Grayson Lake covers 1,512 acres in northeastern Kentucky's Carter and Elliott counties. The terrain around the lake features steep, forested hills with sandstone cliffs rising directly from the water. Water levels vary seasonally with higher levels in spring and early summer, creating different camping and shoreline conditions throughout the year.
What to do
Kayak the lake: Grayson Lake offers excellent paddling opportunities with rock formations visible from the water. At Carter Caves State Resort Park Campground, located about 10 miles from Grayson Lake, "Canoe the Tygart, take a trail ride, spelunk a Cave, eat a S'more, hike the red trail, see the natural bridge, come for pioneer week," as recommended by reviewer Becky H.
Slide down the waterfall: The natural formations at nearby Falls Campground include water features for recreation. Ashley P. notes, "The waterfall is fun to slide down," while another camper mentions "my son loves playing in the creek and on the falls so we keep tubes in the camper specifically for here."
Visit natural bridges: The region contains notable rock formations beyond just caves. "The park has a lot to do, not just the caves. There's tons of waterfalls off the trails, and other things to see," Chris B. shares about Carter Caves. For children, he adds, "Grab a ranger-guided tour and learn something! Great for the kids!"
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Yatesville Lake State Park Campground offers spacious campsites that maintain privacy. "The campsites are a LONG distance from each other. You won't even hear your neighbors," reports Carrie J. Todd C. confirms, "This is our favorite campground, it's small, quiet, very clean and sites are not crammed together."
Off-grid experience: Some campers appreciate the lack of connectivity at Grayson Lake. Joanna H. shared about the area: "Nice campground with no cell service what-so-ever. We could truly unplug for this camping trip but still have all of the luxuries of non-primitive camping."
Clean facilities: Grayson Getaways maintains high standards for their amenities. Olivia H. reports, "Fantastic campground, quiet, safe, surrounded by woods, clean and nice laundry facilities and bathhouse. Affordable, with electric, water and sewage hookups."
What you should know
Uneven terrain: Many campsites around Grayson Lake feature sloped ground. At Grayson Lake State Park, Melissa W. warns, "This campground is pretty hilly. Many of the spots don't have a great space for a tent... Even the RV camping on the inside of the loop across from us had its front tires suspended about a foot in the air to make it level."
Seasonal variations: Campgrounds in the area typically operate from April through October. Zilpo Campground is open "April 25 to November 2" while Carter Caves, Greenbo Lake, and Grayson Lake State Parks run "April 1 to October 31" according to their season information.
Water hookup challenges: At several campgrounds, utilities may be positioned inconveniently. Ron & Bonnie D. note at Carter Caves State Resort Park, "You will need extra water hose and extension cords to get hooked up in a lot of the sites." Similarly, autumn L. reports, "The only issue was that some of the sites were around 50 ft from the electric hook up."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Ashland/Huntington West KOA offers amenities specifically designed for children. Brooke V. shares, "Loved the fenced in soft play area for the toddlers. Great field for flying kites. Camp store had lots of food options and coffee." Matt B. adds it's a "Good place for a stopover with a family... They have a pool and mini golf to entertain the kids."
Halloween festivities: Several dog-friendly campgrounds near Grayson Lake host special October events. Vanessa D. recommends Falls Campground: "They also have a fantastic Halloween themed October. We love the experience each and every year!" Becky H. similarly mentions Carter Caves: "Halloween is a hoot."
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas. Taylor W. notes about Grayson Lake State Park, "There was also a playground and basketball court which I thought was great." Greenbo Lake State Resort Park also provides "Playgrounds for children" according to reviewers.
Tips from RVers
Extension cord requirements: Several dog-friendly campgrounds near Grayson Lake have sites where hookups are far from parking pads. Amanda S. warns about Carter Caves, "Be sure to look at google maps satellite before arriving as most of the sites that are labeled electric share one electric box for 2 campsites and can be pretty far from your pad."
Water pressure considerations: At Cabin Creek Camping, Rebecca F. advises, "Bring a water pressure regulator." She adds that despite this minor inconvenience, it's a "Great place. Secluded but close to everything you need."
Limited dining options: When RVing at Grayson Lake, prepare to cook most meals at your site. Taylor W. notes, "The town of Grayson is pretty limited in dining out options so it's best to plan on making most of your meals at the park."
