Green River Lake in Kentucky offers multiple campground options with varying amenities and proximity to the water. The area includes established facilities like Green River Lake State Park Campground, which provides electric hookups, showers, and sewer connections for both tent and RV camping from April through December. Several Corps of Engineers campgrounds, including Smith Ridge, Holmes Bend, and Pikes Ridge, provide additional camping areas around the lake perimeter with many sites offering waterfront access and basic amenities.
Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, with the majority closing between September and October. "Most sites are spaced apart but close enough to make new friends like we did. Any site is well kept along with all the grounds," noted one visitor about Holmes Bend Campground. Water and electric hookups are common at the established campgrounds, though primitive camping with vault toilets only is available at Wilson Creek Recreation Area. Cell service varies throughout the region, with better reception reported in higher elevation areas. Reservations are recommended for weekend camping during peak summer months when waterfront sites fill quickly.
Waterfront access represents the primary draw for many campers visiting Green River Lake. The shoreline camping areas provide opportunities for swimming, fishing, and boating with several campgrounds offering boat ramps or docks. According to a visitor at Pikes Ridge, "Many of the sites have a view of the water. The sites are well separated leaving a lot of room for the kids and walking the dog as well." Shade availability varies significantly between campgrounds and specific sites, with some areas described as "extremely open" with limited tree cover. Hiking trails are accessible from several campgrounds, including Holmes Bend which connects to over five miles of trails. Wildlife viewing opportunities include deer, wild turkeys, and various bird species that can be observed throughout the camping areas.
$20 - $36 / night
"We stayed in the new section just pass the entrance on the right! It’s a one way loop thru the woods that brings you back out on main campground road."
"I had Site 31 right beside the Woodland Trail entrance but you're pretty close to the lake (the boat ramp is about a 1/2 mile as the crow flies) and you're close to town (about 3 1/2 miles roughly) if"
$20 - $38 / 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."
"This is a very small gravel/dirt lot in a valley in the woods along a creek near the Green River Lake. Beautiful wooded area with a small intermittent stream that runs beside the sites."
"It's a short walk to the lake which is pretty and has a lot of fish who were jumping the evening I was there."
$20 - $36 / night
"The campgrounds was exceptional in quite setting , playground for the grandkids, near Green River lake, must have Ky temporary license to fish, boating, cabins rental, natural trails, campground has"
"Walking around you will find wildlife. Lots of deer and turtles and birds. The beach is great and right next to the marina."
$25 / night
"Clean, open, trees around perimeter out of the way of campers and roads. Country setting with fields on two sides and woods. Definitely off the beaten path but close to the lake. Full hookups."
"Campground is near boat ramp & beach. Parking for boats. Family friendly, playground for kids. Large camp sites."
$20 - $36 / night
"Nearby there are historic sites and lots of hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking at Green River Lake State Park.** Yay: nice big campsites
**Nay: All the RV sites are extremely open so there"
"Staff as always been very friendly, sites are very spacious, there are trails for hiking, a playground and a beach."
"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!"
"It's quiet and 5 minutes away from town. Door dash delivers. The manager is a sweetheart and makes sure any issues are taken care of."
$25 - $50 / night
"This campground is a walking distance to the visitors center. It's a well established campground and geared towards folks visiting mammoth caves."
"green river, which was enjoyed by all, and we appreciated avoiding the main entrance besieged by spring break campers!"
$16 - $60 / night
"Outside Jamestown,Ky on Rt 127 it is easy to find and well worth the drive. The Wolf Creek Fish Hatchery is in the same area below the dam of Lake Cumberland."
"Nestled in the trees near the Cumberland Lake, and dam, this is a beautiful place to relax."
TravelerThis was a very nice and safe campground. Our Airstream took some leveling because the whole campground is on a hill. If you have kids they'll love it. It also has lots of open room for dogs to walk. There's not a lot around there for good food, however we did find a clean & tasty place with HUGE portions called, Buckingham's Honey and Oak.
ScoutWe checked in late on Thursday, coming from about 10 hours away, the proprietor called to check in and had no trouble with letting us check in late at night. Mr. Brown, has done an amazing job with this camp ground, we will definitely be back! It’s a beautiful area, beautiful park and wonderful owners!
