The Cave Country area around Greenup, Kentucky sits at approximately 550 feet elevation along the Ohio River. The region features rugged terrain with limestone formations that create natural caves and bridges throughout several campgrounds. Horse trails in this area often follow ridge lines that provide riders with elevation changes between 500-900 feet, creating moderately challenging terrain for equestrian campers.
What to do
Cave exploration and guided tours: Carter Caves State Resort Park Campground offers multiple cave tour options ranging from easy walking tours to more challenging wild cave expeditions. "Lots to do hiking, fishing, caves and caverns to explore. Campgrounds was clean. You will need extra water hose and extension cords to get hooked up in a lot of the sites though," notes Ron & Bonnie D.
Fishing in local lakes: Greenbo Lake State Resort Park provides year-round fishing opportunities with bass, crappie and catfish stocked regularly. "Very nice and quite campground with an awesome lake to kayak," shares Wyatt H. The 225-acre lake has multiple fishing spots accessible from the shoreline.
Trail riding: Horse campers can access over 70 miles of trails in the Wayne National Forest system from Paddle Creek Horse Camp, located 28 miles from Greenup. Most trails follow old logging roads with moderate grades suitable for intermediate riders. Trails range from 2-12 miles in length with interconnecting loops.
Hiking natural bridges: The area contains numerous natural rock formations. "The park has a lot to do, not just the caves. There's tons of waterfalls off the trails, and other things to see," explains Chris B. at Carter Caves. The park's trails lead to several natural bridges with spans ranging from 30-90 feet.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds in the area offer wooded separation between campsites. At Iron Ridge - Lake Vesuvius, campers appreciate the natural buffers: "Most of the sites shaded and separated by trees. Love the privacy this provides. Our favorite 'close to home campground'!" says Chris S.
Clean facilities: Ashland Huntington West KOA maintains well-kept bathhouses and common areas. "KOA staff was very friendly and accommodating. We were able to stay extra days with out any problems," notes Joseph C. The campground includes a dedicated dog park with fenced areas for large and small dogs.
Lake access: Water features remain popular among campers in the region. At Twin Knobs Recreation Area, sites along the water receive high praise: "We stayed in one of the 'premium' sites, right on the water F19. The view was incredible. The campground was quiet and the facilities clean. Perfect spot," reports Paul K.
Seasonal activities: Campgrounds often host special events throughout the camping season. At Carter Caves State Resort Park, seasonal programming provides additional entertainment: "Come for pioneer week, Halloween is a hoot, watch out for skunks, hope you see a wildcat or two, tell a ghost story, play some corn hole," recommends Becky H.
What you should know
Electrical hookup limitations: Several campgrounds have unique electrical setup requirements. At Greenbo Lake State Resort Park, "They advertise the sites with 30 and 50 amp hookups. What they didn't say was that you had to share a post. The people beside me already had the 50 amp. I pulled everything to run on propane that I could and plugged into the 30 amp," explains Karen P.
Cell service varies: Coverage can be spotty throughout the region. "We were on site 53 along the creek. There was no AT&T service, but Verizon had service," notes a Greenbo Lake camper. Some campgrounds have virtually no coverage, while others maintain limited service at higher elevations.
Reservation planning: Horse campsites fill quickly during prime riding seasons (April-June and September-October). Book at least 2-3 months in advance for weekend dates at equestrian campgrounds.
Water access: Some campgrounds require long hoses to reach water spigots. "You will need extra water hose and extension cords to get hooked up in a lot of the sites though," advises a Carter Caves camper. Bring at least 50 feet of drinking-water-safe hose.
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: Shawnee State Park Campground offers family-friendly amenities including outdoor recreation facilities. "The campground has fun amenities for kids, like a very small mini golf course and an outdoor screen for movie nights," notes Jay T. The park also maintains a disc golf course and bike trails suitable for various skill levels.
Swimming areas: Several campgrounds provide swimming beaches with designated swimming areas. "There is a small lake with a beach you can kayak or canoe and fish (renting them is an option)," shares Shannon G. at Pike Lake State Park.
Kid-friendly trails: Look for shorter loop trails with interesting features that maintain children's interest. Carter Caves offers ranger-led programs suitable for young explorers: "Grab a ranger-guided tour and learn something! Great for the kids!" suggests Chris B.
Halloween camping: Several parks host special Halloween weekends with site decorating contests and organized activities. "We were there on their Halloween weekend, with a fun site-decorating contest and trick or treat in the afternoon," explains Megan M. at Shawnee State Park.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger rigs: Choose sites carefully as some may be challenging for bigger RVs. At Pike Lake State Park Campground, "Some sites are really small and some are right along the road. Not crowded at all during our visit. Some sites are sloped from slight to more severe. We did have to take our camper off our truck (truck camper) in order to get level," reports Liz.
Full hookup availability: Limited full hookup sites exist in the region. "We stayed on campsite 057, which is in full sun as it has no shade but does have full hookups. The site was very well kept and clean but could use some privacy from the roadway," explains Amanda S. at Carter Caves.
Extension cord requirements: Electrical posts can be far from parking pads at some campgrounds. "Some of the sites were around 50 ft from the electric hook up. Thankfully we were able to switch spots instead of renting an extension cord," notes autumn L. at Carter Caves. Bring a 30-50 foot heavy-duty extension cord rated for your amperage needs.
Water pressure issues: Be prepared for variable water pressure. "Beautiful place to camp. Some sites are more difficult for parking a camper than others. We stayed at site 6 which wasn't too difficult to park but the water pressure was extremely high," warns Wendi L. at Iron Ridge - Lake Vesuvius.
