65 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Frankfort, Kentucky provides a range of camping experiences along the Kentucky River and nearby waterways. Elkhorn Campground and Kentucky River Campground offer established sites with various amenities, while Still Waters Campground provides access to both Elkhorn Creek and the Kentucky River. Most campgrounds in the area accommodate both tent and RV camping, with several offering full hookup sites. The region includes a mix of privately owned campgrounds and state park facilities, with many located within a 30-minute drive of downtown Frankfort.
Camping in the Frankfort area operates primarily from April through October, with some facilities like Kentucky Horse Park Campground remaining open year-round. Many campgrounds require reservations, especially during summer weekends and holidays. "We stayed at Elkhorn for 6 nights; it is a great place to use as a home base for the sites in Frankfort, as well as multiple distilleries. It is just 5-miles or 8-9 minutes to Buffalo Trace," noted one visitor. Cell service can be limited at certain locations, with one review mentioning that "due to the location, only Verizon and Visible cell phone users have service" at Still Waters Campground. Water levels on the Kentucky River and Elkhorn Creek can affect camping conditions, particularly after heavy rainfall.
Waterfront camping represents a significant draw for visitors to the Frankfort area. Several campgrounds provide direct access to the Kentucky River or Elkhorn Creek, popular for fishing, kayaking, and tubing. A review of Still Waters Campground described it as "extremely popular among locals who want to sit in an tube float and float down the creek to the Kentucky River, a trip that takes approximately 3 to 4 hours." Developed campgrounds typically feature amenities such as shower facilities, dump stations, and camp stores. Many sites include fire rings, picnic tables, and grassy areas. The proximity to bourbon distilleries, including Buffalo Trace in Frankfort and others within driving distance, makes these campgrounds convenient bases for exploring Kentucky's bourbon heritage while enjoying outdoor recreation.
"We stayed at Elkhorn for 6 nights; it is a great place to use as a home base for the sites in Frankfort, as well as multiple distilleries. It is just 5-miles or 8-9 minutes to Buffalo Trace."
"Surrounded by rivers and open green fields. Very nicely maintained. Lots of campers even this early in the season! Looks like kids and fishing folk would be in heaven."
"I'll preface this with the fact that I am a Lexington, KY Native and have always lived close to the Kentucky Horse Park and Kentucky Horse Park Campground, but have never stayed there until this weekend"
"Clean bathrooms and sites, within easy walking distance to the Kentucky Horse Park. Pay attention to which site you pick- if you’re in c loop, it’s a long walk to the bathroom!"
from $40 - $43 / night
Check Availability"Stayed here for 5 nights while attending an equestrian event at the Kentucky Horse Park. The staff at the park are really helpful & friendly. "
"About 30 minutes away from the Ark. Easy trip on I75, about 30 minutes. Some level sites, but most seem to have a slope."
from $36 - $46 / night
Check Availability"Make sure you take the exit they tell you & do NOT follow gps or you’ll go down a long country road. Nice little family owned campground on Elkhorn Creek."
"We stayed for several days so that we could visit distilleries on the Bourbon Trail. Frankfort is almost close enough to bicycle to. Lexington is less than an hour away."
from $50 - $65 / night
Check Availability"The campground was a decent size, although we didn't drive around the entire loop. We were lucky enough to get a spot close to the river, so at night we could hear the river rushing next to us."
"Close to: Castle and Key, Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve, and West Sixth Brewery. Perfect location for some Bourbon Trail and beer hoping! I will definitely go back."
from $45 - $55 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Better if you have a boat ( or rent one at the marina across the lake) good access to the lake, gets busy in the summer. Stores in decent proximity off property. Can get loud at times."
from $20 - $45 / night
Check Availability"This campground is located at the mouth of the Elkhorn Creek and Kentucky River."
"Much less crowded out side of this event."
from $30 - $79 / night
Check Availability"It's situated high up on the Kentucky river bank which is nice but there's little access to the riverbank except from the floating dock and boat ramp."
"They take you to your sight assist you with backing in the rest rooms are very clean the pool is very clean they have a boat ramp into the Kentucky river a covered dock to fish off."
from $30 - $55 / night
Check Availability"A campsite settled upon the bank of the Kentucky River with a friendly farm cat, goats, horses and cow we delighted in a campfire as the sun set and the stars came out."
from $32 - $82 / night
Check Availability"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
ScoutIt was really easy to get checked in and set up. They have some amazing amenities to keep the kids entertained. It is right outside of Frankfurt so you are nice and close to many different attractions.