LegendWe received an information email the day before prior to arrival with general info and wifi password plus how to pre check in. The morning of arrival, we received another email with specific instructions to not trust GPS and follow their instructions. Our Trip Wizard and Waze GPS instructions actually brought us right to the campground (CG). Since we had pre checked in, we were instructed in the directions email to go directly to deluxe pull-through site 78, where our welcome package would be in the electrical box. The site was plenty long enough for our 40’ toy hauler and F450. Not sure why this is a deluxe site as its gravel with a picnic table and portable fire pit? The utilities were more towards the front of the pad with no issues reaching the connections. It was a nice touch to see a small cement circle pad on the sewer connection. This is a new CG, so amenities like the laundry and gift shop were not opened yet. Water pressure was good. We got 4 bars on Verizon and 3 bars 5G on T-Mobile. We used our T-Mobile Internet versus Starlink. It would not have been an issue to use satellite as there are no mature trees in the campground. They have one large(about 1/4 acre) fenced dog area. The dog park slopes down a hill and connects with a fence that goes around the property. Do not throw small balls down the hill as they can go through the fence and there’s no way to recover the ball due to no openings/gates near by to get to the back of the dog park. There’s also a smaller fenced dog area near the front of the CG. Great customer service before and during our stay.
TravelerOver night stay. Called to reserve a spot and arrived just before dusk. Had a quick check in, found our spot and had a quick set up for a short overnight stay. Lovely quiet park and great hosts. Would stay here again.
GuideIt was a complete mess and the area looked neglected. To make things worse, the staff were rude and unhelpful when we asked questions. Definitely not a place we’d recommend.
GuideAbsolutely love staying here. Quiet, pretty, easy, and the owners and staff are delightful.
GuideMost are pull through sites, many have a shared water faucet. Clean and conveniente to town. Sandy the manager is a peach.
RangerGreat overnight stop on our drive from Tennessee to Indiana. The hosts Valette and Greg were absolutely wonderful. The campground was well tended with a playground for the little ones. We don’t have little ones, but I couldn’t resist a ride on the merry-go-round! The facilities were pristine with piping hot showers that had great water pressure. Perfect TMobile signal and ***free WiFi *** which allowed us to get some work done. Conveniently located near 65 without too much traffic noise. Would definitely return here. Pick site 14 for the best view beside the lake.
TravelerNice quiet place. Very level. He takes very good care of the lot with gravel. The owner also runs an RV repair so you can get on-site repairs. Very useful. The shower house and bathroom are for emergency use only. Laundry room has a four-digit security code to get in. Most of the people staying here are long-term or semi-long-term. Lots of pipeline inspectors currently. Everyone has really nice rigs. Rate discount rates for 6 months or longer. Everything included except electric. Meters red monthly. Accepts mail delivery and package delivery.
Green River Lake camping areas sit between 700 and 800 feet above sea level in south-central Kentucky. The lake spans approximately 8,200 acres with 33 miles of shoreline. Water levels fluctuate seasonally, affecting campsite availability along the shore during late summer when water levels may drop 10-15 feet from spring heights.
Fishing opportunities: Smith Ridge campground offers direct lake access for anglers. "I gave Smith Ridge 5 stars because it offers a lot of great fishing spots and beautiful views. There isn't but maybe one trail there, and it's unmarked," notes Jessica C. The campground includes boat ramp access for those wanting to fish deeper waters.
Trout fishing: Kendall Campground provides specialized fishing beyond the lake itself. "Fish the river for trout, walleye and stripers or go upon the lake for a joy ride," explains Kenny P. The nearby National Fish Hatchery connects to a man-made trout stream running to the Cumberland River.
Hiking trails: Access multiple trail networks from various campgrounds around the lake. The Wilson Creek Recreation Area features hiking paths converted from former recreation vehicle trails. "The old 4 wheeler trails now make good hiking trails and cool off at the gravel beach at the end of the road," reports Kenny P.
Spacious sites: Campers frequently mention the generous site dimensions. "I am currently here and I gotta say I am impressed. The bathrooms are clean, I am not close to my neighboring campers, the parking spots are huge, and it's a great area to walk around," shares Maze M. about Smith Ridge - Green River Lake.
Wildlife viewing: Multiple campgrounds around Green River Lake provide wildlife observation opportunities. "Walking around you will find wildlife. Lots of deer and turtles and birds," explains Thomas R. about Holmes Bend. Several campgrounds report frequent deer sightings near campsites, particularly in early morning and evening hours.
Swimming access: Public beaches provide lake access for swimmers. "It's a short walk to the lake which is pretty and has a lot of fish who were jumping the evening I was there," reports Leandra P. about Wilson Creek. Several campgrounds offer designated swimming areas with gradual entry points suitable for children.
