Hardin, KY is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Kentucky camping adventure.
Situated along a peninsula between the lush shorelines of Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake, Canal Campground offers modern camping and provides the ideal setting to enjoy nature at its best with family and friends. Visitors can enjoy a stunning view of the Barkley Dam and boats traveling through the canal from the comfort of their campsite. The campground faces Barkley Lake, and the shore of Kentucky Lake is a brisk one-mile walk across the canal.
From water sports to wildlife viewing to hiking and biking, Canal Campground is the perfect setting for outdoor activities. Eagle nests can be spotted throughout the grounds, and its not unlikely for visitors to encounter deer and other wildlife. A short hiking trail allows campers to enjoy the outdoor scenery at their leisure. Fishing is also a popular pastime, and during warm months bass and catfish are plentiful in both lakes.
From water sports to wildlife viewing to hiking and biking, Canal Campground is the perfect setting for outdoor activities. Eagle nests can be spotted throughout the grounds, and its not unlikely for visitors to encounter deer and other wildlife. A short hiking trail allows campers to enjoy the outdoor scenery at their leisure. Fishing is also a popular pastime, and during warm months bass and catfish are plentiful in both lakes.
Lake Barkley, as part of a dam project at the Cumberland River, spans 134 miles along the Kentucky landscape, offering countless recreational activities to visitors. The canal connects Lake Barley with Kentucky Lake, forming one of the greatest freshwater recreational complexes in the country.
Grand Rivers, a short drive from the campground, has several restaurants and two public marinas.
$256 / night
Piney Campground is now open year round and offers 384 well-defined lake front and wooded sites with 283 electrical hookups, 44 sites with electric, water, and sewer, and 57 primitive sites. Most sites are capable of handling large motor homes and campers. Campers have access to modern facilities, including a swimming beach area, archery range, ball field, bike trails, a campfire theater, hiking trails, two boat ramps, and a fishing pier. Piney also has 9 primitive cabins available for nightly rental. In addition, the summer season offers daily recreation programs for all ages. Since 1973 in mid-September Piney holds its popular Camper’s Fair with a variety of activities including a campers’ flea market and dealer showcase of new RVs, fifth wheels, and motorhomes. It is open to the public during the weekend.
This recreation area is part of Barkley Lake
$10 / night
$5 - $12 / night
The campground is located at the edge of the Environment Education Waterfowl Refuge on Taylor Bay of Lake Barkley. Called a "back country" campground, it is primarily used by hunters and anglers and features great waterfowl watching. Boats can be tied up at some of the lakefront sites.
The campground has two sections. One section is to the right of campground's entrance and features very shady sites tucked into a heavy stand of mixed hardwood trees stretching up the hillside. The second section is to the left and has more open sites scattered around a loop. These sites are along the shore and have a view of Taylor Bay.
Seasonal camp site leases are available for some sites through an annual, open-to-the-public, lottery. Contact LBL for more information.
Possible day trips are the North and South Welcome Stations, Golden Pond Visitor Center, the Planetarium, Elk and Bison Prairie, Woodlands Nature Station, and The Homeplace.
$10 / night
Close to the marina it's a hard walk uphill both ways to the bathroom but they are very nice and well kept. Big open areas for children to play overall very good state park campground
A few sites at a boat launch area.
One large site before the main turnaround point and a couple by the water.
Not a ton of space.
4x4 or awd may come in handy leaving the sites (going back up the gravel hill)
This is lakefront with a vault toilet and no running water. On a Wednesday night everything was quiet and peaceful. It is a self serve campground.
Piney Campground is part of the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. It is wildly popular among locals and travelers alike. Lots to do for kids - bike paths, basketball court, multiple playgrounds, etc. Beautiful views of Kentucky Lake/Tennessee River, nice campground store.
We stayed here in our tent. The lady who checked us in was exceptionally nice and the campsites were clean quiet and shady. The restrooms were spick and span. We would certainly stay here again.
Was the only one there $ 20 with Electricity, what a Deal Steve is a great Host Also had free Music….. Cicadas
Stayed 2 nights. Nearly empty, but we’ll kept camp. Best sunsets!!! Lake is beautiful. Many many lakeside spots. Lots of room.
Location is everything and this is well in the middle of a great area in Shawnee National Forest. Garden of the gods, Bell Smith springs, Ferne State park, and on and on. You can spend a week here and not see everything.
There are primitive and electric (with water) sites. There are no sites with sewer hookup. There is a dump station at the entrance.
Sites are generally level and well kept. Very large rigs (35+) will be challenging, but I've seen them - more towards the front. There are some lake front spots that can be had. Sites are first come and there are no reservations taken. During the week, no problem. Weekends would be iffy.
Large lake with swimming, fishing, kayaking. Also has a bike trail around it - maybe 2 miles.
Shower houses are kept clean, but as of this posting, they need some maintenance work.
All in all, this is a must stop if you want to enjoy what the area has to offer.
We called from the road to get an overnight stop - the staff were super nice both on the phone and in person. When we arrived, the lady who checked us in gave me a coupon for the drive-in movie theater that was literally down the road. Normally, when we camp we arrive so late it’s impossible to take advantage of area attractions so we decided to go and can I tell you, it was awesome!!! The theater accommodated our camper and the food (cheese fries especially) at the snack stand was great. As far as the campground, our site was a bit hilly but we had a nice view of the lake and close proximity to the playground. My kids also enjoyed the pool. Solid place to overnight!