TravelerFantastic experience very well maintained lots of activities decent WiFi. Friendly staff great communication. Will comeback 100%
ScoutCAUTION CAUTION CAUTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This campground has a very steep incline/decline to get to the campground. The reason you cannot come onto the property before 2 pm is that the road leading to the campground makes it very dangerous for two RV's to pass which the operators don't tell you. Instead they charge you$25 and yell at you if you come to their property before 2 pm. Their email only refers to entering their property not to the road leading to the property. There is no sign on the country road leading to the property so you never know when the reduced street size and incline/decline starts. VERY DANGEROUS!!!!!! I ALSO CONTACTED THE COUNTY AS THEY SHOULD HAVE NEVER ALLOWED THIS CAMPGROUND WITHOUT SOME TRAFFIC LIGHTS TO AVOID THAT TWO RV'S PASS EACH OTHER AT ANY TIME.
Also they seemed to have sewer issues as we could not leave our sewer access open as it stank to much.
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!
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.
GuideStarting with the good, it is reasonably close to the freeway yet far enough away not to be bothered by road noise. Wi fi was mostly usable. Electrical power was stable. Estimate , if the park was probably half full of campers , some long term , some transit. Was quiet. On the other hand, the place was unmowed with grass 6 to 8 inches high throughout the entire facility. A zero turn mower set unused vext to the office. Some of the water spigots were broken and hoses were strewn about so that people could get it water from different spigots to different sites. What's the worst was the bathroom in showers. A couple of people here and said they were clean , but either there definition of clean was different , or they've been a significant lack of labor to keep them up. In the men's side, there was mold all along the floors at the caulking edges.There was wadded up wet toilet paper smashed on the wall of 2 of them.The ceilings were covered in old cobwebs and fresh spider nests. The floors were quite dirty. Over half of the sites aren't level, so if you use this place bring leveling chocks/plates for your tires if not hydraulically leveled. This facility has a great deal of potential with a bit of money and some elbow grease.
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.
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.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Camping near Frankfort, Kentucky centers primarily around the Kentucky River valley, with elevations ranging from 500-900 feet above sea level. The area experiences all four seasons distinctly, with summer temperatures averaging 85-90°F and winter lows regularly dropping below freezing. Campsites along Elkhorn Creek and the Kentucky River can become inaccessible during spring flooding, with water levels rising up to 15-20 feet above normal during heavy rainfall events.
Tube float adventures: A popular activity near Frankfort involves tubing down Elkhorn Creek into the Kentucky River. At Still Waters Campground, this leisurely float typically takes "approximately 3 to 4 hours" according to campers, and "you have to bring your own tube." The campground is "located at the mouth of the Elkhorn Creek and Kentucky River" making it ideal for water recreation.
Bourbon Trail access: Many campgrounds serve as convenient bases for bourbon tourism. At Elkhorn Campground, visitors note it offers "nice access to KY Bourbon" while another camper mentioned it's a "great place to use as a home base" for visiting distilleries. Cummins Ferry RV Park provides a tranquil setting after distillery visits, with "a small well maintained campground right on the Kentucky River" that's "down in a hollow which makes it secluded and quiet."
Fishing opportunities: Lake Shelby Campground offers fishing access from multiple points. As one visitor observed, "You can fish both in the lake and on the stream below the dam. A couple of docks on the lake side." The campground also rents paddle boats for water recreation.
Private waterfront sites: At Kentucky River Campground, campers appreciate the premium waterfront locations. "Our site had a level concrete parking pad and concrete deck overlooking the river. On the deck was a patio set with an umbrella and 4 chairs and 2 Adirondack style plastic chairs with a portable fire pit," noted one reviewer, adding there was even "a clean gas grill with a full tank of propane and utensils!"
Farm animal interactions: Wildcat Creek Farm offers a unique camping experience with friendly farm animals. One camper shared, "The resident goats, mules, donkeys and horses are very friendly - just like the hosts!" Another mentioned, "A campsite settled upon the bank of the Kentucky River with a friendly farm cat, goats, horses and cow we delighted in a campfire as the sun set."
