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Taylorsville Lake State Park Campground serves as the primary camping destination near Taylorsville, Kentucky, with additional options available within a 30-mile radius. The campground features spacious gravel sites with good spacing between them, offering electric hookups and water access for both tent and RV camping. Located approximately 30 miles southeast of Louisville, this newer state park campground provides access to Taylorsville Lake and 24 miles of multi-use trails. Several other established campgrounds in the area include My Old Kentucky Home State Park in Bardstown and Lake Shelby Campground in Shelbyville, expanding the range of camping areas available to visitors.
Seasonal considerations affect camping in the region, with most state park campgrounds operating from April through October or mid-December. A visitor noted, "The shower houses were amazingly clean when we visited," though others mentioned bathroom facilities at some parks needed attention. Taylorsville Lake State Park lacks sewer hookups at individual sites but provides dump stations. Road access throughout the region is generally good with paved roads leading to most established campgrounds. Cell service varies by location and carrier. Many campgrounds require reservations, especially during summer weekends and holidays, with prices typically ranging from $25-55 per night depending on hookups and amenities.
Campers consistently mention the spaciousness of sites at Taylorsville Lake as a highlight. The campground's newer facilities and level sites make for easy setup, though some visitors note the distance between the campground and the actual lake. According to reviews, "The sites 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." Mixed-use campgrounds in the region typically offer playgrounds, hiking trails, and fishing opportunities. For those exploring Kentucky's bourbon country, campgrounds near Bardstown provide convenient access to distillery tours while maintaining a rural setting. The region's campground options balance natural surroundings with proximity to cultural and recreational attractions, making it suitable for various camping preferences.
"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."
"Taylorsville lake leaves a lot to be desired.... very small"
from $24 - $50 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $30 - $55 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Lots of mud still around the camp sites. A nice parking lot in front of sites to back your rig up. Pads are small in length so be aware of that when it mentions it on the website."
"RV sites and tent sites lakeside. Fishing, ducks. $5 swimming pool nearby. $20/night tents. Showers and restrooms. Nice parks nearby for equestrian, playground, disk golf course."
from $20 - $30 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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."
from $15 - $30 / night
Check Availability"I asked for the most remote location to set up my tent. It’s still pretty close (across the gravel road about 100’ from RV/trailer campers). The row of tent sites backed up to a fence line."
"The playground is nice and has a pavilion right next to it. I have a small trailer which is easy to level up but most of the sites are not very level."
"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."
"The spots were decently spaced out, the bathrooms are clean, and there are some hiking trails from the campground."
from $40 - $50 / night
Check Availability"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!"
"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."
from $55 - $60 / night
Check Availability
ScoutSpur of the moment stop for the day and I’m glad we did! Friendly, quick and easy check-in. Despite there being long term RV’ers here it is clean and well maintained. And full hookups at a great price…if you’re in the area and need to rest…make sure you stop here!
ScoutNot many hookups small and wonderful. Very nice staff Cody is so nice!! Very clean, all gravel! Beautiful wooded area behind camper. Very reasonably priced. We drove here from Richmond and it was the most beautiful drive. Small towns, Kentucky hills, beautiful woods over the road! We loved it!!
GuideA lot of permanent rundown trailers parked haphazard as the sites are not laid out nicely. Stray cats running around. Muddy at the sites. Saving grace was clean bathhouse but who ever heard of automatic showers? Wasting a lot of water.
ScoutThis place is amazing it's super clean And beautiful
TravelerRight off the interstate and super easy to pull in. Very friendly staff!
ScoutI would highly NOT recommend staying at Still Waters Campground based on my experience with management. Today I rolled through a stop sign in the campground. I understand that was my mistake, and I accepted being told not to do it again. However, what happened afterward was completely unnecessary. Instead of simply speaking with me later at the office or sending a text, management chose to chase me down in a vehicle. I was driving around the campground speed limit, yet I was accused of speeding because they claimed they had to drive 30 mph to catch me—even though they had to turn around before following me. What made it even more frustrating was that I was told to“lead by example” while the manager herself admitted to driving around 30 mph in a 10 mph campground just to catch up to me. That felt incredibly hypocritical. What bothered me most was the way the situation was handled. I tried to walk away to avoid escalating the confrontation, but the manager continued arguing with me. She even told me to“go get my boyfriend,” as if I couldn’t speak for myself. I’m a grown woman and didn’t appreciate being dismissed like that. Later, after I had calmed down, my boyfriend and I went to the office so I could apologize for raising my voice and explain my side of the situation. Unfortunately, management wasn’t interested in having a productive conversation and came across as condescending and unwilling to listen. It also seems like the rules are enforced inconsistently. We have watched plenty of other people roll through that same stop sign without being stopped or chased down. If safety is truly the concern, the rules should apply EQUALLY to everyone instead of selectively enforcing them. Overall, this experience left a VERY bad impression. A simple warning then walking away could have resolved everything, but instead it turned into an unnecessarily confrontational situation. Customer service and professionalism from management were extremely disappointing.
ScoutBeautiful place to stop for lunch.
While we were there,"Code Enforcement" stopped by to inform us that only tent and open-air camping is allowed, that a free permit from the city is required, and that there is a two-night limit.
There is a narrow one-lane road for the last several hundred yards to the lake, which could be problematic for larger vehicles if they meet someone coming the other direction.
TravelerLockRidge Park is a beautiful hidden gem with stunning views, unique accommodations, and a peaceful atmosphere. It’s the perfect place to relax, unwind, and enjoy the natural beauty of Kentucky.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
GuideFishing 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.
