot fifth wheel. Check-in was exceptionally friendly—we were even welcomed by a fellow Brinkley owner—and escorted to pull-through Site A6 with full hookups. The utilities were easy to reach, and water pressure was good. We were pleasantly surprised to learn we could park our truck anywhere, even on the grass. Starlink would be questionable because of the mature trees, but the campground's Wi-Fi was better than most we have experienced at around 50 Mbps download and 24 Mbps upload. We had two bars on both Verizon and T-Mobile, while our T-Mobile Home Internet work well. The upper A-loop pull-through sites are fairly level but somewhat close together. The terraced B, C, and D loops could be more challenging for larger rigs to maneuver, level, and exit. The campground also offers a fishing pond, cabins, tent sites, and a fenced dog park. Overall, this is a clean, well-maintained KOA Journey with friendly staff that worked very well for our overnight stay, and we would stay here again.
Scoutthe campground was great, staff was very nice and helpful, great activities for kids and adults, free paddle boats and canoes, cable tv, indoor and outdoor pools, really great place!
Camping spots near Dawson Springs, Kentucky range across varied terrain within the western Coal Field region, where elevations typically remain below 600 feet. Summer temperatures average in the mid-80s with high humidity, while spring and fall camping seasons offer milder conditions in the 60-70°F range. Most campgrounds in the region are situated on or near bodies of water, with Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake providing the primary recreation opportunities.
Kayaking and canoeing options: At Energy Lake Campground, visitors can rent canoes and kayaks to explore the no-wake lake. "The lake was gorgeous and perfect for kayaking though, with lots of nice coves to explore and wildlife to see. I saw a doe with a spotted fawn nursing on my first trip onto the water," notes Nichole M.
Fishing opportunities: Hurricane Creek offers excellent fishing access with waterfront sites and boat ramps. "Our family has been camping here for 20 years now. We love it! Very peaceful and clean," shares Heather M. The campground includes both tent sites near the beach and RV sites with electric and water hookups.
Wildlife viewing: The nearby Elk and Bison Prairie provides unique wildlife viewing for $5 per vehicle. "We didn't see elk that day but we saw a group of bison which was really cool," explains Ines M. Multiple hiking trails throughout the Land Between the Lakes area offer additional wildlife spotting opportunities.
Hiking trail access: Several campgrounds connect to trail networks. "The hiking trails are gorgeous and vary in length and intensity," according to multiple visitor reports. Most trails in the region are rated easy to moderate, making them accessible for various fitness levels.
Clean facilities: Hillman Ferry Campground receives high marks for maintenance. "There are updated modern bathhouses dispersed throughout. The camp store is well stocked," reports Melissa T. The campground features a very nice boat ramp and several boat parking areas.
Water-based recreation: Many campers appreciate the swimming and beach areas. "Very nice swimming beach, hiking trails, and campground. Paved sites, most with plenty of shade," says John R. about one of the state parks. Beach areas typically open at 10 am during summer months.
Multiple camping loops: Canal Campground offers various camping environments. "The campground is large enough that you can get some exercise right on site, jog, walk or bike. OR jump in your water craft from the boat ramp/dock within the campground and maneuver into either lake," writes Shelly S. Different loops provide varying levels of shade and proximity to amenities.
Forested settings: Most camping areas feature significant tree cover. "Very shaded and decently spaced out. Water and electric only," notes Cheyanne S. The shade provides relief during hot summer months, though it can make satellite reception challenging.
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the region have uneven terrain. At Lake Barkley State Resort Park, "Pads are not level. Saw a class A that had front wheels 10" off the ground and a TT with the hitch on the ground," Barry B. reports. Bring extra leveling blocks when camping in this area.
Seasonal availability: Most campgrounds operate from April through October. Hurricane Creek Campground runs from April 25 to October 20, while others like Energy Lake extend slightly longer from March 1 to November 30.
Limited winter options: Only a few facilities remain open year-round. "Year round camping," notes John B. about one location, though amenities may be reduced during off-season months.
Utility placement issues: Many sites have challenging utility setups. "The utilities are positioned in between two sites. My only issue is that the price is very high considering that it's offseason and everything is shut down," explains Jody A.
Best kid-friendly amenities: KOA Campground Kentucky Lakes Prizer Point offers numerous activities for children. "We really enjoyed this place. Its pricey but they have a million activities for the price. The campsites are all beautiful and are either close or directly on the water," says Karen L. Amenities include free kayak and paddle boats.
Playground options: While playgrounds vary widely in quality, some offer good facilities. "They have a small playground, beach, several bath houses, a group camping 'pad', boat ramp, boat dock and easy roads for cycling," notes Rachel T. about Canal Campground.
Swimming areas: Most campgrounds feature swimming access. "Large camping area w/several loops. Each loop has its own restroom/shower house and all are near the lake (some closer than others) canoe rental or bring your own, basketball court and playground as well as swimming area," describes Shelly S.
Educational opportunities: The Nature Station and Homeplace within Land Between the Lakes provide learning experiences. "Went to the Homeplace, which is a working farm and 'living history museum,' which the kids really loved," shares Mike D.
Extension cord requirements: At many campgrounds, electrical hookups may be distant from parking pads. "Well kept, no sewer hookup on sites, bath house clean, electric far from pads - bring extension cord," advises Holly S. Experienced campers recommend bringing at least 25-foot extension cords and extra water hoses.
Site selection advice: Choose sites carefully based on your needs. "T area is our favorite with full hookups and beautiful pine trees," recommends Melissa T. about Hillman Ferry Campground. When making reservations, specifically ask about site terrain and utility placement.
Dump station considerations: Limited dump facilities can mean waits during peak checkout times. "Only one dump site, and it's a one-sided, one port, pull-through lane, so if you go at checkout /1-2pm, expect a 2-3 RV wait to dump," warns Stæven F.
Off-season value: Consider camping in spring or fall for better rates and less crowding. "We were on a sudden, urgent 1200-mile family-related trip, not recreational. This campground came recommended by family and we are giving it high recommendation," shares Sara M. about Outback RV Resort.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to camp at Dawson Springs?
Camping costs in the Dawson Springs area vary by campground and amenity level. At Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park, located not far from Dawson Springs, camping fees are reasonable for the amenities provided. The park offers a quieter alternative to staying in the busier resort section with its conventions and tourism activities. For more budget-friendly options, consider Boswell Landing Campground, which provides more basic accommodations at lower rates while still offering restroom facilities and beautiful Kentucky Lake views.
What facilities are available at Dawson Springs Campground?
Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park near Dawson Springs offers excellent camping facilities. The park features a campground with both standard sites and RV-friendly options, a camp store, and access to the 13.5-mile Pennyrile Nature Trail. Camping amenities include hiking maps, friendly staff, and beautiful surroundings with rolling hills and forested areas. The park serves as a gateway to the 75-mile Pennyrile driving loop that connects several Kentucky parks, making it an excellent base for exploring the region.
What camping is available near Dawson Springs, KY?
According to TheDyrt.com, Dawson Springs, KY offers a wide range of camping options, with 129 campgrounds and RV parks near Dawson Springs, KY and 9 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Dawson Springs, KY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Dawson Springs, KY is Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park with a 4-star rating from 19 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Dawson Springs, KY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 free dispersed camping spots near Dawson Springs, KY.
What parks are near Dawson Springs, KY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 19 parks near Dawson Springs, KY that allow camping, notably Barkley Lake and Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.
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