Weekend entertainment: Several campgrounds offer organized activities. At Elkhorn Creek RV Park, campers mention that "there was even live music" and the park hosts weekend entertainment. Cummins Ferry features "live music and food trucks every Saturday" which adds "a nice touch" to the camping experience.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely between campgrounds. At Still Waters Campground, "due to the location, only Verizon and Visible cell phone users have service. There is no local Internet." For those needing to stay connected, Kentucky Horse Park Campground offers better connectivity with "good WiFi, cable and cell service."
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the region have uneven sites. At Cummins Ferry RV Park, campers report "the sites here are not level" with one visitor needing "all 10 of our leveling blocks, plus 8 paving stones to get the appropriate height." When reserving sites, ask specifically about leveling requirements.
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally. Taylorsville Lake State Park Campground runs "from April 1 to December 15" while Elkhorn Campground operates only "from April 1 to October 31." Year-round options include Kentucky Horse Park Campground which remains open "all year."
Kid-friendly activities: Elkhorn Campground offers extensive children's programming. "There is a great deal of things to do with the kids (water wars and different events for them to participate in)," notes one camper. Another mentions it's a "great place for families with young kids" with organized activities that keep children engaged.
Playground access: Kentucky Horse Park Campground provides "several playgrounds nearby if you have kids to occupy" according to visitors. Lake Shelby Campground includes "a playground for the kids" along with paddle boats for rent, making it suitable for family outings.
Space between sites: Families appreciate campgrounds with adequate space. Taylorsville Lake State Park offers "big sites with shade" and visitors note "most of the sites were really big, and there was plenty of space and trees in between." This provides privacy and room for families to spread out.
Site selection guidance: At Whispering Hills RV Park, RVers recommend choosing sites carefully. "The premium spots are much longer with smaller yards and have pull through access," notes one camper, while standard sites may present challenges as "there aren't very many standard sites available to big RVs."
Utility considerations: Water pressure can be an issue at some campgrounds. At Whispering Hills, campers warn that "water pressure is pretty high make sure you use a regulator." Kentucky River Campground offers sites with full hookups, with one visitor noting there are "level concrete parking pad" sites available with electric, water and sewer connections.
Dump station access: Several campgrounds offer sanitary dump stations, but access varies. Lake Shelby Campground has a dump station that "would be nice if you could pull through to dump but you have to back in" making it potentially challenging for larger rigs or less experienced drivers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there RV parks or RV-friendly campgrounds in Frankfort, Kentucky?
Yes, Frankfort and its surrounding area offer several excellent options for RV camping. Elkhorn Creek RV Park is a family-owned campground conveniently located near Frankfort with waterfront sites available, featuring both concrete and gravel pads. When visiting, follow their directions rather than GPS to avoid back roads. Elkhorn Campground is another great choice just minutes from downtown Frankfort and about 5 miles from Buffalo Trace Distillery, making it an ideal base for exploring the area. The campground features well-maintained facilities including an exceptionally clean bathhouse and full hookup sites for RVs.
What amenities are available at Wildcat Creek Farm camping area near Frankfort?
Wildcat Creek Farm offers basic amenities that cater to campers seeking a more rustic experience near Frankfort. The site provides potable water access and toilet facilities for campers. Sites are drive-in accessible, making it convenient to set up camp. The campground operates on a reservation system, allowing guests to secure their spot ahead of time rather than relying on first-come, first-served availability. While not as developed as some state parks in the area, Wildcat Creek Farm provides the essential amenities needed for a comfortable outdoor experience in a more intimate setting.
What are the best campgrounds near Frankfort, KY for tent camping?
For excellent tent camping near Frankfort, Taylorsville Lake State Park Campground offers spacious sites with nice picnic tables and access to hiking trails that lead down to the lake where boat rentals are available. Another great option is Two Rivers Campground, a peaceful campground where the Kentucky and Ohio Rivers meet. The grounds remain quiet even when full, and campers can enjoy pretty walks to the Kentucky River. Both campgrounds provide clean facilities and natural settings that make them ideal for tent campers looking to enjoy the outdoors within a reasonable drive from Frankfort.
Keep Exploring