Shade availability varies: Tree coverage differs significantly between campground sections. "The old part had plenty of shade the newer part not so much," notes Jeremy K. about Smith Ridge. Sites 1-30 at Smith Ridge are generally wooded, while sites 31-80 have less coverage.
Cell service limitations: Communication can be difficult in certain areas. "Practically no cell service with Verizon or AT&T," reports Todd C. about Smith Ridge. Signal strength varies by elevation, with higher points offering better connectivity.
Seasonal closures: Most campgrounds operate on limited schedules. Pikes Ridge - Green River Lake runs from May 10 to September 22, while Holmes Bend operates from April 18 to October 26. Off-season camping options are limited, with Green River Lake State Park offering the longest season from April through December.
Facility maintenance concerns: Some campgrounds report ongoing maintenance issues. "One bathroom hasn't had electric in two years and another women's bathroom only has hot water in one shower and the hand dryers don't work," reports Christina S. about Smith Ridge.
Playground access: Several campgrounds include dedicated play areas. "Family friendly, pet friendly, peaceful with playground for the kids and lots of nature to explore," notes Brenda S. about CampFire Ridge RV Park. Holmes Bend also features playgrounds that are cleaned daily.
Kid-friendly sites: Choose sites based on family needs. "I give it 4 not 5 because no cell signal so it's rustic camping which is good for some but not so much when alone. Sites 1-30 are wooded and semi private. 31-80 are set more in a park complete with playground and street lights near the bath house," explains Candy H. about Smith Ridge.
Beach options: Access swimming areas suitable for children. "We stayed in the new section just pass the entrance on the right! It's a one way loop thru the woods that brings you back out on main campground road. Only down fall is if you want to swim you'll have to drive about a mile to the swimming area," notes Kenny P. about Smith Ridge.
Power limitations: Some campgrounds experience electrical issues. "They have a known power issue, 30amp service went out several times at the pole. Their solution was to use less appliances. There are other campgrounds on the lake that I would choose instead of this one for that reason," warns Lindsey M. about Smith Ridge.
Site selection advice: Consider specific terrain features when choosing sites. "Our campsite had two stumps there were hard to work around when backing up the camper in the dark," cautions Christina S. about Smith Ridge. Requesting sites away from the main road can reduce noise and improve the camping experience.
Water and electric access: Green River Lake State Park Campground offers full hookup options. "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," reports Doug and Terri C. Level sites are available throughout the campground, with older sections providing better shade coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What campgrounds are available at Green River Lake in Kentucky?
Green River Lake offers several campground options. Pikes Ridge - Green River Lake provides spacious campsites near the water with swimming access. Holmes Bend offers a quiet setting with natural trails, playground facilities, and proximity to the lake. Other options include Green River Lake State Park Campground, Smith Ridge, and Wilson Creek Recreation Area (though Wilson Creek was permanently closed in October 2023). These campgrounds generally provide amenities like restrooms, fire rings, and picnic tables, with varying levels of hookups and services.
Are there cabins available for camping at Green River Lake?
Kozy Haven Log Cabins offers cabin accommodations tucked between Green River Lake and Lake Cumberland, providing a peaceful escape for visitors looking to enjoy the area's fishing and watersports. Holmes Bend also offers cabin rentals near Green River Lake. These cabins provide comfortable shelter while maintaining easy access to the lake's recreational opportunities, making them ideal for visitors who prefer more amenities than traditional tent camping provides.
Do any Green River Lake campgrounds have swimming pools?
None of the public campgrounds at Green River Lake feature swimming pools. However, swimming is available directly in Green River Lake at several locations. Green River Stables is located close to boat ramps that provide lake access for swimming. Similarly, CampFire Ridge RV Park offers boat-in access to the lake where visitors can swim. Most campers enjoy natural swimming in the lake rather than pools, with several campgrounds providing designated swimming areas along the shoreline.
What RV camping facilities are available at Green River Lake?
RV campers at Green River Lake have several options. Pikes Ridge offers spacious RV sites, though they are quite open with limited shade or privacy. The sites include standard amenities like fire rings and picnic tables. Green River Lake State Park Campground provides drive-in access with water hookups and is big-rig friendly. Most campgrounds in the area offer dumping stations and potable water. However, be prepared for potentially uneven sites, as this is common at many Kentucky campgrounds.
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