We had so much fun at Energy Lake Campground. We were only able to stay one night but it was the reset we needed. Our pups loved it too! Bathrooms were clean, electricity worked great and the view was STELLAR! Super easy check in and check out.
Mostly seasonal and permanent with a few spots for weekly and overnight. All sites are level, gravel with concrete patios and fire rings. The staff makes you feel like a friend immediately. Laundry is 1.50 per machine and the showers are large and clean. Interstate 24 is half a mile from this campground and some of the best restaurants in the area are within walking distance.
We usually start camping in November since the campgrounds are usually getting closer to empty. This place was packed with people hunting and fishing. The camp sites are so close together that you can hear the people talking at their campsite next to you even when they are talking at a very calm conversational level. People were letting their kids run wild until about 10pm then you could hear a pin drop it got so quiet. However, by 3 am the place starts hopping. People getting in and out of their cars, doors closing and cars driving off in the gravel, RV doors opening and closing, gravel crunching under foot as people walk to and from the bathroom. Two women stood outside our tent (but at their camp site) at 5am chatting it up and opening and closing and opening and closing the car doors for over half an hour. If you can function on 5 hours of sleep and don't mind hearing everything everyone around you says in clear detail it isn't a bad place. The bathrooms are clean and warm in the winter.
This MWR (morale welfare and recreation) campground located just outside of the South Gate of Fort Campbell is a convenient stay if you are visiting or working on fort campbell. It is not up-kept as well as it could be. They will mow the grass near the camping areas often but with bagless mowers that blow cut grass all over your stuff (like your hose and hookups.) the creek and bridges crossing them are falling apart and unsuitable for vehicle traffic. I have stayed near four different Army posts at RV parks and this one ranks the lowest.
Bathrooms are nice with code. The cost is low. Easy pull through parking.
Jake from the Dyrt here! Nine Pines has all the glamping amenities you could want, and then some, its not often you find a place set in nature where you have access to a full pizza oven. Check them out and show them some love from the Dyrt!
Large park with marina, tennis, boat rental, beaches and more. My spot was spacious and shaded.
I loved staying here!! Met some really nice people and went on a group kayaking trip with two rangers who were very nice and informative. Will definitely be back!
Great place to camp. Would have liked to stay longer. With my senior lifetime pass it only costs $5 there was firewood already available to burn.
For my first time camping and first time at piney I felt as if I was at home and so friendly and the store was clean and the camping sites were absolutely beautiful and the general appearance was overall good
4.5 Rounded up. Restrooms and showers were clean. It was very active during one of the last weekends of the season. While quiet hours were observed, there was a lot of music, celebrating a Tennessee win with a golf cart parade and victorious choral singing of Rocky Top right up until 11pm. Beautiful lake views, good camp store and great amenities.
We only stayed one night but staff was very pleasant and sites are reasonable size. There is a nice dog park with disposable bags. Our site overlooks a nice little pond. There is a clean laundry facility and heated restroom and showers. We did not need to use the facilities so I cannot comment on those. Campground is easily accessible from I24. We would definitely stay here again.
Lots of choice camping spots! Serene and private. Beautiful rolling farmland, just minutes from town. They also offer tiny home rentals, yurt-style glamping tents, RV spots with 30 amp, 50 amp and 110 outlets, and The Art Barn for larger groups, retreats or family reunions.
Stayed 4 nights visiting the area. Close to roads so there is lots of road noise. Clean. Very super friendly helpful staff.
This is such a beautiful park. The rooms are dated but very clean. The views here are breathtaking. Hiking trails, paddle boating, canoeing and kayaking and geocaching.
It is basically a gravel parking lot. We had to take use the electricity from the site behind us because ours wasn’t grounded.
Prizer Point is where I hostess a (Usually) large-ish group of women campers for a looong weekend of festivities. Our weekend themes have been simple (this year I taught Geocaching) to full blown festival (last year was Pirate's in the Cove). The success of the event weekends is largely due to the amazing staff at Prizer, as they accommodate a lot of last minute pleas for changes and help! The pools were (and usually are not) open when the women and I come to camp on our "week-end" (every September), and the lake was already at winter pool this year, but that makes it quite easy to launch a kayak, or SUP. During this stay we were in the "cove" area where Hurricane creek opens into Lake Barkley, on the original side of the park, where there is only water and electric hook ups. Prizer has a "honey wagon" that comes and pumps your waste water tanks every other day or as needed. (The new lagoon area has full hook up so you don't need the honey wagon.) This side is closer to the larger bath houses, with the community room and swimming pools centrally located. When we were on this side, we hosted a Pirate's Themed weekend, with over 35 women participating. One of our participants couldn't attend, as she lost her battle with illness just a week before the event, and the staff at Prizer "memorialized" her campsite for us during the weekend.
Extremely friendly staff. Clean campsites with a great view of the lake. Nice pool as well!
Camping near Hardin, Kentucky, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities that can make for a memorable getaway. Whether you're looking to pitch a tent or park your RV, there are several campgrounds in the area that cater to different needs.
Camping near Hardin, Kentucky, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Hardin, KY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Hardin, KY is Energy Lake Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Hardin, KY?
TheDyrt.com has all 34 glamping camping locations near Hardin, KY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
