Best Tent Camping near Dawson Springs, KY

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. There is also a site for the Pennyrile Trail which is a 75 mile driving loop connecting several Kentucky parks.

The park is multi-leveled with the views and some cool rock formations. The beach has some confusing parking signs, but we figured it off. It was busy and had some loud visitors with loud vehicles and loud vehicles. Not surprising considering the neighborhood it is located in.

The campground has some interesting sites all along the roadway. The campground and horse campground are connected. Several of the sites can be challenging due to not being level or being shallow, but they are workable.

I'm not sure if biking would be great due to the hills but it would be challenging. Hiking and backpacking definitely and of course swimming and horseback riding( on your own horse)

Hurricane Creek Campground is small and intimate while still being close too many amenities. There are adequate RV campsites, and tent sites. Some RV sites require some serious driving skill to back your RV into and we better suited for tents. The tent sites are ample for tents, and two of the five tent sites have Trees close enough together for Hammock Camping.Tent site 11 has two trees that are not too big in diameter for hammocking. Parking for tent sites is above in a lot, and RV's are directly behind you 25-30 feet. I would recommend tenting on an RV site if you want your vehicle close to your site.

Tent camping.

Not big by any means but we'll kept and cozy. Primitive with water and restrooms. Worth the stay for thise wanting a small area and tent camp.

Plenty of hiking trails with a lot of information about the area. Pretty close to convenience stores for your needs.

Primative camping at its best. This is heavily used in the summer and early fall. Picnic tables and fire rings, vault toilets. Go in the off season and you will have plenty of privacy. Fairly level tent sites , some with nice trees for hammocks. Close to Little Grand Canyon, a really neat natural bridge, and Illinois wineries.

Barge Island is boat-ramp and that is all. At the end of Barge Island Rd, to the left, next to Birmingham Point Campground (privately owned) it is functional, has a porta pot, parking and a small dock.

The sign on the way in has a tent camping symbol but I saw no evidence that anyone has ever camped in the thin strip of grass on each side of the road. It is feasible that you could though.

If you continue straight on Barge Island Rd it turns to gravel and you end up on a small gravel beach area, good for fishing.

When I stayed at Prizer Point, I felt as if I were in a small coastal town. It is the first campground I have been to that has condominiums. It doesn’t matter what kind of camping or glamping you do, this campground has it, except for yurts. However, they do have tree houses. There are also choices of cabins,“chalets”(although it didn’t look like a chalet when I looked at one), bungalows, floating cabins, etc. Of course, being a tent camper, that’s my choice. Some of the tent sites are on top of each other, but if you are lucky enough, you can stay at a site beside the woods. You still don’t get complete privacy, but it is better than being on the other side of the path where the tent sites are on top of each other. The tent sites are grassy, which I like. I prefer a grassy site over a concrete pad. Some people love the large campgrounds with lots of activities, especially when there are children with you. Since I am mainly a tent camper, I prefer the solitude of being in the woods. Fortunately, I was there at the beginning of the week, and it wasn’t as crowded as it normally would be. Personally, and subjectively, I would rate this campground one star; but objectively, I have to rate it five stars because it offers so much. While I was there, I toured the campground and was amazed at how much they have. They have go carts, oversized chess, swimming pools, a soccer field, a marina, a restaurant, and a section called Prizer Lagoon. You can also rent golf carts to get around, and you will want to do that unless you want to walk for miles. There, you can play in the inflatable obstacle course or ride in a paddle boat. There is also a zip line that crosses the water. For RVers, you have quite a few options. One section has formal concrete pads with hookups. Another section is not as“sanitized” but offers everything you need for your RV. I was surprised by the size of the marina, which was huge according to my limited knowledge of marinas at campgrounds. There is also a boat ramp for when you want to launch your own boat. If I wanted to RV, I would choose the little peninsula beside the boat ramp. Great view! If I wanted to stay in a cabin, there are some cabins next to the lake that also have great views. Overall, this campground has everything you want in a resort campground.

Nickel branch is the first campground on the north end of Land between the Lakes. the sites are maintained fairly well. There is a boat ramp, a basic outhouse, and good place to swim or fish. nickel branch offers a place for anyone wanting to tent camp. you can basically throw a tent up where ever you find a spot. I stayed there for a week right next to the water and was pretty well left alone by anyone else in the campground. There are hiking trails, fishing spots and being at the north end; your only about 15 minutes away from the closest store. this area requires a backwoods permit which is available at the north welcome station ( also about 15 minutes away)

Very good for pull behinds or semi-permanent but less than desirable for tent campers. Tents were relegated to a narrow strip in the campground really too small for campers. Water and electric are available but restrooms/showers are about 1/4 mile away. Not what would be considered tent friendly.

Pretty quiet and peaceful campground in early April.

Website said the Pier restaurant would be open but when we arrived it wasn't scheduled to open until later in the month.

Restrooms and showers were clean but most are very small. There is 1 handicapped and 1 family unit for the facility.

Standing dead trees in the tent site. I had to ask workers to cut 1 tree beside my site when I arrived.

Gave them a (generous) 4 from our perspective.

Land Between the Lakes tends to be very back country, there is very often not any cell service, and you have to travel at least 20 miles to a small town if you need anything (but every small town in western Kentucky has a Dollar General!) so you need to pack in everything you need, to include drinking, cooking and cleaning water. Smith Bay is very primitive, with a vault ("pit") toilet and a boat ramp readily available. Smith Bay is popular for tent camping and often used for launching small water craft like kayaks. It is accessable by paved road with the camp ground roads being gravel and compacted rock, making it available to small RVs and campers too. The campground slots run the perimeter of the area, and are spaced far enough apart to give privacy without being too far from the water front. Some areas are wooded and well shaded, others are in direct sun without shade. All sites have a picnic table and fire ring, are first come first serve, and require a back country camping pass (available at either LBL Welcome Station or Corps of Engineers campground) or you may pay a daily fee.

This is the "developed" side of Twin Lakes, but it is only more developed because the sites each have cement tables and fire rings. There is also a vault toilet at the farthest end of the camp site, so if you choose a site with a trail to the water, you are going to hike up and over to the lou.  This is also a basic (dispersed) campground, and you will need to purchase your permit prior to coming out.  Pack in everything you need.  The views are okay here, I just didn't see a whole lot to draw me back here. It is close to the North-South trail. It is very quiet here, and most campsites are level and grassy, which is a plus when tent camping. There is a small beach with gravel shore, but not much sand.

YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE VISITOR CENTER TO PAY FOR A CAMPING PERMIT AND OHV USE!

For the Turkey Bay OHV area each site is just a picnic table and a fire pit and the sites are not numbered- it’s more a first come first serve. The sites though are close to the entrance and you park right next to the site. This site also is for RVs and tent camping but there is no water or electric access but is within walking distance of the gatehouse. The gatehouse has ice and sodas for sale to each camper.

OHVs for rent at the visitor center (just about 2 miles down the road) and trails marked specifically for them, also a couple hiking trails nearby! Bathrooms and trash onsite!

There is a dump station and potable water about a mile or so up the road near the Hunters Check Station and it’s only about 2 miles out from the Golden Pond planetarium and trails! Great area!