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Best Dispersed Camping near Fort Knox, KY

12 Reviews

Dispersed camping near Fort Knox, Kentucky centers primarily in surrounding public lands including Hoosier National Forest to the north in Indiana and areas within Mammoth Cave National Park. The region includes several unmarked sites along forest roads and creek beds rather than designated campgrounds. Mitchell Creek Road in Hoosier National Forest provides roadside pull-offs on public land, while First Creek in Mammoth Cave National Park offers hike-in primitive camping. These areas generally lack formal infrastructure but provide access to natural settings within 60-90 minutes of Fort Knox.

Several forest access points require careful navigation due to narrow, gravel roads with limited turnaround space. Mitchell Creek Road features small pull-offs that accommodate tent camping or small vehicles but are unsuitable for RVs or trailers. First Creek Dispersed sites in Mammoth Cave require permits and involve significant hiking on trails that can be poorly marked. Water sources exist but may require filtration, and no amenities such as restrooms, designated fire rings, or trash service are available. Cell service is minimal or non-existent throughout most areas.

The dispersed sites provide secluded camping experiences in thick forests with opportunities to explore creeks, rock formations, and wildlife habitats. As one camper noted about Mitchell Creek Road, "There are rock outcroppings along this road, which follows Mitchell Creek and lots to explore on foot. While I was exploring and camping on this road, only two vehicles passed during the entire 16 hours." First Creek in Mammoth Cave features a pond that empties into Green River, though hikers should be prepared for the challenging return climb. Seasonal conditions significantly impact the experience, with some users reporting beautiful star-gazing opportunities but also warning about insects, particularly ticks along Knobstone Trail areas. Campers consistently mention the importance of being well-prepared with proper maps, as trail markers can be inconsistent.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Fort Knox, Kentucky (6)

    1. Hoosier National Forest

    1 Review
    Rome, IN
    36 miles

    2. Knobstone Trail

    4 Reviews
    Borden, IN
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 358-2160

    "Most people, even Hoosiers don't realize the Knobstone Trail exists. It's often referred to The Little AT by those who know about it. It's no walk in the park."

    "The KT is rugged and has lots of elevation gains over short distances. Everywhere you hike there are lovely vistas and lots of fossils on the trail snd creek beds."

    3. Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed

    6 Reviews
    Birdseye, IN
    47 miles

    "This is NOT a campground, but just roadside pull-offs on public land. There are no restrooms, fire rings, picnic tables, or other amenities."

    "Spot has a creek and is flat enough for a tent mostly just a single person spot no toilets. Road south coming in was destroyed some time ago have to w yer from east or west road."

    4. Jackson Trailhead

    2 Reviews
    Borden, IN
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 294-4306

    "there’s parking after a decrepit gravel road and suitable for camping. there are campsites along the trail just have to find them"

    5. First Creek Dispersed Camping — Mammoth Cave National Park

    1 Review
    Sweeden, KY
    46 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 758-2180

    $8 / night

    "First Camp Dispersed tent sites are an enjoyable hike down into the First Creek ,creek bed of Green River in Mammoth Cave National Forest, Ky

    If you go early enough in the season you will see some awesome"

    6. Mitchell Creek Road

    Be the first to review!
    Taswell, IN
    45 miles
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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Fort Knox, KY

2 Photos of 6 Fort Knox Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Fort Knox, KY

12 Reviews of 6 Fort Knox Campgrounds

  • Jaymi A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 5, 2023

    Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed

    Perfect for Invisible Boondocking

    This is NOT a campground, but just roadside pull-offs on public land. There are no restrooms, fire rings, picnic tables, or other amenities. However, if you are camping in a self-contained SMALL vehicle, this is quiet, secluded, and beautiful. I did not see any pull offs that would accommodate an RV of any size, and nothing large enough to turn a trailer around.One pull off was nearly too small to turn around my small pick up truck. But the thick forest was beautiful. There are rock outcroppings along this road, which follows Mitchell Creek and lots to explore on foot. While I was exploring and camping on this road, only two vehicles passed during the entire 16 hours. VERY quiet. Have a paper map handy, as there is no cell signal and GPS was spotty. The place I camped had a small graveyard behind it, so if you’re superstitious, this may not be for you. There was also a big white building that was all locked up surrounded by open meadow that a larger vehicle might be able to park behind. A circular “drive” was mown around the building. A few of the pull offs I didn’t explore because they were muddy or washed out after several days of rain. I would camp here again for the quiet and it’s proximity to Hemlock Cliffs and Yellow Birch Ravine.

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 28, 2020

    First Creek Dispersed Camping — Mammoth Cave National Park

    All down hill

    First Camp Dispersed tent sites are an enjoyable hike down into the First Creek ,creek bed of Green River in Mammoth Cave National Forest, Ky

    If you go early enough in the season you will see some awesome rock formations. Once all the foliage fills in its not as picturesque .

