Looking for the best campgrounds near Elizabethtown, KY? There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Kentucky camping has to offer. Discover great camping spots near Elizabethtown, reviewed by campers like you.
$25 - $50 / night
"Mammoth has a campground adjacent to the Visitors Center which is basic except for two sites. There are reservable as well as walk up sites."
"There is a restroom in the campground and a shower house, laundry room, post office and store adjacent. The dump station is next to that facility right outside the front “gate”."
$20 - $50 / night
"Beautiful country farm setting old dairy farm located near Cecilia. There are several mowed areas one is near a fishing pond. Firewood purchasable from the host!"
$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."
$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."
$27 - $45 / night
"Near Brownsville, Ky and a little off the beaten path. But definitely worth a visit or two."
"This lakeside getaway is one that will keep us coming back!! If you've never been to Kentucky...this will keep you coming back to the Bluegrass to camp for years to come!"
$22 - $50 / 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."
"The do have some pull through sites for equestrian trailers. Good horse trails. Clean facilities."
$22 - $496 / night
"Several trails in walking, horse or bike riding distance. Some direct access from the campground.
You can set up here and have plenty to do without ever leaving the park."
"Very clean campground near the Ohio River. Offers hiking horse back riding nearby fishing in the Ohio River. Or just kicking back and relaxing."
$50 / night
"These sites looked super nice, but many are reserved for group camping and equestrian camping it seemed."
"Nice large camping areas, secluded and quiet, easy access to the trails. Well maintained full hookup for RVs and plenty of room for your horse too."
$23 - $40 / night
"Campground is surrounded by lake. Has a beach for swimming and playgrounds for the kids."
"Easy check in and nice level sites close to the water. The newer section has very few trees for shade. The older section had plenty of shade and nice sites."
$15 - $25 / night
"The horse barn is the first building you will see on your left."
GuideWe 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. You can also rent boats there as well. The bathrooms in my opinion needed a major cleaning. They were nice just not very clean. We most likely won’t visit here again but was nice to hit a Kentucky campground. I have found that camping in Kentucky is much cheaper than in Indiana. Definitely worth a checkout.
ScoutNice campground. Not very big though. The do have some pull through sites for equestrian trailers. Good horse trails. Clean facilities.
RangerFelt like we were the only people without a horse or a fishing pole! Great water for kayaking and beautiful sunsets.
Lots of raccoons in the area, so make sure your food is secure. Some of the sites are equestrian only, but they may give leeway. We reserved our primitive site ahead of time.
Good weekend trip from Louisville.
TravelerVery 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.
It is an older campsite with the facilities in need of an upgrade, but serviceable. Used to be owned by the city of Louisville Parks and Recreation, then set dormant and unused for several years before the State of Kentucky took over.
LegendWhile visiting Mammoth Cave, we drove through the campgrounds checking them out for family that was going to be traveling here in the next couple of months. These sites looked super nice, but many are reserved for group camping and equestrian camping it seemed. It does seem like some people didn’t have horses too, so there must be regular camping as well. The campground was small, but wooded and seemed to offer some seclusion from others and it was a reprieve from the busy park.
LegendTucked away on the backside of Mammoth Cave NF, Ky, you want to find this Horse Camp.
Not huge and not to small, you can easily bring a small group of friends here for a private horsing around retreat ( pun intended) Direct access to several horse trails in Mammoth Cave. Spend your day riding and then kick back at your site and relax. There is an area in the “back” to park your rig and set up your glamping area. Stalls if your horse likes it fancy. A nice camp store and friendly staff to assist you. We visited while in the area, my favorite thing is the out of the way location! (Check out their page for events too.)
LegendI went to Mammoth Cave National Park the first time as a child with my family in the 70’s. I took my children to Mammoth in the 90’s. And I have lived within 45 minutes of Mammoth for the last 10 years. The only time during the last 10 years I was not at the Park at least monthly was during my deployment and when the government shutdown in 2013.
In all that time I have visited the cave maybe 10 times. Spelunking was the most exhilarating visit. Make sure you check out the tour offerings online https://www.nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/gocavetours.htm well before your visit and reserve a place. If you wait until your visit you will probably have a hard time getting past the cathedral.
All the other visits were spent enjoying all the other things there are to do at Mammoth.
First and foremost is the camping. Mammoth has a campground adjacent to the Visitors Center which is basic except for two sites. There are reservable as well as walk up sites. A store, showerhouse, laundry and post office are co-located at the front of the campground and there are toilet facilities in the campground. I used the access points in the campground to hike some of the trails and walk to the visitors center.
An aspect that I have just recently started exploring are the several dispersed camp sites throughout the park. These are free but you must check in at the Lodge before hiking to them. A good , waterproof map is key.
In addition at Maple Springs on the far side of the Green River Ferry ( yes, there is a cool little two car ferry) is the Maple Springs horse and group site camping area. Nice basic, shaded area with trailheads in the area.
Now that you have found your home for your stay what to do?
Kayaking/watercraft, fishing: several companies work the Green River. If you brought your own craft they will usually meet you at the Green River Ferry parking area and transport you up river for a nominal fee. Check ahead at least a day so they are tracking you and can coordinate.
Hiking, Trail Running, dirtbiking, , horse, Geocaching: My favorite trail run is from the main picnic area to the ferry, with several connectors. Just technical enough to keep you on your toes, definitely not a mountain but the hills and valleys give you good work out.
The Maple Springs Trailhead is the major access point for all things backpacking and horse back riding. It even has a handicap accessible horse “loading” area which is wheelchairs friendly.
If your going to geocache pre-save your coordinates and instructions cause there is no signal in the park. If you visit the restaurant at the lodge they have WiFi but it’s slloooowwwww. When we stay over I always try to do my site surfing first thing in the morning.
If you are dirt biking check your trails, some are limited access.
On our most recent visit we explored the new construction on the ferry trailhead. Pictures included.
Not Mammoth related or affiliated but a few things you may want to try while in the area:
http://www.kentuckywine.com/cave-valley-winery-at-park-mammoth-resort/
Guns and wine, can’t get much more Kentucky then that!
https://dinosaurworld.com/kentucky/
Dogs allowed ;)
http://kentuckydownunder.com/
Educational and fun, who knew!
http://mammothcave-adventures.com/
You will drop some green here but it is a lot of fun!
And there’s more ;) Happy Camping
LegendLocated very close to Bardstown and a lot of distilleries on the bourbon trail, the campground is great, very small fills up fast. Like most Kentucky state parks be prepared for required extensions to your power and water hoses because with exception of a couple of sites everything is at least 30 to 36' away from your hook up. Beware of site 19 and the site next to the dump station because on the map it looks far away but in reality as you can see in the pictures it is right on top one another and creates congestion on Sunday morning during checkout.
ScoutSouthern hospitality! Has horse camping with covered stalls. Great trails on Green River Lake State Park for hiking, biking & horses. Located close to boat ramps. You’ll be glad you chose Green River Stables!
Horse camping in Kentucky offers a unique blend of scenic trails and equestrian-friendly amenities, making it a perfect getaway for horse lovers.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Elizabethtown, KY is Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 137 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 13 equestrian camping locations near Elizabethtown, KY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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