Primitive camping is available near Taylorsville, Kentucky at several locations within a 30-mile radius. The area sits at approximately 700 feet elevation with rolling hills throughout the Kentucky Bluegrass Region. Winter temperatures typically range from 25-45°F while summer months reach 75-90°F, making April through October the primary camping season for most visitors.
Hiking extensive trail systems: Jefferson Memorial Forest offers over 35 miles of trails ranging from easy to difficult. "Some of the hiking trails were well marked and up kept but some others were not so if you aren't good with navigation, choose wisely. Biggest issue we had was with the Gazebo Loop Trail/Pioneer Trail. Several spots were overgrown and not marked," notes a visitor to Taylorsville Lake State Park.
Bourbon distillery tours: The region provides excellent access to Kentucky's bourbon country with multiple distilleries within driving distance. A camper at White Acres Campground shared, "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...Located near Makers Mark and Jim Beam distilleries."
Water recreation opportunities: Multiple lakes in the area offer boating, fishing and paddling options. "Didn't do any lake activities but the water looked nice and there was a lot of activity on it. Nice boat ramps as well," observed one camper at Taylorsville Lake. Some campgrounds provide rental equipment: "They also rent paddle boats," mentioned a visitor to Lake Shelby Campground.
Spacious sites with good separation: Beyond Taylorsville Lake, campers appreciate room between sites at several nearby campgrounds. "The tent sites were shaded by nice trees and were located right next to the lake. The group tent sites looked nice and had shade and open areas," noted a visitor to Lake Shelby Campground.
Clean facilities despite high usage: Many campgrounds maintain their restrooms well even during peak season. One camper at Charlestown State Park reported, "There is always a bathhouse close by and they are usually very clean. Staff is always super nice."
Convenient location for touring: The area serves as an excellent base for exploring the region. "We camped here for three days in early August and used it as a 'home base' while we explored Louisville (Louisville Slugger Factory, Churchill Downs, etc.), bourbon country, etc," shared one Taylorsville Lake visitor.
Varying site conditions and layouts: Sites differ significantly across campgrounds. At Guist Creek Marina & Campground, a camper observed, "I have a small trailer which is easy to level up but most of the sites are not very level." Meanwhile, a visitor to My Old Kentucky Home State Park noted, "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."
Limited staff availability: Some campgrounds have inconsistent staffing hours. "The main 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," reported a Taylorsville Lake camper.
Primitive sites vary in privacy: The primitive camping experience can differ significantly between locations. A camper at Jefferson Memorial Forest commented, "The large group sites are peppered throughout the family sites so if you happened to have a loud crowd on your weekend then you'll hear the music and shouting sometimes well into the night despite quiet hours."
Playgrounds and recreational facilities: Several campgrounds offer facilities specifically for children. "Very nice campground. Great place for families with young kids," noted a visitor to Elkhorn Campground, where they offer "water wars and different events for them to participate in."
Safety considerations: Some locations provide more security than others. A visitor to Jefferson Memorial Forest shared, "I felt extremely safe and secure in this location. The town of Bardstown is also all-American hometown at its best."
Consider site locations carefully: Families should research specific site details before booking. A camper at Taylorsville Lake advised, "We stayed at site P02, but I don't recommend that specific site. It was probably the worst site in the primitive camp... It was far from flat, and the space provided for the picnic table was pretty much unusable. Just about every other site there looked amazing though."
Hookup variations: RV sites often have different utility setups. "Also some had sewer hook ups and others did not," mentioned a camper at My Old Kentucky Home State Park, while a visitor to Brooks RV Park noted, "All 50 amp full hook up sites. Every site has a picnic table and a fire pit."
Site size limitations: Some parks have restrictions that affect larger rigs. At Louisville South KOA, a camper experienced, "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."
Road condition awareness: Access varies across campgrounds, with some having tighter approaches. A camper at Charlestown State Park observed, "Charlestown State Park is a great, quiet campground for us to get away in our RV. We love that all of the sites are paved and most of the full-hookup sites offer a lot of privacy."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping options are available at Taylorsville Lake?
Taylorsville Lake offers developed camping through Taylorsville Lake State Park Campground, the newest addition to Kentucky's state park system. The campground features level gravel sites with good spacing between neighbors, electrical hookups, and clean facilities. The campground includes nice playgrounds for children and excellent roads. While campsites aren't directly on the lakeshore, the park provides access to Taylorsville Lake where visitors can enjoy fishing, boating, and water recreation. Boat rentals are available at the lake, making it convenient for campers to get out on the water.
Where are the campgrounds in Taylorsville, KY located?
The primary camping destination in Taylorsville is Taylorsville Lake State Park Campground, which is situated on the shores of Taylorsville Lake. The campground features spacious sites with gravel pads that are well-maintained and level. While the campground itself is not directly on the lake's shore, there are trails that lead down to boat ramps where you can access the water. For additional options near Taylorsville, Guist Creek Marina & Campground is located in nearby Shelbyville, providing another lakeside camping experience within a short drive.
Are there long-term RV parks available in Taylorsville, Kentucky?
While Taylorsville itself has limited long-term RV options, several facilities in the surrounding area accommodate extended stays. Cummins Ferry RV Park on the Kentucky River offers longer-term options with full hookup sites and is within driving distance of Taylorsville. For military families, Camp Carlson Army RV Park at Fort Knox provides clean facilities in a quiet setting with longer stay possibilities. Both locations offer the necessary amenities for comfortable extended stays while providing access to central Kentucky attractions.
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