    Find Ollie Rd on the back side of Mammoth and take the gravel road straight at the hard right turn. First Creek can be hiked to from two different parking areas and it’s part of the Loop trail used by hikers and horseback riders alike. A map is very useful for distances and trail directions because the markers are not always where they are supposed to be. There is an beautiful pond/lake at the bottom of the hike that empties into the Green River. Realize of course water = snakes and take precautions. Two choices of tent sites. Both have a fire ring , lantern hook and tent pad. Firewood is all around :) tote in your water or filtration system and everything you need cause the hike back up that hill ain’t short! It gets DARK here! You should have some beautiful star gazing opportunities and some wildlife interactions. Once again take precautions with your food, it’s a long hike back up that hill! Bug spray! Enough said! Love this out of the way area but it can be quite spooky ;) Enjoy ;)

  • Dave E.
    Aug. 16, 2017

    Knobstone Trail

    Best backpacking in Indiana!

    Most people, even Hoosiers don't realize the Knobstone Trail exists. It's often referred to The Little AT by those who know about it. It's no walk in the park. There are continuous ups and downs that will challenge your leg strength and footing at times. There are plenty of great places to camp along the trail. Water can become scarce in the summer/fall months, but if you walk far enough, you're likely to come by a stream of some sort. Be respectful of the leave no trace rules and if you see any dickheads out there on 4 wheelers, take their picture and report them.

  • Maris H.
    Oct. 29, 2020

    Knobstone Trail

    The KT earns its nickname 'little AT'

    The KT is rugged and has lots of elevation gains over short distances. Everywhere you hike there are lovely vistas and lots of fossils on the trail snd creek beds. You're never too far from water, although the quality may differ depending on the time of year.

    Watch out for ticks. My dogs and I got loads of them in April 2020 from Leota to Spurgeon Hollow. There are road crossings every 5 to 10 miles, so if you run out of something or need to bail you can. The KT asks that you respect leave no trace philosophy, and I felt most hikers did.

    There is occasional trail magic but don't depend on it if thru hiking. I have not stayed in any campgrounds near the trail, so I can't review those, but the trailheads all have adequate parking and signage, and I found topo maps online for free.

    Let someone know your itinerary, have a means for filtering water, and enjoy!

  • Tommy S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 12, 2020

    Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed

    Limited dispersed sites

    Mitchell Creek Road in Hoosier National Forest, is just one small section of a road that runs along Mitchell Creek. On the west end, where the road turns right (north), there was a small drive to the right that went down towards the creek bed. There was a small fire ring here, and another fire ring around the back, both set up on the rocks of the dry riverbed. These didn't seem like great camping areas, let alone a "campsite". Towards the middle this road, just east of an intersection for a road to the south, there was a campsite creek side, and a little farther, a campsite on the hillside. The hillside spot was taken, so we took that last spot. Lookout for turtles on the road, we spotted and removed 4 of them.

    The area was rather buggy, and to be honest a little sketchy, so we slept in our van. Only two cars drove by, each time kicking up a big cloud of white dust which covered most of the foliage by the road. It hadn't rained in a while. We went briefly down to the creek, but it was very buggy and not very nice to hike. At night, we heard some loud mysterious crashing in some nearby trees, and what was possibly a large band of coyotes in the distance. Can't imagine I'd ever come back to this area, but it's there as an option for sure!

  • Sofia A.
    Oct. 23, 2020

    Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed

    Nice but nope

    It took me 20 from route 64 to find this place. If you are solo female traveler don’t even waste your time. After 5 min of driving on the very skinny gravel road y saw what it look like spots but Iam not sure really. 10 min later I got to the coordinates and there was nothing, not seven an opening just more road. Y just keep driving till I got back to 64 and found a Cracker Barrel 17 miles away.

  • Desert B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Knobstone Trail

    not accessible

    Maybe Google Maps took me to the wrong place (probably not).  I drove back and forth on the road several times looking for this place  The only thing I found was what I believe was the entrance with a cable across it.  There was no place to park otherwise.

  • S
    Apr. 7, 2024

    Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed

    It’s a very spartan spot

    Spot has a creek and is flat enough for a tent mostly just a single person spot no toilets. Road south coming in was destroyed some time ago have to w yer from east or west road.

  • jThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed

    Small pull off on the side of a gravel road.

    This is a bare bones location. There was evidence of a homemade fire pit and a small cleared area. No cell service at the site but there was a bar or two on the road just a few feet away. With a weboost there was att and tmobile service. Very quiet, only 2 vehicles passed by in the 36 hours I was there. 38.515995, -85.870726, 871 ft

Guide to Fort Knox

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Fort Knox, Kentucky, where nature awaits with stunning landscapes and a chance to escape the hustle and bustle. Whether you're looking for a rugged adventure or a peaceful retreat, these spots offer unique experiences for outdoor enthusiasts.

Tips for free and dispersed camping near Fort Knox, Kentucky

  • Always practice Leave No Trace principles to preserve the natural beauty of areas like Knobstone Trail, where hikers appreciate the stunning vistas and fossil finds along the rugged terrain.
  • Be prepared for limited amenities; for instance, the Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed area has no restrooms or trash services, making it essential to pack out what you bring in.
  • Water sources can vary, so it's wise to carry a filtration system, especially in places like Jackson Trailhead, where water availability may be scarce during certain seasons.

Top activities while free camping near Fort Knox

Scenic attractions for dispersed campers

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Fort Knox, KY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Fort Knox, KY is Hoosier National Forest with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Fort Knox, KY?

TheDyrt.com has all 6 dispersed camping locations near Fort Knox, KY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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